THE LAST DANCE ROUND 1, WITH ADDY, DEKO-ZE, JELO, THE JUNKIES, GREG GOW and many more, at Footwork (425 Adelaide West), Friday (October 18), 10 pm. footworkbar.com.
THE LAST DANCE ROUND 2, WITH SYDNEY BLU, BABY JOEL, JAMIE KIDD, NATHAN BARATO, NITIN and many more, at Footwork, Saturday (October 19), 10 pm. footworkbar.com.
The streets surrounding late-night party palace Footwork are very different than when Stephan Philion and Joel Smye opened it eight and a half years ago.
Most of the clubs that were once its neighbours have been replaced by high-end steak houses, design firms and, of course, condos. Until recently, Footwork felt like the last trace of edgy nightlife in the Entertainment District, and it seemed inevitable that it would also be pushed aside by the massive wave of development sweeping through the downtown core.
But despite the new residential tower just a few feet from their back-alley entrance, this isn’t a story of noise complaints shutting down yet another world-famous underground dance music venue.
“People think we’re moving for various reasons, but no one seems to get it right. We’ve actually been looking for a new spot for a couple of years now,” explains Philion.
“We wanted to grow, and we felt a bit confined here,” Smye adds. “Our new condo neighbours haven’t actually been a major issue yet, other than a few complaints, but the area just isn’t a good fit any more.”
While fewer venues in Toronto can accommodate it, the market for big bass beats in dark rooms is growing thanks to the crossover between the mainstream EDM boom and the remnants of the traditional house and techno scenes. This cultural moment is a huge opportunity for a venue that can successfully bridge those worlds.
Philion and Smye think they’ve finally found the spot to do so, in the second-floor Bloor and Bathurst club most recently known as the Annex Wreckroom. At twice Footwork’s capacity, it should suit their crowds even better.
“There’s been a real surge the last couple of years, and we want to be part of that wave,” says Smye. “We have events here where 200 people are being turned away at the door, and they get mad about that. We’re able to get some great bookings, but people want to be able to actually see their favourite artists.”
Identifying a demand is one thing, but finding the appropriate space is another. The days of cheap downtown warehouse spots are long gone, and zoning restrictions prevent more creative solutions to the nightlife dilemma.
“It’s pretty hard to find a nightclub to buy within the area of the city allotted,” Philion says.
“I don’t think you can really get a new nightclub licence outside the Entertainment District, and everywhere there has a condo next to it now,” adds Smye. “You basically have to take over someone else’s spot.”
Fortunately, their new spot has everything they were looking for they’ll be launching the still unnamed new club October 26 with a series of events before shutting down to fully renovate in the winter.
“I feel like we milked every single square inch of this place as much as we could have,” Smye reflects. His partner is equally ready to move.
“As soon as we walked in the door of the new space, we started seeing possibilities.”
benjaminb@nowtoronto.com | @benjaminboles
