It was 92-years ago that Loblaw Groceteria opened its New Toronto store on the south side of Lake Shore Blvd. W., between Fifth and Sixth Streets.

The firm was established in 1919 and quickly became a hit due to the unheard of concept of self-shopping, self-serve and cash and carry. The New Toronto store hired many local people when it was opened in 1928.

Many residents at the time vowed self-shopping would never work, but by 1928 there were 70 stores in Ontario. The company had a state-of-the-art head office and warehouse at Bathurst and Fleet Streets that had its own electric trams, giant ovens and employee bowling lanes and auditorium.

Today, Loblaw Companies Limited, a subsidiary of George Weston Limited, is the largest Canadian food retailer in 22 markets with some 2,000 stores and 135,000 employees. The company owns No Frills with 200 franchise stores and the Shoppers Drug Mart chain with 1,300 stores from coast-to-coast.

The grocery chain was founded by Theodore Loblaw, who was born near Alliston, and moved to Toronto in 1890 and later settled in Mimico.

At 17, he found a job as a grocery store clerk, and used the experience to open his own store in 1919 which grew to become today’s chain of Loblaws grocery stores.

T.P., as he was called, and his wife Isabella Adam, built a large estate home on the Lakeshore in Mimico and named it Bonnyview. After she died in 1930, the house was sold and later demolished.