Sneaky Dee’s was saved! And by a bank, too.

Sneaky Dee’s the Toronto music institution (and unofficial nacho capital) at the corner of College and Bathurst, is in one of those areas that developers covet. As such, the bar/venue has been under pressure for years, most recently in 2026 with an application to build a high-rise condo on the site.

Fans would hear none of that, and there was a massive outcry and protest. And guess what? The developer who wanted to build the condo has pulled the application.

Was it public pressure? Certainly. But there was another factor. Sneaky Dee’s is next door to an RBC branch. The property sought for development apparently included land on which the bank sits. They want nothing to do with the development, either. No condo.

In an era when so many grassroots venues are being pushed out by development and gentrification, this is a win for the little guys–with a little help from a multinational bank, it seems. Nice.

More here.