Honest Ed Store, Part of Toronto's History; We Will Miss You!

 

On the last day of 2016, we went downtown to mark the end of an era. December 31, 2016 was the last day of Honest Ed Store. The store was located at the corner of Bathurst Street and Bloor Street  in downtown Toronto.   



 










It was a bargain store that sold house ware items ranged from pots and pans to children’s clothing.  It served the residents of Toronto for over 60 years, especially new arrivals to the country looking to buy things for the families at affordable prices.

Ed Marvish was the store’s founder and was known for his flamboyant personality and creative marketing techniques.   For example, self deprecating sayings such as the following were illuminated  brightly and hung outside his store for decades:

Honest Ed is a freak. “He has bargains coming of his ears.”

Honest Ed attracts squirrel. “ At these prices, they think he is a nut.”

Honest Ed never goes out but his prices keep saying good bye.

Honest Ed’s embarrassed. He’s caught with his prices down.

The Honest Ed building has been a well known and beloved landmark in Toronto for more than half a century. 

Unfortunately,  this building has been sold to a developer  who would tear it down to build new condos. Many people wanted to have a piece of the store as a souvenir.


 On its last day, hundreds, might be thousands of people showed up at the store to buy a price sign or a poster or something. The price sign was priced at $9.00 each right to the last hour of the store closing.

 With many willing to pay that price, there were huge lines ups at the cashier.

We were glad that we got down to the store to mark this historic closing. We also got a piece of its history - a poster ! Honest Ed Store, you will be missed by Toronto!

R.T.

Toronto