Goodbyes are hard to do.
Saying goodbye to a Toronto Icon, even harder.
It was announced in 2013 that the two block budget retail location was up for sale for $100 million. It quietly sold to a Vancouver property developer and the site will be turned into condominiums in the future. The store's giant 23,000 light bulb marquee will go dark December 2016.
Honest Ed Mervish opened his store in 1948 as ''Honest Ed's Bargain House''. It quickly gained popularity and the store expanded over to Markham Street and the East and West building were attached with a walkway over Honest Ed Alley.
The hand-painted typography of the discount retailer is instantly recognizable to any Torontonian. The windows were known for sporting these hand-painted punny signs; ''Come in and get lost!'' ''Honest Ed's a 'nut'! But look at the 'cashew' save!'' HA! Classics!
At the beginning of November Bathurst Subway Station Ed-fied it's signage overnight to commemorate and honour the station's most famous and iconic neighbour. Even some punny signs were incorporated into the tribute. And at track level there are facts about the history of the store.
As the store has been gearing up for its final days, it's been selling off it's iconic signage and people have been flocking to Bloor and Bathurst to pick up a piece of this Toronto discount institution for themselves.
I have vague memories of visiting the store as a kid with my mother. I remember a feeling of claustrophobia with the packed shelves and plenty of people rifling through bins of piled product. Since we didn't live in Toronto we didn't often make a pilgrimage to Honest Ed's. When I heard of the closing down sales of the retailer, I wanted to visit one last time and try to snag one of the unique typography signs myself. (Which I did! Yay!)
As things wind down, some more unusual items have made their way to the sales floor. From a coffin (seen through the window in the summer, but apparently sold during my recent visit), to antler chairs, to a sedan chair.
Anyone in the market for this lovely statue?
The demolition and planned redevelopment will change the city's skyline whether Torontonians like it or not. Either way, it's time to bid adieu and look to the future.
How do you say goodbye to a landmark?
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