The Purple Onion coffee house
| Address | 35 Avenue Road Toronto Canada |
|---|---|
| Type | Coffeehouse |
| Genre(s) | Folk music |
| Opened | 1960 |
| Closed | 1965 |
| Years active | 1960-1965 |
Coordinates: 43°40′13.99″N 79°23′40.77″W / 43.6705528°N 79.3946583°W
The Purple Onion Coffee House was a music venue in the Yorkville neighbourhood of Toronto, Canada. It operated from 1960 to 1965 and was located at 35 Avenue Road, Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was a popular venue for folk musicians.
The Purple Onion was opened by Barry Witkin, Sam Gutmacher and Al Lastman (brother of former Toronto mayor Mel Lastman) in 1960 and was one of the first coffee houses to be opened in the Yorkville area of Toronto. Witkin reported in the Toronto Star that they “They pooled their savings, rented the building for about $750 a month and charged $1 club memberships and entrance fees of $1.50 to $3.” In keeping with the strict liquor laws of the day the venue did not have a liquor license and no alcoholic beverages could be served.
The Purple Onion was a popular spot in the folk music scene and was an early performance venue for Buffy Sainte Marie, Ian and Sylvia Tyson, and many others. It was reputed to be the first place to host singer Carly Simon, who early on performed as a duo with her sister Lucy Simon. Gordon Lightfoot performed at first with his duo the Two Tones, and later as a solo act. Performers from outside of Canada also made stops, including Judy Collins.
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