'Second Stories' reminds us of our earlier history when owning a business often
meant living in the same building, above or sometimes behind the shop. Winnipeg filmmaker Guy
Maddin's family used to live above their beauty salon which was located on Ellice Avenue. The
convenience store now called Y-Not Foods used to be Ellice Grocery from 1934-1947 with the
owners (Harry and Phoebe Spottiswood) living behind the store and renting out the top unit to
other families. Hans Tergesen came from Iceland in 1887 and ran a tinsmith business in
Winnipeg. He later moved to Gimli to open a hardware store where he and his wife made their
home, and started raising a family all above the shop.
Although for many years the emergence of the suburbs changed where and how people chose to
live and operate their business, many new entrepreneurs who open businesses now choose to
live in the same building as their shops are located. Mixed use buildings are becoming more
common once again with densification of urban areas a promoted trend in city planning.
"Since we were featuring second story windows, this location, sitting high above the parking lot, is
perfect for providing excellent viewing. The people in the windows look like they are greeting their
neighbours on the street", says West End BIZ Executive Director, Gloria Cardwell-Hoeppner.
