The club was first opened in 1978, by Gordon & Sherry Rhodesin the city's former Imperial Theatre on Bank Street. It was considered one of Canada's most important music venues in the 1980s, hosting concerts by noted artists.Шаблон:Citation needed
The club's owner filed for bankruptcy in 1991 and canceled the building's operations. It reopened in 1996 after its acquisition by Eugene Haslam, the owner of Zaphod Beeblebrox. Haslam instituted the custom of "theme nights"; Sunday being 80's retro night and Thursdays being retro 90's night. These nights have become two of the most popular nights in Ottawa's nightlife.
In August 2008, scheduled concerts were cancelled and operations suspended due to the apparent sale of the venue to a new owner.[1] Barrymore's reopened on 11 September, and resumed a regular schedule of events after Montreal-based club operator Vince Simeone and George Syriannis became the building's new tenants. Barrymore's is now owned and operated by George Syriannis.[2]
By March 2021, the condition of the building had deteriorated sufficiently that the landlord, Louis Antonakos, was ordered by the City of Ottawa to make urgent repairs or face closure.[3] Later that same month, Antonakos appealed the order.[4]
