Historical Winnipeg discussion - Page 159

esquire · #**3161** Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 2:08 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by davequanbury

By the end of their lives, the buildings west of Nut house were all hidden behind a metal facade similar to the one that used to cover the Scott Block. The conversion was commissioned by the Genser furniture store (which is visible in the photo Esquire linked to)

I always found that particular block kind of curious. The former Genser's store (a combination of three older buildings) lasted so long, only to be demolished and replaced by a very simple single storey power centre type building that originally housed Shoppers Drug Mart as I recall, and is now home to Dollarama today.

Why did the landlord bother replacing the old building when Shoppers Drug Mart and subsequent tenants (Red Apple, Dollarama, maybe SAAN at one point) could have easily fit into the pre-existing building?

Given that the single storey, now 20 year old Dollarama can't have much value over and above the value of the land itself, I always thought that block would be ripe for redevelopment. Perhaps that might be a possibility depending on what MEC does with its building... I can't see them staying there much longer. I think Gendis still owns it, and one of their other former downtown sites ended up becoming Manitoba Hydro Place.

1ajs · #**3162** Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 3:05 PM**

Where was the mens own building?

1ajs · #**3163** Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 3:06 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I always found that particular block kind of curious. The former Genser's store (a combination of three older buildings) lasted so long, only to be demolished and replaced by a very simple single storey power centre type building that originally housed Shoppers Drug Mart as I recall, and is now home to Dollarama today.

Why did the landlord bother replacing the old building when Shoppers Drug Mart and subsequent tenants (Red Apple, Dollarama, maybe SAAN at one point) could have easily fit into the pre-existing building?

Given that the single storey, now 20 year old Dollarama can't have much value over and above the value of the land itself, I always thought that block would be ripe for redevelopment. Perhaps that might be a possibility depending on what MEC does with its building... I can't see them staying there much longer. I think Gendis still owns it, and one of their other former downtown sites ended up becoming Manitoba Hydro Place.

Prolly taxation and the costs at thr time to rehab was cheaper to replace

esquire · #**3164** Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 3:18 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ajs

Prolly taxation and the costs at thr time to rehab was cheaper to replace

Yeah, I could see the tax bill being a reason. But so many other buildings along Portage in a similar situation with lightly-used upper floors remain... always found it interesting that this block was the one that ended up biting the dust.

davequanbury · #**3165** Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 10:07 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I always found that particular block kind of curious. The former Genser's store (a combination of three older buildings) lasted so long, only to be demolished and replaced by a very simple single storey power centre type building that originally housed Shoppers Drug Mart as I recall, and is now home to Dollarama today.

Why did the landlord bother replacing the old building when Shoppers Drug Mart and subsequent tenants (Red Apple, Dollarama, maybe SAAN at one point) could have easily fit into the pre-existing building?

Great question. Folks must have just hatred the old block so much that anything was better. Was there ever a porn theatre in there?
Love those old facades, especially the Kodak building with the art deco stonework.

So depressing that a shoppers was that much of a catch to justify razing the whole thing.

OTA in Winnipeg · #**3166** Posted **Oct 14, 2022, 11:29 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by davequanbury

Great question. Folks must have just hatred the old block so much that anything was better. Was there ever a porn theatre in there?
Love those old facades, especially the Kodak building with the art deco stonework.

So depressing that a shoppers was that much of a catch to justify razing the whole thing.

That was the DownTown Theater a little up the street between Carlton and Edmonton I believe. The Colony just opposite The Bay may have shown porn as well.

Quote:

Originally Posted by wardlow

davequanbury · #**3167** Posted **Oct 15, 2022, 2:05 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ajs

Where was the mens own building?

The men's own was on Logan just east of the Mitchell Fabrics/MSP site. Currently a parkinglot

esquire · #**3168** Posted **Oct 15, 2022, 3:39 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by OTA in Winnipeg

That was the DownTown Theater a little up the street between Carlton and Edmonton I believe. The Colony just opposite The Bay may have shown porn as well.

Yeah, I read up on this once and it turns out that the movie chain that ran the Colony tried to capitalize on changing social mores in the 70s by turning some of its downtown cinemas across Canada into a sub-brand of porn theatres called "Eve".

I guess back in those days people probably just took it as a sign of the changing times, but in hindsight, having a cinema on our main drag, directly across from one of the city's two main department stores turn into a low-rent skin flick theatre was not really a sign of good things to come for Portage Avenue.

I couldn't find a pic of the Winnipeg location of Eve, but here's the one in Montreal. Kind of gives you an idea of what it was like... I love the sign, not exactly understated, ha

eve by Marc-A. G., on Flickr

OTA in Winnipeg · #**3169** Posted **Oct 15, 2022, 11:02 PM**

^Found one

1ajs · #**3170** Posted **Oct 17, 2022, 7:14 PM**

victoria st 1950 flood

source vintage winnipeg facebook group

OTA in Winnipeg · #**3171** Posted **Oct 17, 2022, 8:06 PM**

^Westbrook St. now if anyone was wondering
https://www.google.com/maps/place/We...!4d-97.1352558

wardlow · #**3172** Posted **Oct 17, 2022, 9:31 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1ajs

victoria st 1950 flood

source vintage winnipeg facebook group

Not much from this photo is still around... This is looking south from Lombard, and the taller building in the centre background is the Codville warehouse we discussed a few pages back, which was demolished in the early '90s.

OTA in Winnipeg · #**3173** Posted **Oct 17, 2022, 10:58 PM**

Yep, not much at all. Maybe just a couple in the distance.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/We...!4d-97.1346682

davequanbury · #**3174** Posted **Oct 18, 2022, 12:34 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by wardlow

Not much from this photo is still around... This is looking south from Lombard, and the taller building in the centre background is the Codville warehouse we discussed a few pages back, which was demolished in the early '90s.

You can see back of the tallest of the three Nutty Club buildings in the top right.

esquire · #**3175** Posted **Nov 7, 2022, 2:20 PM**

A nice vintage postcard view of Grace Church, the building which once stood at the corner of Garry and Notre Dame. That's the site which has remained a surface parking lot since the church was demolished sometime in the 1950s, give or take.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/951304...n/photostream/

borkborkbork · #**3176** Posted **Nov 8, 2022, 12:44 AM**

jeez that pic from wardlow... an unlocked bike downtown... things have changed

wardlow · #**3177** Posted **Nov 15, 2022, 7:52 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

A nice vintage postcard view of Grace Church, the building which once stood at the corner of Garry and Notre Dame. That's the site which has remained a surface parking lot since the church was demolished sometime in the 1950s, give or take.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/951304...n/photostream/

Grace Church was such an interesting building. Its architecture didn't read 'church' the same way... every other church building did. It looks more like it was a theatre from the outside.

There's some interior photos here. Looks like it was an incredible space, and I'm sure its acoustics were great.

esquire · #**3178** Posted **Dec 14, 2022, 6:10 PM**

I'm sure this picture has surfaced in this thread before, but what the hell, let's do it again.

Princess Elizabeth at Higgins and Main, 1951.

Princess Elizabeth '51 by buflyer200, on Flickr

thebasketballgeek · #**3179** Posted **Dec 14, 2022, 6:53 PM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by esquire

I'm sure this picture has surfaced in this thread before, but what the hell, let's do it again.

Princess Elizabeth at Higgins and Main, 1951.

Princess Elizabeth '51 by buflyer200, on Flickr

Man what was Downtown like in the 50's I'm sure the city felt like a bustling metropolis at the time.

I hope in my lifetime we can recapture that same energy.

stefmikhail · #**3180** Posted **Jan 9, 2023, 7:53 AM**

Quote:

Originally Posted by Andy6

Interesting. Those are the old wooden buildings, including Foote's studio, that were replaced by the Cadomin Building (Wilson's Furniture) in 1912, with the Scott Block (1904), which is still standing, in behind. So this would be between 1904 and 1912.

My that corner changed! So happy I happened upon this photo. Have anymore?