25 YEARS GONE: REMEMBERING LULU’S ROADHOUSE
It’s been 25 years since the final notes faded from Lulu’s Roadhouse, but for those who danced, sang, and lived through its heyday, the memories remain as vivid as ever. Once hailed as the world’s largest nightclub bar, Lulu’s wasn’t just a music venue—it was a rite of passage, a community hub and a temple to rock ‘n’ roll in the heart of Kitchener.
Opened in April 1984 by Toronto entrepreneur Karl Magid, Lulu’s transformed a former Kmart at 4263 King St. E., Kitchener into a 75,000-square-foot music venue. With a Guinness World Record-holding 340-foot bar and a capacity of 3,000, it quickly became a magnet for music lovers across Ontario.
From Chuck Berry to The Ramones, Lulu’s hosted a staggering range of acts, often well past their commercial prime but still capable of electrifying a crowd. Lulu’s featured a dance floor big enough to hold thousands and some idiosyncratic touches like “balloon girls” who sold balloons with meanings based on their colours—among others, red meant a woman who wanted to dance; blue was for men looking to show women a fun time; yellow meant shy; and purple simply meant horny.
Lulu’s played host to Canadian icons like Kim Mitchell, David Wilcox, Trooper and Colin James, as well as international legends and Rock and Roll Hall of Famers such as James Brown, Alice Cooper and The Everly Brothers. The venue’s eclectic bookings meant you could see Conway Twitty one week and Motörhead the next.
Behind the scenes, figures like Rob Cressman of Major Talent Agency worked tirelessly to bring big names to town, often booking regional tours to make Lulu’s a viable stop. Artists were paid in cash, and trust was everything—Del Shannon once asked Cressman to hold onto $30,000 until his next visit.
The venue’s charm wasn’t just in its headliners. The house band, featuring guitarist Peter Paladino, was a major draw, touring other cities and even traveling in their own bus. For many, the house band was the best show in town.
Bill Wiley, a DJ from FM 108 and frequent MC at Lulu’s, conducted over 350 interviews with artists during his time there. Though many of his recordings were tragically stolen 15 years ago, he fondly recalls his interview with James Brown as a career highlight. Among his favourite performances were Sam and Dave, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Screamin’ Jay Hawkins, and The Crystals. Wiley remembers Dee Dee Kenniebrew of The Crystals taking a particular liking to him—a memory that still brings a smile.
Even chaos had its place. One night, during a Motörhead and Black Sabbath double bill, the crowd erupted into moshing and stage diving—not something you’d expect to see at a suburban night club. Between sets, a scuffle broke out, adding to the night’s wild lore.
Despite its popularity, Lulu’s could not escape the pressures of changing times. Ownership changes, economic downturns, and evolving musical tastes led to its bankruptcy in 1992. Though it was revived and continued to host major acts into the late ’90s, the club closed for good on April 8, 2000.
Angie Hill—now a popular DJ on Bounce 99.5 FM— was a host at Lulu’s in the late 1990’s until it closed in 2000. She remembers the people she worked with as a family and cherishes the lifelong friendships she made while working there. She remembers how she and other staff would “eat our shitty chicken fingers together … and make a plan of attack for the night.”
Kenny Hollis, who also worked as a host for many years at Lulu’s, reportedly had some of his ashes scattered on former site of Lulu’s.
Mike Harvey, who worked as the Lighting Director from 1993 to 1998, said working at Lulu’s was like being paid to work at a party.
“There will never, ever, be another place like it,” he said.
“The place was just magical, eh,” Robbie Hain, the former house manager, said.
Hain is also working on a book about Lulu’s.
Today, Lulu’s lives on in the hearts of those who experienced it. Ask any regular to name their favorite show, and you will likely get a wistful smile and a list too long to finish. Whether it was George Thorogood playing to an over-capacity crowd, James Brown for $2 on a Tuesday, or Stompin’ Tom Connors fuming over a canceled gig, every night at Lulu’s was a story waiting to be told.
And 25 years later, those stories still echo—loud, proud and unforgettable.
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