Photographs of Old Shoe Stores in Toronto

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.
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 Street
1900? – Window display of high-buttoned boots and shoes at Slater Shoe Store, 448 Yonge Street
1913 - Window display of ladies and gentlemen's shoes, with leaded upper windows and Humphrey arc gas light, J. C. Buidreo, 1344 Queen Street West
1913 – Window display of ladies and gentlemen’s shoes, with leaded upper windows and Humphrey arc gas light, J. C. Buidreo, 1344 Queen Street West
1915 - Eaton Battery shoe repairs, CNE camp
1915 – Eaton Battery shoe repairs, CNE camp
1922 - 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
1922 – 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
1924 - june 12 - South window - women's shoes
1924 – june 12 – South window – women’s shoes
1926 - Jr Vocation School for boys, boy working shoe machine
1926 – Jr Vocation School for boys, boy working shoe machine

1930 - sept 30 - New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge
1930 – sept 30 – New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge
1930 - sept 30 - New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge copy
1930 – sept 30 – New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge copy
1930 - sept 30 - New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge copy 2
1930 – sept 30 – New York Shoe Company [sale], crowd outside 248 Yonge

1930? - Yonge Street and Dundas Street West
1930? – Yonge Street and Dundas Street West
1950? - Shoe repair shop at corner of River Street and Labatt Avenue
1950? – Shoe repair shop at corner of River Street and Labatt Avenue
1953 - 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 side
1953 – 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 side
1955 - Dufferin Motors, Ascot Shoe Repair, unoccupied store front, 2863-2867 Dufferin Street, southeast view toward Glencairn Avenue
1955 – Dufferin Motors, Ascot Shoe Repair, unoccupied store front, 2863-2867 Dufferin Street, southeast view toward Glencairn Avenue
1956 - Leaside Shoe Service
1956 – Leaside Shoe Service
1956 - Mewhort Fine Footwear
1956 – Mewhort Fine Footwear
1975 - april 22 - View of Fransman's shoes on the west side of Yonge Street at Irwin Avenue
1975 – april 22 – View of Fransman’s shoes on the west side of Yonge Street at Irwin Avenue
1975 - June 4 - View of shoe store window display on the west side of Yonge Street, north of Wellesly
1975 – June 4 – View of shoe store window display on the west side of Yonge Street, north of Wellesly
1975 - june 4 - View of shoe store window display on the west side of Yonge Street, north of Wellesly copy
1975 – june 4 – View of shoe store window display on the west side of Yonge Street, north of Wellesly copy
1989 - nov 24 - Daniel Flynn Boot and Shoe Shop, Dominion Carriage Works, Pioneer Village
1989 – nov 24 – Daniel Flynn Boot and Shoe Shop, Dominion Carriage Works, Pioneer Village
2009 - May 24 - Former East York Shoe Repair, 232 Sammon Avenue, at Marlowe Avenue, north-west corner
2009 – 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.

 

 

 

About Joel Levy 2616 Articles
Editor-In-Chief at Toronto Guardian. Photographer and Writer for Toronto Guardian and Joel Levy Photography