Legendary bar just reopened after being closed for years in Toronto
Published August 26, 2024 at 11:17 am
A beloved bar with an amazing beer selection has just reopened their doors at a new address in Toronto after having been closed for years.
Thirsty & Miserable was once located in Kensington Market, but now they’ve opened up in a brand new neighbourhood.
The bar is known for their curated variety of craft beers on offer and also plain old good vibes as a community hub. They’ve served beers from breweries such as Bellwoods, Third Moon, Tooth and Nail, Fairweather, Blood Brothers and Avling, and the spot takes its name from a Black Flag song.
Thirsty & Miserable closed its doors in Kensington as the pandemic raged, but that wasn’t the only reason for their departure.
“Our 10 year lease is nearing its end,” owner Katie Whittaker wrote in a social media post in 2021. “Many of you know this already, but in case you haven’t heard, Thirsty will be closing shop at the end of the year. This building is crumbling and Covid is still lurking so it feels like the perfect opportunity to take a little break from bar ownership.”
Hours were posted for the last days open for the bar in December 2021, but the ravages of COVID threw a wrench into farewell plans.
“Tried opening the door for ventilation but it’s cold as fuck. We do offer take-out but our can selection is pretty tame as we are scheduled to close forever on December 30 and this was supposed to be a super fun pint crushing time,” reads a post from that time. “We don’t have growlers but could probably fill them if they are squeaky clean. Might get some plastic cups with lids. Classy, huh.”
During their last days, Thirsty & Miserable had to quickly shift to takeout only service, and reported that a customer and employees had tested positive for COVID, making for a quieter end for the bar than planned, with the bar officially closing in December 2021 in Kensington.
The bar posted to social media once while they were closed, an April Fool’s post of sorts advertising a “virtual bar” open on April 1.
Happily, in early August the bar finally posted on social media saying, “Some of ya know this already, but for those who don’t, it’s time to announce that we have a new spot in the works.”
The post about the reopening garnered over 800 likes and over 100 comments, with many comments from local bar owners, brewery workers and beer lovers saying they were so excited to see Thirsty & Miserable return.
This week, Thirsty & Miserable announced they are now open at 2102 Dundas St W.