What’s Up Tdot!?

Nordstrom landing in the Tdot Fall 2016

Yes, 2016 is like a life time away, but I think it will be worth the wait. Today Cadillac Fairview announced they would opening four Nordstrom locations across Canada and one of them being at Sherway Gardens. Working at Sherway Gardens I know big things are going down with a clean up of all the stores in the mall and a n expansion on the way. However, I never though that Sherway would build a two level, 138,000 square foot department store! I just assumed they would close Sears. However, this is probably the first major announcement of the malls proposed renovation!  

Anyway, Nordstrom is coming at the peak of new American Retailers entering the Canadian market. Target is coming with its first store at Cloverdale Mall in Spring of 2013 and other retial giants like Ann Taylor and Loft are coming. Not to mention the probable slew of first time American stores possibly coming to the new Yorkdale Expansion.

Anyways I love department stores and I thought I would post the links to all the department store related posts I did for Why I Love Toronto. They include:

College Park (The old Eaton Centre)

Toronto Eaton Centre

Toronto Eaton Centre at Christmas

Timothy Eaton Statue

The Bay/ Former Simpsons on Queen

The Bay Holiday Window

Arcadian Court

The Holt Renfrew Holiday Window

That’s What’s Up Tdot!?

Why I Love Toronto Reason #209

College Park

Sitting on the corner of Yonge and College is a building that used to house one of my favorite department stores Eaton’s, before the Canadian icon moved down to Yonge and Dundas into the (at the time) newly built Toronto Eaton Centre. The building is an example of Art Deco architecture and was built by some of our favorite architects Ross and Macdonald (Maple Leaf Gardens, Royal York Hotel [with Sproatt and Rolph] and Union Station) along with Henry Sproatt (Soldier’s Tower, Canada Permanent Trust Building/ CIBC Melon and Canada Life Building). Isn’t it awesome how all these architects are coming together!! 

Anyways, construction on the building started in 1928 and was completed in 1930 and opened by the Matriarch of the Family, Lady Eaton, in October. In the original plan of the complex a New-York Style skyscraper was meant to be built, but like all plans in this time – you guessed it – the depression halted them.

The building regardless has some amazing features including a Roman Arch (which is still there) at the Yonge Street Entrance, limestone on the exterior, monel metal to trim the windows and door frames as well as cast stone and carvings. The interior has columns made from marble and imported from Europe. Also the windows at street levels are massive to accommodate the large window displays for all those window shoppers going up and down Yonge.

The building was not only a hot spot for shopping but also had auditorium as well as a restaurant known as the Round Room. The Auditorium was a concert hall where beloved Glenn Gould performed (probably before he went to Fran’s to grab a bite to eat). However, reports also say that Billie Holiday, Duke Ellington, Frank Sinatra as well as the National Ballet of Canada performed at the auditorium – that’s crazy! I wish we had department stores like this still! The auditorium could seat around 1300 people and was built by Jacques Carlu and today the seventh floor has been converted in the Carlu venue (which is so amazing and has such a whacky history that it needs its own post!).

After moving to TEC in 1977 the building was spared, sold and became what we know as College Park. The lower level which now houses a Metro, Winners and other stores maintained the art-deco look of Eaton’s and the upper floors are now office space and the seventh floor/ Carlu after a ton of drama was restored. However, soon you will only be able to see the building if you’re going south on Yonge as a new condo/ shopping complex is blocking the view you used to have of the building from the North.

Did you get all that! I know it’s a lot of history to take in, but its worth the read. Timothy Eaton was a mastermind and like I have said over and over again it is a shame his statue sits in the basement of the ROM and that his Eaton Department stores, which shaped Canadian retail, ceases to exist. Regardless we still have bits and pieces of the Eaton’s History and its places like College Park that keep that memory alive…

That is Why I Love Toronto.     

http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/architecture/record-eatons.aspx

http://www.archives.gov.on.ca/english/on-line-exhibits/eatons-windows/index.aspx

http://lost-toronto.blogspot.ca/2011/01/eatons-college-store.html

http://www.historicplaces.ca/en/rep-reg/place-lieu.aspx?id=7413

Why I Love Toronto on Boxing Day Reason #117

The Toronto Eaton Centre

Today the Eaton centre will probably be seeing the most traffic all year even though it already welcomes over a million people per day. But today is an extra special day where people step out and try to get the best deals possible with their Christmas money. TEC boasts as being the largest shopping mall in downtown Toronto, with 4 levels of shopping and a floor dedicated to a food court or as I call it reason #23! It is even the third largest shopping mall in Canada.

The mall is broken up into what I would call different dollar ranges. The top floor which houses stores like Michael Kors, Coach, Harry Rosen and Wilfred are more on the expensive side. The middle floor which has Victroia’s Secret, Bench, A|X and Scotch & Soda is a mid-price range area and the bottom floor is more affordable clothing for teens and such, with American Eagle Outfiters, Old Navy, Blue Notes and Costa Blanca. It is even big enough that it can have more than one store. It has 3 Aldo shoe stores and 2 Sources as well as Herzing College and part of Ryerson University.  

As you remember from reason #111 it has some amazing Christmas displays, but another permanent fixture it has is the Canada Geese that hang from the ceiling at the Queen Street Entrance. The art fixture is called Flight Stop by Michael Snow (and now his short form name is not Miike Snow like the electronic artist who sings Silvia). Other highlights include the shooting fountain in front of the Forever 21 and the Shuter entrance which for me architecturally is really neat.

The centre of course started with the now defunct Eaton’s Department store. Before the Eaton centre the Eaton’s was located at what is now called College Park, but wanted to make its presence more known in the downtown core as well as avoid the aging structure of college park. Well Eaton’s did just that and today Yonge/ Dundas is the most well know intersection in all of Toronto. The centre opened in two stages. In 1977 the north section was opened and two years later the south was complete. Over the years more new sections would emerge, with the H&M extension as well as the Ryerson, Canadian Tire, Joey’s and Best Buy expansion. It was designed by Ed Zeidler and was meant to imitate the Galleria Vittorio Emanuele in Milan with its glass roof. Apparently when it opened the Eaton’s location alone was nine floors high which I was not even aware of! When it was opened it was described as an indoor city of glass. Furthermore, when in the initial stages of building the centre there was the proposed demolition of reason #59 as well as the Holy Trinity Church which is now snuggled in the middle of the towering Eaton centre.  

So what’s next for TEC well Harry Rosen is relocating to where the McDonalds, Cultures and Grand and Toy once was at the south end to make it even bigger and more modern than its current location. Also the apple store which is always crazy busy is looking for a new location - but where?! Also there are big rumours that J. Crew will be opening in the old SportChek location on Yonge and Queen! Hopefully with a men’s department.

That is Why I Love Toronto on Boxing Day.

 http://www.toronto-travel-tips.com/toronto-eaton-centre.html

http://gocanada.about.com/od/canadiancities1/tp/tor_attractions.htm

http://www.blogto.com/city/2010/12/the_origins_of_the_eaton_centre/

Why I Love Toronto Reason #97

The Canon Ed Mirvish Theatre

For those who do not understand why I crossed out Canon, have clearly not been reading the newspaper lately, but that is understandable up until a few hours ago my head was in the works of Goffman, Gergen and Hoschild studying for an exam. Regardless after my exam Amee, Laura, Eugenie and I went to Blueberry Hill a bar/ diner thing at York’s Keele campus to have some celebratory beers, when on CP24 live at 5 it was announced that Canon Theatre would renamed after Ed Mirivish. Now there are only two men who I will acknowledge as being leaders to developing Toronto and giving it its history. The first man is immortalized in a statue in the basement of the ROM reason #24 , Timothy Eaton. The other is Ed Mirvish.

Everyone knows Mr. Mirvish he is the man behind Honest Ed’s in the Annex! Anyways a brief history on Mr. Mirvish’s life. He was the son of a grocer who opened up Honest Ed’s on the corner of Bloor and Bathurst. He also had an interest in the arts which led to the restoration of the Royal Alexandra Theatre (where I once worked), the building of the Princess of Wales Theatre and the revitalization of King Street where he opened restaurants so that after someone went to see his show they could enjoy dinner. This eventually lead Torontonians to dub the area the theatre district. He also owns the Panasonic and Canon/ now Ed Mirvish Theatre.

When you first look at the Ed Mirish Theatre (which I will now abbreviate to EMT) it looks really small and you wonder how can one have live theatre in such a small venue. Well that was my first impression anyways. The first time I went to the Canon was with Sanjana to see Wicked. Let me tell you even though it may look small on the outside the theatre is massive with beautiful grand staircase.

When the theatre opened in 1920 it ran under the name the Pantages and was a combination of Vaudeville and motion picture (Vaudeville seemed to be very popular back in the day! Do you recall Reason #76 and #93).  It was designed by Thomas W. Lamb who also built the Elgin Theatre down the street. It was the largest cinema in Canada with 3373 seats! At the time of course. It eventually lost its name because of a very sad/ disturbing story. Alexander Pantages who was behind the theatres was convicted of the rape of a minor and was sent to jail and eventually had his conviction overturn. Well this bad press ruined the Pantages name and it was sold off and became the Imperial, which was a movie theatre only. It was eventually turned into multiplex with 6 screens and operated by Famous Players. Eventually Cineplex came in and bought the Yonge Street entrance forcing Famous Players to sell, however Famous players fought it and eventually won an injunction preventing movies from being shown at the theatre ever again! Did you get all that? It’s more confusing than the Diane Jenkins murder Investigation on the Y&R.

To get back at Famous Players and to prove the land wasn’t a waste they began restoring the original design of the theatre and renamed it the Pantages and operated it as an actual live theatre like it is today. The first musical shown was the Phantom Of The Opera in 1989.

After a really long history it became the Canon theatre in 2001 after it was purchased by Clear Channel and then only a few years ago was it purchased by the Mirvish’s in 2008. And today Mr. Mirvish’s son announced that he would honour his father by naming the theatre after him.

When you go to the EMT you have to look at its grand lobby, vaulted ornate plaster ceilings, columns and grand staircase which I personally love and you will be shocked by the theatres size. The hallway provides one of the most beautiful walks ever, you feel as though the men should be dressed in suits and the women in the most beautiful ball gown fitting for an Oscar ceremony. I feel as though I should have broken out into a choreographed waltz. (ps I can’t get any photos of the inside but go here to check them out! http://mirvish.com/theatres/edmirvishtheatre)

So I love this building because it is beautifully designed, the size on the outside is misleading, it has a history that is fit for a soap opera, it has been renamed 5 times and the name it has today is that of one of this city’s most brilliant minds.

That Is Why I Love Toronto. 

Reason Why I Love Toronto #24

The Timothy Eaton Statue at the ROM

So yesterday the Urban Eatery in the Eaton Centre made my list. I told this to my friend Sanjana and we then had a discussion about the Eaton Centre which got me thinking about the Timothy Eaton statue at the ROM. Now if you are asking who Timothy Eaton is then shame on you! The man is an important figure in Canadian retail.

Timothy Eaton founded the now defunct Eaton department store. Now if you go and ask your mom, dad or grandparents what Eaton`s was they will probably tell you about the Eaton`s catalogue which was the most highly anticipated catalogue of the year! My generation may not understand the excitement people had for this catalogue which is understandable since many of us go online to view catalogues for certain stores. My grandmother, who loved Eaton’s, said people would wait and check their mail boxes constantly to see if it had come in and when it did come in some people would dedicate a whole evening to reading it with a glass of wine in hand.

 Timothy Eaton was important because he revolutionized retail in Canada. He was also a very generous man. For example the area around Kipling station used to be called Eatonville because he established a farm their so his employees could have milk in their lunchroom! Another cool fact for those who don’t know is that the Sears at the Eaton Centre was actually an Eaton`s department store, before it went bankrupt in 1999. Another other cool fact was that Eaton’s was all about employees first, he guaranteed that his employees could keep their jobs if they went off to war and some of his staff still got paid even when they were overseas.  

The Globe newspaper even said “There is hardly a name in Canada, with the possible exception of the Prime Minister, so well known to the people at large as that of Mr. Timothy Eaton.”  This man was so influential and well known that in 1919 his employees presented Eaton family with two bronze statues of Timothy Eaton as a thank you. One statue was located at the Eaton Centre (I remember it being there) and the other at a Winnipeg location. Like most statues there is a legend, and for this one it is said that if you rub Mr. Eaton’s the left toe you will have good luck. 

When the brand closed down in 1999, many people lay flowers and cards as a sort of memorial to the retail giant. Eventually the Toronto statue was relocated to the ROM and the Winnipeg one was deemed a heritage object and therefore will forever remain in the province of Manitoba. But if you go down to the bottom floor of the ROM, you can rub the toe of Timothy Eaton for good luck and you take a look at the man who had a major influence on Canadian Retail.

That Is Why I Love Toronto