Thompson’s Fine Furniture store used to be located on the West side of Yonge Street, downtown Aurora, just South of Wellington Street. The store closed its doors in 2009 and the property stayed closed for a few years.
To learn more about the history of this building and its owners you can read this interesting piece of history in our local paper the Auroran on page one and eight (note the link is a pdf file), Thompson’s to close after eight decades, “In 1998 Thompson’s Funeral Home was sold and now in 2009 Thompson’s Furniture Store is closing its doors. Thompson’s businesses served Aurora citizens for three generations and for 77 years from 1921 to 1998 they offered the cradle for a new baby and preparation for the grave.“
In January 2013 the building was still boarded up and the Thompson’s sign remained on the front face of the building as seen in the black and white photograph above. The same year the whole unit underwent major renovations and by the end of the year a new restaurant Aw, Shucks Seafood Bar & Bistro had its grand opening.
Also in the same picture, beside Thompson’s Fine Furniture store is the former Aurora Downtown Hardware store where before 2013 the same store was called Aurora True Value Hardware.
“Aurora Downtown Hardware Owners Mike and Lorraine Evans are very excited to announce their new operating name, Aurora Downtown Hardware (formerly Aurora True Value Hardware), and the prospect of continuing to offer a wide selection of products to Aurora.” Source: Chamber Connection, January 2013, Aurora Chambers of Commerce.
Interestingly enough, in the same year the store changed its name the property was sold, “After 39 years of owning Aurora True Value Hardware/Aurora Downtown Hardware, Mr. Evans has sold the property.” Source: York Region
What else is missing in the photo? The two high density buildings on Yonge Street, just North of Wellington Street.
Photo Taken: January 26, 2013
