‘We can’t lose recipes,’ How this Toronto domino club is keeping Caribbean traditions alive one game at a time

A Toronto club is bringing all the energy as one of the city’s hottest third spaces by bringing a classic game to the younger generation: dominoes. 

With reggae, dancehall, and soca playing in the background, Domino Club is turning weeknights into something different, where instead of packed dance floors, people are gathering around tables, tiles in hand, meeting strangers or reconnecting with old friends.

On Wednesday night, the event was hosted at the popular Caribbean restaurant, Miss Likklemores on King West. Taking place at other venues across the city, like The Annex Hotel, the nights always consist of good vibes, great conversations, and even better moments shared across the table. 

Founders Dak Turner and Marlon Pusey wanted to reimagine how people socialize in Toronto, while staying rooted in their culture.

“We want to create a space where you can play dominoes in Toronto and downtown, in a nice venue where you can dress up a little bit, have a nice drink, and meet new people,” Turner explained. 

Both founders come from Jamaican backgrounds, where the competitive game has long been a staple at family gatherings, often played by older generations at kitchen tables or backyard gatherings. But as they got older, they began to notice a shift, one where those traditions weren’t always being passed down. 

“We want to make sure that we have a space where we’re not losing recipes, so to speak,” Pusey said. 

“As generations pass on, we want to make sure that we’re carrying on those traditions to the younger generations.”

For Turner, that disconnect was personal and inspired the creation of the club. 

“We can’t lose recipes, right? Growing up, I watched my parents, my uncles, my aunts playing dominoes, but I never really had a seat at that table.”

Now, Domino Club is creating that space, not just to learn the game, but to build new memories around it. 

“This is now a core memory for them, where they can come every couple of weeks and play dominoes and enjoy it,” he said. 

Beyond the cultural roots, the founders say the appeal speaks to something bigger happening across the city: a growing demand for more intentional, low-pressure social spaces. 

“I think people are really looking for more third spaces, like outside of work, in the home, where can you go?” Turner said. “You can come out on a weeknight, meet new people. It’s not a club night. You don’t have to be here until 2 a.m.”

That change is part of why the event has quickly taken off. Since launching last year, it has expanded to multiple events each month, with demand continuing to grow, including three more events scheduled throughout April. 

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“It all came together in a couple of weeks. We started in November, and now we’re doing multiple events each month,” Pusey said. 

Still, for both founders, the success isn’t just about a packed room but more about the connections being made at the events. 

“It’s bigger than the dominoes. We’re actually creating a vibe here with like-minded people, people that are looking for that third space, looking for a connection,” Turner said. 

From solo attendees to groups of friends, the atmosphere encourages people to rotate, meet, chat, and play — something that feels increasingly rare in the city’s nightlife scene.

“You meet a best friend, you meet a new connection, and people are gravitating towards that, and they want to keep coming,” he said. 

And in a city where nights out can feel repetitive, Domino Club is offering something refreshingly simple and rooted in deep culture: a game and a space where people can relax and have some wholesome fun. 

And if you know, you know: sometimes it’s a not-so-quiet and dominant “six love” that says it all.