Saturday, September 6, 2008

Handy Handy Stores

Does anyone remember the Handy Handy Stores wich sold auto parts and accessories, The equivalent of the Canadian Tire Stores today but on a much smaller scale. Here is what I found in our archives today (SHGV). The Verdun Store was situated at 5260 Verdun Ave.
Guy
 

21 comments:

guy5479 MSN said...

Correction. That should read Handy Andy Stores. Sorry about that. Guy

sgwu731 MSN said...

As a kid in the fifties, Guy, I do remember the store on Verdun Ave. My father used to buy spark plugs, etc for his cars there. I think I also got some hockey sticks and other sports necessities there as well - Yes, the Canadian Tire of the 40's & 50's.   Thx for the pictures.   Ron Chapdelaine

jo jo MSN said...

I do but the memory is vague. It would be from the sixties that I remember (again, vaguely) the store. Long time ago!!

Jo

les__f MSN said...

Handy Andy was right underneath the old Verdun Pool Hall,directly across the street from the kids school ( forget the name) ..after they closed up shop in Verdun,the Handy Andy moved to Dollard & Newman,right on the cornerin ville Lasalle.........                                           hf&rv

football19610 MSN said...

Hi Les:   The school name was / is Woodland Public School.  I drove by it yesterday and also past the Dollard / Newman site on our way home to Ontario.  Wanted to stop in Verdun and take some pictures ,but, unfortunately, Mother Nature had to rain on my parade.   George

les__f MSN said...

Thanks George it must have been fun to visit the old stopming grounds, I haven't been back for a number of years now,but still think of organising a trip back,I used to go fairly often but it's been 7 or 8 years now I would think,..............the years have a way of quickly piling up. Myabe your next visit you can grab some shots from around the town,we' all like to see them.                                                                         hf&rv

football19610 MSN said...

Me Again Les:   I drove up Second Avenue yesterday to see the first place I lived in from 1944 to 1958 or 1959.  Had trounble actually finding the place since the frontage had changed so much on some of the houses. Had to use the actual address signs to find it. Also discovered that the little grocery store (Laurendeau's) is no longer a store but a complete house.  I hope to go back before winter for a visit and take some pictures.   George

les__f MSN said...

Hi George , we'll look forward to seeing the pictures. I too was surprised when I did go bak years ago, all the houses have had some nice upgrades re: Windows ,Doors, Railings etc etc ,....they look good. As for the disappearance of the store,that has happened alot in Verdun, as I understand it,the city has a new policy on little stores that if you leave it empty at all ,you cannot reopen a store, as long as it stays open you can keep it,but most of the stoeres have been turned into whole homes ,Too bad really cause I think those neighbourhood stores were good for the community. A freind of mine owned the Video Beurling & the 'Dep' behind it at the corner of Brown & Beaurling,.he sold it & the new owners turned it into Condos.....This was the old Grocery Store once called Martin's ( I think it was) When i used to go to VCH.we used to get smokes from there (the odd beer too..........hahahaha) School Day's     Yikes !!!

football19610 MSN said...

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the lad MSN said...

Les   Remember the DEP on Allard near the lane just down from the beauty salon? Mo used to work there...what a character...we played the Turkey Bowl at the park one Thanksgiving week-end..2 full teams with spares..sang O Canada and had some fans in the stands..he closed the store to come watch us for a bit..we were just a bunch of guys playing football...long time since I was there guess its all gone now. This was back in the 70's.   Lad

willie MSN said...

Yes, I do remember the Handy Andy Store. I wouldn't have if you did not post it here though :) The other "Canadian Tire Substitute" was Western Tire, I used to check prices between the two. I think Cdn Tire forced Western out of Business. It seems to me there was one Western Tire around Church Ave and Champlain (up near the Bridge at the Aquaduc)  

les__f MSN said...

Right you are Willie, Western was at Church & Champlain,and I remember it also had gas pumps there etc etc............  I had forgotten about that place.             Thanks for the old memory prompt...................................hf&rv

claroleca0 MSN said...

Hi Lad,   I remember that store very much, with Morris and his parents. We went there all the time since we lived on Allard between Monteith and Beurling.   I remember Morris being in an upper body cast, he was in a car accident, I believe.    We used to go to Doc's as well on Allard and Banantyne, Dad used to buy his tubes for the tv there or get them tested.   Good memories!   Carole   BTW, We did finally get over to Guelph to Pierre's Poutine. We both had steamies and fries. Really good!

the lad MSN said...

Hi Carole   Mo was a character..forgot about Doc's..Next time you go to Pierres,get him talking about Verdun...he has some stories...   Lad

claroleca0 MSN said...

Hi Lad,   Pierrre & I did chat about Verdun, but what kind of stories did he have?   I wonder where Morris is these days. How old would he be?   Carole

the lad MSN said...

Carole   Will try and post this again..msn acting up...he told me he worked at Stelco on Notre Dame..worked nights..Finished on Friday (last shift) and Sunday was to start at Imperial Tobacco on St.Antoine...so came out of the tunnel and turned right on Notre Dame..parked at Stelco got out and just before he went in figured out hey I am in the wrong place...also told me about some of the characters he knew playing sports..   Lad

the lad MSN said...

Carole   Part 2   figure Morris would be in his 60's by now..have not seen him in years.. quite a character..   Lad

claroleca0 MSN said...

Hi Lad,   I was informed by my brother that Mo's name was actually Orest. We always used to call him Morris.   You're going to have to fill me in some of the stories about him. Do you remember his parents working in the store?     Carole

habfan MSN said...

Believe it or Morris's name was OREST! Everybody called him Morris or Mo. I guess it would be difficult for him, to tell everybody. I do think he was embarassed about Orest.   Mike

the lad MSN said...

Hi   Saw his parents there a few times but not much..remember his mom more.     Lad

Anonymous said...

I.m 72 years and lived on 4th Ave. just around the corner from the Handy Andy on Verdun Avenue. In my box of tools I still have a Handy Andy level and a small saw, both with the logo on them. Wasn't this store owned by Bryce Mackacy?