A successful restoration of the building was revealed this weekend. More to follow.
This is Occident Hall at the South West corner of Queen and Bathurst.
The first recorded work of renowned Toronto Architect E.J. Lennox,
"Builder of Toronto"
Built in 1876 as a Masonic Lodge with shops on the ground level.
"Builder of Toronto"
Built in 1876 as a Masonic Lodge with shops on the ground level.
From 1948 and up to about 1984 it was known as the Holiday Tavern and helped to give the intersection it's now famous name of "F*ck Face City" as coined by Chris Houston. The Big Bop is about to close and be taken over by Crate and Barrel.Currently there appears to be some restoration of the facade under way.
As of January 2010 the renovations have started with theremoval of the angel stone cladding and gutting years of
insensitive alterations to the interior. It will be interesting to watch the progress.
Posts
this takes my breath away. i used to live in the loft behind this building. i remember going inside the 1st time and seeing what a rare gem was hidden under bad paint & filth. wow. what a great restoration!! gives me hope for other buildings in the city.
ReplyDeleteAre you KIDDING me?! This is what it was like? While I appreciated the purple and swirling pink in the purple-and-swirling-pink-1980s what fools "we" were to ever cover it up.
ReplyDeleteI've got to get out more often.
I knew someone who scored the Holiday Tavern sign.
If you could get photo of that sign I'd be very interested...
ReplyDeleteSorry, that colleague has been lost in the mists of time.
ReplyDelete