Inside Piano Piano, every detail tells a story. The same can be said for its founders. Before anyone places an order, Piano Piano has already made an impression. At the Colborne Street location in downtown Toronto, cheetah-print wallpaper stretches across the dining room. The bathrooms are drenched in bright orange. Downstairs, a vintage carousel surrounds the bar, giving the room the feeling of an old carnival reimagined for dinner service. Every corner feels intentional, playful and unmistakably Piano Piano. When Victor Barry and Nikki McKean walk into the room, they somehow feel like part of the design themselves. Nikki arrives in a leopard-print jumpsuit that could have been pulled from the wallpaper, while Victor's floral knit shirt mirrors the warmth and personality of the restaurant around him. Spend an afternoon with them and it becomes clear that none of it happened by accident. Piano Piano has grown from a single restaurant into seven locations across Ontario, but throughout our conversation, Victor and Nikki rarely talked about growth for the sake of growth. They talked about experiences. About consistency. About people. About creating spaces that guests genuinely want to return to. Photo: Piano Piano That philosophy shows up in the smallest decisions. Ask Victor how he'd improve a slow Monday night and he doesn't start talking about discounts. He talks about giving people a reason to come back. Half-price wines. A lasagna that's only available one night a week. Small rituals that become part of someone's routine. "We're trying to build something that's going to last 20, 30, 40, 50 years," Victor says. "Location is important, but people have to keep coming back." For Nikki, hospitality begins long before the food reaches the table. As parents of young children, they often think about what makes a restaurant feel welcoming for families. Sometimes that means creating an incredible experience in under an hour. Great hospitality isn't measured by how long someone stays. It's about understanding what they need in that moment and making them feel like they belong. Photo: Piano Piano That balance between practicality and experience seems to shape almost every decision they make together. Nowhere is that more obvious than with one of Piano Piano's most recognizable pieces. Standing proudly inside the restaurant is a vintage carousel horse sourced from a collector in Miami. Before it was installed, Victor immediately started calculating what it would cost. Two seats would disappear from the dining room. Thousands of dollars in potential revenue would disappear with them. Nikki saw something else. She saw a story. A conversation piece. A reason people would remember the restaurant long after they left. The horse stayed. It's a funny story, but it quietly captures how the two founders think. Victor naturally gravitates toward systems, operations and long-term sustainability. Nikki sees atmosphere, emotion and the feeling guests take home with them. Neither perspective wins. The business is stronger because both exist. As Piano Piano expanded, those perspectives became even more important. "The second restaurant shows you every flaw," Victor says. It's a lesson many founders eventually learn. What works when you're in one room every day doesn't automatically work across multiple locations. Culture has to be built intentionally. Consistency can't rely on memory. Leadership has to exist long before the founders arrive. Today, much of that thinking has become part of Piano Piano's operating system. Pasta is produced in one commissary kitchen to ensure every location serves the same product. Leaders are developed from within. Every new challenge becomes another opportunity to improve the playbook. Photo: Piano Piano "The systems that are in place right now took time," Nikki says. "Restaurant one to two is huge because it shows you all of the flaws. From there, you really start to systemize what's working, what's not working and where you need to change things." If Victor often talks about systems, Nikki keeps returning to people. When we ask what leadership skill she'll spend the rest of her career improving, her answer comes instantly. "Listening." "Am I just waiting to talk, or am I really listening? There's a huge difference." It's a simple answer, but one that seems to underpin everything they've built. Listening to guests. Listening to employees. Listening to what a neighbourhood needs before deciding what Piano Piano should become there. Victor approaches decision-making with a similar balance. "Data is important," he says. "But always remember that data is looking backwards. You use it as an educated guess, and then make your gut choice." Perhaps that's what makes Piano Piano feel different. Every room is imaginative, but nothing feels random. Every system is intentional, but nothing feels rigid. The business has grown without losing the personality that made people fall in love with it in the first place. By the end of our conversation, it was difficult to separate the founders from the restaurants they'd built. The warmth. The creativity. The attention to detail. The structure behind the scenes. Every one of those qualities reflects Victor and Nikki as much as it reflects Piano Piano. Seven restaurants may be the headline, but it isn't the story. The story is about two founders who continue to approach hospitality with equal parts discipline and imagination, creating places that people don't simply visit. They return.

Networking events often promise dozens, or even hundreds of new connections. But the reality is that most conversations last only a few minutes before everyone moves on. At Pier Five, we wanted to create something different. That's why we launched the Pull Up Dinner: an intimate networking dinner in Toronto designed to bring together founders, creatives, business owners and community builders around one table for meaningful conversations that don't happen at traditional networking events. On July 2, we hosted the first-ever Pull Up Dinner at TONO by Akira Back inside Toronto's W Hotel, bringing together a carefully curated group of entrepreneurs from a wide range of industries for an evening focused on community, conversation and connection. Why We Started Pull Up Dinner We've spent years building communities online through interviews, events and storytelling, but we've also learned that some of the most valuable relationships aren't built through social media, they're built over dinner. The Pull Up Dinner was created to slow networking down. Rather than trying to meet 50 people in one evening, our goal is to create a space where 12 people can genuinely get to know one another. No pitches. No panels. No name tags. Just thoughtful conversations over great food. A Curated Group of Toronto Founders, Creatives and Business Owners One of the principles behind Pull Up Dinner is diversity. Instead of inviting people from the same industry, we intentionally curate a table of people who bring different experiences and perspectives. Around the table were an art gallery owner, a gym owner, a creative agency founder, an art curator, an entertainment producer, an ice cream shop owner, a fashion brand founder, a CPG entrepreneur, a video producer, a community strategist, media founders and content creators. On paper, it's an unlikely mix. In practice, it created exactly the kind of conversations we were hoping for. Many of the guests had never met before. By the end of the evening, new friendships, collaborations and introductions were already beginning to take shape. The Non-Negotiable: Mandatory +1 Every invitation to the Pull Up Dinner includes one requirement: Bring someone who belongs at the table. Not just a guest—but someone who brings curiosity, generosity and a different perspective. That simple rule expands the network with every dinner and ensures each gathering introduces new people into the Pier Five community. Great Food Creates Better Conversations The inaugural dinner took guests through TONO by Akira Back's signature seafood-fusion menu, where guests shared a family-style experience designed to encourage conversation throughout the evening. The experience was complemented by wines from Great Estates Wines, creating a relaxed atmosphere that allowed conversations to unfold naturally over the course of the night. Building Toronto's Founder Community—One Dinner at a Time Toronto has no shortage of networking events. What it needs more of are opportunities for people to genuinely connect. Pull Up Dinner isn't about collecting LinkedIn connections or exchanging business cards. It's about creating the kind of conversations that lead to friendships, collaborations, partnerships and ideas that continue long after dinner ends. For us, community has never been about audience size. It's about bringing the right people together. Join a Future Pull Up Dinner We're already planning the next Pull Up Dinner in Toronto, with another carefully curated group of founders, creatives and operators gathering around one table. If you're interested in attending a future dinner, hosting one with us, or partnering with the series, we'd love to hear from you.

In April, Pier Five partnered with HP Canada, with support from Microsoft Canada, Qualcomm Snapdragon and CDW to bring together small business owners for a two-part experience exploring one key question: What does the future of your business look like with AI? What followed was a full-circle program combining education, application, and community - showcasing how Canadian entrepreneurs are beginning to integrate AI into how they build and grow. Part 1: From Curiosity to Clarity The program began with two intimate, hands-on workshop sessions, each bringing together 10 founders from a range of industries. The goal was to move beyond AI as a concept and into practical application. After kicking off the session with a bit of networking, HP Canada shared how their latest technology is enabling smarter, more efficient ways of working, with a focus on innovation and sustainability. The sessions were powered by HP’s AI-enabled devices built with Qualcomm Snapdragon technology, allowing founders to explore real-time workflows. The core of the experience was a guided workshop using Microsoft Copilot. Founders were led through structured prompts to: Analyze their business and positioning Identify market opportunities Break down competitors Clarify their differentiation Rebecca Prime, CEO, Beck's Broth: "Right now, SMBs have a real edge with AI, especially in driving efficiency across admin, sales, ops, and beyond. In my own work, I’m using it to build SOPs across the board and gradually develop a more structured, scalable business manual." Using these insights, each participant created an AI-generated “Difference Statement,” which was then transformed into a visual poster - a clear representation of how their business can evolve. Kin Ho, Business Manager, HP: "One of the biggest barriers for small business owners we heard throughout this campaign is knowing where to start when it comes to AI. HP is focused on making these tools more accessible and practical, so founders can explore them in the context of their own business. When AI feels approachable and relevant, that hesitation quickly turns into confidence and that’s when real adoption begins." What started as exploration quickly became clear and set the groundwork for Part 2. Part 2: A Showcase For the SMB Community Two weeks later, Pier Five hosted The Difference Maker: Gallery Night, an exhibition space featuring all 20 founders’ work as well as a panel discussion from Canadian entrepreneurs and experts. The workshop participants and experts were joined by over 70 entrepreneurs, creatives, and community members, creating a highly curated and energetic room. Kane Willmott, CEO, iQ Offices: "The event was a powerful reminder that the future is being built right now by a remarkably ambitious generation of entrepreneurs. It was inspiring to meet founders across such a wide range of industries, each bringing different products, ideas, and perspectives to the table at various stages of growth." The panel discussion was a highlight of the night, discussing topics around AI adoption and the future of small business, moderated by Pier Five Co-Founder, Julian Golden. Speakers included April Marshall, VP of Inside Sales at HP Canada, Rebecca Prime, Founder of Beck’s Broth and workshop participant, and Kane Willmott, CEO of IQ Offices The conversation grounded AI in real-world use, focusing on how founders are applying it today and where it’s heading next. April Marshall, VP of Inside Sales, HP Canada: "What we’re seeing at HP is a shift from AI as a concept to something small businesses are actively using to solve everyday challenges. The biggest unlock is starting with the problem - whether that’s saving time or improving decision-making - and applying the right tools in a practical way. The businesses that will stand out are the ones building a strong foundation now by investing in technology that supports how they work and grow." Building What’s Next, Together What made this program resonate was its format. By combining education, hands-on application, visual storytelling and community, Pier Five and HP Canada created a space where ideas were not just explored but activated and shared. The program highlighted how collaboration between technology partners and community platforms can create real impact for small business owners. As AI continues to evolve, it’s clear that entrepreneurs aren’t waiting, they’re actively shaping what comes next; and they’re doing it together. Learn more about HP's Next-Gen AI PCs, discover the world of One HP here and follow Pier Five on Instagram for updates on all of the latest events.

Events Recaps of the latest Pier Five events designed to bring creatives and entrepreneurs closer together. The Pull Up Dinner: A New Kind of Networking Event for Founders and Creatives The Difference Maker: How Canadian Small Business Owners Turned AI Into Action Pier Five Turns Five: A Landmark End-of-Year Celebration and the Launch of Pier Five Studios The AI Studio: How Pier Five and HP Canada Empowered Canadian Small Businesses with AI Pier Five’s Mental Health Mixer: A Space to Reset, Reflect, and Connect Mental Movement Day with Pier Five and Puma Brings Toronto’s Creative Community Together for Yoga, Wellness, and Open Conversation A Spring Clean-Up Day to Remember Empowering Women Entrepreneurs: Mastercard x Pier Five's 2024/25 Priceless Experience Pier Five’s 2024 End-of-Year Celebration Celebrating Creativity and Community at the OOAK Show '24 Pier Five Community Dinner Vol. 2 - Financial Foundations Toronto Community Court Day Recap: A Slam Dunk Success Community Court Day MTL: Pier Five x PUMA x Ball Her Way x Double Dribble Pier Five Community Dinner: Volume 1 Pier Five x PUMA: Mental Health Strength Day - A Triumph of Community and Wellness Pier Five’s 2023 Food Drive: Supporting Community and Fighting Food Insecurity Pier Five x PUMA: Community Court Day 2023

Access funding for your small business or creative project in Canada from Pier Five. Pier Five Funding Programs We know how important access to capital can be as you launch and scale your business. With the help of our community and brand partners, Pier Five has helped connect Canadian business owners with $250,000 CAD in support and funding since 2022. If you are an organization interested in working with Pier Five to support emerging small business owners, send us an email at community@pier-five.com ! Pier Five x Intak Printing Activation Grant 2025 Mastercard x Pier Five Small Business Fund Pier Five Creators Grant

Cereal Artist Where: Toronto, ON What: Designer / Artist Vivian Huang is a Toronto-based artist, inspired by sneakers and streetwear, who creates fun and functional accessories and garments using sneaker parts and other interesting materials. Vivian was one of Pier Five's first guests on the platform in 2021 and so it only felt right that she be a part of the Pier Five Creators Grant. We are lucky enough to have two amazing items from Cereal Artist for this collection, including one of her staple card holders and a never before seen side bag made from a Croc clog. Read the Pier Five interview with Cereal Artist here . Why are you excited to be a part of the grant project? I think it's great that Pier Five is creating opportunities to showcase local creatives and use that to also create opportunities for emerging artists. I am always excited to get involved with the community and this project gave me an opportunity to think out of the box on some new product concepts as well which I was excited about. Can you tell us about the pieces that you've made for the grant? For the Pier Five grant, I really wanted to create something new and unique that hasn't really been done before. For the main piece, I chose Crocs because I've never worked with that brand before and I thought it would be fun to turn it into a bag which looks great but is not what it's actually made for at all. For me, it's all about being fun and getting creative. The Card Holder is something I've done before but I always love using new sneakers and materials and the Puma Suede in green was a perfect fit for the collection. See All Designers Lookbook (Coming Soon) Shop (Coming Soon)