After more than 10 years as a fixture of Toronto’s nightlife scene, College St. dance and pool venue Andy Poolhall is set to close.
In a statement penned by Toronto nightlife chronicler and Cherry Bomb resident DJ Denise Benson, the venue’s co-owners say that they’re “in need of change, new challenges and new adventures.”
The colourful and retro-inspired space opened in 2003 when owners Michael Sweenie and Scott Lane took over the space next to their Ciao Edie nightclub. In 2007, the most recent iteration of Andy Poolhall opened its doors when Sweenie and Lane decided to consolidate Ciao Edie and Andy Poolhall into a single space. All told, the two have been getting Torontonians to dance the night away at 489 College Street for more 16 years.
According to the post, the venue’s co-owners are searching for potential partners to take over daily operation of the space. Part of the reason for the sudden move is due to Lane’s declining health. He is currently undergoing treatment for cancer.
Should Andy Poolhall close down permanently, Toronto will have one less mid-sized dance venue; in a city where there are already so few venues of that size, the loss will likely be keenly felt by the city’s dance mavens and DJs. [via Facebook]
Image via Flickr user Matt Himrod.
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Igor Bonifacic is the managing editor of Toronto Standard. Follow him on Twitter.
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