Longtime owner of beloved music venue Grossman's Tavern dies
Sam Louie, 94, ran the venue with his wife and family for nearly 50 years
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."
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With files from Lamia Abozaid