March 2018 Issue #15 March 2018 Issue #15, 4GUYS | Page 20

One of Toronto’s most iconic
burger joints turns 50
One of Toronto’s most well-known burger joints is officially half a century old, and
still going strong.
For 50 years, Johnny’s glowing orange exterior has burned bright at the corner of
Sheppard and Victoria Park, serving banquet burgers and steaks on kaisers to a
steady stream of locals and tourists alike.
The squat little burger spot – easily confused with a full service repair shop at first
glance – has long played an integral part in the fabric of northwest Scarborough.
Former Scarberian Mike Myers loved it so much he’d talk about it on live televi-
sion, and even drew inspiration from Johnny’s (and Tim Hortons) for his fictional
burger joint Stan Mikita’s in the Wayne’s World movies.
Head here on a Saturday night and you’ll still find staff dressed in their iconic or-
ange polos, blue aprons and soda jerk hats, plus a lineup of the post-party crowd
hankering for cheap patties and onion rings.
Though it’s now dwarfed by a newer tw0-storeyed Shoppers Drug Mart next to
it, the restaurant still manages to hold its own. Johnny’s takeout only policy often
sees tiny parking lot transform into a makeshift dining area for drivers to eat in
their cars.
As with any old establishment, there are claims that the burgers and fries are no
longer as good as they used.
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