An Asian grocery store in Pickering that opened less than a year ago has been locked out by its landlord over an unpaid debt of more than $2.36 million.
Memon Supermarket, located at 1899 Brock Road in the former Sobeys space, had a notice posted on its entrance on June 1 declaring the lease terminated. The notice, posted through a bailiff by landlord Calloway REIT, states the amount owed as $2,367,805.51, according to Ontario Chronicle.
The store's doors are now locked, and the notice warns that any attempt to enter the premises without permission is considered unlawful. The company behind the supermarket must now arrange with the landlord to remove all goods and chattel from the property.
Store opened last June
The business reopened under the Memon banner on June 26, 2025, with Izhar Ahmed listed as the owner, according to the same report. Its launch had been greeted with enthusiasm by shoppers in the area, making the sudden closure a notable turn for the Brock Road plaza.
The closure follows days of online attention surrounding the store, including videos circulated on social media.
Memon issued a statement last week responding to the online activity, acknowledging the company was aware of videos and other content containing what it described as false and malicious allegations about the business. The company said a police report has been filed over the matter.
"As the matter is currently under investigation, we will not be making further public comments at this time," the company said. "We appreciate the patience, understanding and support of our community while the appropriate processes take their course."
It remains unclear when or whether the store will reopen. The notice posted at the entrance suggests the lease termination is effective, and the company has not publicly indicated its next steps.
Shoppers who relied on the supermarket for Asian groceries will need to look elsewhere in the meantime. The former Sobeys location had served the surrounding Pickering neighbourhood for years before Memon took over the space.
Ontario Chronicle reported that the debt figure and lease termination were laid out in the bailiff's notice posted at the store on June 1. Calls to Calloway REIT regarding the matter have not resulted in further public comment.
The situation leaves questions about the future of the prominent Brock Road retail space, which sits in a busy commercial corridor in the city.
