stores Archives - Toronto Guardian

Old Photographs of Toronto Corner Stores and Intersections (1900-1982)

Joel Levy — Thu, 13 Dec 2018 05:20:53 +0000

Exploring historical archives often reveals astonishing insights into our city’s rich heritage. The Toronto Photo Archives and the Toronto Public Library Archives offer a fascinating glimpse into the past with their collections of vintage photographs dating back to the 1800s. This treasure trove of images has allowed us to compare Toronto’s busy street corners and corner stores of yesteryear with their present-day counterparts.

I often spend several hours diving into the archives, unearthing a variety of captivating images that chronicle the city’s evolution over the decades. As anticipated, the archives yielded an impressive selection of photographs, illustrating Toronto’s dynamic history through its street scenes and commercial hubs.

Here’s a curated collection of these vintage photographs from 1900 until 1982, providing an opportunity to compare historic Toronto corner stores and intersections with its modern-day streetscape using Google Street View:

1900 – Bay and Wellington

1910 – Bay and Adelaide – Looking NE

1910 – NW Corner Adelaide and Bay

1913 – Yonge and Richmond

1919 – King and Bathurst – Piano factory

1919 – Yonge and Shuter NE corner

1920 – Avenue RD and Bloor

1922 – SW Corner Dundas and Pacific Ave.

1925 – Front and York

1927 – Kingston Rd and Birchcliff

1930 – SW Corner Davenport and Dupont

1930? – Queen and Yonge

1931 – NE Corner Spadina and College

1937 – NE Corner Broadview and Queen

1950? – Brock and Muir

1952 -yonge and Dundas

1956 – Eglinton Ave East and Sutherland Drive

1959 – Avenue and Davenport

1959 – Yonge and Adelaide

1960? – Corner Store in Residential Neighbourhood

1967 – Dempsey Brothers Store – Yonge and Sheppard

1967 – Lawrence and Weston Road

1967? – Yonge and Mill St – York Mills Skating Rink

1968 – NW corner Jane and Lawrence

1969 – Bay and Bloor SE Corner

1972 – Bay and Dundas

1972 – Bay and Gerrard.

1972 – Bay and Hayter

1972 – Bay and Piper

1972 – Bay and wilton

1972 – Bloor and Balmuto

1972 – Bloor and Jarvis looking SW

1972 – Church and Carlton

1972 – Dundas and McCaul

1972 – Dundas and Seaton

1972 – Dundas and Victoria

1972 – Dundas and Victoria copy

1972 – Elizabeth and Gerrard

1972 – Jarvis and King

1972 – Jarvis and Mt Pleasant

1972 – King and Frederick

1972 – Parliament and Front

1972 – Spadina and Adelaide

1972 – Spadina and College looking NE

1972 – Spadina and College looking south west

1972 – Spadina and Front

1972 – SPadina and Harbord

1972 – Spadina and Harbord copy

1972 – Spadina and Queen

1975 – Church and Richmond

1977 – Ontario and Dundas East

1980s – Site of CBC building John and Front

1982 – NW Corner Yonge and Temperance

For those eager to explore further, the Toronto Photo Archives and the Toronto Public Library Archives are invaluable resources. You can visit their websites to dive deeper into Toronto’s visual history.

If you are interested in checking out some images on the archives, visit their website here.

Rediscover Toronto, one photograph at a time.

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A Look inside the CHANEL flagship boutique in Yorkville

Joel Levy — Mon, 22 Jan 2018 21:20:09 +0000

Back in November, CHANEL opened up their flagship boutique in Toronto’s trendy Yorkville neighbourhood. The new venue for all things CHANEL takes over the two floors and 600 square metres within the historic façade that was once part of the first Mount Sinai Hospital, an institution founded in 1922 to provide medical services particularly for the city’s many Jewish immigrants. It was in 1934 that architects Benjamin Kaminker and Edward Richmond designed this façade as an addition to the hospital.

Credit: Joel Levy Photography

The interior of the building was designed by architect Peter Marino. Bespoke artwork and furnishings, CHANEL’s iconic colours of black, white and gold are apparent throughout the space. Custom fabrics are used in silk and wool carpeting, in the draping of the walls as well as on woven window panels in ivory, gold, black and champagne. On top of elements that pull from Coromandel screens, visitors can also discover touches of ‘Chinoiserie’ motifs mirroring Mademoiselle Chanel’s apartment in Paris.

Ready-to-Wear collections can be seen in the boutique’s two salons which are accompanied by four accessories salons that feature a selection of shoes, handbags, small leather goods, eyewear and a selection of CHANEL Watches and Fine Jewellery.

Specially-commissioned artworks selected for the boutique are also on display showing a commitment to the arts. How long the pieces stay up and how often new ones are introduced was unclear but an update will be added once that info is known by the retailer.

So how is the store broken down? Visitors will enter through their main doors and into their “gallery space”, featuring a rock crystal and polished bronze Goossens chandelier. The gallery space moves into the four salons on the main floor. Costume jewellery with a selection of handbags in one section; shoes, a space that features a brass ‘Raindrops’ wall mirror by Curtis Jere and an engraved brass and bronze table by Michael Pohu; eyewear, along with small leather goods and other accessories like scarves; bags including CHANEL’s Gabrielle bag Cruise novelties and the BOY CHANEL handbag as well as Watches and Fine Jewellery including the CODE COCO watch, CHANEL’s newest timepiece, and the Gallery fine jewellery collection, recently launched in Paris. These spaces are accessorized with French Montano ‘ribbon’ chairs in blackened bronze.

The stairwell that connects the two floors features a commissioned art piece by Jean-Michel Othoniel, known for his longstanding collaboration with the House of CHANEL. It features a white and gold beaded 3-D pearl necklace that descends eight metres from the ceiling, visible from both floors

There is also a portrait of Gabrielle Chanel that was created using a watered reflection technique that is engraved on black granite by artist Gregor Hildebrandt.

The upper floor of the space is dedicated to Ready-to-Wear items featuring the CHANEL Cruise collection created by Karl Lagerfeld. The two salons up here are designed to reflect the intimacy of a private home, by including delicate French artisanal objects such as lamps with beaded detailing as well as a fireplace made of limestone – juxtaposed by a gold-leaf resin Wendell Castle ‘Firebird’ chair. The three fitting rooms, including one for VIPs, include artworks such as a pearl framed art piece by Shelter Serra, a gold and ivory camellia collage by Peter Dayton and a black and white graphic abstract artwork by Heinz Mack.

It is clear from the store and its interior design that art is a huge focus of the brand. We hope to see more Canadian works presented and updated often.

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Toronto Toy Stores both Kids and Adults Love to Visit

Joel Levy — Thu, 03 Nov 2016 23:15:05 +0000

Whether it is the holiday season, an upcoming birthday or just a day for window shopping, these Toronto Toy stores and Gift shops are loved by both kids and adults alike.

1. Toy Terminal – 165 Bathurst Street – (416) 203-3385 – Website

Located in the downtown core, this one-stop toy shop has a variety of toys, games and atuffed animals.

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2. Mabel’s Fables – 662 Mount Pleasant Road – (416) 322-0438 – Website

Mabel’s Fables has a great collection of books for kids and families to enjoy.

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3. Treasure Island Toys – 581 Danforth Avenue – (416) 778-4913 – Website

Located on the Danforth, this toy shop is great for holiday gifts and toys.

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4. The Swag Sisters – 1511 Gerrard Street East – (416) 628-1280 – Website

Stuff for parties and birthdays can be found at this east end shop.

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5. Little Peeps – 742 Queen Street East – (416) 406-5437 – Website

Clothing, toys, games and more at this Riverside shop.

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6. For the Win Café – 3216 Yonge Street – (647) 350-6700 – Website

A Café for gaming nd boardgames that will be fun for the whole family.

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7. Playful Minds Toys – 657 St Clair Avenue West – (416) 651-4028 – Website

Toys and games for kids and families.

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8. Party Rock – 1919 Avenue Road – (647) 966-0019 – Website

Find your party necessities at this shop on Avenue Road.

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9. Game and Hobby Zone – 2 Bloor Street West l21 – Call (416) 413-1511 – Website

This centre of the city shop will have great party accessories and games for kids.

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10. Rolo: Realm of Ludicrous Objects – 24 Bellair Street – (416) 920-0100 – Website

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11. Silly Goose Kids – 2054 Danforth Avenue – (647) 341-4400 – Website

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12. Toytown – 1754 Avenue Road – (416) 783-8073 – Website

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13. Mastermind Toys – Many Location – 639 Mount Pleasant Road Mapped – (416) 440-0111 – Website

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14. Ella Minnow Books – 991 Kingston Road – (416) 698-2665 – Website

A great book store for kids in the Beaches.

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15. ella + elliot – 188 Strachan Avenue – 416-850-7890 – Website

This modern -high-end store has furniture, toys and more for the very stylish family.

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16. Scooter Girl Toys – 187 Roncesvalles Avenue – (416) 534-2211 – Website

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17. The AGO Gift Shop – 317 Dundas Street West – 416 979 6690 – Website

Find great prints, books and artwork related gifts at the AGO Boutique.

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18. Kidding Awound – 91 Cumberland Street – (416) 926-8996 – Website

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19. The ROM Gift Shop – 100 Queens Park – 416.586.5766 – Website

Items at the ROM’s gift shop include artwork, books and exhibit related items.

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20. Kol Kid – 674 Queen Street West – (416) 681-0368 – Website

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Old photographs of Toronto storefronts (1870-1978)

Joel Levy — Thu, 19 Nov 2015 17:16:39 +0000

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. – 1908

Store 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 – 1921

1498 Queen West Parkdale Humphrey with gas arc lighting , Sutherland tobacco, A Grapple shoes , F G Martin grocer

Old 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, 1926

September 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, 1928

photograph 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, 1930

Scotts’ Grocery Store SW corner of Davenport & Dupont – October 2, 1930

Although 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 1937

Allen Stores on Yonge Street – 1950

Avenue Road widening. Existing conditions – 1959

Darrigo’s Grocery at the Corner of Spruce & Parliament Streets – 1947

File 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 – 1956

Orpen Properties Patoff Grocery 391 Brock Avenue and Smyth Variety Store 389 Brock Ave Muir Ave-SE corner – 195?.

Yonge Street – 1950

Red Circle Cut Rate store 1692 Jane-Street Lawrence Avenue West corner – 1968

View of variety store at the north-west corner of Ontario and Dundas Street East – May 13, 1977

NE corner of Dundas Street East and Mutual Street – 1978

Housing – miscellaneous residential buildings. – [between 1977 and 1998]

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