Toad's Place

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Toad's Place is a historic concert venue and nightclub located on York Street in New Haven, Connecticut. Opened in 1975, Toad's has a storied history, having played host to many of the greats of Rock and Roll, including the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen, U2, The Go-Go's, and Stevie Ray Vaughan. Its capacity is 750 people.

As of 2006, the Saturday night dance parties are highly popular with Yale and Quinnipiac University students. Famous for concerts from nationally known artists and hopping dance parties, Toads also brings in very popular local and regional bands like NRBQ, to round out its itinerary.

In 1983, Toad's Place expanded and opened a club in Waterbury CT.

The character used in the club's promotional illustrations evokes illustrations of Mr. Toad in The Wind in the Willows: both are dandyish in dress, and the club's character is green-skinned, as Mr. Toad is often greenish or green (resembling typical frogs of Connecticut and England more than the corresponding toads). Thus "Toad's place" suggests Toad Hall , and the mischievousness of its host.

Toad's Place Richmond will be a restaurant and concert venue located in the revitalized Richmond Riverfront. The restaurant was scheduled to open in the Winter of 2006 but still has not opened as of February 2007.

[edit] Legal Problems

The legendary New Haven club will close for three months beginning May 6th, 2007, following charges stemming from a November 2005 raid by police and liquor inspectors. Toad's settled negotiations with the Connecticut State Liquor Commission November 2nd, agreeing to a 90-day suspension of its liquor license and a $90,000 fine for 2005's raid, during which the club was charged with a reported 90 counts of sales of alcohol to a minor. As part of its compromise with the liquor commission, Toad's Place admitted to 45 counts of sales of alcohol to a minor.