Toronto has lost yet another music venue, as Kensington Market's the Boat has announced its plans to close permanently, just one day into Toronto's second-wave lockdown orders.
Earlier this year, the bar had reopened under Toronto's modified indoor dining restrictions, limiting capacity to 50 people inside the venue. Though the short-lived return to business apparently wasn't enough to stay afloat during this brutal economic climate.
"Like so many other venues before us, we had done our best to survive this pandemic," the venue wrote in an announcement. "We had the best landlord that worked with us through these unforeseen times, but we are unsure what the future will bring for this industry."
Having hosted recurring open mic events, comedy shows, DJ parties and karaoke nights over the span of many years, the Boat is the latest in a growing list of Toronto venues to close in recent memory. Just in the past few months, Kensington has lost its neighbouring Round Venue, while Toronto has also seen the fall of the Mod Club, the Beaver, the Hideout, and more.
In recent years, venues including Coalition, Hugh's Room Live, Cadillac Lounge, Double Double Land, UNIUN Nightclub, Faith/Void, D-Beatstro and Orbit Room have also been forced to closed their doors for good, while the historic Massey Hall is still under construction for its revitalization plan and the fate of the "renewed" Silver Dollar remains uncertain.
Read the Boat's announcement below:
Since 1976, The Boat has thrived as a Portuguese restaurant, karaoke bar, live music venue, event space and one of the best places to go dancing in the market.
Throughout the last few years, we have hosted some of Toronto's best up and coming talents and have been graced by the presence of so many famous artists and celebrities.
We had the honour of working with such a close-knit group of DJs that made Friday and Saturday nights a good time.
It is with extreme sadness that we are saying goodbye to this amazing community. Like so many other venues before us, we had done our best to survive this pandemic. We had the best landlord that worked with us through these unforeseen times; but we are unsure what the future will bring for this industry.
We cannot thank everyone enough for all your support over the years. To everyone who has ever eaten here, jammed here, DJ'ed here, hosted a birthday party here, danced the night away here, met up with friends for a drink here, we want to say CHEERS 🥂 to you.
We hope that everyone stays safe and stays positive. We hope to see all of you again. Wherever, whenever that might be.
Earlier this year, the bar had reopened under Toronto's modified indoor dining restrictions, limiting capacity to 50 people inside the venue. Though the short-lived return to business apparently wasn't enough to stay afloat during this brutal economic climate.
"Like so many other venues before us, we had done our best to survive this pandemic," the venue wrote in an announcement. "We had the best landlord that worked with us through these unforeseen times, but we are unsure what the future will bring for this industry."
Having hosted recurring open mic events, comedy shows, DJ parties and karaoke nights over the span of many years, the Boat is the latest in a growing list of Toronto venues to close in recent memory. Just in the past few months, Kensington has lost its neighbouring Round Venue, while Toronto has also seen the fall of the Mod Club, the Beaver, the Hideout, and more.
In recent years, venues including Coalition, Hugh's Room Live, Cadillac Lounge, Double Double Land, UNIUN Nightclub, Faith/Void, D-Beatstro and Orbit Room have also been forced to closed their doors for good, while the historic Massey Hall is still under construction for its revitalization plan and the fate of the "renewed" Silver Dollar remains uncertain.
Read the Boat's announcement below:
Since 1976, The Boat has thrived as a Portuguese restaurant, karaoke bar, live music venue, event space and one of the best places to go dancing in the market.
Throughout the last few years, we have hosted some of Toronto's best up and coming talents and have been graced by the presence of so many famous artists and celebrities.
We had the honour of working with such a close-knit group of DJs that made Friday and Saturday nights a good time.
It is with extreme sadness that we are saying goodbye to this amazing community. Like so many other venues before us, we had done our best to survive this pandemic. We had the best landlord that worked with us through these unforeseen times; but we are unsure what the future will bring for this industry.
We cannot thank everyone enough for all your support over the years. To everyone who has ever eaten here, jammed here, DJ'ed here, hosted a birthday party here, danced the night away here, met up with friends for a drink here, we want to say CHEERS 🥂 to you.
We hope that everyone stays safe and stays positive. We hope to see all of you again. Wherever, whenever that might be.