Honest Ed Mirvish

On my beautiful walk at Pardes Shalom Cemetery in Vaughan, Ontario, I discovered the family plot of Toronto’s great discount retailer and cultural impresario — Honest Ed Mirvish.

After several unsuccessful ventures in retail, Ed Mirvish took a bold step in 1948, cashing in his wife’s life insurance policy to open a bargain basement store called “Honest Ed’s” at the corner of Bloor and Bathurst. He filled it with odd merchandise bought from bankruptcy and fire sales, displaying goods on simple orange crates. His honest, no-frills approach — and his outrageous promotions — made the store an instant hit.

By 1968, the store was grossing over $14 million annually, eventually growing to fill an entire city block, becoming one of Toronto’s most beloved landmarks. In the late 1950s, Mirvish began buying homes on nearby Markham Street, converting them into affordable galleries and studios for local artists — today known as Mirvish Village.

Beyond retail, Ed became a major figure in Canadian theatre. He purchased and revitalized the Royal Alexandra Theatre, opened the Princess of Wales Theatre, and was a tireless patron of the arts.

When Ed passed away on July 11, 2007, the city mourned. His store temporarily closed, and the lights of Honest Ed’s marquee were dimmed as staff and loyal customers paid their respects. Even Broadway in New York joined in, dimming its lights in tribute.

Later, on July 16, 2013, the site of Honest Ed’s was listed for sale for $100 million, marking the end of an era — but not the end of Ed’s impact on Toronto.

Ed Mirvish died in Toronto on July 11, 2007. He was 92.

1914-2007

The corner of Bloor and Bathurst will never be the same. Photo taken on my walk Christmas Eve 2023.