August 10, 2024 – Looking northwest across King St E, just east of Jarvis St, towards the beautifully restored Daniel Brooke Building
The Daniel Brooke Building is located at 150-154 King St E and Jarvis St (on the northeast corner) in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto.
An Architectural Gem
The historic building was constructed in 1833 and commissioned by Daniel Brooke, a merchant in the Town of York. The earliest mention of the structure was in an 1835 edition of a Toronto newspaper (shown below), which partially read: “TO LET – Part of the four story Brick Building, east of Shuter & Patersons China & Glass Establishment, on King street… DANIEL BROOKE.”
The Georgian-style commercial structure features three distinct units, and its design includes glazed storefronts with recessed entrances, splayed brick arches above the window openings, an expressed cornice, and three pairs of window dormers.
The Building’s Early Tenants
In 1844, James Austin partnered with Patrick Foy, who founded the prosperous Foy & Austin, a wholesale and retail grocery business in the building. The structure underwent significant reconstruction between 1848 and 1849, shortly before the Great Fire of 1849, which originated in a neighbouring stable. While the fire devastated much of what was then Toronto’s business district, the Daniel Brooke Building remained largely unscathed. Foy & Austin had insured the stock inside the building for £1,500.
By 1859, the business was rebranded to “Patrick Foy” and later to “Foy & Sons” as Mr. Austin dedicated his efforts toward founding the Dominion Bank (the predecessor of today’s TD Bank) and was also president of Consumers Gas. When Foy & Sons vacated the building in the mid-1860s, it became home to a variety of commercial businesses, including another grocery store, a saddlery and carriage harness maker, tailors, a stationer, a dry goods store and a bookshop, to name a few.
Fast-forward to the 1920s, and the storefronts at 150, 152 and 154 King St E were home to the Army Sales Company, a Chinese restaurant and a hardware store, respectively.
The Sportsman’s Shop
April 23, 1971 – The colourful Sportsman’s Shop along with Renaissance Antiques, were located in the storefronts of the Daniel Brooke Building at 150-154 King St E in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 13)
Around 1930, Louis Robins relocated from New York City to Toronto, where he established the Sportsman’s Shop in the building’s prominent corner storefront. Commonly referred to as the Army and Navy store, it became a favoured destination for outdoor and military enthusiasts. It offered various products, including tents, camping beds, blankets, sweaters, boots, and essential gear such as steel helmets, canteens, knives, sleeping bags, and tarps.
By 1940, however, the war effort had impacted the availability of materials, such as canvas, wool, rubber, and nylon, needed for military purposes. When World War II ended, Canada had a substantial surplus of these materials, presenting renewed opportunities for retailers like Sportsman’s Shop.
Eventually, the store expanded to occupy two storefronts, while other businesses, including an antique shop, occupied the adjoining third storefront. Upon Louis Robins’ retirement in 1977, the store’s management transitioned to his son Harold, who had been employed at the store since 1951. Later, his granddaughters joined the family business.
The Building’s Restoration
1990s – An aerial view looking northwest towards the beautifully restored Daniel Brooke Building at the corner of King St E and Jarvis St (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 52, Item 48 – Urban Design photographs)
In 1987, architect Steve Callahan and developer George Webster purchased the Daniel Brooke Building. That summer, the Sportsman’s Shop, a tenant within the building, closed its doors, marking the end of a decades-long era for the establishment. The antique shop also vacated the building. Over the next few years, Callahan-Webster Inc. fulfilled its plans to restore the historic structure to its original condition.
Since the early 1990s, the building that’s now part of King George Square has been host to a variety of upscale shops and businesses, including the Keilhauer furniture showroom.
Did You Know?
Daniel Brooke’s father, Captain Daniel Brooke of His Majesty’s Service, was one of the early occupants of the Town of York, arriving in approximately 1796.
The name Austin may sound familiar to those acquainted with local history, particularly due to his residence, known as “Spadina.” This grand mansion, completed in 1866, now serves as the Spadina Museum, a city-operated attraction that offers visitors insights into the lifestyle of the era and beyond. Opposite this historic site is Austin Terrace, a street that carries the legacy of its namesake.
The Brooke Building is a rare example of Georgian architecture in Toronto. It was included in Heritage Toronto’s inaugural induction list, which featured 490 notable buildings, in June 1973.
In 1986, the owner of the Daniel Brooke Building submitted an application seeking permission to demolish the structure. However, city officials, recognizing the building’s architectural and historical importance, rejected the application.
In 1987, when Mr. Callahan purchased the building, he walked through the upper floors that had been closed off since the 1930s and found an Eaton’s bill and a photo of the Dionne quintuplets.
The Daniel Brooke Building is diagonally across the intersection from St Lawrence Hall.
Click to share your comments below.
Daniel Brooke Building Photos
1972 – Looking northeast towards the Daniel Brooke Building at the corner of King St E and Jarvis St in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. Various shops are visible in the old photo, including the Sportsman’s Shop in the storefronts at 150-152 King St E and Renaissance Antiques, Gift Wares & Handicrafts at 154 King St E.
While the building that houses the Office Furniture business looks to be a part of the Daniel Brooke Building, it was not and has since been demolished. Today, the site of the building once at 156 King St E is a parkette. Notice the building in the distance with the water tower. It was once Hallmark Cards and now serves as George Brown College (City of Toronto Archives, Toronto Planning Board fonds, Fonds 2032, Series 841, File 22, Item 34)July 13, 2024 – Looking northeast towards the corner of King St E and Jarvis St in the Old Town neighbourhood of Toronto. The four-storey gem at the corner is the Daniel Brooke Building. Mr Brooke was a man of means and commissioned the construction of the building in 1833. His father, Captain Daniel Brooke Captain of His Majesty’s Service, arrived in the Town of York in approximately 1796November 12, 1835 – An ad in The Correspondent and Advocate newspaper for the Daniel Brooke Building read:
“TO LET – THAT part of the Subscribers four story Brick Building, east of Shuter & Patersons China & Glass Establishment, on King street. — Possession can be had immediately, and on the first October, the premises now occupied by Mr. Burnham, with cellar and yard, or the cellar and ground floor will be let separate. Apply, if by letter post paid, to DANIEL BROOKE.”1890 – Looking northwest on Jarvis St, towards King St E in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood of Toronto. The building in the foreground on the left is St Lawrence Hall, and an arrow points to the Daniel Brooke Building in the distance. A few of the signs on the Daniel Brook Building include T. Hill & Son Printers, whose shop was located directly behind the building at 55 Jarvis St and also M. Shewan, a bookstore in the corner storefront operated by Magnus Shewan Jr (Toronto Public Library B11-3B)April 4, 1971 – The west-facing wall of the Daniel Brooke Building from Jarvis St, just north of King St E. The wall features many Sportsman’s Shop ads, including Coleman grills, Navy binoculars, boat covers, life preservers, foam slabs, GWG Tough-Wear and tarpaulins.
This photo also shows there was once a ghost sign for “T. Hill & Son General…” on the upper portion of the wall that dates back to about 1890. Thomas and William Hill operated a printing shop from a small building that was directly behind the Daniel Brooke Building at 55 Jarvis St (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 21)August 10, 2024 – Looking southeast towards the west side of the Daniel Brooke Building where Sportsman Shop once occupied the storefront September 13, 1981 – Looking northeast at the storefronts along King St E from Jarvis St in Toronto.
The Sportsman’s Shop, in the left foreground, was operated by the Robins family from circa 1930 to 1987. The Army and Navy surplus store sold tents, camping beds and supplies, boots, binoculars, sleeping bags, tarps and more. The Sportsman’s Shop occupied two storefronts in the Daniel Brooke Building, while Renaissance Antiques occupied the third. Other businesses in the archive photo include a second-hand furniture shop (the blue storefront) and the Albany Tavern (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 65, Item 22) February 16, 1979 – Looking northeast along King St E from Jarvis St, a portion of the Daniel Brooke Building is visible on the left. Notice that its buff-brick facade, once brown from years of dirt (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 73, Item 47)October 18, 2025 – Looking northeast towards the Daniel Brooke Building at the corner of King St E and Jarvis StApril 23, 1971 – The colourful Sportsman’s Shop, along with Renaissance Antiques, were located in the storefronts of the Daniel Brooke Building at 150-154 King St E in the Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood. This photo was taken before the building’s late-1980s to early 1990s restoration, when the bricks were cleaned, and the window dormers were added to the top of the structure (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 13)March 13, 2021 – Daniel Brooke Building on the northeast corner of King St E and Jarvis St features three distinct units. A few architectural highlights include glazed storefronts with recessed entrances, splayed brick arches above the window openings, an expressed cornice, and three pairs of window dormersAugust 10, 2024 – A close-up of the architectural features of the buff-brick Daniel Brooke Building shows the splayed brick arches above the window openings, the expressed cornice, and a pair of window dormersApril 23, 1971 – Looking northeast up Jarvis St from south of King St E in Toronto. Notice gas was 43¢ a gallon, or roughly 9.4¢ a litre. Meanwhile, the Daniel Brooke Building in the centre, appeared to be in a state of disrepair. Plus, layers of dirt and exhaust on the historic structure transformed the original buff (yellow) bricks into a dark brown colour (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 14)May 17, 1975 – Looking southeast across Jarvis St north of King St E in Toronto’s Old Town, St Lawrence neighbourhood. Notice that along with occupying a portion of the Daniel Brooke Building, the Sportsman’s Shop was also located in the structure on the building’s north side (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 17)August 10, 2024 – Looking southeast from Jarvis St, just north of King St E in Toronto. The one-storey structure that was once attached to the north side of the Daniel Brooke Building has since been replaced with a modern structure. The building in the right foreground was originally constructed for The Canadian Bank of Commerce; however, the bank has since left the building, and it now serves as commercial spaceJuly 12, 1977 – Looking northwest on King St E, just east of Jarvis St, towards the main facade of the Daniel Brooke Building. The historic structure is a rare example of Georgian architecture in Toronto, and it received heritage designation in 1973.
Notice the building on the right that is painted blue and home to the Office and Shop Equipment Company. While the structure at 156 King St E looks to be a part of the Daniel Brooke Building, it is not. It has since been torn down and is today the site of a parkette (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 65, Item 5)August 10, 2024 – Looking northwest across King St E, just east of Jarvis St, towards the beautifully restored Daniel Brooke Building. For more than a century, a brick structure at 156 King St E adjoined the Daniel Brooke Building. It was replaced by a parketteMarch 15, 1979 – Looking northeast along King St E from west of Jarvis St. The pillars of The Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce stand on the left, while the Daniel Brooke Building, which was home to the Sportsman’s Shop and Renaissance Antiques, is in the centre (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 61, Item 23)May 25, 1977 – Looking northeast on Jarvis St from south of King St E. The Daniel Brooke Building is in the centre. Built in 1833, the historic structure had been home to many businesses over the decades, including Foy & Austin wholesale and retail grocery store in the mid-1800s. From approximately 1930 to 1987, the building housed the Sportsman’s Shop. Notice gas was 82.9¢ a gallon, or about 22¢ a litre (City of Toronto Archives, Harvey R. Naylor fonds, Fonds 1526, File 65, Item 1)1990s – An aerial view looking northwest towards the beautifully restored Daniel Brooke Building at the corner of King St E and Jarvis St. In 1987, this historic structure was purchased by architect Steve Callahan and developer George Webster, who successfully undertook the restoration of the building to return it to its original condition (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 200, Series 1465, File 52, Item 48 – Urban Design photographs)August 10, 2024 – A TTC streetcar heading west along King St E, passing by the Daniel Brooke BuildingJuly 3, 2021 – Daniel Brooke Building at 150-154 King St E was acquired by architect Steve Callahan and developer George Webster in 1987. Over the next few years, the heritage-designated building was meticulously restored to its original grandeur and reopened in 2002July 4, 2020 – Daniel Brooke Building is located at 150-154 King St E in Toronto. Nearly 200 years old, the building has housed a variety of tenants, including hardware stores, a printing establishment, a harness maker, tailors, a restaurant, and several other businesses. A few notable occupants are Foy & Austin grocers, which operated during the mid-1800s, and the Sportsman’s Shop, which occupied the premises from approximately 1930 until 1987May 28, 2022 – An aerial view looking northeast from St Lawrence Hall towards King St E and Jarvis St in Toronto. The Daniel Brooke Building is directly at the corner, and King George Square Condos at 168 King St E are visible in the backgroundOctober 5, 2019 – The heritage plaque reads:
The Daniel Brooke Building
“This building was first constructed in 1833 for owner Daniel Brooke, a prominent merchant in the Town of York. It was substantially rebuilt between 1848-1849 prior to the Great Fire of April 1849 which started in a nearby stable. While much of the business district was destroyed, this building escaped major damage.
It housed a variety of commercial enterprises over the years, including the prosperous wholesale grocery business of James Austin and Patrick Foy in the 1840s. Austin went on to become a president of the Consumers’ Gas Company and of the Dominion Bank. His home, Spadina, became a museum in 1984.
During the mid-19th century, the Daniel Brooke building contained the offices of The Patriot, an influential conservative newspaper. The block is a rare example of Georgian architecture in Toronto.”
Toronto Historical Board, 1994 The plaque is located at the northeast corner of King St E at Jarvis St1858 – Map by WS & HC Boulton showing the location of the Daniel Brooke Building. Notice at the time, this section of Jarvis St, from King St E to Queen St E, was previously known as Nelson St (Toronto Public Library)1931 – The Toronto City Directory showing the address and tenants of the Daniel Brooke Building at 150-154 King St E (Toronto Public Library)1850 – The Toronto City Directory showing Foy & Austin Grocers in the Daniel Brooke Building at the corner of King St E and Nelson St. At the time, the portion of Jarvis St, between King St E and Queen St E, was known as Nelson St (Toronto Public Library)
