Bassel's matchbooks courtesy of the Chuckman Collection. The sort of thing most people would throw away but thankfully someone cares enough to collect this ephemera.
Like the Silver Rail at Yonge and Shuter, Bassel's was another bar on the strip that is sadly missed. Here's a collection of photos over the years. Originally Bassel's Lunch it evolved into Bassel's Restaurant and Tavern and lasted until at least 1977 (the first time I visited).
The menu.
A postcard from the early 1960's
2011.
One last shot looking south down Yonge in front of the Coronet Theatre from the late 1970's.
1979 shortly before it closed.
1979 shortly before it closed.
2010.
Posts
This is fantastic. I'd only ever seen the second last photo and had wondered how this establishment fit into the building. Great sleuthing!
ReplyDeleteThank you.
ReplyDeleteYou shouldn't be crediting Chuckman as "someone who cares enough to collect this ephemera". He just downloads the photos from ebay and posts them to his site.
ReplyDeleteWell, he's done the leg work.
ReplyDeleteWhen did Bassel's close? I was working down the street at A&A's by the second half of the '80s, and by then its location was a Big Slice pizza and Maison de Croissant. The Rio was still in business, and there was still a bank on the SW corner of Gerrard and Yonge. The neighbourhood's changed a lot, but it's still recognizable, though that could probably change in the next few years.
ReplyDeleteGood Question. I was there in '78 and the one photo is dated '79 so soon after that. I was at the Silver Rail the night it closed and still have a couple of light fixtures (purchased)
ReplyDelete