Wednesday, July 8, 2020

Looking Back

I took this pic a few years ago during one of our Open Streets events when parts of Yonge St & Bloor St were closed to cars. These 4 shops were the typical storefronts found along some of the older parts of Yonge St south of Bloor. Many have now been torn down and the small independent businesses are disappearing but a look on google showed me that the Cuban cigar shop and the Persian restaurant are still there (at least a few months ago). The 2 buildings on the right have been newly painted and fixed up while the 2 on the left are still in need of a facelift.  
Taking part in Signs 2. Click HERE to see more signs from around the world.

19 comments:

s.c said...

And so the human scale disappears from the shopping streets.

Sharon said...

It makes me think of growing up in Illinois. All the stores were along the street like this. I loved shopping that way.

Karen said...

We have sections in our downtown that are like this. I like the old buildings.

PerthDailyPhoto said...

I hope the book shop survived too Pat, love those old buildings 💙

eileeninmd said...

Hello,

We have some shops and similar signs here too. Lots of signs there, I see the Physic Reader and Spa above the book shop. Enjoy your day!

Anne Hagman-Niilola said...

Fun to look at when different colored houses are stuck together;-)

Andy said...

Yonge Street is changing forever. Take lots of photos before it's gone.

Taken For Granted said...

Too bad there is a loss of small shops, but gentrifying urban neighborhoods will do that. Real Estate just becomes too expensive. Good at least some of them are still there.

Bill said...

Reminds me of the shops when I was growing up. My great grandmother used to live in a building like those with a shop underneath the apartments.

Tom said...

...there still are numerous building like these here. The pressure to build new isn't as great locally. Thanks for sharing, enjoy your week.

John "By Stargoose And Hanglands" said...

I'm surprised that a cigar shop has survived; I haven't seen anyone smoking one for years. My father always used to smoke one on Christmas day but rolled his own cigarettes for the rest of the year.

Kay said...

These are the sorts of shops that give a place character, and allow small entrepreneurs to have a chance.

Revrunner said...

The Cuban cigar store reminds me of the book I just read about Churchill and how much he enjoyed a good cigar.

Lea said...

Sad to see older businesses close. Here some of our older buildings are still standing, but with new owners. I hate to see old buildings torn down instead of being renovated and repurposed.

Catalyst said...

An interesting stretch of shops.

Jenn said...

Love these old buildings!

William Kendall said...

The loss of the bookstore would grieve me.

Jenn Jilks said...

I love the old buildings.

Beside a babbling brook... said...

Love old buildings and store fronts, in a down-street section.

So sad, to see them, disappear.