The Agora concert club network was launched in 1966 by Henry LoConti as a small members-only dance club in Cleveland before rapidly expanding into a major force in live rock music. By the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Agora had become known for showcasing rising national acts such as Bruce Springsteen, Kiss, and The Velvet Underground, while also pioneering live concert radio broadcasts that helped define the era’s music scene. As its popularity grew, the brand expanded into a nationwide network of venues, bringing its influential concert format to multiple cities. One of these was the Agora in Toledo, which opened in 1972 and became a key regional stop for touring acts, cementing its place in Toledo’s live music history. The Agora in Toledo was managed by Mark Howard (c1975).
The Agora opened in the former Regal Lanes bowling alley. Regal Lanes closed in 1969 and reopened the same year as The Draught House. The Agora replaced the Draught House in 1972.
5-9-1973. The Collegian (UT Student Newspaper)
Agora becomes 2001, a discotheque.
2001 becomes Touch of Class (TOC), a discotheque.
The Agora, Revisited.
The 1980 reincarnation of the Agora didn’t last long. In 1981 it was called the Connoisseur West. Later in the ’80s the building was demolished to make way for a new Frank’s Nursery & Crafts store.
