Beers and tears flowed on the final night at the Imperial Pub, a Dundas Street fixture since 1944 that will make way for a 21-storey TMU student residence in 2030. Leading up to its closure on Nov. 15, 2025, TMU community members returned for one last pint at their beloved "Library" bar.
The Imperial Pub was founded by Jack Newman and remained a family business for more than eight decades - later owned by his son Fred and in recent years helped along by Fred's sons, Ricky and Sam. All three were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community.
On the final night, those there to pay tribute were invited to take home books as souvenirs from the upstairs Library Pub, a second home to many TMU students, lined with bookshelves, framed photos of jazz giants, houseplants and leather couches, with a pool table and vintage jukebox to round things out.
Students collected signatures in the books they chose like yearbooks, giving the night a bittersweet air similar to graduation.
People gather at the Imperial Pub bar, with one person raising a phone for a photo beneath walls covered in signs, stickers and memorabilia. Photo: Andy Lee
