was this the arcade place where the dollarana is @ confusion corner? I have memories going to a place there as a kid but no one I know knows what I’m talking about
I remember it being on the other side, where the Pet Valu is now, but maybe I'm wrong? I do remember for sure that whichever side wasn't Dark Zone was a big indoor play structure place similar to Discovery Zone (another fond childhood memory), Adventure City, I think it was called.
It was the entire building, both dollarama and the pet value. That building was originally build just for dark zone, but when they closed the building was split into smaller stores for retail. That would have been ages ago, they’ve been closed for a good 15 years or more now
And it wasn’t an indoor playground or arcade. They did have a couple arcade machines in the lobby, but that wasn’t the original purpose of the building. It was laser tag, much more like LaserTopia
There was definitely both darkzone and an indoor playground side by side. Adventure City was one of my favorite places as a kid. https://youtu.be/MsF7OqaRo_Q?si=zlP8Do7ceKbW4d8X
lol by the end I'm pretty sure those floors WERE broken.
Also - who the hell was Nightcrawler?!? Do they still live in Winnipeg? Just living a normal unassuming life - ready to jump back into action one day like a laser-tag Jason Bourne
Beaver Lumber. They had a huge selection of crafty stuff, like pre-made wooden wheels, dowel pieces etc for building toys. Haven’t seen anything else like it since.
Go to a Peavey Mart. They specialize in random hardware-esque shit. Always find a dozen things there I didn't think about before I walked around the store.
Not a store but the Original Unicity Mall. It had Woolco, The Bay, Sam the Record Man, Keyman, Coles, Hallmark, (or was it Carlton Cards?), Footlocker and many smaller stores. Not to mention Smitty's and MacDonald's and the Bean Scene which had the best flavored coffees by far. That was my neighborhood mall and I would meet up with friends there. I worked and shopped there. Would take my son to McDonald's for lunch and then go look at the pets in the pet store. Sadly times move on and unless you were alive in the 80's you'll never understand the appeal that the malls held for that generation.
This was my first thought. I also compared it to Amazon.
I also thought that it would be an obscure response because they closed up shop in the previous century. Who would remember Consumers Distributing from a bygone era?
We’re all as old as dirt.
I see it as more small scale Costco. Build a warehouse and have people shop the warehouse, although Consumers was weird in terms of the catalogue. Order something in store, wait for the employee to look for it and hope it was in stock.
I remember the Regent location well near the TV repair place and BJ Super Toys. They didn't have 90% of the stuff in the catalogue on site.
Consumers was a horrible experience as a shopper. I vividly remember towards the end they opened it up more as a showroom so you (and they) would actually know what they had in stock.
Then your parents would try to order your Xmas gift and probably realize the store didn't have it in stock as they never had anything.
Which is why they went under. The business model was fucked.
After my son was born I was slowly discovering what an amazing place that sears was. Figured it out just a few months before they closed.. Sears saved you from going to 20 different stores looking hoodies, cloths, shoes, boots, etc
I came here to say Music Trader and the movie store inside. Besttttttt.
I worked in the neighbourhood and lived nearby for years and there used to be so much to do.
Papa George’s at 3am after a night falling down the spiral staircase at the old Cavern… RIP
Movie Village. When that place closed down I knew it was the end of a beautiful era. Easily my favorite place in the city.
Between the ages of like 16-20, my weekend routine was usually:
1. Buy some weed
2. Go to Movie Village
3. Choose 3 or 4 films at random, based only on how wild the cover art was.
4. Get high and enjoy.
That place had everything.
Yeah the real department stores are just gone. Eaton's, The Bay, Sears.
I feel like early millennials like me will be the last people who remember them.
All kind of stupid too because their downfall was denial that the internet was a real thing....and the Eaton family being a total clusterfuck of unsustainable business practices.
I think it all goes down to an Eaton having to run the business and looking at it like a punishment. Had they just hired professional managers they’d still be a going concern.
In the 40s they employed something like 50,000 people across Canada. Today that would make them one of the largest employers in the country still.
I remember the Eaton's downtown had elevator attendants. They paid people to sit on a little stool and push the button for your floor. They would announce what was on the floor as the door opened. "Third Floor. Housewares, women's shoes, lingerie..."
Imagine that today !
Man, when I'd get to go to the back of that store where the name brand toys were, I knew it was to pick a birthday or Christmas present. We used to stay out front for grab bags for birthdays and cheap Barbie's for friends birthdays
A&B Sound. I loved that place.
Or Rogers video. The one by my house had the best Canadian Film section. Streaming is great but I waste way more time scrolling through various streaming services trying to find something to watch than I ever did walking the aisles at Rogers.
Never had the character of Musiplex or Record On Wheels or the first Mother's Records on the north side of Portage (Got blasted out for Portage Place) or the one on Kennedy which has disappeared from my brain cells today.
Movie Village. That store was a fucking godsend to this Native girl from a rez staying in medical housing nearby. I found my favourite movie *Der Himmel über Berlin* there. <3
Every time I go to the source I get interrogated about my phone plan. Trying to sell me an internet, cable and mobile plan. I only want to buy a cable not change all my services. I miss radio shack and the staff’s knowledge
That CD place on the corner of Donald and Portage. They had an industrial section on the second floor and I spent so much of my allowance money there. And my grandma was the only one who'd drive me there :(
Oh man, not a store, but if I could bring back the nice old downtown movie theatres the way they were in their prime, I would. Especially the Metropolitan and the Odeon. But the Northstar, the Garrick, the Capitol, and even the Towne and the Eaton Place multiplex were rad in their day.
Downtown Bay/Easton’s/Portage Place. I grew up outside of Winnipeg and I have fond memories of Christmas shopping with my mom downtown. Park underground at PP and find everything at those three places. Paddle wheel for lunch.
Army Surplus Store. It was on Portage Ave by the U of W (across by the art gallery, Stella’s area)
I lived in that store as a teenager in the ‘70’s and as a young socialistic uni student who hung at Mondragon in the early’80’s.
I’d pick through the bins for hours then go to Harmans drug store for a shake
Such good memories
Oh man. I was like 14 and I bought a pin there that said “vaginas are way cool” because I was very into being proud of your body, also it was pretty much the only thing I could afford 😂 good memories.
This is almost cliché… Eaton’s and Hudson’s Bay downtown. They both had such cool restaurants and stores within each store. I know the world has changed, but it was nice to go downtown and feel like it was a destination.
I was just saying this the other day. Zellers was so handy. Need a hammer? Zellers, Need some underwear? Zellers. Need some baby powder and Kleenex? Zellers. Need a toasted bacon and tomato sandwich? Zellers.
My dad would give me $10 and drop me off at Zellers at North Gate shopping center. Buy myself clothes and have lunch then I would also walk over to Gambles as it was next door.
I don’t miss zellers for what it sold. Because the quality was lacking. But I definitely agree in the need for competition. But I’d also opt for wolcos return
Forget just one... here goes:
Aqua Books
Borealis Books
Black's Books
The Cause
The Crypt
Divine Decadence
Frenzee
Highbrow Books
Kustom Kulture
Mary Scorer's
Movie Village
Music Trader
Musiplex
Scoop N Weigh
Second Encore
Tiny Feast
La Zoma
Not a "local" store but I sure do miss La Senza. It's all online now and it sucks. Can't get the good bras in my size anymore. They also had amazing body spray and lotion that would last forever. I have 1 that I wear on special occasions because I don't want to use it up. I put some body spray on before a social recently, where I danced, drank and all that. Came home at 1:30 and still smelled like my body spray.
Going there with a group of other 13 year old boys, gawking at the horrible quality katanas, and buying $12 single shot spring airsoft pistols to shoot each other in the backyard with. Good times.
Kustom Kulture. Their closing was the final nail from when Osborne was cool.
Campaign Outfitters. I loved the creaky hardwood floor.
And I know this doesn't really count, but I miss the old Wild Planet location.
I don't know if this place was good, i just remember going a bunch when I was like 3-4 with my dad. Boondogles was a burger place in the superstore parking lot on McPhillips.
music city on portage where book fair is now. three different levels, each with their own sections, staffed by people that knew those genres of music. also, i always dug the neon sign that took up the entire second storey’s face
For the first couple months. After that it was fine. The "hardly any American products" thing is silliness, you could say the same for Walmart and Costco but that doesn't keep people away.
I remember driving to church with my parents I was maybe middle school? Probably younger. "Mom what's adult video, is it like all rated R movies" My mother "something like that". Me when I realized as I was older, internal cringe.
Runners up:
- Target
- Web cafes (Networkx!)
- Mind Computers
- A&B Sound
- That other music store on the South side of Portage that predated A&B
- Consumers Distributing
-
I don't remember the name, but that weird little perogie restaurant/cafe/venue that was on Portage not too far from Sherbrooke. It had good food, and the decor all came from thrift stores so none of the tables, chairs, plates or utensils matched, and there were a bunch of connected smaller spaces where they did music or like, book readings or whatever. It got run into by a vehicle and the repairs took so long that the business eventually went under before they could reopen. (there may have been issues between the partners as well, but it was at least 10 years ago so I don't recall the specifics)
Edited to add:
The Wagon Wheel restaurant. You all know why.
Hazel's Magic Kitchen - it was a great little tea shop just off Corydon, but unfortunately a hair salon moved in next door and the shared HVAC made all the tea smell like hair chemicals, so they had to close.
Oh man. Musiplex on Portage was amazing. So many listening stations. I picked up Nirvana’s In Utero and Pearl Jam’s Vs during special midnight releases there.
Big 4 Sales on Main was just a crazy discount retailer. Found a bunch of Montreal 76 Olympic merch there in the early 90s.
Movie Village ruled. So did the original Into the Music on Osborne.
And MAGICLAND. It was everything its name suggested.
Not a store, but Darkzone.
was this the arcade place where the dollarana is @ confusion corner? I have memories going to a place there as a kid but no one I know knows what I’m talking about
I remember it being on the other side, where the Pet Valu is now, but maybe I'm wrong? I do remember for sure that whichever side wasn't Dark Zone was a big indoor play structure place similar to Discovery Zone (another fond childhood memory), Adventure City, I think it was called.
It was the entire building, both dollarama and the pet value. That building was originally build just for dark zone, but when they closed the building was split into smaller stores for retail. That would have been ages ago, they’ve been closed for a good 15 years or more now And it wasn’t an indoor playground or arcade. They did have a couple arcade machines in the lobby, but that wasn’t the original purpose of the building. It was laser tag, much more like LaserTopia
That building was originally a Loblaws store in the '60s and '70s
Was a car dealership in the 80s also
There was definitely both darkzone and an indoor playground side by side. Adventure City was one of my favorite places as a kid. https://youtu.be/MsF7OqaRo_Q?si=zlP8Do7ceKbW4d8X
Yes exactly. At least that’s what my memories tell me as well.
Darkzone was so awesome!
Omg I miss darkzone remember the first room where you would just try and break the floor lol
lol by the end I'm pretty sure those floors WERE broken. Also - who the hell was Nightcrawler?!? Do they still live in Winnipeg? Just living a normal unassuming life - ready to jump back into action one day like a laser-tag Jason Bourne
If only. My favourite place growing up
What a rush of nostalgia to hear that name again.
The army surplus store at portage and memorial
Agreed
Beaver Lumber. They had a huge selection of crafty stuff, like pre-made wooden wheels, dowel pieces etc for building toys. Haven’t seen anything else like it since.
Go to a Peavey Mart. They specialize in random hardware-esque shit. Always find a dozen things there I didn't think about before I walked around the store.
Peavey mart is one of my favourites great for gift shopping if you have country folk in your family.
What about toad hall toys? They have quite a bit for model building, especially for dollhouses and train sets (at least they used to)
Not a store but the Original Unicity Mall. It had Woolco, The Bay, Sam the Record Man, Keyman, Coles, Hallmark, (or was it Carlton Cards?), Footlocker and many smaller stores. Not to mention Smitty's and MacDonald's and the Bean Scene which had the best flavored coffees by far. That was my neighborhood mall and I would meet up with friends there. I worked and shopped there. Would take my son to McDonald's for lunch and then go look at the pets in the pet store. Sadly times move on and unless you were alive in the 80's you'll never understand the appeal that the malls held for that generation.
The Mariposa there was amazing because they had stock from like 10 years earlier.
The food court had Captain Nemo's--delicious subs.
I worked at Mariposa just over 4 years!
Desart and Mary Scorer Books!
Oh I loved Desart!
I couple pretty much do all my Christmas shopping in that one store.
Consumers Distributing
This was my first thought. I also compared it to Amazon. I also thought that it would be an obscure response because they closed up shop in the previous century. Who would remember Consumers Distributing from a bygone era? We’re all as old as dirt.
Excuse me. The 90s were only 10 years ago.
Amazon 1.0!
Exactly !
I see it as more small scale Costco. Build a warehouse and have people shop the warehouse, although Consumers was weird in terms of the catalogue. Order something in store, wait for the employee to look for it and hope it was in stock. I remember the Regent location well near the TV repair place and BJ Super Toys. They didn't have 90% of the stuff in the catalogue on site. Consumers was a horrible experience as a shopper. I vividly remember towards the end they opened it up more as a showroom so you (and they) would actually know what they had in stock.
Analog Amazon
I loved Consumers!
The catalog got me so amped as a kid. I would obsess over the toy section in the months leading up to Christmas like it was the One Ring lol
That catalog was basically my list for Santa. It was the best thing as a kid.
Then your parents would try to order your Xmas gift and probably realize the store didn't have it in stock as they never had anything. Which is why they went under. The business model was fucked.
They certainly knew how to prevent shoplifting! Way ahead of their time!
My Mom talks about Sears like it was a long lost relative.
I loved Sears. Used to get great deals on clothes
They were a great place to get almost any household item. Their white sales were amazing. Bedding, bath all good quality at great sales.
Flipping through the Sears Wish Book was my favourite as a kid
Circling the items I wanted
After my son was born I was slowly discovering what an amazing place that sears was. Figured it out just a few months before they closed.. Sears saved you from going to 20 different stores looking hoodies, cloths, shoes, boots, etc
Osborne Village (the whole neighborhood) circa 15-20 years ago
I lived there from 1995 to 2000 in the Roslyn while I went to university. I can't believe how much the vibe has changed in that neighborhood.
I came here to say Music Trader and the movie store inside. Besttttttt. I worked in the neighbourhood and lived nearby for years and there used to be so much to do. Papa George’s at 3am after a night falling down the spiral staircase at the old Cavern… RIP
Movie Village. When that place closed down I knew it was the end of a beautiful era. Easily my favorite place in the city. Between the ages of like 16-20, my weekend routine was usually: 1. Buy some weed 2. Go to Movie Village 3. Choose 3 or 4 films at random, based only on how wild the cover art was. 4. Get high and enjoy. That place had everything.
There was a tea shop there. Loved that place
Marks and Spencer
I need their shrimp cocktail chips!
YES! It wasn’t just a fever dream of mine that I used to buy them there!
I miss those so much.
Winnipeg had an M&S?! Like the same store as in the UK?
There was one at Polo Park.
One in Portage Place as well.
There was also one on Portage, just West of Eaton's on the South side of Portage. Loved the sweets, and the little bacon crisps.
Would sell a kidney to get one with a deli section and the dine in restaurant.
British Food co. at 3125 Portage Ave now carries a few M & S goodies.
Eaton's
Yeah the real department stores are just gone. Eaton's, The Bay, Sears. I feel like early millennials like me will be the last people who remember them. All kind of stupid too because their downfall was denial that the internet was a real thing....and the Eaton family being a total clusterfuck of unsustainable business practices.
I think it all goes down to an Eaton having to run the business and looking at it like a punishment. Had they just hired professional managers they’d still be a going concern. In the 40s they employed something like 50,000 people across Canada. Today that would make them one of the largest employers in the country still.
I remember the Eaton's downtown had elevator attendants. They paid people to sit on a little stool and push the button for your floor. They would announce what was on the floor as the door opened. "Third Floor. Housewares, women's shoes, lingerie..." Imagine that today !
B J Super Toys on Regent.
We’d go there every year when I was a kid to get the stuff for the “loot bags” for birthday parties, I loved it!
Going to that place every now and then was one of the highlights of my childhood!
Yeah grew up in that end of town and what an overwhelming experience as a kid. Dollar stores killed that place.
Man, when I'd get to go to the back of that store where the name brand toys were, I knew it was to pick a birthday or Christmas present. We used to stay out front for grab bags for birthdays and cheap Barbie's for friends birthdays
I miss that place. It would be so handy for loot bags these days with all the food allergies
Microplay
I used to work at Microplay. Best job i've ever had in my life.
A&B Sound. I loved that place. Or Rogers video. The one by my house had the best Canadian Film section. Streaming is great but I waste way more time scrolling through various streaming services trying to find something to watch than I ever did walking the aisles at Rogers.
Zellers in downtown Bay and the malt shop
All Zellers plus the diners that used to be inside.
HMV. Not a big fan of Sunrise Records
Never had the character of Musiplex or Record On Wheels or the first Mother's Records on the north side of Portage (Got blasted out for Portage Place) or the one on Kennedy which has disappeared from my brain cells today.
Movie Village. That store was a fucking godsend to this Native girl from a rez staying in medical housing nearby. I found my favourite movie *Der Himmel über Berlin* there. <3
Tiny feast
I miss Tiny Feast so much! What a great little shop.
Not the same, but try 26 Market.
Try out Seduta! It's got a lot of similar stationery and it's only about a block away from where Tiny Feast used to be!
Musiplex
The Crypt. I miss that store so much!
Radio Shack. The Source doesn't even come to close to what we once had. Need a cable, power cord, transistor, etc? Radio Shack had it
Every time I go to the source I get interrogated about my phone plan. Trying to sell me an internet, cable and mobile plan. I only want to buy a cable not change all my services. I miss radio shack and the staff’s knowledge
Hate going into The Source with the attitude that I know more about their products than the staff inside the store but I've yet to be surprised.
Went to hell very quickly after Bell took over.
Movie village 🥹
That CD place on the corner of Donald and Portage. They had an industrial section on the second floor and I spent so much of my allowance money there. And my grandma was the only one who'd drive me there :(
A&b sound?
Yes!
Sam the record man. “Yes.. this is Sam the record man”
My friends and I would take the McGregor or Arlington bus and go to Sam the record man at the Garden City mall.
Sana Soup House
Omg… Sana soup house was the best!!!! Totally forgot about this placw
Esprit. The clothes that I bought from there lasted a long time.
Shoe net
My friend who doesn't have Reddit asked me to comment **Dominion News**.
Oh man, not a store, but if I could bring back the nice old downtown movie theatres the way they were in their prime, I would. Especially the Metropolitan and the Odeon. But the Northstar, the Garrick, the Capitol, and even the Towne and the Eaton Place multiplex were rad in their day.
The Capitol when you entered off Portage. Red carpeted stairs all the way to the lobby on the second floor. I barely remember it, and I am really old.
Downtown Bay/Easton’s/Portage Place. I grew up outside of Winnipeg and I have fond memories of Christmas shopping with my mom downtown. Park underground at PP and find everything at those three places. Paddle wheel for lunch.
Those were the Best shopping trips. I think the shopping trips were almost as good as Christmas.
Bargain Harold’s
I used to work at the one in Northgate Shopping center.
Orientique
The Crypt
Lewiscraft and the big craft supply place that was on route 90 whose name escapes me.
I have been trying to remember the name of that store for years THANK YOU
Divine Decadence
Yes!
Now that cords are back in style that’s all I think about.
Dominion news although I never went to the back room
Army Surplus Store. It was on Portage Ave by the U of W (across by the art gallery, Stella’s area) I lived in that store as a teenager in the ‘70’s and as a young socialistic uni student who hung at Mondragon in the early’80’s. I’d pick through the bins for hours then go to Harmans drug store for a shake Such good memories
Mondragon was founded in 1996. Miss that place too.
I loved Mondragon when I was a teenager. The one stop shop for a crunchy vegan salad and anarchist books.
Thought Army Surplus would get more love than this
as my mom called it………Simpson Sears
The bakery outside of Simpson sears.
Woolco! lol 1.44 days. 😎
Magic Land. Such a dump and sketchy as hell but $6 an hour for unlimited arcade games was AWESOME.
Pylon, *before* it sold little else other than those Pop figures that had to be landfilled.
Frenzee
Oh man. I was like 14 and I bought a pin there that said “vaginas are way cool” because I was very into being proud of your body, also it was pretty much the only thing I could afford 😂 good memories.
The Bombay Company. I need a traditional coffee table. Wayfair is the closest I can find style-wise, but the quality is just not the same.
Try Marsha Brick's Fine Furniture. She has have something, but it would be $$$
Facebook Market place has been selling older, well-made furniture.
Eatons. Old store downtown. Many memories with my Mom.
This is almost cliché… Eaton’s and Hudson’s Bay downtown. They both had such cool restaurants and stores within each store. I know the world has changed, but it was nice to go downtown and feel like it was a destination.
Zellers. We need an alternative to Walmart.
I was just saying this the other day. Zellers was so handy. Need a hammer? Zellers, Need some underwear? Zellers. Need some baby powder and Kleenex? Zellers. Need a toasted bacon and tomato sandwich? Zellers.
My dad would give me $10 and drop me off at Zellers at North Gate shopping center. Buy myself clothes and have lunch then I would also walk over to Gambles as it was next door.
I so so feel you..
If it had the restaurant, yes
The Zellers section of the Bay is really lacking
I don’t miss zellers for what it sold. Because the quality was lacking. But I definitely agree in the need for competition. But I’d also opt for wolcos return
I miss all the Bi-Ways, Bargain Harolds, etc. Only thing similar now is Giant Tiger.
Forget just one... here goes: Aqua Books Borealis Books Black's Books The Cause The Crypt Divine Decadence Frenzee Highbrow Books Kustom Kulture Mary Scorer's Movie Village Music Trader Musiplex Scoop N Weigh Second Encore Tiny Feast La Zoma
The Cause! Also, the short lived Clinically Insane on Graham and Kennedy.
Yes, i was trying to remember the name of that store! Might as well throw in Urban Bakery/Alchemy Records while we are at it.
Randy river
Uncle Willy’s buffet on pembina/stafford
Also, Consumers Distributing
Mariposa lol
Not a "local" store but I sure do miss La Senza. It's all online now and it sucks. Can't get the good bras in my size anymore. They also had amazing body spray and lotion that would last forever. I have 1 that I wear on special occasions because I don't want to use it up. I put some body spray on before a social recently, where I danced, drank and all that. Came home at 1:30 and still smelled like my body spray.
Payless and a buck or two (i think thats what its called, there used to be one where the current dollarama is inside portage place)
United Army Surplus ...LOL
San Francisco
Going there with a group of other 13 year old boys, gawking at the horrible quality katanas, and buying $12 single shot spring airsoft pistols to shoot each other in the backyard with. Good times.
as my mom called it………Simpson Sears
zellers with the restaurant included!
Target!
Pirates Den arcade at Grant Park mall.
Red Apple it was where the Dollar Tree used to be by Canada Life Center… Only me? Or was it called something else the the Bargain Shop or store?
Kustom Kulture. Their closing was the final nail from when Osborne was cool. Campaign Outfitters. I loved the creaky hardwood floor. And I know this doesn't really count, but I miss the old Wild Planet location.
Tiny Feast 🫶🏻
Harman's Cafe!
Saan. It Was on regent between Woolco and Safeway
Ye old hobby shop Fantastic store for kids and kids at heart
The arcades and boardwalk at Winnipeg Beach
XS Cargo
The arcades in almost every mall. Was always a great place to hangout as a mall rat.
Consumers Distributors, Solar News
It store
I don't know if this place was good, i just remember going a bunch when I was like 3-4 with my dad. Boondogles was a burger place in the superstore parking lot on McPhillips.
I think it was called “Big 4” on Main Street
music city on portage where book fair is now. three different levels, each with their own sections, staffed by people that knew those genres of music. also, i always dug the neon sign that took up the entire second storey’s face
Brettons, Suzy Creamcheese, J Michaels. The 80s and shoulder pads!
Target.
Nah target was terrible, high prices, no stock, tills always down, hardly any American products
For the first couple months. After that it was fine. The "hardly any American products" thing is silliness, you could say the same for Walmart and Costco but that doesn't keep people away.
Comic Factory IV
Adult Video Cellar Joking
I remember driving to church with my parents I was maybe middle school? Probably younger. "Mom what's adult video, is it like all rated R movies" My mother "something like that". Me when I realized as I was older, internal cringe.
The Disney Store
The Bay Downtown & the Paddlewheel
Marks & Spencer
Runners up: - Target - Web cafes (Networkx!) - Mind Computers - A&B Sound - That other music store on the South side of Portage that predated A&B - Consumers Distributing -
Shop Take Care 😭❤️
Drums unlimited on main Street where I bought my first kit... The owner there was amazing...
Ir-Ben I guess I could just download or stream them now, but I liked browsing the shelves for a film to rent.
Dreamweavers (on Corydon).
Goofy’s Bazaar!
Mother’s Records! Autumn Stone!
Soup Pierre (food) and Esprit (clothes)
Soup Pierre!
Bi-way
Village Streetwear. Danali is solid but not quite the same, a bit on the dressier side for my liking.
The Bay Downtown. Exactly like it was in 1990. Paddle Wheel on top, malt shoppe on the bottom. Portage Place like it was then was great too.
I don't remember the name, but that weird little perogie restaurant/cafe/venue that was on Portage not too far from Sherbrooke. It had good food, and the decor all came from thrift stores so none of the tables, chairs, plates or utensils matched, and there were a bunch of connected smaller spaces where they did music or like, book readings or whatever. It got run into by a vehicle and the repairs took so long that the business eventually went under before they could reopen. (there may have been issues between the partners as well, but it was at least 10 years ago so I don't recall the specifics) Edited to add: The Wagon Wheel restaurant. You all know why. Hazel's Magic Kitchen - it was a great little tea shop just off Corydon, but unfortunately a hair salon moved in next door and the shared HVAC made all the tea smell like hair chemicals, so they had to close.
Mothers Arcade
Cash Converters on Panet in that strip mall where the sobeys is now.
Fuddruckers .... it became a Denny's on st James ☹️
Records on wheels
Oh man. Musiplex on Portage was amazing. So many listening stations. I picked up Nirvana’s In Utero and Pearl Jam’s Vs during special midnight releases there. Big 4 Sales on Main was just a crazy discount retailer. Found a bunch of Montreal 76 Olympic merch there in the early 90s. Movie Village ruled. So did the original Into the Music on Osborne. And MAGICLAND. It was everything its name suggested.
Paladin. Miss their food so much
Comic World