Unpaid bills, labour turmoil lead to Elora restaurant's demise

ELORA – Restaurateur Geoff Wild is putting the bad with The Badley behind him.

But the decision isn't his alone. Kristy Hillis, the local hotelier and Kat Florence jewelry magnate, severed the lease with Wild for his 59 Metcalfe Street restaurant on April 2.

Wild’s hydro bills went unpaid, the power was cut, and Wild was ordered out of the downtown Elora building, according to a notice reviewed by the Advertiser.

The Badley is no more, and Wild has no plans to give it a second chance elsewhere.

“The hydro was off, the owners found out about it, and they issued us with a notice of termination of lease,” Wild said.

Hillis did not respond to the Advertiser’s requests for comment.

The Badley has been closed for business since January, after details of Wild’s financial troubles and an admitted cocaine habit were spread all over local social media groups.

Former employees of The Badley, and Wild’s next-door pastry business, The Wild Tart, alleged Wild had stiffed them on their wages.

The Advertiser previously spoke with eight former employees, including some who opened claims with the Ministry of Labour, who said problems, largely at The Badley, coalesced in 2024.

In January 2025 staff were told the businesses were insolvent, and creditors and wages would be paid from the sale of the Wild Tart building.

Property records show the building, at 61 Metcalfe Street, was sold to Kat Florence Canada in February 2025.

But problems persisted, and Wild temporarily closed The Badley earlier this year pending the success of an addiction treatment program, and the community’s reception thereafter.

“Onwards and upwards,” Wild said by phone last week, despite the now-permanent closure.

“This is our home. Our kids grew up here, my daughter was born here, we’ve been here for nine years now, I love it here."

He added, “I didn't know what the reception would be when I came back, but it's been mostly positive."

Wild said he’s 90 days sober from all substances after he “reconnected spiritually” during his rehab stay in Muskoka.

“I knew I was going down a dangerous path … I’ve been lying to myself for virtually my entire life,” he said, adding, “cocaine was my big problem.”

Now in his mid-40s, Wild said he finally has “coping tools” and is attending substance abuse support groups.

“It’s great to be able to just look at things objectively, and just take a break and take a step back … and make better decisions,” he said.

“I did a lot of stupid stuff … I could have done things a lot differently.”

According to Wild, he settled $17,526 in outstanding claims for unpaid wages. Former staff confirmed to the Advertiser their claims are settled.

“All ongoing investigations … associated with Mr. Geoff Wild have been closed,” the Ministry of Labour stated by email. No fines were issued.

The Alcohol and Gaming Corporation of Ontario, however, is currently investigating following allegations of labour disputes and illegal activity, according to a source familiar with the investigation.

The Wild Tart remains open, modelled after a European cafe with all-day breakfast and brunch items as well as afternoon tea.

Wild said it’s challenging without access to The Badley building, linked by a hallway, where there were more kitchen appliances.

He also lost Denis Craddock, a former Brew House on the Grand manager and current Centre Wellington councillor, who managed the Wild Tart.

Craddock, who became involved with The Badley during a rebranding last fall, said he is no longer associated with Wild’s businesses.

A group with close ties to the Elora Brewing Company have since taken over 59 Metcalfe and are renovating the space into a new restaurant called the Metcalfe, a nod to the unit’s former iteration as The Metcalfe Tap and Grill for 22 years.

One of the three owners told the Advertiser the Metcalfe will serve up smokehouse barbecue and feature Elora Brewing Company products.

The group aims to have a patio ready for mid-summer.