Canada’s leading restaurant and events company to assume operation of historic event space in downtown Toronto
Canadian restaurant, catering and event company, Oliver & Bonacini (O&B) today announced the expansion of its events portfolio to include the iconic and grand scale Toronto venue, The Carlu.
Originally opened in 1930 as “Eaton’s Seventh Floor,” The Carlu was designed by French architect Jacques Carlu. In 2003, the space at 444 Yonge St. in College Park was reopened as “The Carlu” event venue after an extensive restoration, led by Jeffry Roick and Mark Robert. Now recognized as one of Toronto’s best examples of Art Moderne architecture, The Carlu has been designated as a National Historic Site of Canada, and has played host to royalty on several occasions, as the preferred space for high profile social fetes, conventions, and corporate celebrations.
“The Carlu has long been considered the gem of Toronto’s event scene, with a sterling reputation as one of Canada’s premier event destinations. With O&B’s extensive portfolio of venues, and their consistency and excellence of cuisine and service, The Carlu was a natural fit. We are confident that they can lead the venue to even greater heights,” says Jeffry Roick, Managing Director, The Carlu.
In recent years, O&B’s growth in the event sector has included the historic Arcadian event complex at Hudson’s Bay Queen St., Toronto; Malaparte at the TIFF Bell Lightbox, Toronto; the Toronto Region Board of Trade; Windermere House, Muskoka; Westin Trillium House, Collingwood; and most recently, Trump Toronto. O&B is also actively working on newly constructed event spaces in Calgary and Montreal that will be introduced over the next 18 months. A key goal of the company is to develop an extensive “one-stop” portfolio of top-level event spaces to accommodate every client need, from social and wedding requirements, to full-service corporate conferences and events.
“We’re very excited to be managing this magnificent venue and couldn’t be happier to be bringing our passion for food and service to The Carlu’s distinctive setting of elegance and grandeur,” says Andrew Oliver, President of Oliver & Bonacini Restaurants. “We have great respect for what’s been accomplished at The Carlu. Working with The Carlu events team, we look forward to continuing the legacy of excellence that has been upheld throughout the years.”
The official transition of The Carlu management to O&B will take place on March 2, 2015. All existing catering and venue contracts at the venue will remain in place and be honoured, with clients continuing to work directly with their Carlu event specialist to coordinate all logistics. Effective immediately, clients will also have the opportunity to book O&B as their caterer for all future events.
