Sunday, July 26, 1976 saw the end of the Metropolitan Store (The Met). The Met was a a hub of activity in the downtown. A five and dime type dollar store and lunch counter is what I remember. There’s almost a similar kind of feel (minus the lunch counter) in The Bargain Shop, which now sits on the same location. Anyway, in our ongoing series of things that burned in Portage, from the Yosh Tashiro Archive, we present: The Epic Metropolitan Fire. Things not going so well for the Met. A crowd gathers to watch the action from Royal Rd. North. There’s the old Credit Union on the left. Smoke blows south over City Hall Here comes the fire fighters. Firefighters at back door. Love the helmets. Firefighters and a bystanders battle the blaze at the front door. Look at the hipster guy in the middle. Bystanders helping out as firefighters take a break. Smoke billowing from the front door. View from roof of MacLeods. Not much left. If you were there that fateful July day, or recognize anyone or anything in these pictures, leave a comment and help us rebuild the lost history of Portage. If you enjoyed this Yosh Tashiro archive post, you may also enjoy these: The Last Days of The Albion Hotel Elevator Fires Elevator fire 9 Responses Ralph November 29, 2014 My ex wife worked there and that was in the early 80’s. They must have rebuilt it for her to work there years later. Send me an email and I’ll give you her name. Reply Mark Moon December 2, 2014 My dad did the demolition cleanup and I remember he brought a bunch of kids GWG Jeans (that survived the fire) home that wreaked of smoke. He thought mom could wash them and get the smoke out of them……NOT! I think she still hates him to this day for bringing them home!!! Lol Reply Virginia December 1, 2014 I would have been 10. I remember being on my walk home from The Lions pool that day, I was standing there crying for the loss of the pets that perished. The older boys spoke of getting on the roof of I think Macleods or the building next to it. I remember attempting to climb up but couldn’t make it so I ran home and tattled.LOL Reply Karen December 2, 2014 It was rebuilt later…. I worked at the lunch counter in the 80’s. Reply Laura February 8, 2019 I also worked at the lunch counter when I was 15! Reply Karen December 2, 2014 I see all the kids on bikes.I was one of them.The firefighters didn’t have much protection back then did they?One is even wearing the plaid pants of that era.lol.I also noticed the old street sign on the corner.What ever happened to them? Reply Keith December 2, 2014 I remember it well. Like the picture that shows the grain elevators in the background, a bit of foreshadowing for their fate. I also remember exactly 4 years later, July 26, 1980. The Westco fire. Reply Jimmy Slaiter May 19, 2017 Falsehood. Not news. Old photos. Black and white from 70’s. Not modernity reality. Opposition rise up against you. Reply Janice Bouchard December 10, 2018 Myself and two friends were walking past the Met store that day heading west. Not 20 seconds after we pasted the Met the front windows blew out. Talk about it not being our time – glass blew clear across the avenue to City Hall. We were all 14 years old at the time so pretty exciting for a kid. Never have forgot that day. Reply Leave a Reply Cancel ReplyYour email address will not be published.CommentName* Email* Website Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Notify me of new posts by email.
Ralph November 29, 2014 My ex wife worked there and that was in the early 80’s. They must have rebuilt it for her to work there years later. Send me an email and I’ll give you her name. Reply
Mark Moon December 2, 2014 My dad did the demolition cleanup and I remember he brought a bunch of kids GWG Jeans (that survived the fire) home that wreaked of smoke. He thought mom could wash them and get the smoke out of them……NOT! I think she still hates him to this day for bringing them home!!! Lol Reply
Virginia December 1, 2014 I would have been 10. I remember being on my walk home from The Lions pool that day, I was standing there crying for the loss of the pets that perished. The older boys spoke of getting on the roof of I think Macleods or the building next to it. I remember attempting to climb up but couldn’t make it so I ran home and tattled.LOL Reply
Karen December 2, 2014 I see all the kids on bikes.I was one of them.The firefighters didn’t have much protection back then did they?One is even wearing the plaid pants of that era.lol.I also noticed the old street sign on the corner.What ever happened to them? Reply
Keith December 2, 2014 I remember it well. Like the picture that shows the grain elevators in the background, a bit of foreshadowing for their fate. I also remember exactly 4 years later, July 26, 1980. The Westco fire. Reply
Jimmy Slaiter May 19, 2017 Falsehood. Not news. Old photos. Black and white from 70’s. Not modernity reality. Opposition rise up against you. Reply
Janice Bouchard December 10, 2018 Myself and two friends were walking past the Met store that day heading west. Not 20 seconds after we pasted the Met the front windows blew out. Talk about it not being our time – glass blew clear across the avenue to City Hall. We were all 14 years old at the time so pretty exciting for a kid. Never have forgot that day. Reply
