starboy toronto

How a Toronto bar got in on The Weeknd's big launch

The Weeknd has official taken over Toronto with his show at the ACC, his pop-up on Ossington and now his beat up car parked on King West.

"I'm very curious to see tonight and tomorrow night when it's crazy with people on that corner," Albert Rishes, one of the owners of Early Mercy says. The car is parked outside his bar at the corner of King and Brant Streets.

He was approached by the folks at Free For All Marketing on behalf of Universal Music Canada to rent the spot for the weekend. Rishes had to agree to leasing the spot for a pop-up for a major recording artist before he was told who it was.

Once all the papers were signed, they told him it was for The Weeknd for his three-day Toronto blitz.

The car is a completely smashed up 1984 Lincoln Town Car with a giant neon lightning bolt jotting out of it, reminiscent of the neon crucifix in the "Starboy" video. There's a smoke machine inside and music pumping out to the street.

There will be a security person at the car, which is roped off because of the all the broken glass inside and around vehicle, for the duration of the activation which ends Sunday evening.

"I'm not sure if The Weeknd likes the location or if Universal thought it was the best suited location," Rishes says, but they're happy to have the exposure.

Lead photo by

Andrew Williamson


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Music

Over 100 bands are coming to Toronto for a music festival this week

Toronto's Phoenix Concert Theatre announces closure after 33 years

Win VIP tickets to see Trey Songz live in concert in Toronto

Thousands showed up to a Toronto park for Boiler Room this past weekend

Canada's biggest South Asian music festival comes to Toronto this week

50 essential live music venues in Toronto where you need to see a concert at least once

Toronto concert venue needs to raise almost $3M to pay for its new home

Drake makes surprise appearance at 21 Savage concert in Toronto