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FinnishHall1923_zps5ab7afae.jpg
 
So the World's Biggest Bookstore on Edward Street is almost all gone now, and an old sign has come to light on the south wall of 328 Yonge Street.

181vz8.jpg


I suppose as they peel off more cinder blocks we'll be able to read the whole sign. I'll go by in a few days and give an update.

I'm frankly amazed that there is a sign there - I'm guessing this area has been built up since the late 1800s, meaning the sign might predate that, meaning this sign gazed across a not yet completely developed block.

I consulted plink's Goad maps website and looked at the 1884 map to come to this conclusion. :)

http://skritch.blogspot.ca/2012/04/goads-atlas-of-toronto-online.html

A search of the digital Toronto Archives using the search term '328 Yonge' brings up a 1954 picture of a United Clothing store...

Or maybe someone here has an old Mights business directory...
 
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Hi all. I've been a year-long lurker, it's taken me this long to catch up, and I love the site!

I did a bit of guessing about what the mystery sign that the demolition of the World's Biggest Bookstore could be and I'm thinking the first two letters could be 'JU'. There's a reference in the Toronto Archives to William Junor Limited, China & Glass, 332 Yonge Street, from the 1950 collection of Yonge Street subway planning photographs. Plus, there's some no-pictures, request-only microfiche references to "William Junor, 332 Yonge, dinnerware, plates - March 21, 1934". That next-word-spaced 'C' could be 'China', so maybe its a billboard ad for the store. I know adding the 's' on 'Junors' kinda messes up the theory a bit, but maybe proper punctuation was less of a big deal, pre-war :)

This is the picture of the store from 1950.
junor.JPG


Here's the link to the Archives page. I thought this would take you right to the page, but sadly, it's just the main page. If you type in 'Junor' into the search window, you'll get there.
https://gencat4.eloquent-systems.co...=City+of+Toronto+Archives&eloquentref=toronto

And they're actually still in business now, or some version of them...
http://www.junors.com/

I could, of course, be completely off-base. Any thoughts?
 

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And remember that World's Biggest/Olympia Bowl only dated from the late 1940s; so, said side wall might have been "visible" up to that time...
 
perhaps it would make more sense if this is the south wall of 332 yonge which was the old junor store in the above picture..
which is the aldo store currently..
 
I certainly admire the excellent detective work that has been exhibited in the "Junor's affair." --- Congratulations to all!

Here's a different view of Edward St:

TNEdwardSt1931_zpsc539fcb4.jpg
 
Casca said:
Hi all. I've been a year-long lurker, it's taken me this long to catch up, and I love the site!

I did a bit of guessing about what the mystery sign that the demolition of the World's Biggest Bookstore could be and I'm thinking the first two letters could be 'JU'. There's a reference in the Toronto Archives to William Junor Limited, China & Glass, 332 Yonge Street, from the 1950 collection of Yonge Street subway planning photographs. Plus, there's some no-pictures, request-only microfiche references to "William Junor, 332 Yonge, dinnerware, plates - March 21, 1934". That next-word-spaced 'C' could be 'China', so maybe its a billboard ad for the store. I know adding the 's' on 'Junors' kinda messes up the theory a bit, but maybe proper punctuation was less of a big deal, pre-war :)

This is the picture of the store from 1950.
View attachment 42180

Here's the link to the Archives page. I thought this would take you right to the page, but sadly, it's just the main page. If you type in 'Junor' into the search window, you'll get there.
https://gencat4.eloquent-systems.co...=City+of+Toronto+Archives&eloquentref=toronto

And they're actually still in business now, or some version of them...
http://www.junors.com/

I could, of course, be completely off-base. Any thoughts?
Click to expand...

Thank you for coming to my rescue, casca. I did make a hash of assumptions in my original post. :(

As a reward, please go for a walk around Yorkdale mall - in 1966.


http://www.britishpathe.com/video/new-super-super-mart/query/toronto



Helpful tip: when finished with this video, lot's more Toronto related can be found by entering 'Toronto' into the search box at the top.



,
 
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Thanks kindly, Mustapha. I'm happy to help! I'll defintely have a look around the Yorkdale of my youth...

I did go down to the site of what little is left of the WBB yesterday. I couldn't quite tell how many addresses north of Edward that sign was but I'm guessing it's actually the side of 332 Yonge, where Junor was located, as Koolgreen suggested. That would wrap it all up nicely :)
 
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