Durham Distillery, the only craft distillery in Durham Region, has been ordered to vacate its location in Pickering Village due to “serious and ongoing non-compliance” with the terms of its lease, according to the Town of Ajax.
The distillery, which moved into the former Pickering Village Fire Hall in 2021, was shut down this week after the expiration of a 30-day notice to vacate, issued by its landlord, the Town of Ajax. Despite efforts to engage in discussions, including through legal counsel, no solution was reached.
According to the town, the distillery did not meet the core requirement of operating as a fully functional distillery, as the facility was primarily used for retail sales, which did not align with the agreed-upon lease terms for an operational distillery. Furthermore, the town claimed that $30,000 in unpaid rent and taxes were owed, and the distillery’s operations were not in compliance with the Ontario Building Code and Ontario Fire Code.
Chris Ferg, Co-owner and Head Distiller of Durham Distillery, said the 30-day notice made relocation impossible within the given timeline. He explained that moving a distillery requires regulatory approvals, specialized infrastructure, and advance planning, making compliance and continuity of operations unfeasible.
The town emphasized that their objective was to support a local business and bring long-term economic activity to Pickering Village, but that the vision of a fully operational distillery had not materialized. Ferg, however, maintained that the distillery had created a community hub, hosting events, tours, and charitable functions, in addition to earning national recognition for its products.
The town also took possession of the distillery’s alcohol inventory, but Ferg was told he could make arrangements to retrieve business equipment and products.
