Mapping locations from the Scott Pilgrim series
How many spots featured in the graphic novels are still around? We hit the streets to find out.
It’s a graphic novel series that won awards, developed a massive cult following, and spawned a 2010 film starring Michael Cera and Mary Elizabeth Winstead.
But it’s also a straight-up love letter to the city in which it’s set.
Bryan Lee O’Malley’s genre-bending Scott Pilgrim series — published in six installments between 2004 and 2010 — follows the titular character as he tries to defeat the seven evil exes of his new girlfriend, Ramona Flowers. As the story unfolds, O’Malley depicts the Toronto of that era with a simultaneously clear and affectionate eye.
While the series features a few fictional places — like No-Account Video and vegetarian restaurant The Happy Avocado — many of the locations were real and lovingly rendered for the books.
We went through the books and mapped every location we could find (as it turns out, 2004 was a long time ago), whether it still stands or not. Fair warning: The rest of the article is full of spoilers.
Toronto Public Library Wychwood Branch, 1431 Bathurst St.
Book: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life (Vol. 1)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: While Scott and girlfriend Knives Chau walk through the library with a stack of books, Scott sees Ramona Flowers in real life for the first time.
“Scott & Wallace’s Apartment”, 65 Alberta Ave.
Book: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life (Vol. 1) through Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together (Vol. 4)
Still in existence? Yes and no. The house still exists, but the door depicted in the book actually leads to a storage space — not an apartment. (That said, Bryan Lee O’Malley did live down the street when he was writing the books.)
What happens: Several scenes involving Scott and his roommate, Wallace Wells, who paid for basically everything in the apartment. This is also the site of the first extended conversation between Scott and Ramona Flowers — which happens after Scott orders CDs deliberately so Ramona will show up to deliver them.
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Hillcrest Park
Book: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life (Vol. 1)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: Scott and Ramona meet at the top of the steps leading up to the park on their first date, then talk on the swingset. They leave just as snow starts to fall.
Club Rockit, 120 Church St.
Book: Scott Pilgrim’s Precious Little Life (Vol. 1)
Still in existence? No, it closed in 2005. In the years since, this location became a Spring Rolls Go and then a place called Club 120, though that has shut its doors now, too.
What happens: Sex Bob-Omb tries to play a show, but Matthew Patel, evil ex #1, shows up, and Scott has to defeat him. (Also, Crash and the Boys, the opening band, knock out the crowd with a strange song.) (Also also, Ramona shows up and things get awkward with Knives, who Scott hadn’t broken up with yet.)
Insomnia, 563 Bloor St. W.
Book: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Vol. 2)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: Scott calls Knives from a payphone outside.
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Sonic Boom, 512 Bloor St. W.
Book: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Vol. 2)
Still in existence? Yes, just not at this spot. The current location is at 215 Spadina Ave.
What happens: While Scott gathers the courage to break up with Knives, the pair check out CDs — including one by a band called Clash at Demonhead. After Knives invites Scott over for dinner and tells him she’s in love, he says they “should break up or whatever.”
Second Cup, 511 St. Clair Ave. W.
Book: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Vol. 2)
Still in existence? Not really. There are still several Second Cup locations in Toronto, but this particular storefront belongs to a business called Clairhurst Eye Care.
What happens: Ramona goes in for coffee and meets Scott’s sister, Stacey, who works there. Later in the same book, Scott talks to a friend named Julie, who tips him off that Ramona and Stacey are at Toronto Reference Library. Then, in Vol. 4, Scott gets a free iced latte and begins to ask Stacey if the Second Cup is hiring, but leaves abruptly.
Casa Loma, 1 Austin Terrace
Book: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Vol. 2)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: Scott “fights” Lucas Lee, evil ex #2. When Scott asks to see a skateboard trick, Lucas explodes trying to grind rails for the length of the Baldwin Steps, a staircase that leads from Casa Loma down to Davenport Rd.
Toronto Reference Library, 789 Yonge St.
Book: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Vol. 2)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: Ramona goes there to deliver a package, with Stacey in tow. Knives appears to fight Ramona.
Lee’s Palace, 529 Bloor St. W.
Book: Scott Pilgrim vs. The World (Vol. 2)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: Scott and the gang go to see Clash at Demonhead, which means coming face to face with the band’s lead singer — Envy Adams, Scott’s ex-girlfriend. They discover the band’s bass player is Todd Ingram, who turns out to be Ramona’s evil ex #3.
A couple of days later, Scott’s band, Sex Bob-Omb, plays a show on the Lee’s Palace stage, and Scott defeats Todd with a headbutt after Todd loses his vegan powers.
Tim Horton’s, 527 Bloor St. W.
Book: Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness (Vol. 3)
Still in existence? Not so much. There’s no longer a Tim’s at this location.
What happens: Knives and Young Neil lick their wounds after Envy Adams kicks them out of the Lee’s Palace green room.
Pizza Pizza, 558 Bloor St. W.
Book: Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness (Vol. 3)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: Scott and Ramona go in to get out of the rain, and run into Wallace Wells, Scott’s roommate.
Honest Ed’s, 581 Bloor St. W.
Book: Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness (Vol. 3)
Still in existence? Sadly, no. It closed permanently at the end of 2016.
What happens: Scott faces off against Todd in the cavernous and iconic department store, but Todd accidentally destroys it with his psychic powers, stopping the fight prematurely.
Yonge-Dundas Square, 1 Dundas St. E.
Book: Scott Pilgrim and the Infinite Sadness (Vol. 3)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: Knives sits on a tall billboard, brooding.
Dufferin Mall, 900 Dufferin St.
Book: Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together (Vol. 4)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: Scott hits the mall to soak up some air conditioning, and runs into high school friend and former bandmate Lisa Miller.
Sneaky Dee’s, 431 College St.
Book: Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together (Vol. 4)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: Over several scenes, Scott and the gang eat nachos and drink beer. Later, Sex Bob-Omb get a gig in the upstairs music venue, but it’s actually a set-up. The show falls apart when Scott breaks his bass defeating a robot sent by two of Ramona’s exes.
Second Cup, 537 Bloor St. W.
Book: Scott Pilgrim Gets It Together (Vol. 4)
Still in existence? No.
What happens: Scott goes into a second Second Cup location looking for Stacey, mistakenly thinking all Second Cup exteriors lead to the same interior. Instead, he finds Knives, who has gotten a job there. Outside he spots a man who’s been following him while brandishing a samurai sword, who turns out to be Knives’s father.
St. Patrick Station, 449 University Ave.
Book: Scott Pilgrim vs. The Universe (Vol. 5)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: Twins Kyle and Ken Katayanagi, evil exes #5 and #6, kidnap Scott’s friend Kim after a party.
Toronto Coach Terminal, 610 Bay St.
Book: Scott Pilgrim vs. The Universe (Vol. 5)
Still in existence? No. It lasted a long time before closing in 2021.
What happens: Scott says goodbye to Kim as she leaves for home on a bus. Later, Scott boards a bus himself to go visit Kim.
Cameron House, 408 Queen St. W.
Book: Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour (Vol. 6)
Still in existence? Yes.
What happens: Scott sees Knives, who has moved on from him.
Lettieri, 441 Queen St. W.
Book: Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour (Vol. 6)
Still in existence? No. It’s now a restaurant and market called Basil Box.
What happens: In pretty rough shape, Scott goes for coffee with Envy Adams.
”Chaos Theatre,” 588 Queen St. W.
Books: Scott Pilgrim vs. The Universe (Vol. 5) and Scott Pilgrim’s Finest Hour (Vol. 6)
Still in existence? Yes and no. The rendering of this building from the books is real, but the Chaos Theatre never existed. (It’s actually West Neighbourhood House.)
What happens: When we first see this building, it’s a construction site. Scott goes there to defeat the twins (evil exes #5 and #6), who were holding Kim in a cage suspended from the ceiling.
Later, Scott and the rest of the cast attend a Chaos Theatre grand-opening party featuring a solo show from Envy Adams.
At the party, Scott and Ramona face off against club owner and evil ex #7, Gideon Graves. Most of the final volume in the series takes place in the fictionalized interior of this real building.
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