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Do you remember when there was 'Gold' in downtown Orillia?

Frank and Reta Gold operated Gold Men's Wear in downtown Orillia for more than two decades
244 Gold in Downtown 1981
In 1981, Frank and Reta Gold operated Gold Men's Wear in downtown Orillia.

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.

“There’s Gold in Downtown Orillia.” Frank and Reta Gold used this clever slogan to advertise their men’s wear store located between West and Peter streets in downtown Orillia.

In 1961 Frank Gold’s Men’s Wear was to be found at 31 Mississaga St. E. and by 1963 had moved a few doors east to to 49 Mississaga St. E. — the location shown here.

Frank was a strong supporter of Orillia’s downtown and continued to be involved even after retiring in the mid-1980s. 

In 1986, Street’s Flower Shop opened a branch at this location and maintained a presence there for several years. Town’s Jewellers is still located at 51 Mississaga St. E. and has a history at this location dating back over 100 years when it was Frost’s Jewellers.

Formerly the location of Trite’s Book Store, Thomas Wood Shoes opened here at 55 Mississaga St. E. shortly before this photo was taken and just before the street was revitalized and landscaped with new lighting, brick sidewalks and trees.


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