Location: 359 Yonge St., just south of Gerrard
Date photo taken: 4 April 2013
Club Zanzibar is a bit of a relic. It's one of only 16 active "adult entertainment clubs" operating in the city of Toronto and one of only a few left in the downtown core. Back in 1978 the city changed its land use rules making it pretty much impossible to open a new strip club, but it allowed the 63 currently in existence to remain open. Over the years, that number has dwindled but the Zanzibar has remained. Its gold facade and neon lights are now an icon on the Yonge Street strip. The building wasn't always a strip club of course. Before Zanzibar it housed various businesses, such as a butcher's and a photography shop. Right before it was Zanzibar it was the Rosticceria Tavern. The Zanzibar Tavern first opened its doors in 1959 as a live music venue, part of the happening Yonge Street music scene. By the late 1960s it still featured live music but it was more of a dance club, complete with topless go-go dancers. In the 1970s it made the switch to strip club and the show hasn't stopped since.
Note: The TD Gallery at the Toronto Reference Library is currently hosting an exhibit that looks at the city's early attempts at moral reform. Vice & Virtue is on until April 30 and it's free.
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