L.J. McGuinness Distillers

Photos by Alan L Brown - Posted September, 2008

Here, on the northwest corner of Manitoba Street and Legion Road North, stands the former L.J. McGuinness Distillers building. A Toronto Culture plaque on the corner has this to say:

Plaque coordinates: 43.624201 -79.489131

L.J. McGuinness Distillers operated on this site from 1938 to 1988. Lawrence J. McGuinness started in the wholesale liquor business in Toronto in 1905. In the 1920s, McGuinness formed a partnership with brothers H.W. "Harry" and Herbert Hatch to acquire distilleries, starting with Gooderham and Worts.

In 1933 McGuinness sold his shares in Hiram Walker-Gooderham and Worts, and founded a new distillery. The success of this business led to construction of the Mimico operation, on this site, where the distilling, blending, bottling and warehousing of liquor was done.

His son, L.J. (Larry) McGuinness Jr. took over the family business in 1951 and ran it until it was sold to Standard Brands in the 1970s. Cory Distilleries Ltd. bought the company in 1987, and the distillery operation was closed soon after.

Related Toronto plaques
Gooderham and Worts Distillery Complex
Dominion Square

More
Industrial buildings
Etobicoke plaques

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Posted March 5, 2011
In 1993 McGuinness sold his shares in Hiram Walker-Gooderham and Worts, and founded a new distillery. I think it should read 1933?? (Thanks. You're right. I've made the change.)

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