As a history enthusiast, I often find myself exploring the treasure trove that is the Toronto Archives. This time, my curiosity led me to a compelling collection of historic photographs featuring Toronto storefronts. These captivating images illustrate the evolution of corner stores, butcher shops, tailors, grocers, and other businesses that once adorned the streets of Toronto from 1870 through 1978.
145 King Street East – (c.1870) – Showing the James Foster & Son general hardware store, and photographer D.C. Butchart’s Toronto Dominion Gallery, which was located on the second floor.
In this photo gallery, you’ll uncover the unique architectural styles and creative signage that shop owners used to attract customers over the decades. From the general hardware store of James Foster & Son in 1870 to the vibrant variety stores of the 1970s, each photograph offers a snapshot into Toronto’s commercial history.
Take a visual stroll down memory lane and experience the charm of historic Toronto storefronts. For further exploration, be sure to visit the Toronto Archives website for more fascinating photographs.
Williams butcher and grocery store, Deer Park. – 1908Store plastered with signs, northwest corner of Adelaide Street West and Bay Street. – [ca. 1910]Old shops with living quarters above – 6,8,10 Elizabeth Street – Feb 12, 1912.The location is a butcher’s on Bloor St. West near Brunswick, called either Flanagan’s or the Brunswick Meat Store. It may have been the second of two butcher shops with the same owner – 19211498 Queen West Parkdale Humphrey with gas arc lighting , Sutherland tobacco, A Grapple shoes , F G Martin grocerOld Country Furniture-\ store, SW corner of Dundas & Pacific Ave. – Feb 8, 1922.Yonge Street and Alexander Street 192?Arnold Bros, grocery section, 773 Yonge St.. – April 22, 1926September 16, 1927 – The item is a photograph looking at a view of Scarborough radial line stop no. 7 and Taylor’s Drug store at the southwest corner of Kingston Road, and Birchcliff Avenue.Kid’s Safety Club, policeman and girls – Roncesvalles Fern Avenue April 25 1928 – William Forster Grocer at 177 Roncesvalles – April 25, 1928photograph of Tony Greco and his mother at their fruit and vegetable store, Danforth Fruit, on the southwest corner of Danforth and Logan avenues – 1930?Ingersoll [Cream] Cheese window [R.S.] Jones Grocery, Windermere & Bloor – November 21, 1930Scotts’ Grocery Store SW corner of Davenport & Dupont – October 2, 1930Although the photographer indicated that this image shows the southeast corner of Broadview Ave. and Queen St. E., it is actually the northeast corner that is shown. The photograph shows a news vendor’s kiosk covered with ads for the Daily Star, the Globe and Mail, the Telegram, and the Star Weekly. Behind the kiosk is the shop window of a United Cigar Store, and a sign for Superior Taxi. – nov 4th 1937Allen Stores on Yonge Street – 1950Avenue Road widening. Existing conditions – 1959Avenue Road widening. Existing conditions – 1959Avenue Road widening. Existing conditions – 1959Avenue Road widening. Existing conditions – 1959Avenue Road widening. Existing conditions – 1959Avenue Road widening. Existing conditions – 1959Darrigo’s Grocery at the Corner of Spruce & Parliament Streets – 1947File consists of 22 photographs of the widening of a section of Dundas Street West, between Kipling Avenue and Paulart Drive. Intersections documented include those with Paulart Drive, Wilmar Road, Poplar Avenue and Acorn Avenue. A number of service stations appear in the photographs include McCleary’s Esso Service, and Shell, White Rose, Texaco and Sunoco stations. Included is a photograph of 6 Points Plaza, consisting of a Loblaw’s, Zellers, Reitmans, and other small shops – 1956Orpen Properties Patoff Grocery 391 Brock Avenue and Smyth Variety Store 389 Brock Ave Muir Ave-SE corner – 195?.Yonge Street – 1950Yonge Street – 1950Yonge Street – 1950Red Circle Cut Rate store 1692 Jane-Street Lawrence Avenue West corner – 1968View of variety store at the north-west corner of Ontario and Dundas Street East – May 13, 1977NE corner of Dundas Street East and Mutual Street – 1978Housing – miscellaneous residential buildings. – [between 1977 and 1998]
![Store plastered with signs, northwest corner of Adelaide Street West and Bay Street. - [ca. 1910]](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/northwest-corner-of-AdelaideWest-Bay.jpg)
![Exterior view of store fronts at 1498 Queen Street West, Parkdale, with Humphrey gas arc lighting: Sutherland tobacco, A. Grapple shoes, F. G. Martin, grocer. - [ca. 1922]](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/1498-Queen-West-Parkdale-Humphrey-gas-arc-lighting-Sutherland-tobacco-A-Grapple-shoes-F-G-Martin-grocer.jpg)
![Housing - miscellaneous residential buildings. - [between 1977 and 1998]](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Streetscape-corner-store-196-.jpg)
