Historic Sites of Manitoba: Hanbury Hardware Warehouse / Manitoba Liquor Control Commission Building / Christie School Supply Building (701-705 Pacific Avenue, Brandon)

Formerly located on Pacific Avenue in Brandon, a four-storey building was built in 1907 for the Hanbury Hardware Company founded by John Hanbury. In 1920, the company was sold to the Wood Vallance Company of Hamilton, Ontario. In 1923, the eastern part of the former hardware company space (701 Pacific) was leased by the Manitoba Liquor Control Commission for the city’s first post-Prohibition liquor store. In 1926, the western part (705 Pacific) became home to the office and school supply business of Christie School Supply Limited. In 1970, when the liquor store moved to a new location at 1030 Victoria Avenue, the entire building was taken over by Christie.

The building was destroyed by fire on 19 May 2018.

Hanbury Hardware Warehouse (1911) by Davidson & Gowen Source: Alf Fowler collection (6-1999.39), S. J. McKee Archives, Brandon University Site Coordinates (lat/long): N49.84969, W99.94708 denoted by symbol on the map above

See also:

Memorable Manitobans: John Hanbury (1855-1928)

Manitoba Business: Manitoba Liquor Control Commission / Manitoba Liquor and Lotteries Corporation

MHS Centennial Business: Christie School Supply / Christie’s Office Plus

Historic Sites of Manitoba: Wood Building / Merchants Building (250 McDermot Avenue, Winnipeg)

Sources:

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

“Now open new location [Liquor Control Commission],” Brandon Sun, 9 November 1970, page 11.

“Brandon fire destroys two historic buildings: 705 Pacific Avenue” by Christian Cassidy, West End Dumplings, 20 May 2018.

We thank Christy Henry (S. J. McKee Archives) for providing information used here.

This page was prepared by Jordan Makichuk and Gordon Goldsborough.

Page revised: 25 June 2025

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