The time has come to rip-up the Melody Bar’s long-suffering carpet.
The Gladstone Hotel watering hole, best known for its karaoke and bluegrass nights, is re-opening Monday after months of renovations with a revamped look and sound system owners hope will transform the space into a more dynamic destination on Queen West’s crowded bar strip.
When the Zeidler family restored and reinvented the 122-year-old building as an art and culture hub nearly six years ago, they retained The Melody Bar’s dingy dive bar appeal to appease long-time customers connected to the neighbourhood’s pre-gentrification past. Since then, restraunts, night spots and condos have multiplied around the hotel and the Queen West institution started to feel stagnant.
“It needed a new handbag and a set of pearls, basically,” says designer Christina Zeidler. “Before the space was so dependent on programming that you wouldn’t go out to unless you knew the band – you’d be so specifically drawn to something. Now we want to make a space that’s really inviting you’ll hang out there and you might discover a new band or listen to a new DJ.”
Zeidler, who oversaw the reno with project manager Rene Ng, wanted to brighten up the bar so they began by painting its 14-foot ceiling white and ripping up the eight-year-old carpeting to expose the original terrazzo floor. They installed subwoofers and commissioned artist Kathryn Walker to line the ceiling with felt installation to soften the expanded sound.
The front area has expanded seating, with three rows of tables and chairs leading to back area that now houses harvest tables, lounge-y corners with second-hand couches, an animated blacklight installation by Orest Tataryn and a self-portrait of artist Dean Baldwin taking a shower in one of the hotel’s rooms dressed in a tux. The hotel is also adding seating on the stage area beside the Victorian windows for brunch.
“It was like a big long drinking room before, so if it wasn’t packed with 200 people it felt really empty,” she says. “It needed more definition.”
“It’s a really nice mix now between restaurant tables, banquettes and lounge seating that’s really comfortable. Even though it’s lighter colours, the whole room just feels warmer.”
Zeidler hopes The Melody Bar, which is best known for its karaoke nights, will become equally well-known as a place to hang out, have meetings, work, order food from the café across the hall and of course, tie a few on.
To celebrate the re-launch, the Gladstone is planning nightly events this week culminating in a karaoke relaunch celebration on Saturday night. To take the beloved karaoke institution to the next level, Zeidler and Ng have installed a light box between the bar’s twin marblite columns in front of the bar to project song lyrics and videos for all to see. Check out the full listing of re-launch events here.
By signing up, I agree to receive emails from Now Toronto and to the Privacy Policy and Terms & Conditions.
