Once a bustling supplier of stoves, hardware, and home furnishings, the storefront at 509 Victoria Avenue East was home to W.S. Piper Hardware, established in 1884. As seen in this historic photo, the shop offered everything from ladders to lanterns, drawing a steady stream of downtown shoppers in Fort William’s early commercial days.
The business was one of many thriving local merchants that shaped the identity of the south core. With its prominent signage and large window displays, W.S. Piper was a staple of Victoria Avenue for decades.
Today, the same storefront continues to serve the community – now as The Southside Thrift & Gift, a vibrant indoor marketplace that supports local entrepreneurs, artisans, and vintage vendors. The building’s bones remain, linking past to present as it evolves with the city around it.
