Retrofit Atlas

Big boxes · Canada

Honest Ed's

Imported, unreviewedRedevelopedRetrofit builtToronto, Canada

Opened 1948. Closed 2016. Redeveloped in 2026.

Status nowRetrofit builtnewtypes-extraction reported
What it becamehousing, mixed, park, retailWikipedia no source
Site size4.4 acresnewtypes-extraction reported
Last sale$100.0M · 2013public reporting
Retrofit year2026newtypes-extraction reported
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Site profile7 elements · what this retrofit is built with · tap a chip for the evidence

Place
3+ other atlas sites within 10 kmThis site: 8 within 10 km computed · all sites with this
Scale
Under 20 acresThis site: 4.4 acres newtypes-extraction · all sites with this
Strategy
RedevelopedThis site: …high-rise development with 550 residential units, 106 retail units, and Honest Ed's Park record · all sites with this
New use
HousingThis site: …high-rise development with 550 residential units, 106 retail units, and Honest Ed's Park newtypes-extraction · all sites with this
Mixed useThis site: …new_use field newtypes-extraction · all sites with this
Park and open spaceThis site: …th 550 residential units, 106 retail units, and Honest Ed's Park newtypes-extraction · all sites with this
Retail (continued)This site: …high-rise development with 550 residential units, 106 retail units, and Honest Ed's Park newtypes-extraction · all sites with this

All elements and lists · Trends

Now

StatusRetrofit builtnewtypes-extraction reported
StrategyRedevelopedWikipedia no source
New useshousing, mixed, park, retailWikipedia no source
What is there nowhigh-rise development with 550 residential units, 106 retail units, and Honest Ed's Parknewtypes-extraction reported
Retrofit year2026newtypes-extraction reported
RedeveloperWestbank Propertiesnewtypes-extraction reported

Deals and debt

DateEventPricePartiesSource
2013Sold$100.0M closedWestbank Properties ← David MirvishWikipedia

Site context

Other atlas sites nearby8 within 10 km, 15 within 25 km: Galleria Shopping Centre (2.5 km); Former golf course (Woodbine Gardens) (2.5 km); Yonge Street Arcade (3.1 km); Tip Top Tailors Building (3.4 km); Queen's Quay Terminal (3.8 km)computed

Summary, model-written

Honest Ed's, a discount store opened in 1948, closed permanently in 2016. The site (4.4 acres) was sold by David Mirvish to Westbank Properties in 2013 for $100 million. The structure was demolished in 2018. The retrofit, planned for completion in 2026, will include 550 residential units, 106 retail units, and a park named 'Honest Ed's Park'.

Why. The site is being redeveloped per the strategy listed. The developer (Westbank Properties) acquired the site in 2013 and began demolition in 2018. The new use combines housing, retail, and park space.

Where it stands. The retrofit is scheduled for completion in 2026. The site is located in Toronto, with eight nearby developments within 10km (including Galleria Shopping Centre and Yonge Street Arcade).

For a planner

  • The project aligns with the 'redevelop' strategy noted in the record. The new use mix (housing, retail, park) is specified. Context clusters show proximity to other built sites but no analysis of their impact is provided in the record.
  • The park's size and exact relationship to the housing/retail components are not specified.

For a developer

  • The 2013 sale price ($100M) and 2026 completion timeline are confirmed. The site size (4.4 acres) and unit counts (550 housing, 106 retail) are defined. The record does not specify land costs, construction costs, or financing details beyond the 2013 sale.
  • The peer comparisons (e.g., JCPenney, Vons) show similar size and closure years but do not provide performance data for this specific project.

What we do not know yet

  • The record does not specify the park's size, location within the site, or how it integrates with the housing/retail. The 'Honest Ed's Park' name is noted but not explained. The context clusters list nearby sites but do not describe their relevance to this project's planning.

Generated by qwen3-30b-a3b-64k:latest on Dell 5820 RTX 3090 (Ollama, qwen3-30b-a3b) from the fields, parcels, deals and context layers on this page, with no outside knowledge. It is regenerated when the record changes and has not been checked by a person. How it is made.

Similar sites

  • Former JCPenney building, Edina, MN · Malls · similar size (5.691 acres); closed 2017; same strategy: redevelop
  • Former Vons grocery store, Fresno, CA · Big boxes · similar size (5.5 acres); closed 2015; same strategy: redevelop
  • Sears Site, Hackensack, NJ · Big boxes · similar size (3.4 acres); closed 2020; same strategy: redevelop
  • Ampang Park, Kuala Lumpur · Malls · similar size (4.5 acres); closed 2017; same strategy: redevelop

Elsewhere on the web

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History and original facts

Opened1948newtypes-extraction
Closed2016newtypes-extraction reported
Acres4.4newtypes-extraction reported
Original developerEd Mirvishnewtypes-extraction reported
NotesDraft from Wikipedia, model-extracted, unreviewed: Honest Ed's, a landmark discount store in Toronto, closed in 2016, was demolished by 2018, and redeveloped into a mixed-use high-rise complex with 550 residential units and 106 retail units, completed by mid-2026.

Not yet recorded: GLA. Know it? Tell us.

Background

Honest Ed's was a landmark discount store in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. It was named for its proprietor, Ed Mirvish, who opened the store in 1948 and oversaw its operations for almost 60 years until his death in 2007. The store continued to operate until it permanently closed on December 31, 2016. == Location == Honest Ed's was located originally on Markham Street at the corner of Bloor Street. The original entrance was on Markham Street. This was done because property taxes would be higher if the store was accessed from Bloor Street, a main arterial street.

Excerpt from Wikipedia (authors and history), CC BY-SA 4.0. May be older than the record above.

Timeline

  1. 1948 Store re-established as "Honest Ed's Bargain House"
  2. 1948 Opened
  3. 2013 Site announced for sale for $100 million
  4. 2016 Retail store permanently closed
  5. 2016 Closed
  6. 2018 Structure demolished by new owners
  7. 2026 High-rise development mostly completed
  8. 2026 Honest Ed's Park opened
  9. 2026 Retrofit: redevelop

Sources

  • Honest Ed's · CC BY-SA 4.0
    7 quoted sentences
    Honest Ed's
    Mirvish re-established the store as "Honest Ed's Bargain House" in 1948
    On July 16, 2013, it was announced the site of Honest Ed's was for sale for $100 million
    The Honest Ed's retail store closed on December 31, 2016

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