What to know
- El Convento Rico, a staple in Toronto’s LGBTQ2S+ nightlife, is reopening at 722 College St. after closing its longtime home just weeks ago.
- The club’s closure was attributed to economic challenges and a landlord dispute, despite its 35-year legacy.
- The new location launches during Halloweekend, October 30, with free admission, a DJ, live entertainment, and complimentary hors d’oeuvres.
- The club’s relaunch has sparked community excitement, with many celebrating the return of its signature Latin drag shows and inclusive atmosphere.
Queer nightclub El Convento Rico announced the grand opening of a new spot in time for Halloweekend after closing its 35-year-old location a few weeks ago.
El Convento Rico nightclub originally opened in Little Italy at 750 College St., offering a safe haven for the LGBTQ2S+ community to dance and celebrate.
The nightclub offered Drag shows with a unique mix of Latin and Top 40 music, but on Oct. 1, the iconic nightclub shut down its doors after 35 years in business.
On El Convento Rico’s original account, which they have now deactivated, they shared a statement thanking the community for the outpour of support.
“Tonight, we say goodbye to 750 College St.—a place that became so much more than four walls,” the statement read in part.
“It became a home, a stage, a refuge, a family, and a place where so many of us were able to laugh, dance, love, celebrate, and simply be ourselves,” it continues.
In that first post, they did not explain the closure beyond “circumstances beyond [their] control.”
But the next day, the nightclub shed light on the circumstances behind the closure.
“The changes in the economy, rising costs and the increasing challenges of operating a business have made these past few years extremely difficult,” the post read in part. “Despite everything, we continued to fight to keep our doors open.”
Then, the post alluded to a dispute between the landlord and club owner.
“After paying millions of dollars in rent over more than 35 years, building El Convento Rico into a home and gathering place for our community, it is heartbreaking that our landlord was unwilling to work with us or show any compassion during such a difficult time,” the post read.
Now, El Convento Rico deactivated the previous account to start fresh under @elconventorico2.
The nightclub recently announced its comeback at 722 College St., where they will open during Halloweekend.
“SOME PLACES ARE MORE THAN JUST A DESTINATION. THEY’RE HOME. For over 35 years, El Convento Rico has been a place where strangers became friends, individuality was celebrated, and everyone was free to be themselves. Our address may be changing, but our heart remains the same,” the post reads in part.
‘This is so exciting’
Clubgoers are hyped for El Convento Rico’s comeback.
“This is so exciting!!!!!” one Instagram user said.
“Can’t keep a good girl down!” another preached.
“YESSSS!!! They can try, but they won’t succeed,” another added.
“YASSSS! MORE LATIN EVENTS! LATIN CASTTT. THIS IS A LATINNNN BAR BB!!!” one user cheered.
“Congratulations to El Convento Rico on 35 years of success! Wonderful to see this family continuing its legacy just around the corner,” another user wrote.
More on the grand opening
El Convento Rico will officially open its doors on Friday, Oct. 30, with complimentary hors d’oeuvres, entertainment, a DJ, and most importantly, no cover.
