Canada’s All-Inclusive Sports Bar
Striker opened on Labour Day weekend 2016 at 31 St. Joseph Street – not too far from the epicentre of Toronto’s gay community at Church & Wellesley. A fitting location since the St Joseph Street strip was once the “it spot” of clubbing and venues in the decades prior (Club 5, The Manatee, and nearby Carrington’s). 31 St Joseph Street was dormant for years, once a Hasty Market (among other things), it didn’t have the makings of a full-service bar.
Striker was born out of frustration when owners Vince and Oliver sought to watch the Stanley cup final game between the Vancouver Canucks and the Boston Bruins. Anywhere would do, but nowhere had their game on. The pair were entertaining an old friend from Vancouver which made the need to be out on the town even more relevant. As the game ticked on, they popped into a local Church St establishment and asked the bar manager to put on the game, only to find there was no sound! No ONE was to blame – it’s just that no bar in the village was focused on gay sports fans.
From that day onwards, the dream of Striker Sports Bar was born. Striker takes pride in increasing awareness for gay sports and works closely with the community and various organizations to accomplish this. Striker sponsors gay teams and leagues & along with “You Can Play” and Baker & Mackenzie law firm, held the first ever CFL official sanctioned event at a LGBT establishment, with the century old Grey Cup physically visiting the bar. Striker’s motto is “All inclusive, All the time”, and we live and breathe that everyday. Striker is fully wheelchair accessible and has a positive vibe which has made Striker the Mecca for LGBTQ sports fans and their admirers!
