Blast From The Past: Holt Renfrew, Bloor Street Toronto

144 Bloor St. West. Image: tobuilt.ca

Holt Renfrew stores used to be smaller. Considerable smaller. This week in 'Blast From The Past', we look at Toronto's Bloor Street Holt Renfrew.

Before its current location at 50 Bloor Street West opened in 1979, Holt Renfrew had a 60,000 sq ft store at 144 Bloor Street West. The building is still standing... it's now got a Burberry store in the front and soon a Nespresso boutique in the back. It was also once home to Cumberland Cinemas...

Holt Renferw fist building on the left. Image: City of Toronto Archives

The 144 store expanded by opening a small, separate men's store at 110 Bloor Street West. These stores closed when Holts opened its then 115,000 square foot flagship location at 50 Bloor W. in 1979.

If you look carefully on the side of 144 Bloor, you can still barely make out the words 'Holt Renfrew'.

Next week we'll profile other former Holt's stores, as the company has an interesting past.

Current Holt Renfrew store at 50 Bloor St. W, Toronto. Image: Holt Renferw

We're copying and pasting a brief store floor guide from the 144 Bloor Holt's in 1979. It's from 'The Department Store Museum', one of our favourite blogs:

Holt Renfrew & Company, Ltd.
144 Bloor St. West
Toronto, Ontario

BLOOR STREET STORE DIRECTORY (60,000 sq. ft.)

Street Floor
Gloves • Hosiery • Handbags • Fine Jewellery • Costume Jewellery • Small Leathers • Millinery • The Shoe Salon • Cosmetics • Perfumes • Gift Collections • Gourmet Shop
The Men’s Shops Men’s Accessories • Men’s Furnishings • Men’s Sportswear • Men’s Clothing • Men’s Shoes

Second Floor
The 1300 Collection • Ports International • Sportswear • Blouses • Sweaters • Fur Salon

Third Floor
Fashion Salon Dresses • Coats • Suits
H.R. Boutique (luxury designers) • Christian Dior Boutique • Cachet (younger/trand) • Model Millinery • Wig Salon • Bridal Salon

Fourth Floor
Intimate Apparel • Corsetry Salon • Little Girls • Big Girls • Little Boys • Big Boys • Children • Children's Shoes • Toys • Beauty Salon

Fifth Floor
Miss Renfrew Miss Renfrew Prêt-à-Porter • Miss Renfrew Sportswear • Shoe Stack • Bar Rouge

Holt Renfrew website: www.holtrenfrew.com

Department Store Museum website: http://departmentstoremuseum.blogspot.ca

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