At Sub Division, a newly launched underground electronic music club and eatery at 461 King West, prohibitions are more than welcome.
Since opening in mid-March, Sub Division has, to the beat of electronica, subverted the reigning principles of the King West club and bar scene. The self-described “urban terrarium” is the latest project of Distrikt 461, the boutique entertainment collective responsible for the ping pong bar, SPiN, and the Southwest cantina, Rabbit! Rabbit! Rabbit! Sub Division shares the same handsome heritage building location as its older siblings, appropriately occupying the cavernous downstairs level.
Eschewing hierarchies and attitudes, Sub Division offers a refreshingly old concept. Those who venture into this “subterranean lair” are encouraged to have an authentic social experience centred around interacting with one’s fellow human beings.
To facilitate this retro form of socializing, there’s a chill electronic soundtrack and atmospheric lighting. There’s a dance floor. There are shareable small plates of Izakaya-style appetizers. There are also a lot of “No”s:
No Drugs – the better with which to connect without any filters. No Dress Code – despite being in the Fashion District, it’s all about the music, which is why only dancing shoes are de rigueur. No Kids – adulthood at Sub Division begins at 21. No Bottle Service – the wide selection of beverages are conveniently on tap and “the bar” consists of two vast, communal tables.
Perhaps most daringly polemical is the No Phones policy. Patrons are more than welcome to play with their devices in the lobby (the only place on the premises where you can satisfy any Insta-urges). However, once you enter the inner sanctum, a strict No Photos and No Videos policy comes into play. Draconian? Refreshingly so; the rules guarantee that camera flashes and other people’s loud conversations won’t pollute the intimate environment and kill the vibe carefully curated by a rotating roster of local DJs.
It’s rare that so many negatives add up to a big positive, but Sub Division’s arithmetic seems to be perfectly calculated.
Sub Division is located on 461 King Street West between Spadina and Portland. Open Thursday 7 p.m. to 1 a.m. and Friday and Saturday, from 7 p.m. to 3 a.m. Tickets are available for purchase online with a limited number available at the door.
