Looking northeast towards the corner of Queen St E and Church St, in the Garden District of Toronto.
The archive photo shows that 60 Queen St E was formerly Thrifty’s Sport Shop and later became home to various businesses, including Public Optical, Gino’s Pizza, and Shawarma King. According to a City of Toronto Heritage Report, the first two stories of the building were constructed in the 1840s, while the third story was added circa 1901. Plans are in place to integrate the historic façades of the building and nearby structures into a new 57-storey tower known as Queen Church Condos.
The vintage photo also captures Cooke’s Presbyterian Church standing tall on the right. The church, built in 1891, served the community for over 90 years before it was demolished in 1984. Both images feature McTamney’s Jewellers & Pawnbrokers on the left, which has since relocated to 837 Danforth Ave.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register: 60 Queen St E
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: City of Toronto Archives
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
