Longtime owner of beloved music venue Grossman's Tavern dies | CBC News
Sam Louie, the longtime owner of legendary music venue Grossman's Tavern, died earlier this month at 94 years old.
Long-time Toronto music venue owner remembered as ‘gracious and welcoming’
Sam Louie, the patriarch of Toronto's iconic live music venue Grossman's Tavern, has died at 94.
His family says Louie passed away on March 12 following health complications related to repeated bouts of pneumonia after getting COVID.
His son, Tonny Louie, says the late entrepreneur was a kind, friendly, honourable person who he looked up to.
"Dad was a good person, loyal to his friends, good old-fashioned core values kind of guy," Tonny told CBC Toronto. "He truly had a long life, and he really enjoyed everything that he did."
Louie bought Grossman's Tavern in 1975 from its original owner, Al Grossman, and ran it for nearly 50 years with his family, including his wife, children and grandkids.
Over the decades, much about the venue has stayed the same — seven days a week of live music, no cover and the same unpretentious decor. And Louie's family plans to continue running it.
"There's nowhere like this in the world," said Gary Kendall, blues musician and band leader of Downchild Blues Band.
"I'm grateful to [Louie] for giving us not only Grossman's, but his wonderful family… he gave us this great family that keeps this place alive for all of the different generations of musicians that keep coming up."
Britnei Bilhete is a reporter with CBC Toronto. She previously worked as a producer with the CBC News social media team and reported for CBC Nova Scotia. You can send your story tips to her at [email protected].
With files from Lamia Abozaid
