Honest Ed’s, is it the end of an era?

Honest Ed’s, the self-described “World Famous Bargain Centre” is for sale.

The brightly-lit landmark, on a corner just a few blocks west of down town Toronto, will celebrate its 65th anniversary this weekend, the birthday of its founder, Ed Mirvish.  There will be cake and balloons and perhaps a tear or two as people realize that the sale will herald the end of an era.

Dollar stores have sprung up all over Canada, but Honest Ed’s is probably the only place left where one can buy items, such as clothes pins or a coffee mug, for 99 cents.

Several generations of newly arrived immigrants responded to the invitation painted on the exterior to “Come this way you lucky people”.

‘Honest Ed’s – Only the Floors are Crooked’, is an apt proclamation on the outside as the inside is almost a fun-house of staircases and small rooms leading to just slightly bigger rooms with piles of goods. from clothing to food products.

It was Mrs. Mirvish who originally opened a single dress-shop in 1948. Then Ed Mirvish began expansion after expansion with bright lights covering the everything.

The much-loved Toronto philanthropist was a bit of a show-man himself; he gave out free turkeys at the store at Christmas, and threw a huge street party beginning with his 75th, on July 24th, 1989.  He built Toronto’s theatre district, and his love for theatre went as far as London, England where he saved the Old Vic theatre.

Ed Mirvish died in 2007 and his son David, who now runs the empire, is working on a massive condo development in the nearby theatre district.  The Honest Ed’s property is said to be worth $100 million, and perhaps it too, will become another interesting condo development