Looking northeast at the corner of Dundas St E and Ontario St, in the Cabbagetown South neighbourhood of Toronto.
The archive photo features the Royal Oak House, located directly at the corner. This Second Empire Style building dates back to approximately 1876, when it was originally known as the Derby Arms. Over the years, the hotel has been known by several names, including Wilton House, Royal Oak Hotel, Royal Oak House, and Soupy’s/Stoopy’s Tavern. In the 1980s and 1990s, the hotel’s dive-bar atmosphere attracted filmmakers, and it can be seen in movies like The Fly, Cocktail, and A History of Violence.
In 2013, the hotel underwent renovations, during which its exterior was covered with stucco. It was renamed the Royal Oak Inn. Fast-forward to 2024, when the building was painted a dark grey with orange trim.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 376 Dundas St E
- Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada
- Toronto Star Newspaper Archives: Jul 29, 1983, pg C21
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Nov 22, 2008, pg R9
- IMDb: Filming Locations – Stoopy’s Tavern
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: City of Toronto Archives
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
