Monday Mural

   I'm linking up at Monday Mural

June 2026 - Toronto ON

In September 2023, a brand new large-scale portrait mural titled "The Blues" was completed on the wall.

The new piece was designed and painted by Toronto realist artist John Nobrega, with assistance from Allan Bender and Haven Hughes.

Moving away from the abstract neon outlines, the new artwork features a detailed, creative realism depiction of legendary blues and jazz musicians deeply tied to the history of Toronto's live music scene.

The project was fully completed in late 2023 with the support of StreetARToronto and the Chinatown BIA.

MURAL UPDATE

Taken 2014. I thought I had posted this, but looking through my posts, nope!

This new mural replaced the classic 1999 neon-style "The Jazz Band" mural on the side of Grossman's Tavern.

Grossman's Tavern is one of the city's oldest live music venues. Founded in the 1940s, it famously secured one of the first liquor licenses in puritanical Toronto, and eventually transformed into a legendary launching pad for Canadian blues, jazz, and rock legends.

A deep dive into the history of this Spadina staple reveals its evolution from a medical dwelling to a beloved cultural pillar.

1884: The original building at the southeast corner of Spadina Ave. and Cecil St. was built as a Second Empire home for Dr. John Ferguson, serving as various private medical practices over the decades.

The Cafeteria Era (1940s–1950s): Opened in the 1940s by the Grossman family—Russian-Jewish immigrants—the location initially operated as a kosher-style cafeteria.

The Liquor License (1957): The venue obtained one of Toronto’s first liquor licenses, expanding into a tavern to sell alcohol, which sparked the introduction of live entertainment like "gypsy violinists" and Dixieland jazz.

The Blues Boom (Late 1960s): A cultural shift occurred when local musicians started asking to perform on stage. This led to long-running staples, notably the Downchild Blues Band, who played some of their earliest shows there.

The Louie Family Takeover (1975): The Grossman family sold the business to Sam Louie, a Chinese immigrant who, alongside his family, ran the tavern for nearly 50 years with a strict dedication to no cover charges, unpretentious vibes, and daily live music.

Cultural Haven: In the 1960s and 70s, it became a famous haunt for hippies, draft dodgers, and musicians. It was also a stopping ground for notable acts before they hit it big, including Blue Rodeo, Jeff Healey, and Carole Pope.

Today, the bar remains fundamentally untouched, adorned with decades of historical photos, and continues its long-running traditions like weekend afternoon Dixieland jazz jams.