Stollery’s – Iconic Menswear Store Once on Canada’s Most Desired Corner

13 June 2023

1966/72 - Stollery's at Yonge and Bloor Sts, looking southwest — 1966/72 – Stollery’s at Yonge and Bloor Sts, looking southwest (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 124, File 2, ID 109)

Stollery’s was located at 1 Bloor St W on the southwest corner of Yonge and Bloor Sts in downtown Toronto.

Frank Stollery & His Haberdashery

Born in Yorkville in 1879, Frank Stollery quit school in his mid-teens to learn how to cut shirts and ties. When he reached the age of 20, he was already a foreman at a Montreal clothing company. He then spent a year in the Royal Canadian Regiment and later returned to Toronto to open a haberdashery which was financed by his father. Mr Stollery was involved in local politics as a young man and in the early 1920s, he was elected senior alderman for Ward 3.

Stollery Haberdasher

1928 - Construction at Stollery's and a note with the photo saying the property directly south was "sold to Stollery for $400,000" — 1928 – Construction at Stollery’s and a note with the photo saying the property directly south was “sold to Stollery for $400,000” (City of Toronto Archives, Fonds 1244, Item 7393)

In 1901, the original shop was on Yonge St, south of Bloor St. A few years later, Stollery Haberdasher moved to the southwest corner of Yonge and Bloor Sts, just north of the Uptown Theatre. Today it’s one of the most expensive pieces of land in Canada. In a 1928 vintage photo shown below, Mr Stollery purchased the building next to his store. A note with that photo mentioned that he paid $400,000 for the property. He merged it into his existing renovated store.

The Store After Mr Stollery

Mr Stollery remained in the business until 1968 when he sold 50% of his shares to his son, Arthur and sold his other half to Ed Whaley. Mr Whaley and his family ran the day-to-day operations of Stollery’s while Arthur was a silent partner. Frank Stollery passed away in 1971. The third storey with a glass facade was added in the mid-1980s. At the height of its business, the shop employed 100 people, selling both men’s and women’s clothing.

The Property Today

2018 - Artist rendering of future The One (One Bloor West) — 2018 – Artist rendering of future The One (One Bloor West)

The store closed in 2015 and after 114 years in business, the building was demolished. “The One” will be an 85-storey exoskeleton hybrid luxury condo, hotel, retail tower and the tallest building in Canada. It’s designed by the architectural design firm Foster + Partners, based in London, England. It’s expected to be completed in 2023.

There’s a parkette named after Frank Stollery at Davenport Rd, Yonge and Scollard Sts.