Your favorite plant-based spot is closing, Barrie!
Good morning from the gateway — Lake Simcoe's awake, the 400 is already packed, and Barrie's got growing pains. Let's talk about it.
Okay, so here's what's actually happening: Mexhico, that amazing plant-based Mexican restaurant right on Dunlop Street, announced they're closing their doors for good. Seriously, this place was a gem, tucked away in the heart of downtown, offering something truly unique. You know, the kind of spot where even your meat-loving friends would admit the food was incredible. Their ratings were consistently through the roof, which makes this news sting even more, especially when you think about all the effort going into revitalizing Dunlop.
I'm telling you, this stings. It's one thing when a chain closes down, but a local spot, a real independent place with a vision, shutting its doors? It feels like a punch to the gut for our downtown core. We're always talking about bringing more character, more unique businesses to Dunlop, making it a destination, not just a pass-through on the way to the waterfront. Mexhico was exactly that – a reason to stop, to stay, to explore. Another 3,000 units approved on the south end, and meanwhile, we're losing the places that give our city its soul.
* **What This Means for Barrie:** * One less independent business on Dunlop Street. * A blow to the growing plant-based food scene in the city. * A reminder that even highly-rated local spots face uphill battles.
It’s just tough to see a place that added so much flavour and personality to our city's main street go. This isn’t just about losing a restaurant; it’s about what kind of downtown we're building here in Barrie. We need those unique spots to thrive if we want Dunlop to truly be the vibrant heart of our city.
Tara Fenn-Orillia, MiTL Sports Desk.
You can hear more about this and everything else Barrie on the morning show — catch it live at mornings.live.