King West Is Dead. Long Live King West!

Everyone has alot to say about King West.

Especially Me. I cut my teeth on King West when it was "KING WEST", running the door or the VIP entrance to some of the city's most desirable venues along the strip.

I once told the media that King West represented new money in the city. Everyone who wanted to be seen and get in the scene had to be there if you were young, affluent and upwardly mobile.

That was true night or day. And while it's only gotten busier in the daytime, the nightlife in King West has taken a turn for the worse, in my opinion.

I recently tried getting a luxury automotive company who I had done several successful launches for in the past to come to King West for a nightlife activation and "no" was putting it politely.

Their reasoning: the area has changed at night time. They now have to consider everything from security to insurance for their luxury vehicles, permits are a mess and more.

So..."if it's on King West...it's a no".

I couldn't blame them, from having to dodge roving bands of masked "12 year olds" to...well, having to dodge roving bands of masked "12 year olds" (and drunk frat boys and girls), a chic LATE night on the town surrounded by likeminded adults celebrating life has mostly left King West behind.

For me, it started with the athleisure trend of 2017/2018 & bottle service becoming a greater portion of venues revenues.

I get it, it's hard to turn away the guy in "designer" trackpants when he has a $2000 minimum spend on a random weekday night.

Venues started allowing casual dress to accommodate "spenders", which lead to reduced age requirements & playing music that appealed to a less than desirable crowd and here we are a few years later: a hip and happening upscale neighbourhood at nighttime looks like the worst rap music video / college town one could imagine late at night.

But there is hope! King West still has thousands of all the right people within walking distance and that leaves the door open for the right venues and operators and concepts to flourish!

Iconic nightlife trailblazer Charles Khabouth is opening an impressive offering with FOUR different venues at ONE address: 600 King West (at Portland).

Launching next Thursday July 24th, PORTLAND SQUARE is going live.

Previously home to Galen Weston's private members only "Spoke Club", the Portland Square complex will house:

1) A rocking country themed sportsbar called Rodeo Drive (pronounced rodeo like cows, not ro-day-o, like 90210).

2) A corporte event space on the second floor called The Portland Room (Opening later this Fall).

3) A modern Chinese restaurant on the third floor called Honey Chinese.

4) And last but not least a fancy Italian restaurant and rooftop called Prima Donna on the fourth floor.

Now, while these may not rid the neighbourhood of what I call it's Cinderella status, (beautiful before midnight, get running after) it will definitely be a welcome addition and step in the right direction for King West nightlife.

I'm going to check it out around 6PM sharp, then after that heading to a very important friend's birthday dinner and party at Mademoiselle across the street.

Then I'm hosting a rich Greek BILLIONAIRE at PAROS in Yorkville later that night.

Wanna join me?

Click Here For An Invite To Portland Square's Opening.