Postcard Memories is a weekly series of historic postcard views and photos submitted by Marcel Rousseau.
Some were previously published by the Orillia Museum of Art and History and in the book Postcard Memories Orillia.
This photo postcard was taken around 1950, showing the storefronts on the north side of Mississaga Street with the Peter Street intersection on the right.
These were the days when the dominant chain stores were Chainway, Metropolitan, Woolworth’s and Zellers. They were all located in a busy block in downtown Orillia.
Each one of the chain stores carried a wide variety of merchandise and several of them featured a long lunch counter and dairy bar with comfortable swivel stools. It was a favourite spot for downtown workers to gather and socialize over morning coffee and for shoppers to rest, have lunch or enjoy a treat before heading home.
The Woolworth building with its art deco design is gone and the Chainway store building is now home to the Pharma Plus Drug store at 58-60 Mississaga St. E.
The other stores in this photo are Virginia Dare Ltd. Ladies Wear at 64 Mississaga St., Silvers Mens Wear with the Tip Top sign at 68 Mississaga St., Orillia Newsletter at 70 Mississaga St., Agnew-Surpass Shoe Store and Sally Shop at 72 Mississaga St. and the Royal Bank on the corner.
