Stage West Dinner Theatre in Mississauga to close after 27 years

Mississauga show biz landmark falls prey to post-recession economics as ticket sales and bar sales slide irrecoverably.

Toronto Star, Richard Ouzounian Theatre Critic, May 05 2013 - The last place in the GTA where you could get rare roast beef and well-done theatre at the same time is closing its doors after 27 years.

Muhammed Huq, general manager of Stage West Theatre Restaurant in Mississauga, confirmed Sunday that the operation would be closing at the end of 30 after a truncated run of the just-opened Game Showand a limited engagement of the musical revue, Shout, starting June 6, which is being mounted to honour the commitment to subscribers for a fifth show this season.

But after June 30 the theatre doors close permanently, although the attached hotel and its facilities will remain in operation.

The concept of eating a buffet dinner and then sitting back to enjoy a show in the same venue began in 1953 in Richmond, Va., and spread throughout America. Canadian businessman Howard Pechet started what was to become his Stage West empire in Edmonton, expanding to Calgary and Winnipeg and eventually the Toronto region, with the Mississauga theatre on Dixie Rd. opening in 1986. Read More