Phoenix concert hall closing after 33 years

Owners vow to relocate music club that has hosted the Stones, Dylan, Metallica, Rush and Billie Eilish

- NICK KREWEN

One of Toronto's most venerable concert venues, the Phoenix Concert Theatre, is closing its doors.

As of Jan. 15, 2025, the 1,350-capacity club at 410 Sherbourne St., which has played host to such music superstars as the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Metallica, Rush, Billie Eilish, Post Malone and thousands more, will shutter to make room for more housing.

"It's slated for development of a condominium," said Lisa Zbitnew, the Phoenix's co-owner and president, adding that the site's imminent closure "was not our choice." "It's a legacy venue. It would be great if we could stick around, but the reality is, we have a housing crisis and this is a building that's slated to be developed." But there is a silver lining, said Zbitnew: the business owners are hoping to raise the club from the ashes and are currently searching for a new downtown location.