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February 2009
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In October 1924, The Baum & Brody Furniture company moved from their store on what is today Riverside Dr. E., just west of Goyeau to the corner of Chatham & Ferry.

Today this building that has had a long history as a downtown watering hole, remains nearly identical.

The building began life as the home of the Universal Car Agency in 1912. The Universal Car Agency sold “The Ford Automobile, The Russell & The Cadillac”. The building served as both a showroom, and a service garage.

The company took out a full page ad to celebrate their move to the new location in October, 1924.

Now coming up on its 97th birthday, it is staggering to think, just how many people have walked through those doors over the years, whether looking for a car, a washing machine, a seafood dinner or a beer.

Andrew

View Comments

  • The scary thing to think is that the next several years could decide if this building survives and thrives into the future or succumbs to the fate of the wrecking ball.

  • Unknown architect?

    I noticed in the opening notice it says "Music Souvenirs Music" I wonder what kind of music a furniture store would hire to play back then? Barber quartet? It's too blurry to read. So, the furniture started out it's first day on the Chatham location playing live music and now it's a licensed bar playing live music. This would sound better if the car dealership also started out it's first day playing live music...

    Can't say much for the colour scheme though. The pink/red/blue/other salad mismash of colours clashes. If they want to see it sold, they should paint it one colour like all blue or all red. This just hurts my eyes like a florescent pink flamingo in Russell Woods...

  • I remember shopping for furniture with my parents at Baum and Brody and my ex husband and I bought a rug there in 1970. The last time I was in The Loop, upstairs, the wonderful tin ceiling was still in place.

  • Nice building overall. It's size and shape lends it to multiple uses, office, retail, food service, and even a car dealer years ago. Hopefully the structure has been maintained sufficiently as well.

    It's not an architectural jewel, but an honest, hardworking building, and the city needs more of those, not less.

  • The building is reallly starting to look worse for the wear. It has been for sale for some time now and in my opinion would make a great place for small retail business, both on the first and second floors.

    To me it is the last building that really needs to be fixed up on an otherwise fantastic looking street (barring the street lights).

  • I'll join the chorus in saying this building needs some love, and soon.

    It would be nice if all those former windows could be opened up again. The second floor could easily serve as office space.

  • Always wondered why they didn't open the windows. Though keeping it a watering hole is good for windsor. It's a little garish at times, but the Loop was -- and still is -- the clearing house for all of Windsor's sub-cultures/musical niches. Nothing like it up here in Toronto (everybody has their own bar). It needs a lot of love, perhaps some better programming, but keep it a cultural venue. Without, and Phog, Windsor just has the kiddie bars.

    Question for those who know: When did the coach open? I first went there in 93, and it seemed like it had been there forever.

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