Randy's Patties has been a fixture of Little Jamaica in Toronto since 1979, so when it closed a couple of years ago, people were devastated. 

Randy's received an onslaught of public support. Drake even offered to buy the spot via a comment on the shop's official statement on Instagram. 

Prior to closing, lines stretched around the block of those looking to get what they presumed to be "one last taste of Randy's" before it was gone. 

However, when locals began to notice renovations to the storefront and "reopening soon" signs in the windows this summer, murmurs of a reopening began to take hold. 

The store then confirmed these rumours in an Instagram post shared on July 11. 

Randy's is now once again open to the public two and a half years later. On Friday, August 23rd, the store celebrated its grand reopening, showing off its upgraded signage and renovated interior.

The joy and anticipation in the air were palpable. A huge line curved around the street corner and onto Oakwood Avenue. A security guard was even stationed out front to ensure the store stayed below its capacity. 

Prepared for a wait, people brought fold-out chairs and blasted music in line to pass the time. While the shop was only scheduled to open at 11 a.m., some had been there as early as 6:30 a.m.

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Scarborough resident Sally Khan, whose neighbour introduced her to Randy's explains the hype behind the patties, "They don’t look like they were made by a machine. It tastes homemade. The filling is saucy, it's not dry." 

All of these factors contribute to Randy's reputation of having what might be the best Jamaican patties in Toronto. Their presentation in the instantly recognizable Randy's red and white box make them all the more iconic. 

But it's not just the incredible food that has made the reopening of Randy's such a moment, for many the nostalgia factor is part of the excitement. 

"The number one thing that it does is it brings back nostalgia. One of the things that I've been noticing, especially with the city of Toronto, is that a lot of the things we grew up with that we love are no longer there anymore," says friend of Randy's, Jonathan Shaw.

"A lot of people have grown up on the patty,” explains longtime customer, Peter Blake, who has been going to Randy's for 30 years, ever since he arrived in Canada.

Blake details the numerous rituals involving patties (picking them up with your family on weekends when people don't feel like cooking, barbeques, storing them in the fridge as a snack). 

The reopening of Randy's signifies a broader implication for the Little Jamaica community as well. "The area has gone through some major economic downfall," explains Blake.

Shaw hopes the reopening will spur economic revitalization of the neighbourhood, “To see Randy’s back on Eglinton after the improvements is going to be great for the community and bring dollars back into the city.”

Not only does Randy's have a new look, it also has new management. Many questions have been left unanswered about current ownership and what to expect of the new and improved Randy's. That is, until now. 

Helene Grant, a representative for the owners of Randy’s reassures, "We haven't changed anything. The recipes are the same. The only difference is really in appearance. Obviously [compared to] 45 years ago, some things have been refurbished."

On the shift in ownership, Grant explains, "A group of Jamaican entrepreneurs got together and said 'we've got to save this business' and that's what they did."

While Grant did not wish to divulge certain details, such as the number of owners or their professional backgrounds, she did say this, "[The owners] are diverse in professions. They're business-minded people. They want to see especially minority [owned] businesses thrive and prosper and they're ready to invest their money to bring back stuff that is important to the community." 

"It's with great expectation that we hope to serve the community the way the previous owners did and we're looking forward to that warmth that preceded us," Grant adds.

"Randy's definitely has a family atmosphere and for a lot of people it's like a hug and a beef patty,” concurs Matthew Grant, a volunteer on reopening day. 

"With all icons and all brands, you have to retain that same taste. These people are faithfully loyal. As long as the new owners give the same service, the same ingredients, the same promotion they will definitely come back,” advises Blake. 

At the reopened Randy's single beef, chicken and vegetable patties are $2.85 each and a box of 12 patties is $3o.

By comparison, a few months before closing a single patty went for $1.90 and a dozen for $20. Although, some price increase is expected due to post-pandemic inflation. 

Once inside people still had a bit of a wait before they would receive their hot and fresh homemade patties, as the store was packed. You could feel the excitement in the room. 

Some people were recording themselves waiting in line, others were taking pictures of the new space. 

During my wait I even saw a bouquet of flowers get delivered to congratulate the owners on the opening. It was touching to see so many people show up to support a small business in their community. 

By 3:30 p.m., Randy's was completely sold out—almost as if they had never left.

I did manage to snag one of the last few remaining beef patties. Moist, flaky and flavourful, it certainly lived up to the hype. 

As someone who is new to Toronto and Randy's, I cannot speak to what it was like prior to closing, but I could definitely feel the love in the restaurant on reopening day and was able to try some great food. 

"We have big shoes to fill, I'm hoping that we can outmatch expectations," says Matthew Grant. 

"The doors are open and I must say the sight is really beautiful. I would encourage one and all to come and check this out, meet the owners, meet the new staff and say hi," Blake enthuses. 

"We're just as excited as [the customers] are to bring back something that people thought would be no more," says Helene Grant. "We hope to serve generations to come. My expectation is that Randy's will live on forever in perpetuity." 

Randy's Patties is located at 1569 Eglinton Avenue West in Little Jamaica.