CLOSURE: Iconic burger joint closes doors after 40 years in Mississauga

The siren at the end of the game has sounded on a long-time favourite stop for Mississauga burger lovers.

After 45 years of serving burgers and fries, John Anderson Burgers, named after original owner and the former Toronto Maple Leafs’ winger, has closed its doors for good at its 1069 Dundas Street West location.

Located in a tiny strip mall, you couldn’t drive by and not notice the iconic big burger sign on the street that had the name John Anderson sandwiched between the buns on top of a hockey stick.

“It has been an honour and a privilege to serve the community at Dundas Street & Erindale Station Road, for the last 20 years (45 total) and we would like to thank each and every one of you for your support,” said the current owners in a message on social media after officially closing the restaurant on May 22. “Since day one, rain or shine, you kept coming back.

“Some of you even became friends and in some cases family friends. Our success was because of you. Thank you!

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Anderson, who played for the Leafs from 1979 to 1985 before getting traded to the Quebec Nordiques in 1986, originally wanted to open a doughnut shop, but along with co-owner Peter Atsidakos, current owner of another Mississauga favourite, Peter’s on Eglinton, would open the first John Anderson’s Hamburgers in a plaza at the corner of Van Horne and Victoria Park Avenue in North York.

By 1985, there were nine John Anderson Burger locations in the GTA. Anderson played hockey and was the star attraction while Atsidakos took care of the everyday business.

After Anderson was dealt to Quebec in 1986, the duo would sell the business.

Even with new owners, the burger joint continued to be a favourite stop for many.

“We sold a lot of burgers over the years,” added the message from current management. “Yet we also made a lot of friends. Thank you!”