Until the ’60s, FC Burroughes Furniture Co., an Ontario-based company, had its flagship store on Toronto’s Queen Street. The company, known for treating its clientele like family and VIP guests, was ahead of its time: and they were known for throwing lavish tea parties at their Queen Street address and staying open until 10pm to serve their clientele. FC Burroughes shut their doors almost half a century ago and the building remained a retail spot until a few years ago when Queen Street Partners bought it and turned it into an event, gallery, pop-up space of carefully curated tenants. It’s not often that a wedding takes place here but that’s not for any reason except that right now, the company has a hard time facilitating dates further than a year into the future. That’s changing though, and it won’t be long until the space is regularly used by brides and grooms.
First floor and Second Floor three-sided balcony
In the meantime, if you’re able to plan your do in a few short months, The Burroughes Building might be just the spot.
This is a place that can go posh or party-wild, while it does evoke a commercial, almost industrial feel, the age of the building makes it feel more polished than the usual. Each space is divided into smaller areas: the 6th floor has access to the roof, the second floor balcony looks over the first floor and the middle floors are divided by the remaining parts of the original exterior walls (an addition was added in 1910) – because of this, you can move your party from one space to another for cocktails, dinner and dancing or let your guests spread out.
A Snapshot of the Space
Name: The Burroughes Building, currently owned by Queen Street Partners
Location: 639 Queen Street West & Bathurst
Contact: info@theburroughes.com
416-360-5757
www.TheBurroughes.com
First Impression: Gorgeous polished floors, great architectural elements and a wonderful vintage elevator, the toilets are on the small side, and the rooftop patio has lots of potential.
Age: Renovated recently but built around the turn of the last century.
Price: Rental fees weren’t available for this posting but they do require you get insurance and will charge a $600 clean up fee.
Capacity: Standing 450 / sit-down 220
Facilities: Kitchen on the 6th floor, no rentals and you have to get yourself a Special Occasions Permit; the nice thing is, you can do everything exactly the way you want.
Great Spot for a Portrait: Against the original exterior wall where the original store’s logo has faded over the years.
