Looking northwest at Edward St and Chestnut St, in the Discovery District of Toronto.
The archive photo shows Angelo’s Tavern and the homes that once lined the two streets, including when Chestnut St extended north of Edward St. Angelo’s opened as an Italian restaurant in 1921, founded by Angelo Belfanti. It later became known as Angelo’s Tavern. However, in 1957, the beloved tavern, where customers “pushed through beaded and string-corded curtains,” closed due to land expropriation. Since 1959, the site has been occupied by the University of Toronto’s Faculty of Dentistry building, as seen in the present-day photo.
On a side note, the restaurant reopened as Old Angelo’s in 1959, a few blocks northeast, once at 45 Elm St.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Aug 28, 1958, pg 23
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Oct 29, 1959, pg 25
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: Toronto Public Library
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory, courtesy of Toronto Public Library
