Looking southeast towards the corner of Yonge St and Carlton St in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto.
On April 29, 1948, the S.S. Kresge Company officially opened its “modern” building at the corner. The lower floors housed the five-and-dime store, which also featured a deli, bakery, a fountain and luncheonette with 102 stools, a 67-seat tea room, and a stand-up soda bar. The upper floors served as the Canadian head office for the company. The three-storey and basement building shown in the archive photo was faced with Indiana limestone, consistent with nearby structures such as the Eaton’s College Street Store and the Hydro buildings.
The S.S. Kresge store was last listed at this address in the 1980 City of Toronto Directory. In 1982, the building was demolished, and a new structure was later constructed on the site.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register:
- Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Mar 15, 1946, pg 5
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Apr 28, 1948, pg 8
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Aug 20, 1982, pg B2
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: City of Toronto Archives
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory courtesy of Toronto Public Library
