A popular bar in Toronto’s east end is permanently closing its doors, an outcome one advocacy group believes could become widespread as COVID-19 containment measures continue to batter the industry.

Prohibition Gastrohouse, a fixture for 13 years along Queen Street East near Broadview Avenue, will not reopen following the pandemic, its owner, Michael Summerfield, told Global News.

He said when he first closed the bar in March, it was supposed to be temporary.

“We thought it would just be a week or so and then we would reopen,” he said.

A combination of high debt and no revenue proved to be unsustainable, Summerfield explained.

“Our basic economy of our restaurant is analogous to the economy of the world,” he said.

“One month of not having any income just sinks the ship.”

Next door at Eastbound Brewing Co., Dave Watson has pivoted his business to delivery and online sales, but he said revenue has still dropped by more than half compared to before COVID-19.

“It’s no longer about making money. This is about survival,” he said.

On March 24, the Ontario government ordered all non-essential businesses to close. Since then, restaurants and bars have been restricted to offering take-out and delivery.