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The Runnymede Theatre has been a staple in Bloor West Village since its days hosting vaudeville performances in the 1920s. As the atmospheric theatre continually found new life through the years as a bingo hall, movie theatre and Chapters bookstore, the neighbourhood icon has retained its signature sky blue ceiling, clamshell wall sconces, and stage.
On Monday, the building's contribution to the cultural fabric of the neighbourhood was recognized with a Heritage Toronto plaque installed just outside the entrance to what is now a Shoppers Drug Mart.
Opened in 1927, the theatre initially contained 1,400 seats, and was designed by architect Alfred Chapman. Chapman may be a familiar name to those in the west end, as his other works include the Sunnyside Bathing Pavilion and the Princes' Gates at Exhibition Place.
The building's transition from a theatre to a bookstore in 1999 was met with local resistance, mostly due to uncertainty over which heritage features would be kept intact. When both the historic interior and exterior elements were refurbished, including the preservation of the original ticket booth and domed ceiling at the entrance, the community embraced the building's new purpose.
When Chapters announced that it was moving out of the building, those same concerns from 15 years prior resurfaced. Many in the community waited with bated breath, skeptical that the new tenant, Shoppers Drug Mart, would preserve the features that have made the building a local landmark.
This past April, Shoppers Drug Mart reopened the structure to the public. The ticket booth, atmospheric ceiling and decorative wall sconces all remain, and the exterior was updated with new windows and doors.
The public was invited to witness the unveiling of the plaque, which now adorns the Bloor Street entrance to the building. Prior to the reveal, Museum and Heritage Services hosted a pop-up museum of Toronto theatre memorabilia at nearby Runnymede Library.
Bloor West Village Residents Association Officer Jay Zimmerman, Ward 13 Councillor Sarah Doucette, Bloor West Scotiabank Branch Manager Jon Voss, Shoppers Drug Mart Associate Owner and Pharmacist Manjit Hansra, and Heritage Toronto Board Member Mark Warrack were on hand to do the honours.
Heritage Toronto's Plaques and Markers Program recognizes people, places and events that have contributed to the city's prosperity. For more information, and to find a map of where you can find these plaques, visit the Heritage Toronto website.
