Closure: 15-year-old jazz bar has permanently shuttered its doors in Toronto

A jazz bar that regularly hosted live music almost every night in Toronto has now announced it has closed its doors for good.

Poetry Jazz Cafe has made headlines for closing its doors in Toronto previously, actually. The jazz bar was once located in Kensington Market, but had moved to Queen Street West, where that location has now closed permanently.

The bar posted a social media announcement simply reading “Our Queen Street West location is now permanently closed.”

The post has garnered around 300 likes, with around 50 comments from people commenting on the closure and pleading for Poetry Jazz Cafe to migrate to their neighbourhoods. Others were sad to see Poetry Jazz Cafe closing after they had recently discovered it.

“Looking forward to the new spot! Thanks for all the years on Queen,” one commenter wrote on Instagram, adding, “I remember Kensington too.”

“For real?!” one commenter exclaimed. “Kinda hoping you move back to Kensington Market.”

“East End Pleeeeeeaaaase!” begged another commenter.

“Truly a gift you’ve given this community. Memories and connections you created will last a lifetime! Forever a Poet,” one person commented on Instagram.

The post suggests that moving to another area of Toronto is definitely in the works, reading, “Stay tuned for another epic location to be revealed. Thanks for your incredible support and loyalty, it was felt.”

Poetry Jazz Cafe also posted an official announcement about the Queen Street West closure on its website: “WE’RE SORRY TO ANNOUNCED THAT OUR QUEEN ST WEST LOCATION IS NOW CLOSED. PLEASE STAY TUNED (VIA INSTAGRAM @POETRYJAZZCAFE ) FOR AN EXCITING ANNOUNCEMENT REGARDING OUR NEXT MOVE. THANKS FOR YOUR LOYALTY & TREMENDOUS SUPPORT IN THE PAST 17 YEARS.”

Poetry Jazz Cafe on Queen Street West permanently closed as of last week.