Explore the east side of Wall Street

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This article was published 01/03/2019 (2715 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Faveri’s Wood Furniture has been at 625 Wall St. since 1976, which qualifies it as an oldtimer on the short stretch of the street between Ellice and Portage avenues. 

Owner Lynda Wilson credits the company’s success to staying true to its roots and selling only solid wood furniture made in North America.

The large store with its beautifully accessorized furniture wouldn’t be out of place in any major city. It just isn’t the type of business you’d necessarily expect to find on Wall Street, which still has an industrial feel. 

The street is full of surprises, though, and despite the smaller businesses on the east side of the street being dwarfed by the huge steel-clad industrial buildings with chain-link fences or large parking lots across the street, they’ve developed into a resilient community. In fact, the east side of the street is becoming a hip new West End destination. 

Sleepy Owl Bakery at 751 Wall St. seems to have been the nexus for the change. After selling out of breads and baked goods every week at the Wolseley Farmers’ Market, Joanne Toupin and her husband opened their bakery and tiny retail store on Wall Street. Toupin says they knew their wholesale sales would survive but weren’t sure their customers would follow them from the farmers’ market. Happily, they did.

In quick succession, CrossFit 431 (729 Wall St.) and Barn Hammer Brewing Company (595 Wall St.) were opened by young entrepreneurs. Both independent businesses have become destinations for increasing numbers of younger people. The street is  going to get even more popular when a new restaurant opens soon. Patrons tasting craft brews in Barn Hammer’s tap room will be able to bring their food right in. 

Famous urbanist Jane Jacobs believed you couldn’t really know a street until you’d walked it. Maybe the slew of new businesses opening on this car-oriented  street will be the tipping point that encourages people to leave their cars at home while  exploring the street on foot this summer. There are some older  independent businesses that are easy to miss while driving past. Brian’s Corner Antiques and Thrift and Valu Lots are two Winnipeg institutions worth a visit.

There’s a new sense of pride and community on Wall Street these days that should be a boon to all  local businesses on the street. 

With a little help from the West End Biz, more positive change is sure to come to the street in the near future.

Anne Hawe is a community correspondent for the West End. She can be reached at annie_hawe@hotmail.com

Anne Hawe
West End community correspondent

Anne Hawe is a community correspondent for the West End. She can be reached at anniehawe1@protonmail.com

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