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Born-again (and again) cafés, bars and grills By Courtney Shea
Image credit: Meaghan Ogilvie
Local club kings Nick Di Donato (C Lounge) and Charles Khabouth (Ultra Supper Club, Guvernment) are set to open Tattoo Rock Parlour in mid-November in a spot that’s seen several other bars come and go recently. If they’re lucky, a cool concept, a hip ’hood (Queen and Portland) and their combined industry heavyweight status will be enough to break the cycle. Of course, achieving that perfect alchemy of timing, target market and location can be tricky, even in the most blessed of venues.
WHERE: 1055 Yonge St., at Roxborough
PAST LIVES: It was the ’80s glitterati go-to Cibo until 1993, but the hot location cooled quickly for doomed successors Arlecchino, Cucina, Roxborough’s, The Rosewood, Emerald Thai and Tabla—all in the span of 10 years.
CURRENT RESIDENT: Upscale restaurant 1055 took up residence in mid-2003.
STAYING POWER: In theory, the location should make an ideal haunt for peckish Rosedalers—too bad many would rather nosh on chicken wings at the Quail & Firkin chain pub next door, where it’s often hard to find a seat.
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