Yeah I've always liked that old building. I can just picture it in the 1950s with a couple of Ford Galaxie's parked outside of it or something. Would have been a cool vibe.
Some history facts incoming: The Bullas Brothers originally owned a very large building which occupied the block which later became the Kitchener Transit bus terminal (the Bullas Glass building on Joseph was actually built by their father). The building owned by the brothers, however, offered retail space as well as some residential space. There was a public square, fountains and public art (the art is now in the permanent collection of the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery). At the time, Charles Street actually ended at Ontario Street and the entire block between Ontario and Queen housed businesses and residential buildings. There was not a through street at the time.
The brothers were strong advocates to have Charles extended in order to turn it into an important arterial road for the city. Ultimately the City of Kitchener agreed and did extend it until it hit Benton Street. Then by the mid 1960s, it was extended once more until it hit Cedar Street. City planners eventually said "why not make it even longer?". So they began to extend it as far as they could, until it merged with King Street East.
Some history facts incoming: The Bullas Brothers originally owned a very large building which occupied the block which later became the Kitchener Transit bus terminal (the Bullas Glass building on Joseph was actually built by their father). The building owned by the brothers, however, offered retail space as well as some residential space. There was a public square, fountains and public art (the art is now in the permanent collection of the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery). At the time, Charles Street actually ended at Ontario Street and the entire block between Ontario and Queen housed businesses and residential buildings. There was not a through street at the time.
The brothers were strong advocates to have Charles extended in order to turn it into an important arterial road for the city. Ultimately the City of Kitchener agreed and did extend it until it hit Benton Street. Then by the mid 1960s, it was extended once more until it hit Cedar Street. City planners eventually said "why not make it even longer?". So they began to extend it as far as they could, until it merged with King Street East.