Adilman's Department Store

Description of the Historic Place

Adilman’s Department Store (also known as the Saskatoon Trading Company Building) is a two storey commercial building designed in the Art Moderne architectural style. The building, with its sleek horizontal profile, was constructed in 1912 in the historic Riversdale neighbourhood. 

This historic place, located at 126 - 128 20th Street West, is listed under Bylaw No. 6770 (Holding Bylaw). This Bylaw provides short-term protection of the building from demolition by providing for a 60 day holding period in the event a demolition permit is received. Within that 60 day period heritage designation is considered by City Council.

Heritage Value

Designed by David Webster, Adilman’s Department Store is an excellent example of Art Moderne. With its flat roof, rounded building corners and glass block features along its second storey, the design of Adilman’s Department Store indicated a high level of sophistication and elegance, one of the trademarks of this style.

In addition to its architecture, the heritage value of the Adilman’s Department Store also lies in its association with the Adilman Family. Originally a small one-storey convenience store, the Adilman brothers (Max, Harry, William and Nathan) began operating a retail clothing business at 126 20th Street West in 1921. In the 1930s, the store-front was extended to include the corner property at Avenue B, which had been previously occupied by the Bank of Nova Scotia. When business picked up in the 1940s, the Adilman family expanded again, creating the Bargainteria Basement and adding a second floor. It was Saskatoon’s premiere bargain department store at the time, and as the largest retail establishment in Riversdale it attracted many other stores to the area. 

Adilman's Department Store served Saskatoon for over half a century before closing its doors in 1975. Nathan Adilman’s son, Jack Adilman, continued to run the family business up until its closure. The building continues to be used today for retail purposes.

Source: City of Saskatoon Built Heritage Database

Character Defining Elements

Key elements which contribute to the heritage value of this historic resource include:

• Its art moderne style, evident in: its sleek, horizontal profile, flat roof, rounded building corners and glass block features; and
• Those features that represent its historical significance such as its location along 20th Street in the Riversdale neighbourhood and its form, scale and massing.