A Furniture Store On Wellington

These are a few images of the furniture store my grandfather once owned, passing through various hands since his business ended somewhat prematurely. My grandfather's (empty in the picture) furniture store on Wellington West took a turn as the Royal Food Market before it's luck ran out as well.  This block has been converted to a number of new restaurants, with Bridgehead anchoring the corner where the adult shop existed (right side of unage below).  The apartments above seem quite spacious and are in use today.

John (my grandfather) used to paint his shoes green on Saint Patrick's day, and, was likely pouring a few free beers for patrons (and himself) on those days.  There (really) was a fire at his store, and one can still find a press clipping in google news describing the fire sale that resulted.

In the neighbourhood; a Chinese laundry, a police station, butcher, and more.  It was a village, and as villages were in those days, it was self-sufficient. Apparently, John would help out a number of families without the means to afford furniture, and, he never touched a drink until 40.

Around then, the automobile had become ubiquitous, some streets were re-routed (Wellington used to connect to a bridge (name needed) and was a main thoroughfare), and the demise of the Lebreton Flats created the perfect storm for him.  No longer were people obliged out of necessity or neighbourly sentiments to purchase locally.  Today, we have IKEA.

The stamped metal ceiling tiles are original (see below). A few years later (2012), this space was  severed into new a series of new businesses.  The apartments above the shops are surely heritage and sit in contrast to modernistic corrugated steel cladding that has recently been added.

There is a funny story my mother told me about a woman who lived above the shops.  When my mother was just a little girl, she would witness the woman walking downtown to a large Church (I'll get the name) and back almost every day.  My mother asked her why she was doing this, and she replied, "My husband and I have been trying to have children and have been unsuccessful".  She would pray every day for children and walk her daily pilgrimage for it.  Many years later, my mother saw her doing the same.  When she asked again the woman replied, 'I've had 9 children, now I am praying for it to stop".