Arcadian Court
Encyclopedia
The Arcadian Court is an Art Deco
restaurant
and banquet
hall on the eighth floor of the flagship downtown Toronto
location of the Canadian
department store
The Bay
, whose wrought iron railings, arched windows and huge chandeliers made it one of Toronto's most exclusive dining spots for many years. Three skylights allow light to enter the white wash hall interior.
The facility first opened in 1929, when the store was part of the Simpson's
chain. The Arcadian Court was intended to compete with the Royal York Hotel
's Imperial Room
, the Georgian Room at the main Eaton's store, and the Eaton's Seventh Floor on College Street (now called The Carlu
) for downtown lunch business. The restaurant had both a main floor and a mezzanine
(called the "The Men's Grill" from 1968–1969), which was men-only for many years. At its opening, it was the largest department store restaurant in the world, seating 1,300.
The restaurant hosted many of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
's first radio broadcasts, and in 1967, it hosted the first auction ever held outside Britain
by Sotheby's
.
In 1978, Simpson's was acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company
, and subsequently became downtown Toronto's flagship Bay store in 1991. From 1988 to 1989, some of the mezzanine space was converted to gallery space, which displayed the Canadian art collection of Kenneth Thomson. Much of the second floor of the Arcadian Court is closed off or used for storage of chairs. A small pictorial display and a cast iron fountain is located outside the hall. This gallery space was closed in 2004, and the Thomson collection was transferred to the Art Gallery of Ontario
.
The Arcadian Court also figures prominently in Margaret Atwood
's novel The Blind Assassin
, as the centre of Toronto's high society to which Iris Chase Griffen is introduced.
The "Arcadian Court" name has been carried on as a brand name for other restaurants operated in Bay stores, though none are as opulent or exclusive as the Toronto original.
Art Deco
Art deco , or deco, is an eclectic artistic and design style that began in Paris in the 1920s and flourished internationally throughout the 1930s, into the World War II era. The style influenced all areas of design, including architecture and interior design, industrial design, fashion and...
restaurant
Restaurant
A restaurant is an establishment which prepares and serves food and drink to customers in return for money. Meals are generally served and eaten on premises, but many restaurants also offer take-out and food delivery services...
and banquet
Banquet
A banquet is a large meal or feast, complete with main courses and desserts. It usually serves a purpose such as a charitable gathering, a ceremony, or a celebration, and is often preceded or followed by speeches in honour of someone....
hall on the eighth floor of the flagship downtown Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
location of the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
department store
Department store
A department store is a retail establishment which satisfies a wide range of the consumer's personal and residential durable goods product needs; and at the same time offering the consumer a choice of multiple merchandise lines, at variable price points, in all product categories...
The Bay
The Bay
The Bay is a chain of 91 department stores that operate across parts of Canada. It is the main brand of Hudson's Bay Company , North America's oldest company. It has its headquarters in the Simpson Tower in Toronto. In French, the chain is known as la Baie, short for "Compagnie de la Baie d'Hudson"...
, whose wrought iron railings, arched windows and huge chandeliers made it one of Toronto's most exclusive dining spots for many years. Three skylights allow light to enter the white wash hall interior.
The facility first opened in 1929, when the store was part of the Simpson's
Simpson's
The Robert Simpson Company, or Simpsons , was a Canadian department store chain, founded by Robert Simpson. The chain was eventually bought by the Hudson's Bay Company.- History :...
chain. The Arcadian Court was intended to compete with the Royal York Hotel
Fairmont Royal York
The Fairmont Royal York Hotel, formerly the Royal York Hotel and still often so called, is a large and historic hotel in downtown Toronto, Ontario, Canada, at 100 Front Street West. Opened on June 11, 1929, the Royal York was designed by Ross and Macdonald and built by the Canadian Pacific Railway...
's Imperial Room
Imperial Room
The 500 seat Imperial Room is a major events venue at the Royal York Hotel in Toronto, Canada. The hall is located on the Lobby level of the hotel and has hosted major events, such as addresses to the Empire Club of Canada, but was more important historically as one of the most famous nightclubs in...
, the Georgian Room at the main Eaton's store, and the Eaton's Seventh Floor on College Street (now called The Carlu
The Carlu (Toronto)
The Carlu is an historic event space in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Known for many years as the "Eaton's Seventh Floor", the Carlu is one of Toronto's best examples of Art Moderne architecture.-History:...
) for downtown lunch business. The restaurant had both a main floor and a mezzanine
Mezzanine (architecture)
In architecture, a mezzanine or entresol is an intermediate floor between main floors of a building, and therefore typically not counted among the overall floors of a building. Often, a mezzanine is low-ceilinged and projects in the form of a balcony. The term is also used for the lowest balcony in...
(called the "The Men's Grill" from 1968–1969), which was men-only for many years. At its opening, it was the largest department store restaurant in the world, seating 1,300.
The restaurant hosted many of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra
Toronto Symphony Orchestra
The Toronto Symphony Orchestra is a Canadian orchestra based in Toronto, Ontario.-History:The TSO was founded in 1922 as the New Symphony Orchestra, and gave its first concert at Massey Hall in April 1923. The orchestra changed its name to the Toronto Symphony Orchestra in 1927. The TSO...
's first radio broadcasts, and in 1967, it hosted the first auction ever held outside Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
by Sotheby's
Sotheby's
Sotheby's is the world's fourth oldest auction house in continuous operation.-History:The oldest auction house in operation is the Stockholms Auktionsverk founded in 1674, the second oldest is Göteborgs Auktionsverk founded in 1681 and third oldest being founded in 1731, all Swedish...
.
In 1978, Simpson's was acquired by the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
, and subsequently became downtown Toronto's flagship Bay store in 1991. From 1988 to 1989, some of the mezzanine space was converted to gallery space, which displayed the Canadian art collection of Kenneth Thomson. Much of the second floor of the Arcadian Court is closed off or used for storage of chairs. A small pictorial display and a cast iron fountain is located outside the hall. This gallery space was closed in 2004, and the Thomson collection was transferred to the Art Gallery of Ontario
Art Gallery of Ontario
Under the direction of its CEO Matthew Teitelbaum, the AGO embarked on a $254 million redevelopment plan by architect Frank Gehry in 2004, called Transformation AGO. The new addition would require demolition of the 1992 Post-Modernist wing by Barton Myers and Kuwabara Payne McKenna Blumberg...
.
The Arcadian Court also figures prominently in Margaret Atwood
Margaret Atwood
Margaret Eleanor Atwood, is a Canadian poet, novelist, literary critic, essayist, and environmental activist. She is among the most-honoured authors of fiction in recent history; she is a winner of the Arthur C...
's novel The Blind Assassin
The Blind Assassin
The Blind Assassin is an award-winning, bestselling novel by the Canadian author Margaret Atwood. It was first published by McClelland and Stewart in 2000. Set in Canada, it is narrated from the present day, referring back to events that span the twentieth century.The work was awarded the Man...
, as the centre of Toronto's high society to which Iris Chase Griffen is introduced.
The "Arcadian Court" name has been carried on as a brand name for other restaurants operated in Bay stores, though none are as opulent or exclusive as the Toronto original.