Upscale Pool Hall "Roxy Bar" Opens in Downtown Toronto

By:Erik Hjorleifson 

In a time where poolrooms are closing their doors at an alarming rate, it is nice to be able to report some positive news. On Thursday Aug 6th the Roxy Bar officially opened their doors for business. They are located in the heart of downtown Toronto, in the popular King West fashion district at 19 Charlotte Street. The room will be at the same location as the legendary Charlotte Room which was a mainstay in the downtown pool scene for 17 years.The new owners include the old staff Clarice, Hannah, Mark and Justin Kluznik a Mississauga based competitive player who has achieved many titles over the years in the U.S. and Canadian pool scenes. 

 The ambiance of the venue is something that is rarely seen in a pool room, the 7 table space is complete with brick walls and artwork in a building that is over 100 years old. The Roxy is the kind of place where you would feel comfortable bringing someone on a first date or coming by for a drink after a long day of work.  With it's close proximity to the Air Canada Center and the Rogers Center it also a great spot to drop by for a bite to eat after a sporting event or concert. This room is also the preferred watering hole of past and present Second City students an acting school in Toronto that has produced the likes of John Candy, Martin Short, Dana Carvey and Mike Myers. This past year before the reopening Bruno Mars chose the room for an after party while on tour in Toronto. 

Considering the upscale area it is located in, while under old management the room featured a pricey menu that you would expect from most businesses in the area. The new vision for the room is to maintain that atmosphere with more affordable menu items including traditional bar food as well as more expensive choices. The room has also added dart boards and two brand new pinball machines to accommodate patrons with options other than playing pool. New management has also re-clothed all the tables and done some interior decorating to put a fresh look on the already aesthetically pleasing venue.

For the competitive players the room will offer leagues on Sundays and Mondays and the Tuesday night "social" pool league will return. To my knowledge the "social" league on Tuesdays is the only league of its kind in Toronto. Weekly dues are only $10 and at the end of each session a banquet and awards night take place but there are no cash prizes. This allows the league to have a friendly atmosphere where beginner to advanced players can come out and just enjoy a night of pool with friends, without the worry of competitive pressure and politics that arise when money is involved. 

I will be returning as the in house pro on Tuesdays and would strongly recommend this league for players that are new to playing in leagues, or are tired of the politics that can be associated with some of the competitive leagues in the area. 

Congratulations to all my friends at the Roxy on the opening of the new room, and I wish you all the best of success with the new venture. If you live in the G.T.A (Greater Toronto Area) be sure to check it out next time you are in the area. If you are visiting Toronto this is a room that can't be missed. The Roxy is also available for private and corporate party bookings. Make sure to visit and "Like" the Roxy Bar Facebook page and get the word out about this great pool hall.