Mamajoun Pizzeria closes Scarborough shop after 11 years, plans next chapter
(Photo: Chris Cheong/Yummmto)
TORONTOHYE—After more than 11 years in business, Mamajoun Pizzeria has closed its Scarborough location, ending a long run on Ellesmere Road while indicating that a new project is already in the works. The family-run Armenian eatery shared the news on its website and social media, stating that it is time to "begin a new chapter" and that the closure is not a final goodbye but a transition to a new location and concept.
Mamajoun first opened on Nov. 14, 2014, and steadily built a customer base that stretched well beyond the immediate neighbourhood. In its farewell message, the ownership described the restaurant as a "home away from home," and thanked loyal customers, neighbours, and friends for years of support. The note included a specific expression of gratitude to the Armenian community, which the owners said stood by the business from its earliest days. That connection was visible in the steady stream of families who relied on Mamajoun for everyday meals, religious and holiday gatherings, and visits from out-of-town relatives.
The message also acknowledged the people behind the operation. Past and present staff members were thanked by name. The message also credited owner Mihran Boudakian's father for ongoing encouragement, and paid tribute to Mihran's late mother, whose recipes they describe as the foundation of Mamajoun's food. Family members, such as Mihran's sister Tzovig and cousin Andre, were also mentioned, along with a special thank-you to Raffi D. for support and friendship. The tone of the note emphasized continuity and gratitude rather than loss.
Mamajoun became widely known for lahmajoun, often called Armenian pizza, along with other homestyle dishes rooted in family tradition. That focus on heritage cooking drew sustained media attention over the years. The restaurant was featured by CTV News Toronto in a story highlighting the nearly century-old family recipe behind its lahmajoun, and by CBC News in coverage of traditional dishes such as mante. Internationally, Mamajoun was included in The New York Times article 'The Story of Multicultural Canada, Told in Humble Strip Mall Eateries,' which examined how immigrant-run restaurants in suburban plazas help define Toronto's food identity. In that context, Mamajoun was presented as an example of a menu built around grandparents' recipes and long-standing culinary memory.
Food media and ranking lists also helped expand Mamajoun's profile. The restaurant appeared in multiple blogTO guides, including its essential guide to pizza in Toronto by type, where Mamajoun was cited in the lahmajoun category, and in roundups focused on pizza in Scarborough. Those features positioned Mamajoun within Toronto's broader pizza landscape, which increasingly acknowledges regional and cultural variations beyond Italian styles. On a national level, Mamajoun was included on a Canada-wide 'Top 25 Pizza Spots' list based on Yelp review data, where it ranked near the top among pizzerias across the country. It was also featured in local Scarborough's best pizza roundups, grouped alongside other well-known neighbourhood institutions.
This mix of coverage meant Mamajoun occupied two spaces at once: It was a hyperlocal shop serving a specific community, and it was also a destination sought out by food-focused readers across the GTA after seeing it in guides and articles. For many customers, it became part of routine life in the East End. For others, it was a stop on a deliberate cross-city trip to try something different from standard pizza offerings.
The Scarborough strip mall setting was central to that story. Mamajoun operated in the kind of plaza that houses many immigrant-owned businesses in Toronto, where lower overhead and proximity to the community allow niche food traditions to take root. Its inclusion in national and international writing about suburban food culture reflected a growing recognition of these spaces as important parts of the city's culinary map.
Mamajoun's impact remains visible in the way Armenian dishes such as lahmajoun gained a wider audience in Toronto, and in the network of regular customers who made the restaurant part of their weekly and family routines. The next phase, according to the owners, is already taking shape.
In their closing message, the owners noted that the final day arrived quickly and that they had been unable to share the news earlier. They reiterated that they plan to reopen in a new location with a new concept, and encouraged customers to stay connected online for updates. No timeline has been announced, and further details are expected once plans are finalized.
