Historic Sites of Manitoba: Manitoba Upholstery Warehouse (281-283 Selkirk Avenue, Winnipeg)

Formerly located on Selkirk Avenue in Winnipeg, a three-storey brick building, measuring 24 feet by 107 feet, was built around 1926 as a warehouse and retail space but it sat vacant.

In 1928, the building was taken over by Benjamin “Ben” Cohen of the Manitoba Upholstering Company who commissioned local architect Max Zev Blankstein to design alterations to the building at a cost of $2,000. In 1937, a three-storey brick addition, measuring 23.6 feet by 50 feet, was built at a cost of about $8,000.

The building was demolished in 2011.

Former Manitoba Upholstery Warehouse

Former Manitoba Upholstery Warehouse (2011)
Source: Christian Cassidy

Former site of the Manitoba Upholstery Warehouse

Former site of the Manitoba Upholstery Warehouse (November 2024)
Source: Jordan Makichuk

Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.91291, W97.13593
denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: Benjamin “Ben” Cohen (c1890-1968)

Memorable Manitobans: Max Zev Blankstein (1874-1931)

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Alekno Block / Mitchell Block (374-376 Selkirk Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

“To let-stores and offices,” Manitoba Free Press, 25 February 1927, page 24.

“To let-stores and offices,” Manitoba Free Press, 24 June 1927, page 25.

City of Winnipeg Building Permit 1824/1928, City of Winnipeg Archives.

“New Western Construction,” Manitoba Free Press, 2 June 1928, page 33.

“Building permits show big increase over last year,” Winnipeg Free Press, 10 April 1937, page 20.

Winnipeg fire insurance map, #273 May 1956, City of Winnipeg Archives.

“Sale by tender of property and assets of Manitoba Upholstery Co.,” Winnipeg Free Press, 6 September 1986, page 17.

Selkirk Avenue loses another tooth” by Christian Cassidy, West End Dumplings, 5 July 2011.

Henderson’s Winnipeg and Brandon Directories, Henderson Directories Limited, Peel’s Prairie Provinces, University of Alberta Libraries.

We thank Christian Cassidy for providing additional information used here.

This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk.

Page revised: 18 November 2024

Historic Sites of Manitoba

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