The story behind Rankin Street

“I'll meet you at Rankin's”

What a wonderful invitation! Those five little words brought together generations of Stratford families and friends to enjoy good times and the many special treats at Rankin's that included everything homemade from meals to ice cream and hand-rolled candies.

For about 90 years, until the business closed in 1960, the Rankin name was well known in Stratford in the baking, confectionery, candy, ice cream and restaurant business. The names Rankin's candy, Rankin's handrolled chocolates, Rankin's own ice cream, sodas, sundaes and milkshakes are still able to make mouths water for many Stratford residents.

This accompanying Rankin's chocolate box from the 1950s is a keepsake of Brian and Wendy Reis, who grew up in Stratford and, like others, remember Rankin's with delight.

Rankin Street is named for the Rankin family, who lived in a large red-brick house at 66 Britannia St., built in 1890 by Stratford's leading baker and confectioner, Joseph Rankin. The house was just around the corner when the original Avalon subdivision, which includes Rankin Street, was laid out in 1913.

Joseph and Katherine Rankin opened their first confectioner's store in 1874 after purchasing the handsome Mowat bank building at the corner of Downie and Wellington streets. They also owned a bake shop with two Dempster ovens on the corner of Brunswick and Downie. In 1900, Joseph had a wholesale-retail store at 28 Ontario St. and then at 32 Ontario St., which later became the Beattie grocery store.

An early Rankin advertisement in The Beacon proclaimed “Special attention will be given to catering to private parties and school entertainments.” As well, in those days, it was considered fashionable to have the bride's cake “Made at Rankin's.” The Rankins also advertised toys, mutton and mince pies, oysters, lobsters, buns and cakes.

After Joseph's death in 1905, the business passed to the oldest of his eight sons, Charles R. Rankin, who moved the family enterprise to its final and bestknown location at 81 Ontario St. by 1907. That same location later housed the Centre Restaurant and then Gene's Restaurant. Charles Rankin would run the business only briefly until his own untimely death at the age of 31 in 1907 in a train derailment near Guelph. His younger brother, Gordon Harry Rankin, known as Dick, then took over the family business.

The interior of Rankin's was elegant, with dark, polished mahogany panelling in the booths at the rear of the restaurant. Generations of Stratford families and friends ate their toasted salmon sandwiches and drank their sodas and teas while oscillating fans created soft breezes overhead. All was reflected in the Palladian segmented mirrors over each table, with Art Deco frosted glass lights.

Rankin's was famous for the delightful concoctions whipped up at that magic fountain, with its fancy fizzing soda taps and deep cold wells of frosty homemade Rankin's ice cream. Patrons' favourites included the Gold Dust Twins and a Tin Roof. A banana split cost 20 cents.

In the 1950s, Rankin's grew to be a popular hangout for Stratford Festival actors that included Alec Guinness and Christopher Plummer.

“I'll meet you at Rankin's.” Today, Rankin's is still a happy memory for many residents, although the business closed its doors more than 60 years ago.

And here is a postscript about the Rankin family and the early days of hockey in our city. Stratford was known as a hotbed for the winter pastime, and the name Rankin was synonymous with early Stratford hockey. The Rankin boys were so keen on hockey that they formed their own team and set a Canadian record for one family. The brothers were part of championship teams in the early 1900s and one brother, Frank, was not only a local hockey star but is enshrined in the NHL Hall of Fame.

For more of the Rankin story and added pictures, visit streetsofstratford.ca and select Rankin Street.