Toronto's iconic Phoenix Concert Theatre is moving to a new neighbourhood

The Phoenix Concert Theatre in Toronto is getting another shot at staying open, as the legendary music venue is set to move from its longstanding home on Sherbourne Street to a historic theatre in Parkdale. 

The venue's owners confirmed via a press release on Tuesday that they have reached an agreement to move the iconic venue into what is currently Parkdale Hall at 1605 Queen St. W. 

According to the release, the project is still in its early phases and will require city approvals, but the move is expected to happen sometime in 2027. The venue will keep the Phoenix name, with capacity limits staying true to its original size at approximately 1,350 people. 

The proposal is still subject to rezoning and other required approvals, but both venues intend to operate as usual until proposals are granted, with the Phoenix staying open until the move is complete. 

Over two years ago, the Phoenix announced it would be closing in January 2025 after 30 years, as the site of the concert hall was slated to be redeveloped, leaving the future of the venue up in the air. 

Less than three months before the venue was due to close, its owners negotiated an extension and continued on their quest for an alternative location. The Phoenix's owners later confirmed that a deal had been struck with developers to maintain its operations through 2026, pushing back the venue's closing date to the relief of indie music lovers across the city. 

Parkdale Hall is housed in the former Parkdale Theatre, which first opened its doors in the spring of 1920. According to the venue's website, cinema tycoons Jay and Jule Allen brought the theatre to life and commissioned renowned movie palace architect C. Howard Crane (who also designed the Danforth Music Hall) to create the building. 

The theatre featured an ornate plaster ceiling, intricate gilded accents, and crystal chandeliers, with more than 1,500 leather seats for guests. A few decades later, the Parkdale Theatre closed its doors in the summer of 1970, but the building continued to house a variety of tenants over the years, including Eaton's Bargain Centre Clearance Store in 1973 and the Queen West Antique Centre in 1997. 

Fast forward to 2020, and Parkdale Hall opened under the ownership of the Chan family.

"There is something incredibly fitting about bringing The Phoenix to Parkdale Hall," said Alex Chan, President of the Parkdale Hall. "This building was created for entertainment more than 100 years ago, and The Phoenix has spent more than three decades creating its own remarkable history in Toronto. Bringing those two stories together gives us an opportunity to respect what came before while creating something new for the city's west end."

The current hall layout accommodates up to 750 people for weddings, corporate events, and shows, but the new venue will span the full floor plate of the original venue, which had a capacity of 1,500. 

Parkdale Hall is set to continue operating as an event venue throughout the approval period, and the Phoenix will also operate at its current location in 2027. 

The Phoenix Concert Theatre is located at 410 Sherbourne St.