JB's Warehouse & Curio Emporium

This post offers supplementary material for an article I originally wrote for The Grid , and was recently republished by Torontoist , which you should read before diving into this piece.  Toronto Star , July 23, 1966. Click on image for larger version. Of the other stores mentioned in this article, Ryerson Press's home at 299 Queen West would become home to the CHUM/CITY media empire.

This installment of my "Ghost City" column for The Grid was originally published on November 27, 2012. Queen-Lisgar library branch, 1909. Toronto Public Library. When the Theatre Centre launches its new space in the old Queen-Lisgar library next year, it’s unlikely there will be as many disappointed faces as have witnessed past grand openings at 1115 Queen Street West. The building’s origins date back to 1903, when philanthropist Andrew Carnegie granted $350,000 to the city to build a new central library and three neighbourhood branches. The grant allowed the Toronto Public Library to own sites rather than rent existing buildings. In the case of Queen-Lisgar, it replaced a 20-year-old branch rented on Ossington Avenue that had inherited the collection of an earlier Parkdale library. The new building was designed in a Beaux-Arts style by City Architect Robert McCallum, whose other surviving projects include the palm house in Allan Gardens. During its official opening...

Following up on a story from a couple of weeks ago , the site of the fire on Queen Street east of Bathurst, as it looked last week. Slightly spooky effect from the snow that has accumulated on the emptied site. Photo taken March 13, 2008 - JB

I spent much of Wednesday keeping tabs on the fire on Queen West ( more links ). Adios trips to the affected branch of Suspect Video, which seemed to have more oddball flicks than their Mirvish Village location. You won't find Turkish remakes of Superman at Rogers Video... Several co-workers also kept track over the day. Since I work with cycling enthusiasts, there was a moment of silence when word leaked that Duke's Cycle had collapsed. In tribute, they were clad in black yesterday. I walked by the remains last night, joining a long line of photographers pressed against the fencing erected along the block. The mix of burned facades and icicles resembled a melting candle. All of the conversations I overheard had notes of loss in them, but luckily none of the conspiracy theories that have cropped up (most stemming from the interest of developers in the area and plans to the east of the affected buildings for a condo and possibly a Home Depot). Photo taken February 21,...