Threatened Toronto nightlife venue to stick around for years despite closure rumours

With condo developments becoming a challenge for many businesses in Toronto,  news of a change in ownership is often met with great applause. That sentiment is especially true for the owners and patrons of Crews & Tangos, the city's long-running drag bar in Church Wellesley Village.

For the unversed, plans to redevelop the space were approved in 2022, and although they did consider keeping Crews & Tangos as part of the development, many feared the deal would seal without the bar being salvaged.

A recent CBC report now suggests that the development company, Graywood Developments, has struck a deal with the owners of the drag bar, allowing it to remain open until at least 2029.

The latest revelation does not mean that development plans have halted. The report confirms that plans will continue as proposed, but for now, they do not impact Crews & Tangos in any way.

This isn't the first time that talk of redevelopment has affected Crews & Tangos in the city. Conversations initially started in 2020, when the changes were first proposed. But the bar's cry for help fell on supportive ears, and the city rallied together to convince Graywood Developments to implement a joint plan that wouldn't put the bar out of business.  

blogTO did reach out to Graywood Developments and Crews & Tangos, but neither party was available for comment.