I was searching through the vaults looking for a good specimen to display today. I noticed this fine postcard and loved how it captured the great charm of “fine-dining” in Canada circa the 1970s.
I love the décor and the uniforms on the waitresses – it reminds me of restaurants I visited in my youth that I thought were so awesomely fancy and exotic. Now they’d just seems so gloriously kitsch.
This one is an unsent postcard from the Shorthorn Steak House and Tavern.
Caption on the back:
“268 Dundas St. E., London, Ontario
In the heart of Downtown:
Close to major Hotels and Shopping”
Sadly, the restaurant is now closed. I imagine that there are still “Hotels” and “Shopping” (when you capitalize it seems so grand and exciting, eh?), but restaurants like this are extinct in Ontario now.
Perhaps that is why this postcard is so valuable. In looking up the restaurant, I found that this same postcard is going for about $20 on eBay! I had no idea that these fine specimens in my collection were worth so much. I’m going to have to get an insurance rider on this and other treasures apparently.
