Toronto’s historic Kensington Market is ever changing. This is a natural process, and occurs in every neighbour throughout the city. However, the colourful store-fronts that were unique to the market area, are now disappearing. The paintings below show three examples of this change, and one example of a store that has disappeared completely. I lament their loss.
Acrylic on stretched canvas, 20” by 24”
The “My Market Bakery” on Baldwin Street has relocated, and is now several doors to the west of its former location. The new bakery lacks the colourful signage that this painting depicts. Fortunately, the new shop still sells the quality breads and pastries that has made the bakery a landmark in the market.
Acrylic on stretched canvas, 24” by 20”
Akram’s shop on Baldwin Street still sells its delicious products, many of them made on the premises. However after a disastrous fire several years ago that destroyed most of the building, the new shop does not have the wonderful store front of the former store.
Acrylic on stretched canvas, 24” by 20”
Max and Son, a fixture on Baldwin Street for many decades, disappeared from the market in 2009, and is sadly missed. The premises were next occupied by Sanagan’s Meat Locker and in October of 2012, Hooked Fish Market opened on the site.
Acrylic on stretched canvas, 20” by 24”
This wonderful store front has been altered, but thankfully the fish market still displays an excellent array of fresh seafood.
To view other posts about the Kensington Market:
A new meat market opens on Baldwin Street in the Kensington Market
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/08/15/new-meat-market-opens-in-kensingtonsanagans-meat-locker/
Automobile-free Sundays in the Kensington Market
https://tayloronhistory.com/2012/06/08/automobile-free-sundays-in-the-kensington-market/
The Moon Bean Coffee Company on St. Andrew’s Street
https://tayloronhistory.com/2011/05/21/moon-bean-coffee-company-cafe-kensington-market/
Enjoying the Kensington Market at Christmas Christmas
market/https://tayloronhistory.com/2011/12/01/enjoying-the-kensington-market-at-
Early morning in the Kensington Market
https://tayloronhistory.com/2011/06/07/early-morning-kensington-
Kensington Market in the winter
https://tayloronhistory.com/2011/12/01/kensington-market-blanketed-in-winters-white/
Kensington Market – an ever-changing scene
https://tayloronhistory.com/2011/12/21/the-ever-changing-kensington-market-in-downtown-toronto/
The row houses on Wales Avenue on Bellevue Square
https://tayloronhistory.com/2011/03/26/discovering-the-kensington-market/
Discovering the Kensington Market
https://tayloronhistory.com/2011/03/29/kensington-market-part-2-doug-taylor-the-peterkin-home/
For a link to a book that includes the history and a detailed study of the architecture of the Kensington Market : https://tayloronhistory.com/the-villages-within/