A new venue, Dina’s Tavern, is getting ready to make its debut next month in Toronto at 486 Spadina Avenue.
The new concept is set to move into the former home of Toronto’s historic Silver Dollar Room, which operated for over 50 years before closing in 2017, according to YourCityWithin. After its closure, the building was redeveloped into a multi-storey mixed-use space, with the original Silver Dollar sign left in place. The space remained unused until now.
Dina’s Tavern is being launched by the team behind Track & Field, a well-known West End bar. The three owners, Nickie Minshall, Tasha Potter, and Jesse Borg, also own Track & Field, Hail Mary, and Bangarang along College Street in Little Italy. The new concept will serve as both a live music venue and a dance hall. Live performances are planned six nights a week, including the return of a weekly Bluegrass night, a long-standing tradition at the former venue. Dina’s Tavern is expected to open sometime in September 2025.
“There are aspects of the space people will recognize from back in the day, the layout, the bar,” Minshall tells What Now Toronto. “We also have plans to maintain a weekly bluegrass show, like the Dollar had for decades. That said, the intention with Dina’s isn’t to replicate the Historic Silver Dollar. We’re just happy to be turning the space back into a place where you can hear some good music and have a good time. Feels like a victory.”
Co-owner Nickie Minshall said the goal is to strike a balance between the location’s history and its new identity. While the layout, bar, and exterior signage will be familiar to longtime visitors, Dina’s Tavern will operate as a new and distinct concept, rather than a recreation of the Silver Dollar. Although there is no kitchen on site, the venue will offer salty snacks to accompany cocktails.
The venue’s music programming will include live bands during the evening, followed by DJs on weekends. Cover bands are expected to perform on Fridays and Saturdays to maintain a high-energy atmosphere throughout the night.
“Toronto is sorely lacking smaller capacity venues, places where musicians, both new and seasoned, can develop and work,” Nick McKinlay, the booker for Dina’s Tavern, tells What Now Toronto. “The goal at Dina’s is to provide a low-barrier live music experience for the audiences and artists alike. Keep the town vibrant and keep the town rockin’.”
