Stan Blowes Gift Shop

Stan Blowes Gift Shop:  1949

On March 31st, 1949 Stan Blowes opened his shop doors for the very first time, beginning the long line of Blowes family businesses with both a gift, book and office supply shop, along with a travel service. 

Stan originally purchased a business called Kenner's Book Store, (that opened in 1890, which sold all different types of books, including the textbooks needed by students for each school year. Many Stratford residents remember standing in long lines out front of this book store, as well as the Blowes store, waiting to collect their books for the upcoming academic year. 

Stan Blowes continued the book store tradition, while adding office furniture and equipment, as well as giftware and a travel service throughout the upcoming years. All the while, the apartments seen above continued to stay occupied by different tenants up until 1953, and housed a few notable people. Interesting facts about this building are that it was the first business in Stratford to use electricity to put up an electric sign, and it was the original home of the box office of the new Stratford Shakespearean theatre in 1953 ( see Plaque). 

Blowes Stationery & Office Supplies: 2019

On March 31st, 2019 the Blowes businesses (Cards & Gifts, Stationery & Office Supplies and Travel Agency) celebrated their 70th anniversary of business in Stratford. 

Since opening their doors in 1949, all three businesses have stayed within the Blowes family name, with hopes to stay within further generations to come. Aside from a few coats of green, yellow and red paint, the building stays almost identical to its roots that date all the way back to 1873 when it was first built and named the Brandenberger Block. Inside the store itself, many original aspects of the building throughout the years are featured within displays and signage throughout the store. The original wooden squeaky floor and tin ceilings could tell some stories!