The popular Toronto hangout Swan Dive posted that it was struggling to pay the rent through the pandemic. So customers bought all its stock to help out.
Owner Abra Shiner was trying to keep her pub going through lockdown by operating as a bottle shop, but it was becoming very clear that the costs of trying to run that way were just too high. She decided to be honest about her predicament on social media.
“We were blowing through our savings and I wasn’t sure if I was going to be able to pay rent towards the end of the month,” Shiner told CNN. “So, I wrote on Facebook asking people to come buy the beer we had in our stock room… and it worked. The post went viral.”
Shiner’s social media plea soon had over 20,000 views, and people from all over the Brockton Village neighborhood were showing up to save beer, and their beloved bar.
“People just started coming out of the woodwork, some people we hadn’t seen in years,” Shiner said.
Within a few days, the Swan Dive had off-loaded more than 90 cases off craft beer. In fact, it had completely sold out of stock.
Combined with a government rent subsidy, the money the community added to the bar’s float in recent beer sales will keep this much-loved pub around until spring when it can safely open its doors once again.
“You guys are pretty darn great,” Shiner posted to the Swan Dive’s Facebook fans. “What wonderful people you all are.”
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I love Toronto (I’m Scottish and live in Edinburgh) and this story warms my heart.
Great city with awesome people and fab bars too!