Construction panels are being set up around the former site of the Crocodile Rock Bar on Adelaide St. West ahead of the development of a 68-storey condo tower. For nearly three decades, Crocodile Rock was considered one of the liveliest bars in Toronto, but it permanently closed in mid-2020 due in part to pandemic restaurants.
Now with hoarding being set up, people are reminiscing about the good times they used to have a the Croc.
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“Used to go with workmates – we’d finish early compared to other offices and so could establish our base camp upstairs before it got busy,” one Redditor noted.
“This was the spot on Friday after work! Rooftop was the place to be….Saturdays nights attracted a lot of cougars for some reason!”
“Croc Rock had some good bartenders who knew how to have fun. They[‘]d line up shots, light them on fire, then use cin[n]amon to turn the tiny flames into a sparky fireball. One time the dude accidentally lit the netting/sh*t they had above the bar on fire. CrocRock will always have a fond place in my memories.”
Still, some noted how the Croc closing is a sign of gentrification in the city.
“Toronto’s nightlife and entertainment district getting dismantled piece by piece by rich developers to build more and more shoebox condos. After [a] couple of decades, there will be nothing but condos in downtown. What a sad state of affairs!”
“The Entertainment District might as well be rebranded the Greater CityPlace Area.”
Last month, Freed Developments announced a new $800-million Freed Hotel and Residences at Adelaide and Duncan at the site of the former Crocodile bar, featuring 100 hotel rooms and 400 luxury condo units complemented by a sky-high bar and restaurant on the 63rd floor, a boutique spa, and a 10,000 sq ft Katsuya Restaurant on the 2nd floor.
The Freed Hotel and Residences will begin sales this month; it has an expected completion in 2028.