City
The Eaton Centre turns 35 years old
The Eaton Centre, everyone's favourite urban eyesore, has reached the ripe old age of 35. That might be a harsh way to start off an anniversary toast — particularly given all the efforts to make our monumental downtown shopping mall more friendly to the street — but it comes from an affectionate place. Even if the idea to plop down a massive, inward-oriented shopping mall in the heart of the city seems strange today, back in the 1970s this type of planning was all the rage — and that gives the place a certain historical quality that's survived the numerous changes to its facade.
Beyond that, the Eaton Centre has always been a rather fabulous building on the inside. With its vaulted glass ceiling and multiple levels, it's always struck me as a futuristic version of the long-lost Yonge Street Arcade, which was located down the street at Temperance until its demolition in the mid 1950s. In this regard the building has in fact aged quite well. Scrolling through photos of the galleria, only the retail signage distinguishes between the contemporary and vintage images. Well, that and the fact that Eaton's itself no longer exists.
We've already written about how the mall came to be, what it might have looked like if the Eaton family's original plans came to be and about the snazzy new food court, so today let's keep it light and celebratory. Unlike Ontario place, Eberhard Zeidler's downtown shopping mall is still going strong at 35. Here's a little collection of photos and videos of the Eaton Centre over the years. Suffice it to say, the building has aged more gracefully than its representation in television commercials.
PHOTOS
Yonge Street before the Eaton Centre
At night, late 1970s (via Damon Schreiber)
Postcard 1970s (via Chuckman's blog)
Yonge & Queen 1980s (via Canada Good)
1990s (via the Toronto Archives)
VIDEOS (via Retronatrio)
Eaton Centre 1983
Food Court commercial 1984
Fashion in 1984
More fashion, this time in 1986
The Centre of it all 1989
Lead image from the Ontario Archives
Discussion
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Turns out, they put that ugly cladding in front of a nice old Toronto building. That it's been reclaimed is so un-Torontolike.
As for the Eaton Centre, the question is, would Yonge Street be better or worse if it were not there? It's still pretty dumpy from Bloor to Front.
Ah, how times have changed.
Now.....
And I agree with Green Eyes Yonge from College to Bloor is the sketchiest walk ever at night.
And Sanjay this is not a career centre if you're looking for a job go to the eaton centre website.
Unfortunately,today Eaton's is gone, replaced with a vastly downsized Sears store. Three Below is gone, as are all the retail space including half of the 4th floor and everything above. No more comfortable, reasonably priced cafeterias - replaced with messy food courts dominated by fast-food chains found at all the other shopping malls.
I rarely go down to the Eaton Centre anymore because it's depressing to see what it has become.
The last time I went down to the Bay, formerly Simpson's it was sad to see that they closed the City Grill. It was a cafeteria on the 7th Floor near the Arcadian Court. I used to like to have lunch there and it had a great view of the "new" and "old" city halls. They replaced it with an upscale food court in a windowless basement area.
Remaining are: The Bay, Suzy Shier, Reitmans, Town Shoes, Le Chateau, Mr. Greenjeans?
I also remember the Magic Pan. and the smoky old food court where the Body Shop is today?
your close but...Suzy closed 2010 along with Carlton cards. Collacut is alive and well located at the south end near Queen St entrance
Thrifty's went to YM Group and operates as Stitches now.
Should be interesting once all the renos are complete. I think the only thing that has been constant at EC is the fountain.