The Phoenix Concert Theatre has secured a new downtown location at 1605 Queen St. W., known as the Parkdale Hall, preserving its 1,350-person capacity following a multi-year search prompted by plans to close its long-time Sherbourne Street home to make way for the construction of community housing.
Agreement Reached for New West-End Location
Co-owner and operator Lisa Zbitnew told the Star she reached an agreement to move the music venue into the Parkdale Hall property as part of a multimillion-dollar project currently in its early stages. The venue will retain the Phoenix name and match the capacity of its current 410 Sherbourne St. location, pending city approvals.
The transition is expected to take place next year. Zbitnew noted that while the move west was not initially planned, the location offers a welcome balance to a live music scene largely concentrated on the east and north sides of the city.
History of the Parkdale Theatre Building
The building at 1605 Queen St. W. opened in 1920 as a movie theatre. Local exhibitors Jay and Jules Allen commissioned Danforth Music Hall architect C. Howard Crane to design the structure. As audience numbers dwindled, the theatre closed in 1970 and subsequently housed various commercial enterprises, including an Eaton’s clearance centre, a beer retailer, and an antiques store.
Entrepreneur Alex Chan and his father, Eric Chan, acquired the property and reopened it in 2020 to host small concerts, wrestling events, and the Parkdale Antiques and Collectibles Market. The City of Toronto designated the building as a heritage building that same year.
Renovation Plans and Layout Changes
Zbitnew stated that modifications to the hall will be primarily cosmetic rather than structurally significant. While the current hall layout accommodates 750 standing patrons, the new venue will utilize the full floor plate of the original Parkdale Theatre, which historically held 1,500 people.
Current storefront spaces on the property—including a coffee shop, cannabis store, and sewing centre—will be integrated into the main hall. A new mezzanine will be built, offering a capacity slightly greater than the balcony at the current Phoenix location.
Current Status and Approvals
Proposals for rezoning and other necessary permits have been submitted to the City of Toronto. Both the Phoenix and the Parkdale Hall intend to maintain normal operations until permissions are finalized, with the Phoenix remaining open on Sherbourne Street until the move is complete.
Alex Chan, who will retain ownership of the building, described the partnership as a fitting union of two spaces with deep roots in Toronto’s entertainment history.
Pat Tobin, general manager of the city’s economic development and culture division, endorsed the transition of the independent, Canadian-owned venue, calling the Phoenix a critical and vibrant part of the live music scene.
Community Preservation and Artifacts
Zbitnew indicated that operators intend to keep serving the surrounding arts community by potentially continuing the Sunday flea market operations if scheduling permits. Organizers also plan to relocate key pieces of Phoenix history, including the venue’s signature “wall of fame” collection of framed rock-star photographs featuring acts like Hole, Soundgarden, and David Bowie. Operators also hope to transport the heavy concrete lion statue that has guarded the front entrance since the beginning, though Zbitnew acknowledged its weight presents a logistical challenge for movers.
Common Questions About the Relocation
- Where is the new Phoenix Concert Theatre moving?
- The venue is moving to 1605 Queen St. W., currently known as the Parkdale Hall.
- What will happen to the capacity of the venue?
- The new location will accommodate approximately 1,350 people, matching the capacity of the current Sherbourne Street venue.
- When is the move scheduled to take place?
- The relocation is expected to happen next year, pending municipal rezoning and project approvals.
- Will the current Phoenix building close immediately?
- No. Both the Phoenix and the Parkdale Hall will continue normal operations until all required city permissions are secured.
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