By Joseph Abernethy

This month we’re wrapping up our mapping the village series with a look at the 2000’s. The turn of the millennium ushered in a decade of high concentration, vibrant and lively bar scene – the options in the Church-Wellesley Village were outstanding. 

Zelda’s first opened in 1997 and operated at 532 Church Street just south of Wellesley on the west side.  Its Marque sign was as infamous as it’s drag shows. Throughout the 2000’s Zelda’s was the go-to spot for dirty bingo and it launched the careers of some of the city’s beloved Drag Queens and had one of the best Sunday Brunches on the street. 

The community supported Zelda’s and Zelda’s supported the community through fundraising events and outreach.  However, by 2009 its lease came up for renewal so, on September 27, in the dead of night Zelda’s was packed up and moved to 692 Yonge Street.  A Daily Xtra representative videoed their stealthy retreat – https://www.dailyxtra.com/zeldas-vamooses-11968

Sign in front of Zelda’s on Church Street announcing the lease expired and they were moving to Yonge Street.
Sign in front of Zelda’s on Church Street announcing the lease expired and they were moving to Yonge Street.

In November 2009, the bar had its grand reopening on Yonge Street as Zelda’s Living Well Restaurant covering three entire floors and continued to wow crowds with regular drag performances until they permanently closed in June 2012 as a result of an electrical fire.

Street level photograph of Zelda’s Living Well Restaurant on Yonge Street with a for lease sign following its closing.
Street level photograph of Zelda’s Living Well Restaurant on Yonge Street with a for lease sign following its closing.

Zipperz, at 72 Carlton Street, was rebranded in 2000 into ZipperzCellblock, Dance Bar & Piano Lounge, turning the north east corner of Church and Carlton into a much beloved local watering hole. With a steal dancefloor in the back and a carpeted cabaret bar in the front this became the go-to meeting spot for queer men and women of all ages. Over the years the bar began hosting nights for drag kings and queens and a popular retro night.

Street level photograph of Zipperz Cellblock at 72 Carton Street, Toronto.
Street level photograph of Zipperz Cellblock at 72 Carton Street, Toronto.

The bar became a second home with a family atmosphere for a regular crowd of patrons. As is the case with so many of the bars we’ve reviewed Zipperz closed in 2016 to make way for a 471-unit condo.

Poster promoting Zipperz Last Call and final night Thursday July 7, 2016.
Poster promoting Zipperz Last Call and final night Thursday July 7, 2016.

Opening in 1999 at 6 Gloucester Street Fly Nightclub became the place to dance in the new millennium. The venue quickly became known for its huge dance floor, loud sound system and hosting some of the world’s best DJs. Perhaps the clubs biggest claim to fame was the bar doubled as the filming location for Club Babylon in Queer as Folk. After a 20-year run and reopening as Fly 2.0 in 2014 the club finally closed in 2019 to make room for a 34-floor rental development.

Over the years the village has had plenty of queer spaces to choose from with a constant rotation of businesses opening and closing. There’s no denying that this is a transformative time for the village however, it’s unlikely to disappear anytime soon. On that note lets also celebrate the fact that it’s become easier for queer businesses to set up and succeed in neighbourhoods throughout the city. As always, if you have any pictures, videos or other media of Toronto’s changing queer community feel free to share it with the ArQuives so future generations can see the community as you documented it.