Old Shoe Stores have a certain charm about them. As more and more of our local businesses fall to international corporations and online shopping, it is nice to remember the aesthetic of a homegrown retail shop.
One of my favourite galleries of photos that I have previously put together and posted was the one on historic Toronto storefronts. Since posting it, I have often looked for follow-up ideas that single out a specific type of business. So, during my latest trip to the Toronto Archives, I discovered a ton of pics of old shoe stores and gathered them together for this latest curated collection.
The first photo is actually from Goderich, Ontario but I included it anyway as it is the oldest image of a shoe store I found and a very interesting one as well. Enjoy!
1897 – A souvenir from Goderich, Ontario 1897 – the healthiest and prettiest town in Canada.1900? – Window display of high-buttoned boots and shoes at Slater Shoe Store, 448 Yonge Street1913 – Window display of ladies and gentlemen’s shoes, with leaded upper windows and Humphrey arc gas light, J. C. Buidreo, 1344 Queen Street West1915 – Eaton Battery shoe repairs, CNE camp1922 – Exterior view of store fronts at 1498 Queen Street West, Parkdale, with Humphrey gas arc lighting, Sutherland tobacco, A. Grapple shoes, F. G. Martin, grocer1924 – june 12 – South window – women’s shoes1926 – Jr Vocation School for boys, boy working shoe machine
1930 – sept 30 – New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge1930 – sept 30 – New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge copy1930 – sept 30 – New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge
1930? – Yonge Street and Dundas Street West1950? – Shoe repair shop at corner of River Street and Labatt Avenue1953 – Orpen Properties, Dufferin Display Ltd., neon sign manufacturers, 918 Dufferin Street, west side, and Everett and Barron of Canada Ltd., and Cinderella Shoe Dressings, 914 Dufferin Street, west side1955 – Dufferin Motors, Ascot Shoe Repair, unoccupied store front, 2863-2867 Dufferin Street, southeast view toward Glencairn Avenue1956 – Leaside Shoe Service1956 – Mewhort Fine Footwear1975 – april 22 – View of Fransman’s shoes on the west side of Yonge Street at Irwin Avenue1975 – June 4 – View of shoe store window display on the west side of Yonge Street, north of Wellesly1975 – june 4 – View of shoe store window display on the west side of Yonge Street, north of Wellesly copy1989 – nov 24 – Daniel Flynn Boot and Shoe Shop, Dominion Carriage Works, Pioneer Village2009 – May 24 – Former East York Shoe Repair, 232 Sammon Avenue, at Marlowe Avenue, north-west corner
If you are interested in buying prints of old photographs or are just interested in browsing them, please visit the Toronto Archives.
The St Andrew’s Society of Toronto, the charitable organization celebrating Scottish roots, history, and culture, celebrated its 185th Anniversary on […]
![1930 - sept 30 - New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/1930-sept-30-New-York-Shoe-Company-sale-crowd-outside-248-Yonge.jpg)
![1930 - sept 30 - New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge copy](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/1930-sept-30-New-York-Shoe-Company-sale-crowd-outside-248-Yonge-copy.jpg)
![1930 - sept 30 - New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge copy 2](https://torontoguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/02/1930-sept-30-New-York-Shoe-Company-sale-crowd-outside-248-Yonge-copy-2.jpg)
