Toronto pub home to some of the city's best chicken wings closes permanently

A Toronto bar popular among university students and chicken wing fanatics alike (admittedly, there's a lot of overlap there) has permanently closed its doors.

The address of 171 College St. has lived plenty of different lives over the years. Once home to legendary UofT student bar O'Grady's before it shuttered overnight in 2021, it was most recently occupied by Smith Social House.

The concept filled the hole left behind by O'Grady's, serving drinks and bar bites to the scores of students who, with the bar situated just on the border of UofT's campus, were like moths to a sticky countertop flame. 

In 2024, though, Smith Social House got another arrow in its quiver. When Roncesvalles fried chicken shop Ding-a-Wing — purveyors of some of the best wings in the city — shuttered, it eventually reopened at The Smith House. 

For just under two years, the two existed in perfect wings-and-beer harmony until, in the first days of 2026, both shuttered with little warning or explanation.

Both Smith Social House and Ding-a-Wing have been marked closed on Google.

On the bright side, however, fans of the former Smith Social House can rest assured knowing that the space won't merely sit dormant. In fact, it's already been replaced.

Ever since early February 2026, the stalwart building has been home to The Copper Boot, which describes itself as "Toronto's Game Day Headquarters."

A self-described Tex-Mex sports bar, the bones of what was once Smith Social House remain. There are pool tables on the second floor, pints whenever you want them, and they've even got wings — during Leafs games, they go for $1 a pop.

The jury is still out on whether they hold a candle to Ding-a-Wing, but if you're simply in the market for a place to grab a pint and watch the game, you've still got it in The Copper Boot.

The Copper Boot (formerly Smith Social House) is located at 171 College St.