Backgrounder

• The first Pickle Barrel opened in 1971 at 5863 Leslie Street as an 80-seat, deli style restaurant. The current deli location is still at the north end of the original plaza, now four times its original size.
  
  
• The Pickle Barrel was created by a group of developers needing to add a restaurant into their newly built strip mall.
  
  
• The creation of the name is still a mystery, but legend has it, the development group had a brainstorm of the minds and the infamous Pickle Barrel name was born.
  
  
• Between 1985 and 1990, The Pickle Barrel opened mall kiosks in Barrie, North York, Thornhill and Richmond Hill.
  
  
• The Pickle Barrel now boasts 9 full service locations throughout the GTA including:
  
  1971 – Original Location (Leslie Street)
  1982 – The Atrium (Yonge and Dundas)
  1986 – Promenade Mall
  1997 – Centerpoint Mall
  1999 – Yonge and Eglinton Centre
  2003 – Yorkdale Shopping Centre
  2004 – Erin Mills Town Centre
  2005 – Markville Shopping Centre
  2006 – Sherway Gardens
  
  
• In March 2005, the busy downtown Atrium location closed for a major six month renovation, reopening that November. It now serves an average of 20,000 people per week.
  
  
• All restaurants combined serve 3.5 million people in the GTA a year.
  
  
• Celebrities who have dined at PB include: Howie Mandell, Buzz Hardgrove, Doug Gilmore, Mel Lastman and Christopher Plummer.
  
  
• Pickle Barrel prides itself on the multi-cultural diversity of the staff which reflects the true population of Toronto.
  
  
• Dedicated employees have an opportunity to grow within the company. There are several success stories including: Peter Higley, bus boy turned President and Margaret Zellermayer, cashier turned Director of Operations and Training.
  
  
• Several Pickle Barrel staff have been with the restaurant since its opening in 1971.
  

For further information please contact:

Michelle Saba Filice
Faye Clack Communications
905-206-0577 ext. 223
msaba@fayeclack.com

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