Simply walking into Honest Ed’s was an experience by itself, even if you didn’t end up buying anything. This iconic Toronto store was structured from two buildings and arranged in a way that would make most people wander in it for about 30 minutes before they even figure out where the exit is. It was quite the maze, in the most wonderful way. 

When I moved to Toronto back in 2008, Honest Ed’s was the first place I remember dazzling me. My first visit inside felt like I got thrown back in time forty or fifty years. As it was one of the only places downtown selling Israeli goods, I visited it quite often, at times almost on a daily basis. I loved looking around at all the signed posters as I was shopping for food that made me feel like I was at the local grocery store back at home. Because of that, in a sense, Honest Ed’s felt a lot like home to me. It was one of Toronto’s most famous and historical department stores that over the years turned into a real city landmark.

In the summer of 2013 I was sent on an assignment to photograph Honest Ed’s for The Grid magazine’s featured article, right after the breaking news that the store is up for sale. I took the morning to go to there and photograph the exterior and interiors of the store, focusing on the character of the costumers as well as the visual aesthetics and arrangement of the store. In addition, I was given a tour of the inside of the two buildings, exploring what most people are not able to access. It was quite the phenomenal experience.