Timothy’s Pub at Brown’s Line: 27 years as Etobicoke’s neighbourhood anchor
Since 1998 Timothy’s Pub has become a neighbourhood hub on Brown’s Line, raising over $300,000 for local charities and hosting live music six nights a week.
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By Torontoer Staff
Timothy’s Pub opened on July 27, 1998, and 27 years later it operates as a neighbourhood anchor in south Etobicoke. Owners Tim and Robin Brem built the venue as a familiar, comfortable space, and they have focused on live music and community fundraising to keep it relevant.
What began as a small bar with garage-sale décor has grown into a full-time live-music venue and local institution. The pub has raised more than $300,000 for community organisations, chiefly the Salvation Army, and has maintained a steady calendar of bands, matinees and youth showcases.
A neighbourhood pub from day one
Tim and Robin Brem took over a space that had been known as Cooly Pops and Mangos and remade it with wood panelling, heirlooms and second-hand finds. The design was intentional, meant to feel like “an extension of our rec room,” Tim says, a place where people would feel welcome and stay.
We wanted to open up an extension of our rec room, our basement, where you would come in and feel welcome and have a great time.
Tim Brem
From the start, the Brems prioritised local suppliers and community ties. They supported area sports teams and employed nearby bakers, butchers and fishmongers. That early focus on local trade and giving back helped the pub embed itself in the Alderwood neighbourhood.
Live music as the backbone
Music has been central to Timothy’s Pub since the beginning. What started with a few performers on the dance floor evolved into a full stage and nightly programming. The pub now hosts live bands up to six nights a week and a popular Saturday matinee that draws multiple generations.
The Brems credit their audience for the venue’s musical reputation. Robin used to sing in a band and Tim spent time as a DJ, so they programmed with performers and crowds in mind. Musicians enjoy playing there because the crowd is engaged and appreciative.
- Notable visitors have included members of Heart, Lucinda Williams, Alannah Myles, Kim Mitchell and Alan Frew.
- Dolores O’Riordan of the Cranberries once joined local players on stage.
- The pub regularly hosts youth showcases, including Rock This Way, featuring bands aged nine to 16.
Giving back: more than $300,000 raised
Annual fundraisers timed around Canada Day and the holiday season are a defining part of Timothy’s community work. The Brems say those efforts have raised over $300,000 for local social support organisations, primarily benefiting the Salvation Army and residents in south Etobicoke.
Charity events and regular donations reinforce the pub’s role beyond food and drink, turning it into a local centre for support and social connection.
Running a pub in a changed market
Like many hospitality businesses, Timothy’s Pub has faced rising costs across the kitchen, from fryer oil to oysters. The Brems say they work to keep prices affordable while managing tighter margins.
Staff retention has been a competitive advantage. Several employees have worked at the pub for more than a decade, creating continuity that regulars notice and appreciate. The Brems credit long-term staff with maintaining the pub’s welcoming atmosphere.
They make anybody coming in for the first time feel comfortable enough that they’re open to talking to other people around them, and getting to know them.
Robin Brem
That atmosphere appeals across age groups. The Brems run youth showcases to encourage younger musicians, and the Saturday matinee often attracts families and older patrons together.
Regulars and relationships
Patrons describe Timothy’s as more than a bar. Regular Donna Baxter-Ayers says she felt safe on her first visit and that the pub became a social circle where friendships and relationships developed.
You can go to forget what’s going on in the world or your life for a couple of hours and feel the love. It’s Etobicoke’s version of Cheers.
Donna Baxter-Ayers
Staff who remember patrons by name and a crowd that treats new faces as neighbours help keep the pub steady in an era when many venues close because of rent or development pressures.
The Brems have kept Timothy’s Pub local in scope and consistent in purpose, prioritising live music, community support and a steady, welcoming environment. That combination has preserved the venue as a neighbourhood mainstay for nearly three decades.
Etobicokebarslive-musiccommunitycharitylocal-business
