Old Photographs of Storefronts from the Halifax Archives (1945-1987)
Welcome to our visual journey through Halifax’s rich history, highlighting the evolution of storefronts in the city. This post features a curated collection from the Halifax Municipal Archives, showcasing significant moments from the city’s past as seen through its commercial facades.
Among the highlights are the tumultuous 1945 VE Day Riot and various shopfronts on Portland Street from 1947, encapsulating the essence of post-war Halifax. Each storefront tells a story of local enterprise and community life.
1945-May – VE Day Riot-Halifax Municipal Archives-CR6-092
We are excited to introduce our monthly series that will delve into these historical images looking at varying themes from several eras. The Halifax Municipal Archives is an excellent resource for anyone interested in visualizing the city’s commercial development.
In the 1950s, for instance, images like the charming 1953 shops on Jacob Street and the bustling 1958 scene at North and Barrington Streets offer a glimpse into mid-century commerce. Moving into the 1960s, photographs of the Portland IGA Food Market in 1967 highlight the growth of retail spaces.
1947 – Portland Street looking towards Ferry landing-Halifax Municipal Archives-101-80C-6-4.1
The 1970s brought vibrant street scenes, such as the iconic Power’s Drug Store on Spring Garden Road in 1970 and various other beloved local shops from 1973. By the 1980s, images of Storefront like Nieforth Furnishers on Portland Street from the early 1980s and the corner of Barrington and Blowers Streets in 1987 capture the continuing evolution of Halifax’s retail landscape.
Stay tuned for our monthly series featuring more historical images of storefronts from the Halifax Municipal Archives, where you can explore the visual history of Halifax’s commercial spaces in even greater depth. Each month, we’ll bring you fascinating glimpses into the city’s past. The archives are a treasure trove for anyone looking to see how Halifax’s storefronts have grown and changed through the decades.
To see more collections of images visit out Halifax history page.
1953 – 58 Jacob St. [corner of Brunswick St – HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-1481958 – 34 North St.-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-2391958 – 695-697 Barrington St. [at corner of Hurd St.]-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-5411958-1965ca – Cornwallis St.-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-7061959 – Diana Cigar Store on Barrington Street in Halifax-Halifax Municipal Archives-CR2.081960 – [155-197] and 259-305 Gottingen St.-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-3771960ca – 184 Portland St., Moffatt’s Drug Store-Halifax Municipal Archives (HMA)-101-80C-2-8.11961 – Central Redevelopment Area-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-7161962 – 236-240 Upper Water St.-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-8971962 – 379 Gottingen St.-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-8791962 – 896 and 898 Barrington St.-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-4981964ca – 382 [Spring Garden Road]-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department -102-39-1-9971966 – 2678-2680 Windsor St.-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-3561966 – 3540-3576 Gottingen St.-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-8721967 – 102 Portland St., Walker’s Variety Store-Halifax Municipal Archives-101-80C-2-8-S-321967 – 127 Portland St., Capitol Stores-Halifax Municipal Archives-101-80C-2-8-N-691967 – 140 Portland St., Eastern Canada Savings and Loan Company-Halifax Municipal Archives-101-80C-2-8-S-461967 – 144-146 Portland St., MacDonald Furniture Company Ltd.-Halifax Municipal Archives-101-80C-2-8-S-481967 – 159 Portland St., Portland IGA Food Market-Halifax Municipal Archives-101-80C-2-8-N-621967 – 675-677 [2051] Barrington St. [Monstad & Company Limited]-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-4831967 – 1092 Queen St.-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department -102-39-1-11401967 – 2266 Gottingen St.-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-8881967ca – Commercial St.-Halifax Municipal Archives-101-80C-2-8.61970 – Dominion grocery store – Agricola Street Shopping Centre-Halifax Municipal Archives-102-105-3-SC1-101970 – Keller’s Exchange used furniture store – Agricola Street Shopping Centre-Halifax Municipal Archives-102-105-3-SC1-161970 – Spring Garden Road, north side, between Birmingham and Queen Street – Spring Garden Road Shopping Centre-Halifax Municipal Archives-102-105-3-SC5-21970 – White Cross Pharmacy, shoe repair store, barber and Coffee Cup coffee shop – Fairview Shopping Centre area-Halifax Municipal Archives-102-105-3-SC2-41970ca – Storefronts at Young Street east of Isleville Street-Halifax Municipal Archives -CR30K-1-40.3, CR30K-1-40.51973 – Power’s Drug Store-Halifax Municipal Archives-CR30K-1-3.88 to CR30K-1-3.931982-1984 – Nieforth Furnishers, 35-37 Portland St.-Dartmouth Planning and Development -101-80C-6-18.61987 – Storefronts at 1577-1569 Barrington Streets – HRM Archives, ML Leidl – CR93.41987 – Storefront at the Corner of Barrington St. and Blowers St.- HRM Archives, ML Leidl -CR93.6
Welcome to a journey through time as we explore the rich maritime history of Halifax through a unique collection of photographs. Spanning from 1912 to 1981, these images capture the essence of our coastal heritage, […]
![1958 - 695-697 Barrington St. [at corner of Hurd St.]- Storefront image from HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-541](https://halifaxguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1958-695-697-Barrington-St.-at-corner-of-Hurd-St.-HRM-Archives-City-of-Halifax-Engineering-and-Works-Department-102-39-1-541.jpeg)
![1960 - [155-197] and 259-305 Gottingen St.-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-377](https://halifaxguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1960-155-197-and-259-305-Gottingen-St.-HRM-Archives-City-of-Halifax-Engineering-and-Works-Department-102-39-1-377.jpeg)
![1964ca - 382 [Spring Garden Road]-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department -102-39-1-997](https://halifaxguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1964ca-382-Spring-Garden-Road-HRM-Archives-City-of-Halifax-Engineering-and-Works-Department-102-39-1-997.jpeg)
![1967 - 675-677 [2051] Barrington St. [Monstad & Company Limited]-HRM Archives, City of Halifax Engineering and Works Department-102-39-1-483](https://halifaxguardian.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/04/1967-675-677-2051-Barrington-St.-Monstad-Company-Limited-HRM-Archives-City-of-Halifax-Engineering-and-Works-Department-102-39-1-483.jpeg)
