Today I went out to check on the state of downtown Toronto’s adult entertainment scene — because I’ve been hearing whispers that two, maybe even three of the city’s iconic strip clubs are about to disappear. I start my story walking empty-hearted, staring through the glass windows of what was once Hudson’s Bay and Saks Fifth Avenue. There’s something eerie about these empty spaces — like ghosts of luxury. People still stop and stare, almost in disbelief, as if the city’s pulse has quietly faded from this corner. My first stop: Zanzibar. I haven’t been down here in a while, and I was floored by how quickly the new development is rising — it looks like the building is eating the strip, inch by inch. Of course, the question hits me immediately: What happens to the dancers, the staff, the community that thrived here? Not everyone wants to, or even can, move online. Many people love the energy of the club, the lights, the conversations, the human connection. So what happens when all of that disappears? It makes me wonder — how many condos can we really fit downtown? Will there be any businesses left? Or just warehouses, ghost kitchens, and towers filled with people who never meet their neighbors? After a late lunch, I keep walking — trying to shake that feeling of loss that comes when a city you love starts to feel unfamiliar. My next stop is Fillmore’s, and for a moment, I exhale. It’s still standing. I circle the block and get a few shots, and after chatting with someone nearby, I learn they have about a year left before major construction begins. It hits me then — I’m watching a piece of Toronto history quietly fade. In just a few years, there might not be a single strip club left downtown. I finish my walk near Yonge Street, standing under the iconic Brass Rail sign. Can you imagine this area without it? The neon lights, the laughter spilling out at midnight, the people just being people? Maybe this is the end of an era. But maybe, just maybe, it’s also a chance for something new — encouraging more organic ways to connect, and for the city to rediscover its soul.
