New entertainment venue to open at former Rideau Street Chapters

The National Capital Commission (NCC) has confirmed a new music and entertainment venue is coming to Ottawa’s downtown.

In a news release on Wednesday, the NCC said the former Chapters bookstore on Rideau Street has been leased to entertainment company Live Nation Canada to host a variety of events. 

According to the NCC, the venue is set to open in late 2025 after renovations take place. 

“The NCC is pleased to play a positive role in the collective efforts of local partners to revitalize the downtown core of the Capital post-COVID,” said the NCC’s CEO Tobi Nussbaum in the release. 

“This new state-of-the-art live music and entertainment venue in the heart of downtown will be a great destination for residents and visitors, contribute to increased economic activity for local restaurants and shops, and generate vibrancy and excitement for the National Capital Region as a whole.”

Entertainment scene ‘cornerstone’ 

Wayne Zronik, president of business operations for Live Nation Canada, said in a statement that the goal is to create a vibrant space for artists and fans to come together in the nation’s capital. 

“This new establishment will undoubtedly become a cornerstone of the local entertainment scene and a beloved destination for years to come,” he said. 

Live Nation Canada told CBC the expected capacity of the building will be 2,000 people. 

The property includes nearly 41,000 square feet of above-ground space and another 24,000 square feet in the basement.

The Chapters store that previously occupied the building closed in 2022. Parent company Indigo Books and Music opening an Indigo location across the street inside the Rideau Centre.

Radio-Canada confirmed the sale to the NCC in mid-January, but NCC officials did not reveal the purchase price.

CBC has again asked the NCC for that information, but has not heard back.

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