285 Ouellette Ave., at University Ave. stands the former Imperial Bank. The Imperial Bank, merged with the Bank of Commerce in 1961, to form the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC).
Built in 1920, and designed by Architect Charles Cobb.
Here is a photo of the bank under construction.
In the architectural sculpture surrounding the front door, one can find among the Lion Heads the old Imperial Bank Logo, along with the date of construction.
Here’s how it looked last winter, it has since undergone a renovation, and is back open as a day spa or something I think…
The construction photo is very interesting. Where did you happen to find that one?
Very cool on the inside. It’s a shame the guy who owns it is in london now(that’s what I heard) and is now leasing/selling the building. The business they put in there wasn’t going so hot so he apparently went to london for a different business venture.
He had a couple of scrap books with pictures from different eras of the bank in operation, construction, all kinds of stuff. Pretty neat really.
Hello. I’m really interesed in this building. I would appreciate it if anyone could let me know what they have.
P.S. Steve, I would be really interested to see the pictures from the different eras.
Thanks
It was opened in 2010 as Symbol Nightclub. I was there a couple of times during the off hours helping to organize a fundraiser for the Humane Society. The vault was still in place, and the bathrooms were downstairs. I was also able to go to the private upstairs lounge, which was very posh. Symbol has since closed, and it re-opened as the cleverly named “The Bank.”