Toronto police and fire crews are investigating a suspicious early-morning fire that broke out Wednesday at Route 81, a retail store in Leslieville connected to the Hells Angels motorcycle club, according to local authorities. The blaze at 98 Carlaw Ave. caused minor street closures but resulted in no reported injuries as emergency services quickly contained the flames.
Fire Response and Investigation at 98 Carlaw Ave.
Toronto Fire crews responded to the property at 6:22 a.m. after flames became visible from the front of the building, according to public statements shared by Toronto Fire on the social media platform X. Crews extinguished the blaze shortly after arrival. While initial reports from the scene indicated it was too early to confirm the origin, Const. Shannon Eames confirmed in an email Wednesday afternoon that police are now treating the incident as suspicious, as investigators work to determine the exact cause.
The incident prompted temporary disruptions in the immediate area. According to the Toronto Sun, Carlaw Avenue was shut down between Eastern Avenue and Lake Shore Boulevard East before reopening to traffic around 8 a.m. No injuries were reported as a result of the fire.
History of the Leslieville Route 81 Store
The targeted retail location has operated in the neighbourhood for over a decade. According to reporting by CBC Toronto and the Toronto Sun, the store opened in 2013 and is situated just around the corner from a former Hells Angels clubhouse at 489 Eastern Ave. That previous clubhouse was seized by the federal government in 2007 and demolished a decade later.
Route 81 derives its name from numerical shorthand associated with the outlaw motorcycle club—representing the eighth letter of the alphabet, H, and the first letter, A. The storefront sells club-branded merchandise, including coffee mugs, hats, hoodies, and T-shirts featuring slogans such as “Support 81” and “Support Your Local Big Red Machine,” a well-known moniker for the organization.
Neighbourhood Impact and Local Reaction
A local resident, speaking to CBC Toronto on the condition of anonymity due to safety concerns, described frequent disturbances originating from the location.
“I heard a bang. I tried to go back to sleep and then my husband said, ‘Hey there’s something going on in front,'” the neighbour told CBC Toronto, recounting the morning of the fire. The resident added that the business routinely draws large gatherings of motorcyclists to the street, noting that groups of up to 25 bikes frequently park outside and rev engines, disrupting local residents.
Authorities have not yet released additional details regarding potential suspects or motives behind the fire. The joint investigation by Toronto Police and Toronto Fire remains ongoing.