Looking north along Yonge St from Shuter St in the Downtown Yonge area of Toronto.
The building featured in the right foreground of the photos was constructed in two phases between 1891 and 1914. Known as the Ryrie Building, the archive photo shows when its corner storefront was home to the Silver Rail Tavern, a cocktail lounge and restaurant that opened in 1947. The tavern was famous for having the city’s longest bar—a 90-foot stretch with 40 seats—and featured a silver railing beside the staircase that led to the downstairs dining room. After more than 50 years of operation, the legendary Silver Rail Tavern closed its doors in 1998. Today, the corner storefront is occupied by Sweat & Tonic.
Both photos also show the Eaton Centre on the left and fire hydrants located diagonally at the corners.
Then and Now
SOURCE
- City of Toronto Heritage Register
- Heritage Toronto
- Ontario Heritage Trust
- Biographical Dictionary of Architects in Canada
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Apr 2, 1947, pg 15 (Silver Rail, looking north along Yonge St from Shuter St)
- The Globe and Mail Newspaper Archives: Jun 25, 1998, pg A12 (Silver Rail, looking north along Yonge St from Shuter St)
- Photo: Denise Marie for TorontoJourney416
- Vintage Photo: City of Toronto Archives
- City of Toronto: Maps
- Toronto City Directory, courtesy of Toronto Public Library
