It’s been under wraps for months but the two year-long renovation of the former Big Bop building at the corner of Toronto’s Queen and Bathurst streets is nearly complete; this week the hustings started coming down on what will soon be furniture retailer CB2‘s first international location. Owned by U.S. chain Crate & Barrel, CB2′s focus is on “affordable modern” home furnishings and accessories. The store opens next Saturday (January 21) following a much-anticipated press preview on Friday evening.
The renovation has turned an architectural eyesore, above, back into the graceful swan it once was. Built in the 1800s as an army barracks, the structure had many incarnations including time as a masonic temple and a United Cigar store, seen below in 1928. A fire destroyed the top floor and mansard roof, which were never rebuilt. At least the current reno returns the handsome red and cream brick exterior to its original grandeur.
CB2 is tightly focused on the condo/loft market and is taking aim at competitors IKEA, West Elm, EQ3 and Structube. A catalogue teaser previewing some of CB2 Toronto’s offerings promises some great looking pieces. I don’t know if they owe more to Tom Dixon’s Beat lights or to Hershey’s Kisses but CB2′s Noir pendant lamps, below, are sexy and vaguely exotic and with a price tag of just $279 I predict they’ll be flying off the shelf.
I’m also jazzed about the Inkwell bedding shown below, by designer Matthew Lew. I have no idea about thread count or quality but the deep indigo colour and pattern are amazing and the price is just as nice — $109 for a queen size duvet cover and $29.95 for the pillow shams.
Vancouver is next on the company’s expansion agenda with another CB2 store opening on Robson Street this spring. Stay tuned for a report on next week’s store opening.
January 15th, 2012 at 11:36 am
Yay! I’m so excited to finally see the store.
January 15th, 2012 at 2:05 pm
At last! I’ve been holding off on a wine rack for about six months in an effort to save on shipping costs. Bummer that I depleted much of my wine stock over the holidays!
I have to say, it will be interesting to shop for house htings on that corner after spending a lot of nights at metal/punk shows at the Reverb/Big Bop once upon a time…
January 15th, 2012 at 8:54 pm
Can’t wait until Friday to check out the store! Eyeing the dylan dining table for a dining room project!
http://www.cb2.com/dining-tables/dining/dylan-dining-table/f6729
January 16th, 2012 at 11:10 am
Great to red your posts as usual but I got hung up on your use of the word “husting”, I actually had no idea what it meant but assumed it to be the same as hoarding, which is a strange word for, but understandable in a sense, for the boards that withhold building activity. Is there some other definition for husting that I’m not aware of?
hus·tings [huhs-tingz] noun ( used with a singular or plural verb )
1.(before 1872) the temporary platform on which candidates for the British Parliament stood when nominated and from which they addressed the electors.
2.any place from which political campaign speeches are made.
3.the political campaign trail.
4.Also called hustings court . a local court in certain parts of Virginia.
January 16th, 2012 at 12:44 pm
Fabulous! CB2 will be a big hit in the city, great selections and styles, can’t wait for the opening!!
January 17th, 2012 at 8:10 am
Thank you, David, you’re right. I used the wrong word. Doesn’t happen a lot but further confirmation, not that any was needed, that I’m human.
January 17th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
Hi, where can I find the catalogue teaser that previews some of the CB2 Toronto offerings? Thanks!
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