Iconic Toronto sculpture rises from the ashes with a brand new look and home

For decades, Menagerie Pet Shop in Toronto was one of Cabbagetown's most recognizable businesses, all thanks to its 25-foot green iguana sculpture, Lizzy, that perched overtop the store's entrance and greeted all customers. 

Earlier this year, the pet shop — formerly located at 549 Parliament St. — closed its doors following a half-century run in the neighbourhood, leaving it unclear where Lizzy's new resting spot would be.

Luckily, the veteran iguana isn't going anywhere, and has emerged with a brand new look thanks to legendary Toronto artist, Runt, and the efforts of Gerry Gold, who spent 30-plus years operating an art gallery at 527 Parliament St. 

"When the building was sold it seemed fitting for the lizard to have a new home on Geary, which is an upcoming art and music street with a very unique zoning of 'industrial,' meaning that no residential construction is allowed, allowing the street to develop unhindered by noise restraints," Gold told blogTO. 

Landmark Toronto store has closed and changed the face of the neighbourhood forever https://t.co/VYhZjPhJUd #Toronto

— blogTO (@blogTO) May 23, 2023

Gold walked by the lizard every day for years, and is friends with the Menagerie Pet Shop building owner. Following the closure of the store, Lizzy was moved to the rear of 527 Parliament St., where Runt fixed and repainted the sculpture. 

"With Runt's style of art this was a different project for him. The lizard had to compliment the existing painting already on the wall," Gold said. "After knowing Runt from the old punk days, I had enough confidence in him to trust him and gave him free licence to paint the lizard." 

After three months of revamping and painting, Lizzy was officially transported to her new home — a restobar called Geary Avenue Warehouse Project at 209 Geary Ave. 

The one-of-a-kind warehouse space was recently renovated with upgraded sound, lighting, full-service kitchen, and Runt's vibrant work featured across the space. 

Lizzy was recently stationed at her new home at 209 Geary Ave. Photo: Gerry Gold.

Gold has been personally collecting Runt's art for years, and you'll find lots of his eclectic work around the warehouse, including a massive 50-foot mural on the mezzanine level inside, as well as a 15-foot glow-in-the-dark hammerhead shark that hangs inside over the entrance.

While it's a substantial move from her longtime resting spot in Cabbagetown, there's no doubt that the artistic neighbourhood will make Lizzy feel right at home.