Honest Ed's facts for kids
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| Private | |
| Industry | Discount retail |
| Fate | Lost foothold to online retailers |
| Founded | 1948 |
| Founder | Ed Mirvish |
| Defunct | December 31, 2016 |
| Headquarters | 581 Bloor Street West Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6G 1K3 |
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Key people
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David Mirvish |
| Products | Department store |
Honest Ed's was a famous discount store in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was named after its owner, Ed Mirvish. He opened the store in 1948 and ran it for almost 60 years until he passed away in 2007. The store kept going until it closed for good on December 31, 2016. Honest Ed's was known for its amazing deals and unique style.
Contents
Where Was Honest Ed's Located?
Honest Ed's was found at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst Streets in Toronto. It stretched all the way to Markham Street. The outside of the store was covered in huge red and yellow signs. These signs advertised the store's name and lit up like a theatre. The main sign alone used 23,000 light bulbs!
A Store Full of Fun Sayings
The outside of Honest Ed's was also covered with funny sayings and puns. Some examples included "Come in and get lost!" and "Only the floors are crooked!" Inside, the store was simple. It had basic displays of low-priced items. You could find everything from vacuum cleaners and winter coats to kitchenware, toys, and even groceries.
Unique Decor and Hand-Painted Signs
Much of the store's decoration came from old movies and plays. These were from Ed Mirvish's theatres in Toronto and London, England. You could see posters and photos of actors and musicians. Many of these were signed to Ed Mirvish himself. Every single sign in the store was painted by hand.
The Story of Honest Ed's
Ed and Anne Mirvish first opened a women's clothing store in 1943. It was near Bloor and Bathurst Streets. This small store quickly became popular. In 1946, they expanded and called it "Anne & Eddie's."
Becoming Honest Ed's Bargain House
After more growth, Mirvish reopened the store as "Honest Ed's Bargain House" in 1948. He added general household goods to the clothes. In 1952, the Mirvishes bought their first property on Markham Street. This was behind the store. They planned to build a parking lot.
Mirvish Village and Store Expansion
However, the city said no to tearing down the buildings for a parking lot. Anne Mirvish convinced her husband to rent the houses to artists instead. This led to the creation of the Mirvish Village neighbourhood in the 1960s. Honest Ed's itself grew to 6,000 square feet by 1958. In 1984, an annex building was finished. This expanded the store all the way to Bathurst Street. The main building was at 581 Bloor Street West. The annex was at 760 Bloor Street West. A walkway connected the two buildings over Honest Ed Alley.
Famous Marketing Stunts
Honest Ed's became famous for its clever marketing tricks. This included "loss leader" specials. These are items sold very cheaply to attract customers. By 1968, the store was making $14 million a year!
Annual Turkey Giveaway
One of the most well-known events was Mirvish's annual turkey giveaway before Christmas. This always got a lot of attention from the news. This tradition continued even after Ed Mirvish passed away. It only stopped in 2015.
Birthday and Anniversary Parties
Mirvish also threw big birthday parties for himself every year from 1988 until his death. After that, they became anniversary parties for the store. These street parties had free cakes, meals, hot dogs, candy, and other giveaways. Huge crowds of people, often with their children, would line up for these free treats. Live bands and balloons added to the fun.
Why Honest Ed's Closed
On July 16, 2013, it was announced that the Honest Ed's property was for sale for $100 million. This meant the store would likely close. It would be replaced with new shops and homes.
Changing Shopping Habits
Honest Ed's business grew until 1990. But then it started to slow down. This happened even before big stores like Walmart came to Canada in 1994. Other reasons for the decline included online shopping. Also, the downtown area became more expensive. Many working-class families moved to the suburbs. Even though the store never lost money, its staff shrank from 400 to 75 people over the years.
A New Direction for the Family Business
Another reason for the closure was that Ed's son, David Mirvish, was more interested in the family's theatre business. He didn't have the same passion for the retail store. David Mirvish said that retail "wasn’t where my heart was." He felt he needed to focus resources on fields he understood better.
Redevelopment Plans
The property was sold to Westbank Properties in October 2013. This company develops luxury hotels, homes, and offices. David Mirvish rented the property back for a few years. This allowed Honest Ed's and other businesses in Mirvish Village to stay open. The iconic Honest Ed's sign was taken down on May 23, 2017. It will be restored and put up above the entrance of the Ed Mirvish Theatre.
Honest Ed's in Pop Culture
Honest Ed's appeared in many films and TV shows filmed in Toronto. For example, you can see it in the movie The Long Kiss Goodnight. It also shows up in the background of several scenes in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World. This is when Scott and his friends eat at Pizza Pizza across the street.
Comic Books and Art
One fight scene in the Scott Pilgrim comic book series happens at Honest Ed's. The characters feel overwhelmed by all the stuff inside. The store even "implodes" in the comic! The store also appeared in Nathan Fielder's 2008 video "Side of Smooth-'Morning Walk.'"
From February to March 2009, the store hosted "Honest Threads." This was an art project by Iris Häussler. She set up a shop with clothes lent by people in Toronto. Each piece of clothing had a personal story. Visitors could borrow the clothes for a few days. This let them experience what it was like to "walk in someone else’s shoes."
Theatre and Music Videos
Honest Ed's was mentioned in the Toronto stage show of The Lion King. A colourful stage curtain was described as "a shower curtain from Honest Ed's." The store was also the setting for the music video "Wide Open" by Toronto singer Jenny Mayhem. In the video, Jenny plays an Honest Ed's employee who dreams of being a star.
The store was featured in an episode of the Viceland series Nirvanna the Band the Show. The main characters look for a Christmas tree there. Honest Ed's is also the main topic of Lulu Wei's 2020 documentary film There's No Place Like This Place, Anyplace.
Honest Ed's Tributes
The Ed and Anne Mirvish Parkette is located at the streetcar loop at Bathurst subway station. A plaque was put there in 2008. It honours the founders of Honest Ed's. It mentions their two popular annual events: Ed's birthday party and the turkey giveaway.
Subway Station Display
On November 1, 2016, the Toronto Transit Commission (TTC) created a special display at Bathurst station. It was a tribute to Honest Ed's. The display included hand-painted signs in the store's famous style. These signs even had the corny puns! There were photos and store items at the concourse level. On the subway platform walls, signs shared facts about Honest Ed's. This special display was removed after the store closed on December 31, 2016.
The TTC later put up a permanent tribute at Bathurst station. It has five panels with pictures and items related to the old department store. A part of the famous Honest Ed's sign will be restored and moved to the Ed Mirvish Theatre.
Farewell Party
A four-day farewell party was held in the building from February 22 to 27, 2017. This event raised money for the Centre for Social Innovation. The celebrations included dance, music, art, films, and live sign painting by Douglas Kerr, the original Honest Ed's sign painter. There were also talks and discussions about how important Honest Ed's was to the community.
