convenience bar toronto

Toronto bar that came with a convenience store has closed for good

The latest of the bars in Toronto to close had been inspired by convenience store culture and has already been replaced by Chen Chen's Hot Chicken.

Chen Chen's new space used to be home to Convenience, a bar known for its working convenience store front and its backroom bar. The business wound down quietly, closing due to the initial lockdown, with the space eventually playing host to a pop-up during patio season.

Convenience was known for fun takes on comfort food paired with cocktails enjoyed in a clubby atmosphere complete with security mirrors, hanging plants and even a corner store-like front area.

Chen Chen's is one of Toronto's latest spots to open turning out hot chicken, and was itself most recently operating on a pop-up basis at Loch & Quay before securing this physical storefront.

Grand opening day for Chen Chen's at 1184 Queen St. W. was Friday, Mar. 26. The location should soon have its own licensed patio.

Lead photo by

Hector Vasquez


Latest Videos



Latest Videos


Join the conversation Load comments

Latest in Eat & Drink

Toronto man's side hustle making calzones leads to new restaurant gig

Toronto bakery known for its croissants opening second location

There's a food festival in Toronto for a good cause next month

Ontario restaurant has people obsessing over its fried chicken

Toronto has a new street food market in a surprising location

The history of what was once Toronto's most luxurious restaurant

Thousands of people want to boycott Loblaws stores 'indefinitely'

One of the most anticipated Toronto restaurants of the year is now open