Survivor Story
How Queen Street got its groove back By Laura Trethewey
PRELOVED
Before the blaze: A fave stop of eco-minded clothes horses.
The bad news: Preloved’s style library—cabinets containing sketches of every collection since the brand’s inception—was lost.
The good news: Designer Peter Friesen took the new season’s samples
out of the store one night before the fire.
Current digs: Just west of the original, with high ceilings, natural light and more room for digging through racks of remade togs.
NATIONAL SOUND
Before the blaze: A turntable mecca since disco sucked, loved by neighbourhood needle junkies (the musical sort).
The bad news: Owner Paul Jilek lost an original Rembrandt sketch, a gift from his grandmother, in the fire.
The good news: In spite of everything, Jilek was happy to celebrate 40 years on Queen in October.
Current digs: The electro-emporium—smaller and a lot less cluttered—reopened nearby
in April.
SUSPECT VIDEO
Before the blaze: A home away from home for the anti-Blockbuster club.
The bad news: VHS and DVD covers signed by Tarantino, Dario Argento and Jon Cryer
were destroyed.
The good news: The most valuable vids were stashed at the Markham Street outpost.
Current digs: None, but there is the original store, and now there’s Eyesore Cinema, owned by former Suspect manager Daniel Hanna, up the street.
DUKE’S CYCLE
Before the blaze: The granddaddy of cycling stores.
The bad news: The city slapped Duke’s with $60,000 in demolition and cleanup costs.
The good news: After 94 years in business on Queen Street, third-generation owner Gary Duke knows how to roll with the punches.
Current digs: A smaller spot on Richmond gets less foot traffic than Queen but draws
a King Street crowd more apt to buy than browse.
Photograph by Kevin Steele
Related:
• Death of a City Block: The fire on Queen Street caused $10 million in damage. What else was lost?
• Lost and Found: A Queen West rental becomes a meticulously assembled artist’s retreat worth ditching New York for
• After Ossington: Sweaty Betty’s Pol and Selena Christo-Williams expand their hipster empire with the Red Light
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