The Earl Selkirk mosaic tile storefront entryway is located at 2928 Dundas St W (west of Keele St) in The Junction neighbourhood of Toronto.
At the entrance of what is today home to the offices of Taylor Hazell Architects, there’s a black and white diamond checkerboard mosaic tile floor, which features the name “Earl Selkirk” in blue. Earl Selkirk operated his men’s furnishings shop from this storefront from 1948 until the mid-1950s.
The building was constructed in 1919 and designed by the architects Smith & Wright. Over the years, it has housed various businesses, including John Pincos’ shoe polishing service, D’Allaird ladies’ wear, Cohen Israel’s men’s furnishings, Tip Top Tailors, Earl Selkirk men’s wear, Phillips Shoe Store, and Articulations. In 1998, the building was added to the city’s heritage register. Since 2021, it has been the home of Taylor Hazell Architects, a firm that specializes in the adaptive reuse of existing sites.
Along with operating his clothing shop, Earl Selkirk played for the Toronto Argonauts from 1933 to 1941 and managed the team from 1945 to 1950.
Earl Selkirk Storefront Entryway Photos
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 2928 Dundas St W
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Jan 4, 1950, pg 15
- Photos: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
