The Matador Club, Music venue in Dufferin Grove, Toronto, Canada
The Matador Club was a music venue in Toronto featuring hardwood floors, a high ceiling of about 18 feet, and a stage decorated with western-themed items like antlers and cowboy boots. The room offered an intimate setting with rustic character suitable for live performances.
The club was established in 1964, converting a former dance academy and bowling alley into a music venue. It operated for many decades until 2010, when new owners took over and uncovered original architectural details during renovation work.
The venue drew country and folk musicians who performed for audiences seeking that style of music, and the setting reinforced this identity with western-themed decorations. The rustic aesthetic with antlers and cowboy boots created an environment where this musical tradition felt at home.
The venue was located in a residential neighborhood and opened mainly on Friday and Saturday evenings, with occasional Sunday events. Visitors should know that opening times started very late at night and extended into the early morning hours.
When new owners took over after closure, they discovered hidden original architectural elements from the former dance academy and bowling alley during renovation. These hidden layers of building history revealed how the space had evolved over the decades.
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