There's been an outpouring of support to save The Imperial Pub from closing

Sometimes, it feels like we can count the number of places to get a cheap drink in Toronto on one hand, and that list just got even shorter. In a landmark loss for the city's legacy bar culture, The Imperial Pub — an 84-year-old, World War II-era drinking den near Sankofa Square known for its welcoming atmosphere, billiards, second-floor library and hidden performance venue — recently announced it would be closing. Sold to make way for new multi-storey TMU student housing, the historic venue is set to be demolished, with its final day of service on November 15, 2025.

For such a storied business, it's still as loved as it ever was by present-day TMU attendees. Both the upper-level patio and downstairs pub (titled the Aquarium Room, which hold large fish tanks behind the bar) would host students blowing off steam after class, grabbing a bite between lectures or making new friends that would last a lifetime.

Many — including us — have reacted with dismay, frustration and sadness to the news of its closure. Alumni and current students alike have taken to social media to express their disappointment in yet another beloved Toronto institution being bulldozed to clear the way for real estate development.

There's even a petition to save The Imperial Pub from closure, which has amassed nearly 1,400 signatures to date. It's likely not enough to stop the bar from shuttering, but it's a valiant final effort from a community that holds so many fond memories at the venue.

What does The Imperial Pub closing mean for Toronto? Is it a sign of a city that's maturing, shedding its former self to make way for growth? Or, is it a disregard for our heritage and the businesses that laid the groundwork for what it is today?