Toronto’s Iconic Masonic Temple SOLD
Funny, but my wife and I were talking about the fate of the old Masonic Temple at Yonge and Davenport in Toronto just this past weekend.
“What’s going to happen to it now that CTV is trying to unload it?” she asked.
“Condos,” I said. “What else? Some people want it turned into a museum of some kind, but who’s going to pay for it?”
Turns out, though, that there are other plans for the place that once staged gigs by everyone from Led Zeppelin to the Red Hot Chili Peppers to the Pixies. And it ain’t condos.
From the press release:
After months of speculation, Info-Tech Research Group has purchased the historic Masonic Temple, host to music legends such as Led Zeppelin, the Rolling Stones, Frank Sinatra, and David Bowie. Info-Tech Research Group acquired the building from Bell Media.
“It’s been a truly amazing year for us here at Info-Tech Research Group, and we’re so excited to make the Masonic Temple our new Toronto home,” said Joel McLean, President and CEO of Info-Tech Research Group. “As a Canadian company, maintaining and celebrating the unique cultural history of the building is something to which we are deeply committed. We plan to maintain the concert hall, and are currently looking into opportunities to host an annual Charity Black Tie Concert on the very stage that some of my own childhood idols have played.”
“We are honoured and proud to have played a part in the ongoing and storied history of this legendary building,” said Kevin Crull, President of Bell Media. “We are confident that Info-Tech will maintain the integrity and spirit of the Masonic Temple, and build upon its great legacy.”
While Info-Tech is not in the music business, “Work Hard, Play Hard” and “Enjoy the Work We Do” have been two of the company’s core values since the IT research and advisory firm was founded in 1997. McLean believes that a positive work culture is critical for driving innovation and that this culture has been instrumental in making Info-Tech Research Group the world’s fastest growing IT research and advisory firm. Info-Tech Research Group has more than 300 employees and has been named one of Canada’s Best Workplaces five times.
“The Masonic Temple has nearly a century of history, but the acquisition marks the beginning of a new chapter for Info-Tech Research Group,” says McLean. “We are all very excited about what this means for the future.”
I remember the RHCP show with Smashing Pumpkins and Pearl Jam opening up for them. I always loved that place for concerts. This is one of my top places for concerts back in the day
Info-Tech bought a big old church building in London, ON a few years ago. The renovations inside really make good use of the old structure. Looks like they found another old building to pour some needed reno's into. I'd like to see the before and after pictures of that job. Hopefully a few more bands can get up on the stage in that historic building!
Sounds like a cool company to work for, too.
I would really love to see the historic concert hall preserved for future concert events. It is such a great concert venue with amazing architecture and history. Would be a shame to see that lost. Kudos to the new owner for trying to maintain it's culture and history and I hope to see many more concerts there in the future, even if they are smaller more intimate performances.
Apparently The Silver Dollar/Comfort Zone is next, unless the Historical Board, or whatever, steps in. It's important we preserve our monuments of culture in the community.