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.
The Shangri-La Garden Restaurant, known as “The Shang”, was a downtown Orillia landmark for years. (Brewery Bay Food Company is now located here).
The Shang was divided into two sides with the dining room on the right and the soda bar and lunch room shown here on the left side of the building.
The dining room was a marvellous place to enjoy lunch or a leisurely dinner with family and friends. The lunch bar was a more casual setting to eat, have a coffee, or share a Cherry Coke. It was a place to meet your friends and hang out.
Many people will remember the affable owner and manager Gin Seto who seemed to be in attendance seven days a week. He had an uncanny ability to remember names and to enter The Shang was to experience a warm greeting with Gin asking “How are you Frank? How is your sister Betty? And your mother Rita, how is she doing?”
This amazing talent extended to seasonal summer residents as well.
A weekend visit to the cottage was not complete without enjoying a great meal at the Shang.
