Shop Local Penetanguishene 2026 – From Dock to Downtown

Did You Know?

1 Simcoe Street is one of Penetanguishene's historic commercial buildings, commonly known as the Dault or Jennings Block.

The property was owned by Alfred Sneath in 1876, and the present building is believed to have been constructed between 1885 and 1894. It later became associated with J.B. Jennings and W.H. Hewson, two prominent local businessmen who maintained professional offices here. Jennings, who served as Mayor of Penetanguishene, operated an insurance agency, while Hewson, who served as Town Clerk, maintained a law office in the building.

In 1901, the property was sold to Donald Dault. Beginning in 1923, the Penetanguishene Water and Light Commission occupied the building and remained associated with the property until the mid-1990s. Over its long history, 1 Simcoe Street has accommodated numerous other commercial uses.

The building itself is an excellent surviving example of late nineteenth-century commercial Victorian architecture, with distinctive brickwork, upper-storey windows, elaborate cornices and recessed storefront entrances.

For more than 130 years, 1 Simcoe Street has remained a prominent landmark at the intersection and a tangible link to the commercial and civic history of downtown Penetanguishene.

Historic photograph: Dault/Jennings Block, 1 Simcoe Street, Penetanguishene.
Image source: Penetanguishene Centennial Museum & Archives.
Historical information: Town of Penetanguishene heritage designation documentation; Penetanguishene Centennial Museum & Archives.

Did You Know?

1 Water Street is home to the historic Green Block, one of Penetanguishene's longstanding commercial buildings.

The Green Block is believed to date from the mid-nineteenth century and takes its name from Alfred Andrew Thompson, who painted the building green and established an extensive general merchandise and fur-trading business here.

The Green Block connected Penetanguishene to trading networks extending far beyond the community. Indigenous traders travelled from as far away as the Thunder Bay area to bring furs to Penetanguishene, while buyers came from centres including Montreal, New York, London, Berlin and Australia. In 1881 alone, Thompson's annual fur sales were reported at between $12,000 and $20,000.

At that time, the shoreline of Penetanguishene Bay extended much closer to the building than it does today, allowing canoes to land near the rear of the property. Thompson's store also became an important market for area farmers, who could sell butter, eggs, vegetables and other produce for cash.

Around 1884, William M. Thompson took over the family business, operating a dry goods, grocery and provisions store. Over subsequent generations, the Green Block continued to accommodate different merchants and businesses, maintaining its role in Penetanguishene's commercial life.

The history of the Green Block connects today's downtown with Penetanguishene's earlier role as a meeting place for Indigenous trade, regional agriculture and commercial networks reaching around the world.

Historic photograph: Green Block, corner of Main and Water streets, Penetanguishene.
Image source: Penetanguishene Centennial Museum & Archives.
Historical information: Penetanguishene Centennial Museum & Archives heritage documentation.

Did You Know?

71 Main Street was home to Charles Nettleton's Drug Store, a fixture in downtown Penetanguishene for generations.

The building was constructed in 1882 and became associated with Charles Nettleton's Drug Store. For decades, the property served the community as a drug store, forming part of the busy commercial streetscape of Main Street shown in this historic photograph.

The drug store continued operating at this location until the late 1960s, when the property entered a new chapter as the M&E Discount Store.

The history of 71 Main Street reflects the remarkable continuity of Penetanguishene's downtown commercial buildings—structures that have been adapted and reused as generations of businesses have served the community.

Historic photograph: Charles Nettleton's Drug Store and Main Street streetscape, Penetanguishene.
Image source: Penetanguishene Centennial Museum & Archives.
Historical information: Penetanguishene Centennial Museum & Archives.

Did You Know?

106 Main Street was once home to the Penetang Bottling Company, part of Penetanguishene's twentieth-century commercial and industrial history.

Around 1920, John Dewell opened a garage on the property. In 1929, the Penetang Bottling Company moved into this location under the ownership of Abraham Moses. The company held the Coca-Cola franchise for Simcoe County, bottling and distributing beverages from its downtown Penetanguishene operation.

The historic photograph captures this period in the property's history, with prominent signs for The Penetang Bottling Co., Coca-Cola and Dominion Dry Ginger Ale.

By the late 1940s, the company had outgrown the location and moved to a larger facility farther up Main Street. Since then, 106 Main Street has been home to a succession of small shops and restaurants, reflecting the continuing evolution of Penetanguishene's downtown.

The history of 106 Main Street illustrates how a single downtown property has adapted over more than a century—from garage to bottling company to generations of local businesses.

Historic photograph: The Penetang Bottling Company, 106 Main Street, Penetanguishene.
Image source: Penetanguishene Centennial Museum & Archives.
Historical information: Penetanguishene Centennial Museum & Archives; Government of Canada historical industrial records.

Did You Know?

39 Robert Street West has been home to the St. Amant family business for generations. The story began in 1880, when Étienne Steven André St. Amant established a blacksmith shop in Penetanguishene. Working from this location, St. Amant served the community as a blacksmith, plumber and general repairman at a time when horses, wagons and local trades were central to everyday life.

Over the generations, the family business evolved alongside Penetanguishene. What began as a nineteenth-century blacksmith shop developed into H.S. St. Amant & Sons, adapting its trades and services as the Town itself changed.

The history of 39 Robert Street West offers a remarkable example of the continuity of family enterprise, skilled trades and local business in Penetanguishene for more than 150 years.

Image: Heritage illustration based on the H.S. St. Amant & Sons historic display at 39 Robert Street West.

Did You Know?

Bay View House, Main and Robert streets, Penetanguishene.

96 Main Street was once the site of the Bay View House, one of Penetanguishene's historic hotels.

The impressive three-storey Bay View House stood at the corner of Main and Robert streets. More than simply a place for travellers to stay, the hotel was part of the social life of the growing community, with a dance and music hall on its third floor.

In 1918, the Bay View House was destroyed by fire. The site was subsequently redeveloped with a two-storey Bank of Toronto, beginning another chapter in the history of this prominent downtown corner.

Today, 96 Main Street is home to Flynn's Public House, continuing the site's long association with hospitality, food and community gathering.

The history of 96 Main Street reflects more than a century of change in downtown Penetanguishene—from hotel and gathering place to bank and, once again, a place where people come together.

Source: Penetanguishene Centennial Museum & Archives.