Loblaws threw open the doors to the newly renovated West Block building in downtown Toronto on September 11.

The building, which was constructed in 1928, was the home to the first Loblaws Groceterias warehouse. In 2015, it was taken apart brick by brick to be cleaned and restored. Along the way, construction crews led by EllisDon rebuilt the structure to accommodate five floors of class A office space, and built two residential condo towers with a combined 850 units.

"The reopening of the West Block building is an important milestone in Loblaw's history, and a cornerstone of our future," said Loblaw president Sarah Davis. "The building is an architectural representation of our company, and our role as an ongoing retail innovator. It brings together our century-long story, combining convenient bricks-and-mortar store locations and the new hub of our digital, loyalty and financial services teams."

In 1928, the warehouse highlighted how Loblaws Groceteria was a pioneer in modern retailing. The grocer occupied the site until the 1970s when it was taken over by the Daily Bread Food Bank. The facility was left vacant in 2000 when the food back left the site, and stayed that way until 2015 when construction began.

Today, the building is an office space for more than 1,100 digital economy workers, including teams from Loblaw Digital, PC Optimum and PC Financial. 

"When the building first opened in 1928 it was hailed as the most modern warehouse of its kind. Our task was to reconstruct a space that represents Loblaw's exciting future and properly captures the essence of both its history, and that of the city," said Loblaw executive chairman Galen Weston. "Brick by brick and stone by stone, West Block's historic façade has been restored so it once again becomes a destination within the community." 

With a combined investment of more than $400 million, the site was redeveloped by Wittington Properties. West Block boasts a Loblaws, a Shoppers Drug Mart, and a Joe Fresh outlet.

The building was rebuilt brick by brick, with each stone replaced in the same original location. A number of historical artefacts remain in the building, including wood salvaged from the old Queen's Wharf, and support columns from the Gardiner Expressway in the parking garage.

"The reopening of the West Block is a tribute not only to our city's history but to the role that Loblaw has played in that history,” said Toronto Mayor John Tory. “People will come to the Lakeshore and Bathurst area to not only experience the new building and the services it offers but to see a new iconic building in a growing and vibrant part of Toronto. I want to thank Loblaw for revitalizing this building and for bringing much needed services to our residents.”