Ed Mirvish

Who was Ed Mirvish? A Canadian businessman, philanthropist & theatrical producer who lived in Toronto, Ontario. Famously known for his flagship business – Honest Ed’s, a landmark discount store in downtown Toronto. An advocate of the arts, he played a huge role in revitalizing Toronto’s theatre scene.

Early Years Born in Colonial Beach, Virginia Son of Jewish immigrants from Lithuania (father, David) & Austria (mother, Anna). The family later moved to Washington DC Here, Mirvish’s father opened a grocery store. In 1923, the grocery store went bankrupt. At last, David Mirvish moved his family to Toronto David worked as a door-to-door salesman until he opened a grocery store in the Toronto Jewish community.

The Beginning of His Career Ed Mirvish re- opened the old grocery business as a dry-cleaner with his friend, Yale Simpson. “Here’s my Mr. Simpson, where’s yours?” Ed Mirvish then told a regular job working as a produce manager & buyer for Toronto grocery store entrepreneur, Leon Weinstein. He married Anne Macklin in 1941, had their son in 1945 & opened a dress shop together in WWII.

Mirvish Village

In 1982, Ed and David Mirvish bought London’s Old Vic theatre for $1.23 million (CAD) & spent four millions renovating it.