After 25 years of nightly live music, Toronto’s the Orbit Room has permanently closed its doors.
The Orbit Room initially closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Co-founder Tim Notter announced Thursday on Facebook that the club will remain closed even as Ontario pushes forward with its reopening efforts.
“This doesn’t mean that we are out of the live music business,” Notter wrote. “It just means that our shows will no longer be at that address.”
Notter and Rush guitarist Alex Lifeson opened the Orbit Room at 580 College St. in Toronto in 1994. Since then, they booked some of the best rock, jazz and funk musicians in town. The Orbit Room was included in JAZZ.FM91’s guide to Toronto’s top jazz clubs.
“For 22 of the last 25 years, we have had a band play every night of the week,” Notter wrote. “Like everyone else, we will have to wait and see how the business reopens and what it will look like before we can make any plans for the future.”
However, Notter also said to “stay tuned” for announcements of any future shows, which would take place in a new location.
The Orbit Room’s closing follows several other Toronto jazz clubs that have been uprooted in the last few months. In May, the 120 Diner announced it would be permanently shuttered. In March, Hugh’s Room Live informed patrons that it was looking for a new home.