The tavern that’s been serving the west-end community with drinks, dance parties, and DJ nights announced in mid-February it will close permanently.

In a post to social media pages, Clinton’s Tavern announced its sudden closure.

“Clinton’s has always been a bar with a lot of heart. The people who have worked at Clinton’s throughout the years have shown incredible loyalty to this place. Unfortunately, we have some sad news to share. Clinton’s has closed,” the statement reads in part.

According to the staff’s statement, the closure appears to be permanent and was not related to issues with the landlord, but with the owner of the bar.

“Behind the scenes we’ve been fighting a tireless battle to keep our doors open – trying to push beyond lies and greed, trying to ignore the carelessness of the owner, and trying to work for each other because we all loved Clinton’s fiercely. We rallied together to do whatever it took, often without pay, to keep things going,” the post reads.

All scheduled events were cancelled or relocated, including Choir! Choir! Choir!, a singing event hosted at Clinton’s every Tuesday. Choir! Choir! Choir! has since held a fundraising event for the staff members “who are not only owed a lot of money but are also for now, out of work.”

“Clinton’s closure is part of a larger trend. Across Toronto, local and independent businesses are struggling to survive,” said MPP for University–Rosedale Jessica Bell. “The closure of an institution like Clinton’s is a big loss.”

Bell expressed her support to the hard-working staff and management of Clinton’s Tavern.

—Tanya Ielyseieva, Gleaner News