Ryan Fisher is no stranger to transforming spaces into destinations. As operating partner behind multiple hospitality ventures, he has created some of Toronto’s most distinctive entertainment venues, from SPIN’s ping pong social club through DISTRIKT 461 to Subdivision’s underground electronic scene. Now, Fisher is adding OCHE (pronounced like “hockey” without the H) to his portfolio through Paper Plane Hospitality Inc.—an internationally recognized “gastro gaming” concept that reimagines traditional darts with cutting-edge technology and British pub atmosphere.
Set to open June 10th in the former Second Floor Events space above SPIN Toronto, OCHE marks the brand’s first Canadian location. With established venues in Amsterdam, Melbourne, and Dubai, OCHE combines high-tech darts with elevated dining and craft cocktails—what they call “gastro gaming, high tech darts and awesome cocktails.”
In an interview with 6ixRetail, Fisher shared the three-year journey that brought this partnership together and his vision for creating authentic community spaces in Toronto’s competitive entertainment landscape.
Three Years in the Making
The path to OCHE King Street began unexpectedly during Fisher’s post-COVID travels. “I was in the UK for some soccer games by myself, and I ended up at a venue called Flight Club in Leeds,” Fisher explained. The two-level venue featured darts downstairs and Electric Shuffle upstairs, introducing Fisher to the elevated darts concept. “I messaged my dad and said, ‘This place is actually quite interesting. They do darts. I’ve never thought of darts as this kind of a thing.'”
The connection to OCHE developed through serendipity when Troy, the brand’s then-CEO and former Topgolf International president, visited SPIN Toronto for market research. “We had a pretty open conversation over a couple of beers and never even reached out after the fact,” Fisher recalled.
The partnership materialized when Second Floor Events faced challenges in 2024. “We weren’t really doing the same kind of bookings for weddings. The rent was going up, and there was this kind of crush of like, ‘What is happening here?'” Fisher reached out to Troy with a proposition: “I know this is out of left field, but we have this space. Whether it’s your brand or someone else’s, I’m not going to do this on my own.”
The relationship evolved organically. “The way you sort of start going on a first date turns into a second date, then you become exclusive, and now we’re married,” Fisher laughed.
The Strategic Location Choice
Fisher’s decision to locate OCHE above SPIN Toronto wasn’t just about convenience—it was strategic. The King Street West location benefits from established infrastructure and proven foot traffic, while creating what Fisher describes as a multi-level entertainment destination.
“We had always intended to do something that wasn’t typical to King Street,” Fisher explained, referencing SPIN’s original concept. The laneway location with steel doors created a speakeasy vibe where “as you open the doors, you would never assume that that’s what you see is behind those big metal doors.”
The relationship with the space runs deep. Fisher’s father previously operated The Firkin on King, and the original landlord—a childhood friend of his father—became a partner in SPIN after hearing the concept. “His response after the conversation was, ‘Okay, I’ll let you do it, but I’m going to become a partner,'” Fisher recalled. That partnership continues with OCHE, and the relationship with current landlord Allied Properties has proven beneficial through challenges like COVID.
The location positions OCHE within a rapidly evolving community. With King Toronto condos rising nearby, The Well a block south, and the future Ontario Line bringing subway access, Fisher sees long-term potential despite short-term construction challenges.
Creating a Unique Toronto Experience
OCHE differentiates itself from Toronto’s competitive entertainment scene through what Fisher calls a “360 brand experience.” The name itself derives from the “oche line”—the throwing line in darts—but the concept extends far beyond traditional darts.
“It’s not as simple as just putting a dartboard in—everyone would just do it,” Fisher emphasized. The Toronto location will feature interactive shuffleboard, karaoke rooms, and specialty games including Hoggern, High Striker, and Cricket, alongside global street food-inspired cuisine and craft cocktails.
Fisher acknowledges the competitive pressure directly: “I always say we have to just do it better than anyone else because it’s going to come. Flight Club is going to open in Toronto. The National has opened down in the Well. Everyone’s a competitor.”
The solution centers on emotional impact and community building. Fisher’s vision draws from his childhood experience growing up in his father’s pub: “I always remember coming in as a kid and that smell of beer-soaked carpets. But even as a kid, it was this nostalgic feeling of people were here having a good time.”
This philosophy shapes OCHE’s approach: “Even though it’s an elevated brand and it’s not a pub, it’s that sort of harkening back to the pub world—still holding onto that a little bit is really fun. It’s just how do we do it in a way that speaks to today’s desires: technology, non-alcoholic options when needed.”
The concept goes beyond simply offering games and food. “The kind of place where people want to come in for a Sunday roast and play some darts or watch a soccer game and play some darts,” Fisher envisioned.
Canadian Expansion Strategy
Paper Plane Hospitality Inc. secured Canadian rights to OCHE with commitments to open multiple locations over five to six years, but Fisher sees a different expansion trajectory than his other concepts.
“One thing I said as soon as we opened SPIN was this is almost a once-in-the-city type of experience. Every NHL city should have a SPIN,” Fisher explained. “You need a lot of space, you’re drawing in a lot of corporate crowd.”
OCHE’s smaller footprint enables a different approach. “You need less space to produce more in terms of the number of gaming areas you have. So there’s more of a path to two, three, four in Toronto.”
Rather than immediately expanding across Canada, Fisher envisions regional growth within the Greater Toronto Area. “I think there’s so many pockets of the GTA that would just go crazy for it. People who don’t necessarily want to just go downtown for everything they do, but they want something a little bit cool that maybe they haven’t seen in their community.”
Potential markets include Mississauga, Etobicoke, and other GTA communities before considering metropolitan expansion. Fisher estimates the expansion ratio could be “like five to two in a city in terms of OCHEs to SPINs.”
The agreement provides flexibility for growth. “We talk about it as the rights to Canada with X number over X number of years, but it’s pretty open blue ocean at this point,” Fisher noted, adding that U.S. expansion could be possible if pursued.
Building Community Through Experience
Fisher’s approach to OCHE reflects lessons learned during the COVID period, when his hospitality ventures operated multiple different concepts simultaneously. “When we hit COVID, the reality of how hard it is to do five or six or seven different things really well really hit home,” he reflected.
This led to strategic focus on what Fisher calls “activity bars”—venues that marry gameplay with high-quality food, beverage, and customer experience. “What’s upcoming is a focus on what we do well, which is marrying gameplay with really high-quality food, beverage, customer experience, and service,” Fisher concluded.
The community aspect remains central to Fisher’s vision. “I think that word gets thrown around so much—community and culture just gets talked about as these blanket things,” Fisher noted. “But I really think the idea that on King Street, you can create a world where people want to come in for like a Sunday roast and play some darts or watch a soccer game and play some darts—that part of it for me is really interesting and exciting.”
OCHE King Street benefits from operational expertise through Laurent Fauquenot, the new Toronto general manager who spent two years opening and running OCHE’s Singapore location. This international knowledge transfer, combined with Fisher’s deep understanding of Toronto’s entertainment landscape, positions the venue for success in a competitive market.
As Toronto’s entertainment district continues evolving, OCHE represents Fisher’s commitment to creating spaces where technology enhances rather than replaces human connection. “It’s conversation and simple human stuff that I don’t think is that complicated,” Fisher said of his approach to hospitality.
OCHE King Street opens June 10th in the space above SPIN Toronto on King Street West.
Dustin Fuhs is the Editor-in-Chief of 6ix Retail. He is the former Editor-in-Chief of Retail Insider, Canada’s most-read retail trade publication. He has over 20 years of experience in the retail, marketing, entertainment and hospitality industries, including with The Walt Disney Company, The Hockey Hall of Fame, Starbucks and Blockbuster.
Dustin was named as a RETHINK Retail Top Retail Expert in 2024 and 2025.