Last Call at the lone survivor of Etobicoke's motel strip

Time for Last Call at the lone survivor of Etobicoke's motel strip

Toronto Nonvember 3, 2011 - The Casa Mendoza Restaurant and inn, a staple of the Lakeshore Strip of hotels and motels, is the last holdout of the
redevelopment of the west Lakeshore area, with its
Spanish-style arches, iron grilles and white stucco, will soon be demolished down to make way for a road connecting Lake Shore Blvd. W. to the lake,

Silver Moon Motel, the Dutch Sisters’
 the Rainbow Motel
Sunshine Tourist Court

During its heyday in the 1950s and 60s, the motel strip’ on Lake Shore Boulevard West, between the Humber River and Mimico Creek, was dominated by motels, drive-through restaurants, dance-halls and bars. However, the area began to decline during the 1970s. Many of these icons of the 1950’s lifestyle have been demolished, giving way to the icon of 21st century living: The condominium.

The Casa Mendoza , built by naval architect Hans Sachau, since 1928, has been a banquet hall and the Dutch Sisters Inn, a marine yard, what was once a dock where boaters would tie up and come in for a drink and dinner, there's a road now, Marine Parade Dr., between Casa and the lake, used by cyclists, strollers, runners and condo buyers.

Its neighbours, motels named the Silver Moon and the Rainbow, have been demolished, The Beach Motel, was vacated over the summer.

In the 1960s and '70s, the motel strip, with budget rates and access to the city, was popular with families and drew visitors to the CNE and the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair.  Later, the motel strip became popular with a clientele whose needs were hourly.

The property is owned by a developer. As the Lake Shore changes, it read, "It's more crucial to maintain a tie to the past." Nothing came of it.

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