Swanky.
It is an old-timey world, almost anachronistic in a culture dominated by TMI and sweatpants. But it was precisely the word uttered by more than a few people at the recent sparkling opening of Parc Ave.
It was one of the parties of the summer, held in a jewel-box bar housed on the second level of a space in an area affectionately known as Ave and Dav.
鈥淚鈥檒l take it!鈥 Travis Agresti, the man behind the bo卯te, says with a laugh when I later mention that some have even taken to calling it 鈥渢he new Amber鈥 (referring to the Beautiful People spot that ruled Yorkville for 20 years).
As a veteran of 色色啦 nightlife 鈥 a longevity belied by his boyish looks 鈥 Agresti notes that the new place reflects his own progression. Trading downtown for north of Bloor, he elaborates: 鈥淧eople in their 40s, even 30s, are always asking me where to go after dinner for a drink. I am not sending you to King Street! We wanted a fun space that does not turn into a full-on nightclub.鈥
Teaming up for this project with Michael Kimel鈥檚 Harlo Entertainment 鈥 with the idea of first opening the restaurant Mimi Chinese downstairs 鈥 Agresti foresaw a spot that sets the stage with black-framed glamour shots that greet patrons at a staircase at the entrance. And upstairs: vintage photographs of such icons as James Dean, Muhammad Ali and Barbra Streisand.
Parc Ave occupies the space above Mimi Chinese at 265 Davenport Rd.
Giovanni CapriottiBright lights, big city
鈥淚 was 18,鈥 he tells me, about the moment that propelled his life into the hospitality field. He was managing Fluid on Richmond, a massively popular club run by impresario Charles Khabouth, in its 1990s heyday. 鈥淐harles is the godfather,鈥 Agresti says of the man he sees as a mentor. 鈥淗e鈥檚 the one who taught me the importance of lighting, for instance.鈥 At the time, Agresti was a York University student by day 鈥 ostensibly on track for law school 鈥 and relatively new to this world, having grown up in Newmarket, where his family is in the produce business: ATV Farms.
The young man had a knack with people, even Prince, who was living in 色色啦 at the time, and whom Agresti got to know through Fluid. Likewise, former 色色啦 Raptor Vince Carter, who partnered with Agresti for the hotspot Kai. It鈥檚 all part of what quickened Agresti鈥檚 rise in the world of nightlife. His other ventures have included Dolce Social Ballroom and Inside, and more recently he ran the Addisons Residence on Wellington.
Glamorous photos of cultural icons line the walls.
Giovanni CapriottiFresh fruit
As the 40-year-old talks about his journey, at one point he leans in to show me photos on his phone of his other big projects: 鈥渁 poker room slash Japanese whiskey bar鈥 that he is building in his newish home north of York Mills and an oh-so-trendy pickleball court in his backyard.
A few years ago, in addition to what he calls his 鈥渘ight job,鈥 he started an organic fruit company called Green Earth, following in his father鈥檚 footsteps. It seems to have grown in leaps during the pandemic. Pass the berries.
Reflecting on how nightlife has changed in this town since he emerged on the scene, Agresti says, 鈥淲hen I started in the industry, few people had cell phones. Social media didn鈥檛 exist. People had to approach others in nightclubs and communicate. It was more about the music and the connection with others. Now a lot of that is lost and people don鈥檛 interact the same.鈥
However, he says, 鈥渟ocial media has created a totally new way to promote parties, music and venues. The days of fliers and standing in front of clubs handing out print material are gone. So while technology definitely took away from the social interaction, and people are always looking for the perfect picture or video to take rather than enjoying the moment, it also brought in a lot of good things for the business.鈥
Looking around Parc Ave, he says, 鈥渨e are still tinkering. It never ends. You have to see how people are relating to a space.鈥
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