BY: Peter nguyen
On a cold winter day in 2022, Nathan Duarte, project coordinator for the Wilson Village BIA went to family-owned Vic’s Hardware located in the Downsview Shopping Plaza at Keele St and Wilson Ave to purchase four individual half-inch finishing nails to install a plaque on a bench.
Vic’s Hardware has been owned and operated by Connie Spinosa since 1963, 4 generations of the family have worked at the hardware store. “It is like a right of passage to work at the hardware store growing up in the family,” says Marianne Spinosa, daughter of Connie Spinosa.
The store closed in December 2022. The plaza's landlord stated they wish to go in a corporate direction. This is evident as, over the past few years, the plaza has begun to fill up empty storefronts with popular fast-food franchises. The new corporate businesses moving in allow the landlord to charge a higher price for the lease.
It is unfortunate to see the family-owned hardware store leave the neighbourhood after servicing the community with its hardware needs for 60 years. Individuals can no longer walk out to the plaza to get their breakfast at the beloved diner, Peter Gs, and then walk over next door to Vic’s Hardware to pick up a rubber washer to fix a leaky kitchen sink.
Connie Spinosa with fortitude, says “On behalf of the Spinosa family, we would like to extend our sincere thank you to the Downsview community for your support over the 60 years. So many of you became more than just customers, you become extended family and friends, and for this, we are truly grateful”.
