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Phoenix Concert Theatre

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Coordinates: 43°39′53″N 79°22′27″W / 43.66461°N 79.374118°W / 43.66461; -79.374118
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Phoenix Concert Theatre
Entrance to the Phoenix.
Map
Former namesThe Diamond (1984-1991)
Location410 Sherbourne Street
Toronto, Ontario
M5X 1K2
Coordinates43°39′53″N 79°22′27″W / 43.66461°N 79.374118°W / 43.66461; -79.374118
OwnerLisa Zbitnew
TypeMusic Venue
Genre(s)Alternative rock
Capacity1,350
Opened1991
Website
Phoenix Concert Theatre

The Phoenix Concert Theatre is a concert venue located at 410 Sherbourne Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada.

It is 18,000 sq ft (1,700 m2) large and encompasses three distinct environments. The "Main Room" features one of the city's largest dance floors, leading edge sound and light, five bars (including a 50-foot (15 m) marble bar), 20x30 foot stage, a giant projection screen and one of the largest mirror balls in Canada.

"Le Loft" overlooks the main room, features an overhanging balcony which stretches the entire width of the club, lounge seating for over 100, and its own separate bar, custom artwork, and two television screens. The "Parlour" is reachable from the main room and the front entrance, features a separate sound system, a separate dancefloor and lighting system, a decorative bar, lounge seating and four pool tables.

On October 25, 2024, co-owner and operator Lisa Zbitnew announced that the venue planned to secure a new location, but would continue to operate on Sherbourne Street until 2026.[1] This followed an earlier announcement that the venue would close on January 15, 2025.[2]

History

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The building originally served as the German-Canadian Club Harmonie,[3] a rental venue for community gatherings, oom-pah bands, and ballroom dancing.

By the early 1980s, the venue caught the eye of veteran New York City-based hospitality entrepreneur Pat Kenny a.k.a. "The Bard of Bleecker Street" who at the time had a stake in three well known Manhattan nightclubs — The Bitter End and Kenny's Castaways in Greenwich Village as well as the Cat Club, considered by some to be the epicentre of the 1980s NYC glam metal scene.[4][5] After being alerted to Toronto's Club Harmonie by friends at the Village Gate, New York City venue that doubled as nightclub and dinner theatre, Kenny opened an offshoot location of the Village Gate in Toronto with Club Harmonie still holding court in a small space within the building.[4] After a few unsuccessful productions, the dinner theatre folded, and Kenny began renting the entire building to open a music venue.[4]

The Diamond

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In early summer 1984, The Diamond Club took over the premises. Initially open Thursdays through Saturdays, and modelled on the Cat Club,[6] it was overseen day-to-day by Randy Charlton whom Kenny got to run the newly launched club, hiring Charlton away from Sparkles discothèque at the top of the CN Tower having originally gone to Sparkles with the intent of luring its weekend resident DJ, Paul Cohen, over to the Diamond.[4] Simultaneously, a staff of some fifty individuals had also been hired to work under the Diamond's general manager Charlton, developing and maintaining a theatrical, versatile venue with high-quality sound and lighting.[4] Reflecting the ambiance of Kenny's New York clubs, the Diamond's interior stood out on Toronto's nightclub scene, differing significantly from the standard brass-and-mirrors decor of numerous clubs in the city at the time.[7]

During its first year of operation, the Diamond functioned just as a dance club with concerts held only occasionally.[4] Food was served in a restaurant located at the back of the club, in a room that became known as The Grapevine.[4]

Artists who played at The Diamond (1984–1991)

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Artists who have played the Phoenix Concert Theatre (1991–present)

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See also

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References

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  1. ^ "Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre not done yet — venue to stay open until 2026". CBC. 25 October 2024. Retrieved 12 November 2024.
  2. ^ "Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre Is Closing". Exclaim!. Retrieved 5 June 2024.
  3. ^ "Postcard – Toronto – German-Canadian Club Harmonie – 410 Sherbourne – 5 Images – c1960". 30 December 2011. Retrieved 4 July 2017.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Benson, Denise (12 September 2012). "Then & Now: The Diamond Club". The Grid. ThenAndNowToronto.com. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  5. ^ Vice staff (4 November 2010). "Cat Club Style". Vice.com. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  6. ^ Thompson, Stacey (16 January 2017). "The Rise & Fall of The Diamond Club". 93.5 The Move.com. Retrieved 22 February 2017.
  7. ^ Wilson 2006, p. 51.
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