It's Deadpool for The Savannah Room, Urbano, Bungalow Cafe and The Barking Room

That sucks re. the barking room.
Nice people in there :(

I went to the Savannah room twice about a year ago. I really enjoyed it, as the beer was so cheap before 9pm. Since then, I tried to go about another 6 or times. It was always closed. I could never figure out when it was actually open. If they make it hard for people to go to the bar, the bar's not going to last very long.

We never tried Urbano, but was sad to see Sugar go when it did. They timed that sale so perfectly. As for Bungalow, we ate there once and never returned. They messed up an easy pasta dish, over-cooking the pasta to mush. King St. West (west of Niagara) is in such need for a good bar, it's not funny. Places on Ossington are nice distractions, but there's such a black hole for good bars west of Niagara and east of Sudbury (King) and Dovercourt (Queen). Hopefully someone does something with Bungalow, but I would imagine that after all the renovations they did prior to opening, a premium would exist on the rent. Although not the greatest location, there's a couple of spaces for rent in the yellow Electra building just west of Shaw on King after Movie Express (video automated rental biz from Montreal) and some spa recently went under. We're begging someone to do something around this area bar/grocery/specialty food-wise. :)

CMW'ers should take note that the Savannah Room had showcases booked for at least two nights (according to their <a href="www.canadianmusicfest.com/venues.asp">website</a>). That really sucks for those bands that are scheduled to play there. At this late date, I'm sure that the programs/posters/flyers etc have all been printed up. Shades of <a href="http://www.blogto.com/music/2005/08/what_happened_to_the_360/index.php";>The 360</a> when it closed the week of NXNE way back when...

According to the owner of the other doggie day care Umbrella around the corner, The Barking Room was a front for selling drugs and they got busted. Worst part is that some dogs were left there after they got caught and the cops had to go in and rescue them.
I brought my dog there for the past couple years and was not surprised to hear this at all. It was a hack operation compared to any other daycare i have been too. No wonder there prices were so cheap. Just thankful my dog didnt get hurt or anything due to this.

I couldnt agree more with you Apple.
My 6 month old nephew has more formal dog care training than she ever did.

I know someone who worked at the Barking Room until its very last day. Like all the employees there, she was never paid on time and sometimes not at all - like everyone else, she was given no heads up about the store closing. What I hear is that the landlord came by one day and changed the locks because she hadn't gotten the rent money in some time. Every day I'd hear some new horror story about what went on in there - that place was like an insane asylum and those owners cartoon characters. One day I'd like to tell the whole story about the dark and horrible truth of The Barking Room - until then I can't say much more out of fear for the safety of my friend and myself.

I think you would be doing a great thing by telling the rest of us what it is you know about the barking room, "someone"?
Your identity and friends identity is of no concern to anyone here. Simply would like to get the facts straight. Having brought my dog there for a couple years, it is very disconcerting having to read what you wrote and would really appreciate clarification. My dog has social issues with other dogs and im worried now the negligance that staff provided could be part of his issues.
Also, to Corina's point, I agree with you as well. Almost everytime, without fail, when I would pick my dog up the staff would always make some sort of back handed comment about my dog and how misbehaved he was. For the life of me I couldnt figure out how each time he was being unruley when by all accounts he has never had any issues at any other dog care facilities. Now its clear to see it was their practices and negligant behaviour that increased his anxiety.

And hear I thought all the sniffing going on there was the dogs.
Apparently not.

I agree with Nick about the comment from "someone". I took my dog there for a couple of years (at first a couple of times a week, but then after that very rarely). I figured not a lot could happen since they were all in the front window and anyone walking by could see.

This is an anonymous service and I think anyone who took their dog to this place would appreciate knowing what happened there. I hope you will change your mind and let us all know so we can have some peace of mind.

Anna's friend said that she has been in Berlin for three weeks. Hope you guys can still get back your money!

I used to work for the Barking room. That place was so horrible. They wouldn't pay us for months at a time, but we couldn't quit because we needed our money. It was a horrible game we had to play with them and worst of all we were all getting paid under that table ( which I wasn't aware of either) We called the labor board several times ( they didn't help either) My friend didn't get paid about 800 bucks from them. Sorry for anyone who got a pre paid package but that was the plan all along. I had a feeling that they would kept pushing the packages so they could file for bankruptcy and pocket the cash.

But the good news is, the dogs where treated really well. Everyone who worked for Anna, loved all of those dogs... They where treated right and had lots of fun everyday. That is the only reason I miss that place because of those dogs :)

The Barking Room - what a tragedy! That druggie/addict is pathetic and a liar. Besides the drug and illegal business charges, she should also be charged with animal cruelty charges because of how: 1) the shop was a front while the animals were there, 2) the dogs were under the care of someone of bad character and practise, as well as being high, reliant on substances, and altered by them, and 3) the risk of undesirable characters and trash coming into the premises.

If not for those other employees, who probably cared for the animals and treated them properly more than she did, those dogs might have been harmed by her - with the state she's in.

I used to own the Savannah Room and had to deal with the large distaste and not so good reputation. I tried my hardest to get the back room going first with live events. It was very very difficult. We did managed after two years to finally have something positive happen in that cursed spot. I was somewhat new at the game and I'm sure I didn't make everybody happy but I really tried to make it happen. The landlord at the time was no help what so ever even after I experienced a rain storm inside my venue. Her husband died and she had no clue (or it would seem) how to run her business. The building itself was in very very poor conditions.She was just holding out for the 3.5million she wanted for the building. Long of the short all the tough times of trying to make it work was not working and a family memeber became ill and I was tired....classic mistake of trying to wear all the hats and I burned out fast. Then a family member became sick and that was enough. The books were good enough that I sold it for 15grand more than what I paid for it. The new owner I sold it to really wanted to make it work and had the 5yrs of finances for it according to him. I passed on three months of booking which he told me he reaped the rewards. Apparently he did ok for a short while but its a hard business. Not too sure what happen with him but I talked to the new owner of the building who said that the guy just disappeared in the middle of the night. By the way I think he also bought the Zoo bar at the time and it suffered the same fate.Its hard running a bar and I only wish the best. All those kind friendly peeps who supported me especially the Comedians thank you for hanging in as long as you did. And yes I made mistakes but my heart was in the right place. Sorry I had to get rid of the drug dealers, bad karma and bringing in your own food lol. Maybe another go at it in the future with a proper partner this time. Good luck to all those who try.