Honest Ed's iconic sign returns to Mirvish Village at Bloor and Bathurst
Nearly a decade after the beloved discount store closed, the redeveloped Mirvish Village is bringing back the illuminated sign as part of a neon-lit Honest Ed's Alley micro-retail space.
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The iconic Honest Ed's sign is coming back to Toronto. Mirvish Village, the sprawling redevelopment at Bloor Street and Bathurst Street, has brought back the illuminated neon signage nearly a decade after the beloved discount store closed on New Year's Eve 2016, ending its nearly 70-year run in the city.
The restoration is part of Honest Ed's Alley, a micro-retail space designed to support what the developer calls "creative, innovative and passionate entrepreneurs and small business owners." These vendors can set up shop and showcase products without major deposits or long-term leases. The alley features neon signage and lighting inspired by Tokyo's nighttime streets, lined with street vendors and unique retailers lit by lanterns and signs meant to activate the space day and night.
Honest Ed's itself was founded in 1943 as "The Sports Bar," a small women's clothing store. Over four decades, it expanded across Bloor Street, Markham Street, and finally to Bathurst Street in 1984, becoming Toronto's premier discount destination and a symbol of the city's identity. In 2013, the store and surrounding area were put up for sale for $100 million.
The full Mirvish Village development is nearing completion with residential units, a food hall, and restored heritage buildings. A food hall called The Kitchen will feature over a dozen vendors and restaurants with indoor and outdoor dining. Ten heritage houses have been restored and will house restaurants, bookstores, record stores, cafés, and retail shops. The project will add 900 residential units across seven apartment buildings in a location sitting between the Annex, Seaton Village, Palmerston–Little Italy, and Harbord Village.
