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Moe’s grandchildren — Lorne, Michael and Cindy — sold the business in November 2010 to Jerry Gould. His son, Lenny, took over operations.

Lenny Gould claims the restaurant was mismanaged while he was looking after his ailing parents, who both died last July.

“When I came back … unfortunately it was too late for me to recoup the restaurant,” he said.

In 2011, Lorne Pancer opened a new deli, Pancer’s Deli Emporium with Frank Houston in Vaughan, north of Toronto.

The partnership didn’t last long — Mr. Pancer sold his share to Mr. Houston after only a few months.

Now, deli fans may be in luck; Mr. Pancer is mulling a new traditional-style deli.

“Let’s just say we have plans to do it if it’s the right location,” he said.

“I still get emails, Facebook messages, phone calls, asking why we sold the place. We fed three generations.”

For his part, Mr. Houston says he isn’t surprised the original Bathurst Street deli closed.

“They actually called to see if we wanted to buy it,” he said.

After customers kept asking if he knew what had happened, he went over to see for himself.

“It’s a real landmark. Our cutter Wilfred [Philpott] has been cutting for over 55 years. He came over from the old Pancer’s. It’s amazing the stories you hear.”

He added it is disappointing to see Moe’s close, but that should be good for his business now he owns the lone Pancer’s.

There also a “good possibility” Pancer’s Deli Emporium will expand. For now, Mr. Houston says he will settle on preserving its history.

“We’re hoping to get some of the old signage,” he said.

Restaurateur Zane Caplansky of Caplansky’s Delicatessen said it’s “really sad” to see such a “landmark institution” close.

“When I was a kid I grew up in the North York area. We would always go to Pancer’s for corned beef,” he said.

“I stand on the shoulders of people like Moe, Lorne and [Lorne’s father] Stan Pancer.”

National Post

sgelis@nationalpost.com