Take a final tour of Honest Ed's with David Mirvish

After 68 years in business, Honest Ed's will close its doors for good on December 31.

David Mirvish, "Honest" Ed Mirvish's son, grew up in the department store. His first job was bagging people's shopping there and his family's history is painted into many of the iconic signs decorating the property.

With just two more weeks until the shop goes dark, David Mirvish took Metro Morning's Matt Galloway on a tour through the store.

"This store really goes back to 1941 when my mother started a little dress shop called the sports bar," said Mirvish. "Then they expanded, bought the shoe shine parlour and then they had things they couldn't sell ... so they put out a table next door in 1948 and called it Honest Ed's."

Mirvish saidhe doesn't remember entering the store for the first time, but he does remember playing in itwhen he was a little boy. When he was six years old he took to hiding in the store, probably one of the best spots for hide and seek in the city.

Mirvish saidhe loves the housewaresdepartment because you never know what you're going to find.

"I remember having a dinner in this department once for my whole family," said Mirvish. "There must have been 30 or 40 of us and we were surrounded by blue Elvis busts."

Mirvish said thatthe retail industry has changed over time, and he's felt like Honest Ed's has been "complacent" since about 1990. For that reason, he's looking forward to the redevelopment of the site.

"I don't think we're losing, we're moving forward," said Mirvish.

"Someone's willing to put millions of dollars into the city of Toronto and bet that they can do something ... I have to admire that."

Honest Ed's has been selling off its signs since it announced it would close at the end of the year.

Of all of them, Mirvish says he only plans to keep two.One was a history of his dad, painted by Charlie Brodie, a favourite sign painterof Mirvish's. The other is a cut out of Dirty Dave, a store mascot.

"Charlie always thought we were a special family and we deserved to have, you know how you have coat of arms? He created a coat of feet for us."

Mirvish said he doesn't want to be at the store on its last day.

"I want to be here on the 24th. On the 30th, the 31st I hope that the store is empty and I hope everybody is going to have a good New Year's, go home to their family and start the new year fresh."