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Zen Lounge Reviews

Below you can read what your fellow club-goers think about the Zen Lounge (526 Queen St. W.). If you would like to submit some comments/opinions/reviews to be posted here, or even some pictures of you or your friends at the Zen Lounge, we'd love to hear from you.

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Zen Lounge Reviews

We've divided these reviews up into sections as some reviews generate lots of comments.

General reviews
a BIG problem at Zen Lounge
lloyd kills another night?

a BIG problem at Zen Lounge - Toronto

Friday April 19, 2002 I celebrated my 29th birthday. My friends and I began the evening at the Velvet Underground and then went up the street to Zen Lounge. I have been going to Zen Lounge since it opened as Zoo Bar years and years ago. The previous owner - Rick - was a wonderful person who always made it worth our while to go and celebrate. I've spent 3 New Years and several past birthdays there without a bad word to say.

Friday April 19, 2002 when I arrived at the Zen lounge door it was about 2am. I was feeling pretty festive and jokingly asked the bouncer if we might get in for free. He responded rudely and abruptly. When I tried to calm him down and tell him I was only kidding around - he shot a few more nasty words my way. I tried to appeal to his humanity and told him I'd been coming to Zen for years and really just wanted to get in a bit of good dancing before close (by this point - I was pretty clear that the "get in for free" joke was not going to fly and, of course, my friends and I were prepared to pay the cover if only to get an hour in at the bar.

When I started to apologize to him and tell him I was sorry I had offended him so severely (he was really making a scene - out of control) - he put up his arm and said "forget it - you can't come in." His arm knocked me back and I lost my shoe into the front foyer of the bar. When I went to retrieve it - he pushed me again. Finally he generously allowed me to get my shoe and be on my way - but when I asked his name (to report the incident) - he laughed in my face and refused to tell me. Onlookers who had not heard the whole story assumed I was kicking up a fuss to get in for free (not true - but come on - it was 2am!!!!) and began cussing me out with the bouncer.

When I returned home - I phoned Patty - the manager and relayed my outrage at this incident (I've spent tons of money at this place over the year and brought new customers who continue to go every Friday PLUS um sorry I don't appreciate being bullied and shoved around by a badass bouncer). Patty suggested I come to Zen Lounge this past Monday at 5:30 pm to discuss the incident - again - um sorry - I thought we were discussing it on the phone and, anyway, I'm not clear on how I could possibly feel safe alone there when I certainly did not feel safe on my birthday (physically harangued by a big bully). Anyway Patty hung up on me.

So - what am I supposed to do? I fully intend to write to the editors of all Toronto newspapers with the story - but, of course, they won't print the bar's name for fear of legalities and I've got bigger battles in the world to deal with than calling the police for an "insignificant" incident like this.

Perhaps the club kids would like to know....Zen Lounge is yet another bar that fails to understand who, in fact, is the customer and, worse, empowers their bouncers to use physical force on whoever they choose.

Very dismayed.......

One important point - the doormen at Velvet Underground insisted my friends and I all get in for free and then made the evening a truly rockin' birthday!

written by renée
posted Apr. 24th 2002

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Comments on "a BIG problem at Zen Lounge - Toronto"
MySmell writes:Just to let you all know. Friday is mainstream night. Expect college jocks and lots of sweaty drunk people (just like the Velvet). It is true these guys haven't found their niche. Try going out on a Thursday night. It is calm, chilled, and the music is unique. It doesn't fall under any catagory. It has been my dancing salvation on numerous occasions. There IS space on the dance floor. Have you seen the DJ? MEOOWW! Don't go Fridays if you need solitary dance space. PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT COMPARE FRIDAYS TO THURSDAYS. On Thursdays, it just is. (August 8th 2002)

Peter writes: Uhh, not to be a shit disturber, but Velvet is always free! (July 10th 2002)

CadaverStabber writes: I have yet to see Zen do anything that apeals to me. The sound system blows. The bouncers are thugs. And the people seem a little tacky. They have yet to do anything that compaires to the Velvet's thurs and sundays. Zen is a crusty joint, and I will continue to take my buisness down the street. (July 7th 2002)

velvetmasque writes: I've recently dropped Savage and Velvet in favor of Zen and the Dance Cave. I've never had a problem with any of the bouncers. It seems to me that the only people who have problems are the ones who cause them. I personally find the staff at Zen (with the exception of the surly bartender) to be extremely friendly. (June 26th 2002)

Anon. writes: I would hate to sound rude, but this is not as big of a deal as you are making it out to be, bouncers must get pretty grumpy after working 4 hours straight through until 2. Many people try and pull tricks on them and try and get in for free and use the same lines that you did... A lot of people this day and age do not get humour... This is not a flaw in their management and in their business, this is a miscomunication with you and a bouncer... Glad the rest of the night turned out well... (April 28th 2002)

Dragonlady writes: I am sorry to hear that Renee and his friends had such an aweful experience. Unfortunately, it's not a rare occurence. I too used to go often enough when it was still the "Zoo" - but due to several er.. rather tasteless changes (such as the attitude that now seems prevalent...) I too have refrained from dropping by except on extremeley rare occasions. It's a sad commentary and certainly unnecessary as it could be a really great place to enjoy oneself. But with more and more displays of "ego" a lot of the old customers who were once quite fond of the place, will (and already have in many cases) leave. Fine, let the ego-driven stay, the rest of us will take our business, and good qi elsewhere! (April 28th 2002)

Wolfchild writes: After reading Renée's terrible experience @ the Zen Lounge...it took me back to a similar encounter I myself had at a local bar here in Kitchener...
The idiot bouncer there was giving me a hard time about my tank top and saying that if I didn't put my coat back on, he would "throw me outta there!"...
I told him that I would like to see him try(I'm 6',and about 240lbs.) He went to grab me...and I took his arm and twisted it around his back!(Score one for us little guys!)All of a sudden the rest of his knuckle~dragging accomplices were all over me... As they were "Ushering" me towards the door, I knew that the bouncer I had made look bad was gonna try something funny...just as they got to the door, I again grabbed him and instead, used his head to open it!!!(2~0 !)...this infuriated the whole lot of 'gorillas'!!(Good thing there was a cruiser(cop) outside...when he asked if there was a problem...they said no and went back inside...(But not without whispering to me,"Come back here, and yer a deadman")...I'm still contemplating whether I should let it go...or grab some of my Native brothers, and make another appearence at this "fine establishment"?!! (April 28th 2002)

Horrorshow writes: I go to Zen all the time and never had a problem, even after asking if I could get in for free. I can't imagine which bouncer it was that did this cause they're all so nice to my friends and I. I'd also like to point out that velvet is free all the time, that's probably a good reason why the bouncer didn't make you pay. Just a thought. (April 26th 2002)

Anon. writes: This Saturday April 27th there is EBM, dark trance and industrial at the Zen. Maybe that will be better. (April 26th 2002)

Mavrick writes: hey, I was just reading your storey, and I couldnt agree more about the bad treatment to the customers by the bouncers. I asked a friend of mine to request a song one friday night, and while trying to get them to play the song, the bouncer grabbed my friend and threw him out. it was very cold out, and my friend had his sweater inside, and the guy wouldnt even let him back in to get it. finnally after much pleading, the bouncer finnaly let him get it, but while the bouncer held the back of his shirt, as if he were gonna run somewhere or do something. anyway, at that point I realized my friend got kicked out, and I left with him, and it makes me never want to go back, even though we started to go every friday night. thank you for sharing your storey, its good for the people to know how they treat there customers at Zen. (April 25th 2002)

Anon. writes: i'm sorry to hear about what happened to you but just wanted to let you know that velvet underground is always free! (April 25th 2002)

Lisa writes: Zen lounge has been going downhill the past little while. Don't worry Renee, you have my support and my friends to boycott a place like that!!! (April 24th 2002)