Charles Khabouth (far right) is the owner of Toronto’s most iconic nightclub, The Guvernment (left) which is coming back for one night in late November. (Courtesy: @charleskhabouth/Instagram)
Whether you’re a Millennial, Zillennial or older GenZer, you might remember the iconic 22,000-square-foot waterfront nightclub, known for its night-long parties, world-class DJ sets, and appearances by renowned artists.
Having opened in 1996, The Guvernment would have turned 30 this September, if it weren’t for its permanent closure after developer The Daniels Corporation bought the land previously leased by the nightclub in 2015.
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Now, former The Guvernment attendees will have one last chance to say goodbye and embrace nightlife nostalgia, with Rebel hosting one last party to celebrate the club’s 30th anniversary.
INK Entertainment, the company behind both clubs, has announced a The Guvernment Reunion party on Nov. 28. The iconic celebration will take place at Rebel on 11 Polson St.
“For nearly two decades, The Guvernment was more than just a nightclub. It was a second home to a generation of Toronto music lovers, and a place where countless unforgettable nights became lifelong memories. 30 years after it all began, we’re bringing that feeling back for one night only,” INK Entertainment said in an Instagram post.
The entertainment company is yet to announce the event’s complete lineup.
‘It was an emotional decision’: INK Entertainment CEO on reunion
INK Entertainment CEO and former The Guvernment owner Charles Khabouth told The Brandon Gonez Show reviving the famous nightclub for one night wasn’t a commercial decision, but an emotional one driven by increasing demand from former patrons.
“It was an emotional decision from my end. It was a decision based on people demanding it, and we really saw how big the demand is. We sold out the whole evening in 23 minutes,” he said, adding that more than 4,300 party goers filled a waiting list for the event.
“They’re looking for that retro moment, magical. It was about music. It was about what you wore that night. It was about the sound, friendship, people made friends, people made families.”
In fact, Khabouth said the venue was known for its unmatched energy that would often bring nearly 8,000 people together to celebrate incredible sounds. The Guvernment was also known for having brought some incredible names to the city, from David Guetta to Lady Gaga.
He revealed INK Entertainment considered acquiring the nightclub’s land when its lease expired in 2015, but the purchase “didn’t make sense.”
“It was sad. We fought it. We spent a few hundred thousand [dollars] fighting… but eventually we lost because our lease was up after 20 years. It was very sad, but that’s the only reason it closed. It was still a very successful venue,” he said.
But now, he hopes the one-night celebration will give people a chance to relive the good old days and pay tribute to the venue.
“People should expect an incredible experience. We’re bringing back old school dancers, go-go dancers. We’re not using any LED lighting. That’s now the new technology. It’s all gonna be sort of the old school lighting. Staff are getting dressed like it’s 1996,” he said.
According to Khabouth, the party will offer casual and elevated Lebanese fast food from Little Baba, which is also owned by INK Entertainment.
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Those who wish to attend the event must DM @inkevents on Instagram with the word “GUV” to receive more information on how to get tickets. Ink Entertainment is also giving away 100 pairs of tickets to the reunion event through a contest running until Nov. 27 at 11:59 p.m.
Party-goers must be Ontario-based and at least 30 years old to enter, and must follow the @guvernment.toronto Instagram account and create a post sharing their favourite memory of the nightclub, tagging the account and using #GUV30.
Check out the full interview with Charles Khabouth on The Brandon Gonez Show Youtube, or listen wherever you get the podcast.
