A bar and live music venue in Toronto is officially closing its doors after 12 years in business due to financial pressures and the rising cost of living.
Located in The Junction, 3030 Dundas West (appropriately named after its address) is a 3,000-square-foot performance venue and event space, featuring regular live music and private rentals for weddings, birthdays, and other special occasions.
Back in 2014, the bar made headlines when former Toronto Mayor Rob Ford allegedly popped in for a visit, before calling in sick to work the next day at City Hall.
Despite hosting regular events and performances, 3030’s production manager Jesse MacKay told blogTO that the venue has struggled to fully bounce back after the pandemic.
“We returned to moderate levels of business, but it never really went back to what we had before. When 2024 hit, we saw a business decline in business, and I think there are a variety of factors why, including the economy and the rising cost of living. Also, the level of sickness — people are just more sensitive to illness,” he said.
“The owners were already thinking of retiring from the business, and the levels in 2024 were the straw that broke the camel’s back for them.”
The bar is preparing for its final shows on Dec. 13 and Dec. 14, hosted by classic hip-hop and R&B cover band, Wing Night, which played at the venue at the beginning of their career and went on to sell out larger venues across the city, including The Opera House and The Danforth Music Hall.
Tickets for both events have already sold out, as loyal customers prepare to sing the night away at the venue for the very last time.
“We’d like to thank everyone for their patronage. 3030 has been a staple of The Junction, and as the word spread of 3030 throughout the city, we started to see people coming from Parkdale and other neighborhoods,” MacKay told blogTO.
“It’s always been a place where people love to come to see bands, and we were also very conscious of making it a great place for bands to play. We’re really going to miss this place, and we’re very thankful that we were able to have a 12-year run — not everybody makes it that far.”
Although 3030’s owners do not have plans to open another venue in the future, MacKay says the space will taken over by a new tenant, who, at the time of this article’s publication, has potential plans to open up a Mexican restaurant with some form of live entertainment.
