Save Sneaky Dee's: Why Toronto's Alternative Community Is Fighting Back.

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For generations, Sneaky Dee’s has been more than just a place to grab the best nachos in the city or to catch a random gig.

It's been a place where bands have played their first sold-out shows, where lifelong friendships have been made, and where the local alternative scene has found a home. 

Sneaky Dee’s has become a go-to place for many people in the GTA scene, having hosted space for Toronto’s Emo Night North. Safe to say, we've spent our fair share of time there. The establishment has been around for 39 years for good reason: great food, fun vibe, and it is a place where countless artists have taken their first steps towards their careers. 

Now? That special place that’s become home to the scene is at risk. 

Toronto City Council is set to vote on a re-zoning application on July 8, 2026, that would allow for the demolition of Sneaky Dee's to make way for, you guessed it, more unneeded condos.

If approved, Toronto could lose one of the city's most beloved independent venues. These venues give bands, music lovers, and communities a place to belong, which makes spaces like Sneaky Dee's worth fighting for. 

The scene in Toronto is small but mighty. We need places like Sneaky Dee’s that are going to help keep the alternative culture alive. It has given many local bands a place to play and has helped grow our music community throughout the years. That's exactly why so many artists, fans, and members of the community are speaking out against the proposed demolition of Sneaky Dee's.

Davin Burgundy of the band Better Luck! Has been vocal about how special the venue is, sharing, “When I was about 23 years old, I had just been out of a relationship, heartbroken, and hopeful to make a night out for myself at Sneaks on a Friday night. I had previously heard of MFOY and people with similar music interests as me going there to party, but I never built up the courage to actually go alone. MFOY didn't really exist at this particular time anymore...it was a new thing called Homesick.” A pop-punk themed night hosted at Sneaky Dee’s, though the solo trip felt intimidating, it changed his life. “I timidly walked up to the corner of college/Bathurst and walked straight to the smokers' pit. There, I overheard a young guy talking about starting his music project and how excited he was to show people. Unknowingly at the time, it was Jordan Black, of the band Like Pacific. His upbeat passion and positivity made me feel at ease walking up that flight of stairs that night. The DJ was playing New Found Glory and all of the music that I enjoyed.” For Davin, it was a great experience to step into a room full of people with the same taste in music as him. That led to meeting people and making lifelong friendships that have lasted 15+ years. “Cut to countless emo nights, and more and more friends made each time I returned.”

“From years of watching my favorite bands play before they blew up huge, to getting bottled in the head, to falling deeply in love on a first date.” He shares, “From watching the stage to eventually getting the opportunity to play on it a few times with my family and friends there to support me.” It’s safe to say that Sneaky Dee’s has made an impact. Better Luck! Immediately booked the venue after Davin attended the city hall to protest the development proposal. “The timing couldn't be more cathartic..When I heard the news about a potential condo takeover, I immediately dropped everything and made my way down to City Hall. I had posted an Instagram story about a Sneaky Dee's tattoo that I had gotten about 5 years ago, something I had gotten done on a whim by Sam Roe in Hamilton. I immediately got an email from Brandan Choghri, a reporter from CityNews, who wanted to meet me in person at City Hall and hear my story about why Sneaks means so much to me.” This is just one example of all the memories, stories, and friendships made at Sneaky Dee’s. “Such a legendary venue should be deemed a historical building because it has a deep-rooted history for the outcasts and outsiders since 1990, the year I was born...I didn't fit in with normie culture, and never have. At least when I came to the corner of College/Bathurst, it was with other punk kids that loudly felt the same way.”

Sneaky Dee’s is also the home of Black Mat Society, Toronto’s first-ever alternative fitness collective "built for people who don’t see themselves in traditional wellness spaces,” founder Alaina shares. Black Mat Society sees Sneaky Dee’s as a welcoming space for all. “Sneaky Dee’s brings a raw, lived-in energy that can’t be replicated in a typical fitness studio. Our classes feed into the Dee’s vibe. Music-driven intensity with heavy playlists and movement that is expressive, accessible, and honest. Being able to continue to offer our classes in this space is so important to the community. Everyone feels like they belong at Sneaky Dee’s. The best scenes are built where people show up together. And Dee’s is THE place where we all come together.”

“Sneaky Dee’s has been a staple over the years for seeing live music + enjoying events/food. I have had many special memories there with friends and my wife as we were first starting to date.” Says Chester Hansen of the band BADBADNOTGOOD.  “It is not the 'best' venue, and the programming/organization can be flawed - but we can NOT lose another small venue like this,” he adds, “It is so critical to have spaces where people can go see live music and bands of all levels can perform. The ecosystem of these spaces in Toronto is on life support. This City is so terrible at keeping classic businesses open and buildings preserved. One day, we will wake up in a city completely owned by the Westons/Rogers/Live Nations and other mega corporations, and there will be nowhere to experience art and culture.”

Frontman of The Human Drive, Josh Wareham, made a great point, “At a time of historically low condo sales in Toronto, I think most of us can agree the last thing the city needs is to replace one of its historical local entertainment hubs with another soulless condo project.” When you think about the fact that Canadians are struggling more than ever to make a living, it makes you wonder what good yet another condo building will do. It’d take away from small businesses and what’s left of Toronto’s spark, which has slowly been diminishing. 

“Sneaky Dee's is a staple of the local music scene in Toronto and the place where many of us got our start,” Josh added.  “They were one of the first Toronto venues to really give us a chance back in the day, and for that, we are forever grateful. The atmosphere of Sneaky Dee's is unmatched, and we have met many friends and fans on and off stage from playing shows there over the years.” As you can tell, a common theme when Sneaks is brought up is connection. “From the literally hundreds of shows booked there showcasing local talent from all different genres, to the legendary nachos and emo nights hosted there, Sneaky Dee's has always been a hub for all things alternative and a little weird.”

Emo Night North DJ and bassist/drummer for bands Honeymoon Bay/Fern Sully, Mack, has been going to Sneaky Dee’s since around 2016. “I "grew up" in my early adult years at Sneaks. I came out as trans while I was attending Homesick events there - the community didn't treat me differently, and the staff never told me which bathroom to use. I remember watching PUP livestream their new album release "This Place Sucks Ass" during the pandemic - I had my one bubbled best friend over, and we screamed and cried and sang at my TV because we thought we'd never see the inside of the venue again BECAUSE of the development proposal that we're still fighting. That proposal just sort of stagnated after; no one is really sure why. I started going to Emo Night every single Friday after lockdown ended. I've watched people meet their now fiancées at Sneaks, I've watched heartbreaks, love stories, made new lifelong friends, and watched a fiercely loving community form around the space. What started as a weirdo dance party became a weekly family gathering. It's quite literally my "Cheers" - everyone knows everyone's name.”

Being in bands, Mack mentions the importance of the venue for new acts in the Toronto music scene. “Sneaky Dee's is where many bands first got their start, and continues to give brand new bands opportunities to play their first, tenth, and fiftieth shows. With no pay-to-play and no cost to book with A-Minor Presents, this is quite literally the lowest bar to entry into the music scene in Toronto.”

Alongside shows, Sneaky Dee’s hosts Emo Night North, an event many people go to week after week. It’s become a safe space for the scene. “Sneaky Dee's is the birthplace of Emo Night North. We have had Emo Night North before lockdown, and since lockdown, we restarted weekly on March 4, 2022 - there have been 222 individual Emo Nights since then, according to my math (and including the one from last night!). I have watched the event, as I said above, transform from a collection of weird strangers at a dance party to a weekly gathering of found family. Another unique problem arose after lockdown ended - many young folks came of age during, at the end of, or just after lockdown. They had no exposure to the show scene, and some older folks called it quits from attending shows the way they used to. So many younger folks had never experienced a mosh pit, hardcore dancing, or learned any "pit etiquette". Emo Night is a uniquely wonderful space, then, as it is for some people, their very first mosh pit, and we get to teach newcomers how to pit safely. It is truly a wonderful community.”

Toronto Pop-Punk band Try This At Home took to songwriting to help spread the word of what is happening with our beloved spot, having posted a tribute song to Sneaky Dee’s, they’re also calling on other local musicians to do the same.

“A love for Sneaky Dee’s is something all Torontonians have in common, and it’s specifically important to the music community.” Frontman Dylan Ramstead shares. “Can you even call yourself a Toronto band if you haven’t played at Sneaks? It’s a rite of passage! Whether it’s your 1st show or 101st, 10 people in the crowd or 100, it’s always a great time. Sneaky Dee’s was hosting emo nights way before anyone else, and still does it the best. City hall doesn’t understand that if we take away everything that makes the city great, people will no longer be drawn here, and all we’ll have are a bunch of empty condos. Leave Sneaky Dee’s alone!”

Music lover Ellie shares with us why Sneaks means so much. “Sneaky Dee’s to me feels like a home away from home, despite only having gone twice. I was so excited to move to a much closer city to Toronto, knowing that it would make it so much easier for me to access this wonderful space, only to find out that now I might have it taken away before being able to make more memories and meet more wonderful people within the emo community. I have made friends at emo night that I still keep in contact with to this day, and I still consider the times I’ve been to emo night to be some of the best memories I’ve ever made. I don’t want such a lovely and important place to be torn down”.

Many people in the beloved emo scene feel the exact way, “It’s become a safe space for us all to come together and celebrate what emo music stands for: community, acceptance, love. As a queer woman, I have never felt especially welcomed in the majority of places, but I have always felt like I was at home and loved whenever I was at Dee’s, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels that way”.

For music fan Gail, the sense of community at Sneaky Dee’s has helped with healing after a traumatic event. “Back in October of 2020, I was kidnapped while walking home late at night from work, and it changed my life. For years after, I had a really hard time going outside. I didn't leave my apartment for 6 months, and then for a year after, I still couldn't go anywhere alone, even to the grocery store. That was, until I found Sneaky Dee's. It was my very first bar, and going out to one was an exercise my therapist had given me. Notoriously strict security gave me the confidence to go in, and the amazing, spectacular community there finally made me feel safe. Sneaky Dee's feels like a place where I can dress the way I want without fear, and with my newfound bravery from there, I was able to open my horizons to going out to other places. Now I've got a whole wall collage (modeled after the iconic Sneaky Dee's bathrooms) dedicated to all the wonderful venues and dive bars and places I've been, even though I still shake like a leaf and need help, I don't feel that way at Sneaks.”

Gail also made pins to show support for Sneaky Dee’s during this challenging time. “I chose to make the ‘Save Sneaky Dee's’ pins because it is truly the only place outside of my home I feel safe being alone at, because you're never really alone there”. To get rid of a fun, safe space that helps celebrate the local Toronto music community, just to have empty condos sit is absurd in our minds. It’s time for the city to support small businesses, support local talent, support its citizens, and stop tearing down our fun.

Another Sneaky Dee's supporter, Katie Wright, who lives out of town, makes it a point to show up to Emo Night North when possible, tells us, "Sneaky Dee's is the only place I feel safe in Toronto. I have never felt more welcomed into a community than I have here. I may live out of town, and I may not be there every Friday night for emo night, but when I need to fill my spirit to the brim so I can continue on with the work I do with vulnerable children and youth, I show up here. We cannot lose another Canadian-operated venue! It is not enough that the developers say they are open to having a music venue reopen here. Talk is cheap. Do not change our home. We will be here until the floors fall through from moshing, not from a wrecking ball. Save our Sneaky Dee's! Save our safe place!!"

Emo's not dead, and Sneaky Dee's is the reason. Sneaky Dee’s is at risk of being demolished, and the people of Toronto aren’t okay with it, the music scene isn’t okay with it, we’re not okay with it. Remember, you can't build the local music scene with condo towers. 

ACT NOW: savesneakydees.com

TOP8’S TAKE:

To us, Sneaky Dee’s is more than just a venue; it’s a home away from home. Sneaks is a place that helped inspire the start of TOP8 Scene and where we’ve made so many memories. It has been there for us all through the hard times, and the rad times. The joy of being surrounded by like-minded music fans who share your taste in tunes is something special. The Sneaks community is full of the most fun, kind, and passionate people we have ever met, and no matter what, they always pick you back up. Sneaky Dee’s is home to that. Save Sneaky Dee's.

Without Sneaky Dee’s, the Toronto music scene will suffer; the city will lose one of its most special corners; and our leaders will have failed another independently run business.