Grandeur on Jarvis Street
Three-storey estate housed famed Angelini’s.
CHURCH & WELLESLEY Location: 504 Jarvis St., Wellesley and Jarvis Sts.
Asking price: $9,950,000
Size: 8,328 sq. ft., plus 3,652 sq. ft. partially finished basement
Lot: 75-by-150 feet, no garage, private drive with up to 15 parking spaces
Taxes: $78,421 (2020)
Bedrooms: 6
Bathrooms: 8
This three-storey landmark brick mansion was built in 1891 for the grandson of William Gooderham, co-founder of Gooderham & Worts Distillery — now The Distillery Historic District.
Homeowner Ida Angelini once used the main floor as Angelini’s Restaurant, while the top two floors were her living quarters. Recently, the building has been used as an event planning business.
“I have lived in this unique place for over 40 years. It has been very practical to have my business and my family home under the same roof.
“The house is so large, my whole family has lived on the top two floors, including our three children, with plenty of space for everyone,” said Angelini.
“Many celebrities, like (actor) Mickey Rooney and (pianist/ showman) Liberace, were frequent visitors to my restaurant.
Customers were attracted to my property’s woodwork and panels which are unique, intricate and stunning,” she added.
Steps to Yonge Street, the home is a short walk to many restaurants, stores, and bars.
It is also a short distance to the subway, Yorkville shopping, University of Toronto, Ryerson University and the Eaton Centre, with easy access to the Don Valley Parkway and Gardiner Expressway.
“Since 1975, the property has been protected by the city under the Ontario Heritage Trust. The ideal buyer would be someone who would be proud to assume stewardship of this iconic property — either using the entire home as a residential property or as a live/work residence,” said listing agent Andy Taylor.
On a corner lot, the stately mansion features an all-red brick exterior with detail work, a turret-style roof line, a covered balcony with arches, an arched brick entry, arched windows and interlocking brick walkways and patio.
The double arched front door with glass inserts opens to a vestibule with high baseboards and a patterned tile floor.
From here, another wood door opens to a reception room with solid wood wainscotting, a corner wood-burning fireplace with a detailed wood mantel, a hardwood floor with an inlay, and a coffered ceiling with chandelier.
The main-floor living room features a detailed hardwood floor, a large picture window with bench and stained-glass window, crown moulding, a chandelier and wall sconces, and a nook with fireplace and windows.
The large main-floor dining room includes a herringbonepattern hardwood floor, two chandeliers and wall sconces, crown moulding, wainscotting, a wood-burning fireplace and windows.
Also on the main floor is an expansive bar area — with potential to be a big kitchen — with three walls of windows. It has a hardwood floor, an exposed brick wall, a U-shaped marble bar counter, pendant and pot lights, stairs to the lower level, and its own street entrance.
This floor also has an office room, a study, and three smaller kitchens.
The grand wood staircase to the second floor features a detailed wood rail and a middle landing with a curved, stainedglass window with a bench.
The second floor has a living room, open to the dining room, has a hardwood floor, crown moulding, two windows and a fireplace.
There is large bedroom on this floor with a hardwood floor, a curved nook, two double closets, and a balcony walkout. This level also has another bedroom, a two- and a three-piece bathroom, a kitchen, a storage area, and doors to two sets of stairs.
The third-floor primary bedroom features a hardwood floor, wainscotting, a fireplace, a skylight, and a rounded nook. This level also has two more bedrooms — one with a walk-in closet, a kitchen with a skylight, a three-piece bathroom, a laundry room, a storage room and two hall walk-in closets.
The basement has nine storage rooms, two sets of stairs, two utility rooms, and four, two-piece bathrooms.
To have a look at this property please contact the listing agent Andy Taylor, Sotheby’s International Realty Canada, Brokerage, 416-960-9995; sothebysrealty.ca.
Home of the Week is written by freelance contributor Allison Harness, a Toronto-based real estate writer. Although we try to provide the most up-to-date information available, we cannot guarantee features as listed. Please contact the realtor. To make a submission to Home of the Week,