Town and Country Plaza
The first plaza in Niagara Falls was the Town and Country Plaza which was built in 1955 on the west side of Portage Road at the corner of Colborne Street. Building began in 1954 on a site that belonged to Frank Branscombe. Branscombe had worked as a real estate broker and residential developer and had the foresight to realize that this land would be the ideal spot for a commercial plaza. The land had previously been owned by Canadian Canners Ltd. and had been used to grow sour cherries. This was a popular spot for students who lived in the area to work in the summer as cherry pickers. Prior to Canadian Canners, the land was owned by Calvin Emmet.
The first store to open was the Atlantic and Pacific Supermarket (A&P). The store opened in 1955, but the grand opening took place in January of 1956. This was the first large supermarket in Stamford, taking the place of smaller stores such as Collard's.
A&P Grand Opening advertisement, 1956
Town and Country Plaza, 1960
The Town and Country Plaza was built to serve Stamford families and the plaza itself was very much family oriented. Many of the original businesses were run by families like the Montgomerys who owned Montgomery's Pharmacy and The Town and Country Department Store. Ida Thompson was the owner of Terry Lea's Women's Wear and her son Dave and daughter-in-law Kathryn (Kit) were also involved with the business. Caswell's Men's Wear was opened by Harold "Casey" Caswell and in turn has been run by subsequent generations. Some of the stores which have been part of the Town and Country Plaza are:
Betty’s Coin Wash ad, 1981
The A&P Food Store opened in 1955
Agnew-Surpass Shoes opened in 1959
Alber's Music Store, 1967-1973
Artful Cookie, 1997-1999
Bennet's Sewing Centre, 1981-1985
Bette-Lyn Fashions, 1994-1995 (also Stamford Green Plaza)
Betty's Coin Wash, 1981-1983
Brewer's Retail (now the Beer Store), 1960-present
Browse-a-Bit which opened in 1970
Canada Trust (now TD Canada Trust), 1976-present
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, 1957-1992
Capri Barbershop and Salon/ Capri Family Hairstyling, 1970-present
Caswell's Men and Boy's Wear began in 1959 - Harold Caswell began the business which was taken over by his son, Jamie. In 1989, renovations were done and Caswell's eventually aquired the space that Kenny's bakery had owned. Caswell's is currently located in the Mount Carmel Centre.
Cole's Jewellers opened in 1999
Curly Willow Gift Shop opened in 1997
Glen Albers at Albers Music Store
Caswell’s Men and Boys Boys Wear ad, 1981
Caswell’s Men and Boys Wear, 1999
Canada Trust, 1999
Town and Country Plaza including Capri Family Hairstyling, 2020