7-9 Isabella Street was constructed in 1947 and first housed the E. W. Hickson & Company grocery store.

Later, during the 1970s through 1990s, 7-9 Isabella Street was home to a number of prominent LGBTQ2S venues, including:  

Hot Tub Club (1978-1979) - The Hot Tub Club was a gay bathhouse and club that was based upstairs at 7-9 Isabella Street during the late 1970s. In October 1979, the Hot Tub Club was raided by the Toronto Police in a precursor to Operation Soap. The raid was based on obscenity charges due to a pornography film having been shot in the venue. 40 men were charged, but non were taken to the police station for processing as runners from the venue alerted a nearby Right to Privacy Committee meeting which resulted in over 100 people rushing into the bar to protest the raid.

Club Isabella (c. 1980/1981)

Chaps (c. 1981-1990): Chaps was one of the most popular gay bars in Toronto during the 1980s. It was founded by Alex Korn who also founded Woody's several years later in 1988.

Badlands (1990-1992)

 

Later, in 1996, the first Rabba's grocery store opened at 7-9 Isabella Street.

In November 2021, YI Developments Ltd. proposed redevelopment of 619-637 Yonge Street and 1-9 Isabella Street with a 57-storey mixed use (primarily condominium) building. This redevelopment proposal includes the proposed demolition of 7-9 Isabella Street. 

(Research by Adam Wynne)