Quote:
Originally Posted by esquire
I was in diapers for North Portage's supposed bad old days, but I honestly wonder how bad it could have been... the picture above speaks to a down at the heels but still functional commercial strip lined with retail shops. We don't really have much of that left downtown.
|
Most shoppers were on the Eatons / Bay side southside. The luster was gone by late 70's..early 80's..As a youth, it was creepy walking north Portage late 70's/early 80's on a busy Saturday afternoon too..never felt that southside....
Eatons & The Bay were the major draws.. Plus there was a 3 floor Holt Renfrew, a superb, spacious & gorgeous Birks jewelers store, a 2 level Marks & Spencer' also..., S.S.Kresgee, a 2 level F.W. Woolworths, The Metropolitan as other anchor stores catering to all budgets. ..All we have now for anchors are Dollartree, Dollarama etc...Dayton's and other nicer stores like Donaldson's ladies shoes abandoned the beleaguered northside early 80's.There was virtually nothing built on north Portage or north of Portage for decades. Now there is albeit in need of renewal, Portage Place, Promenade apartments, Kiwanis Chateau, Fred Douglas, One Canada Centre, Air Canada, Alt Hotel, Glasshouse condos etc. Some eateries ..Brown's, Merchant Kitchen etc