Toronto bar Pegasus on Church recently marked 30 years in the Church-Wellesley Village, evolving from its humble beginnings as a billiards lounge in 1995 into a community hub today that emphasizes unique programming and provides a welcoming space for the LGBTQ community.
Pegasus originally got its start as Pegasus Billiard Lounge just north of its current location. Founded by Robert Knight and Michael Dorman, the bar moved to its present address on Church Street after four successful years, which allowed for expansion and more programming.
Christopher Hudspeth, who joined the company in the fall of 2005 as a bartender, officially took over the bar’s ownership in 2013 and currently serves as the president and general manager of Pegasus.
Despite its successes, the bar’s journey to 30 years was not without its hurdles. During the pandemic, Hudspeth served as the chair of the Church-Wellesley Village BIA and worked diligently to press the local government on wage subsidies and rent subsidies for commercial spaces, especially small businesses.
In 2020, he penned a heartfelt letter to local politicians and councillors to shed light on the emotional and financial strain businesses were facing at the time.
“I sit here today, almost broken… looking at what could be the end of our livelihoods,” Hudspeth wrote at the time. “Pegasus On Church has now been a fixture in the LGBTQ community for 25 years and is more than just a bar. It is one of the few historic gathering spots for LGBTQ people left in Toronto.”
Although he rejoined when the Canada Emergency Commercial Rent Assistance (CECRA) program was introduced, he felt defeated when the landlord of Pegasus said he had no interest in considering it.
While the bar faced lots of challenges during this period, it eventually weathered the storm thanks to its loyal customer base.
“We’ve recovered well,” Hudspeth told blogTO. “We have a good core community that is very supportive. For a lot of people in the downtown core who live in small spaces, this is a bit of an extension of their living room, where they get together with friends.”
Over the years, the bar has introduced the addition of games like ping pong and shuffleboard to keep things fresh, as well as themed events, such as Dirty Bingo on Tuesdays and Are You Smarter Than the Scottish Guy trivia on Thursdays.
“More programmed events definitely help to bring people out and create a sense of community,” Hudspeth said. Another significant change in recent years has been the introduction of sober options for customers.
“Even if you’re not a drinker, you still have the ability to feel a part of the night with your friends when you’re out, and it’s not the same as nursing on a Diet Coke for the whole evening,” he added.
The bar’s 30th anniversary event, which took place last Sunday, was attended by many Pegasus regulars. Those who couldn’t attend still made an effort to thank and congratulate Hudspeth, including a particularly touching note from a man in England, who had met his partner at Pegasus years ago.
“He was feeling bad that he couldn’t make it out for the event and he wanted to congratulate me and thank me for making sure that Pegasus was still around, and reminded me that’s where he and his partner had met a number of years ago,” Hudspeth said. “It holds a special place for them.”
Reflecting on the bar’s perseverance over the years, Hudspeth sums up the essence of Pegasus with the same tagline they’ve lived by for years: “Where friends meet.” It’s a message that Hudspeth still embraces to this day.
“It’s most certainly what we strive to make happen here,” he said. “Pegasus is a place where you can meet up with your friends, meet new friends, and create a sense of community for yourself as well as the greater community — both the LGBTQ community as well as the local Church-Wellesley community — as it expands and grows.”
Pegasus on Church is located at 489B Church St.
