Inside Track & Field, a well-known bar on College Street, owners Nickie Minshall, Tasha Potter and Jesse Borg decided they were going to do something different with the spot upstairs.
They wanted to make, as Minshall puts it, “a bar within a bar.”
So, the three–who also own Bangarang at 552 College Street–turned the two-story space into Hail Mary, a second-floor bar with a decidedly party-friendly aesthetic.
The two spaces differ in their offerings, but also in their vibe. “Track & Field is a big, lofty space with a skylight, high ceilings, and two lanes of bocce ball, with shades of peach, green, and natural wood tones throughout the space,” Minshall says.
With the new opening, they went for a completely different feel. “Hail Mary is what we like to call a ‘party bar’ with just the right amount of kitsch–you’ll find a top-to-bottom red bar, neon pink lighting, a spinning disco ball and tinsel-adorned stage and DJ booth,” she says. “There’s also a photo booth in Hail Mary, free of charge!”
They did, however, pull some of their favourite staples from Track & Field and Bangarang to Hail Mary to bring a certain level of cohesiveness. “We have a roster of amazing DJs we work with at both Track & Field and Bangarang–you can expect the same danceable vibe at Hail Mary. We’ll have DJs every Friday and Saturday night,” Minshall says.
To encourage the party vibe, Hail Mary offers two $12 cocktails. “One is called Full of Grace, which features Lot 40 Canadian Whisky, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, and Coffee + Cinnamon-Infused Campari,” Minshall says. “The other is called Hail Mary, featuring Altos Blanco tequila, Aperol, pineapple, ginger, lime, and ginger beer. We also offer champagne by the glass–the real stuff!–as well as the champagne of beers, Miller ‘High Life.’”
The bar also offers seasonally-themed bar cart service for large groups, with two options to choose from. The first is called Thx For The Memories, and, for $300, the package includes two swing-top bottles of the tap cocktail of your choice (or one of each), twelve bottles of Miller High Life or one bottle of cava, a disposable camera, chips and candy.
The second package, Witch Please, costs $375 and offers one bottle of Cava, one bottle of the spirit of your choice from our bottle service menu plus accouterments, alongside prayer candles, tarot cards and candy.
For now, Hail Mary is open on Fridays and Saturdays only, starting at 10 p.m., but Minshall says the trio has plans to expand.
Expansion plans will be posted on the bar’s Instagram but, for now, Hail Mary is open above Track & Field at 582 College Street.
