678 Ellice Avenue - Carlton's Cleaning Carousel / Juliana Pizza

Updated April 2017

Place: Carlton's Cleaning Carousel / Juliana Pizza and Restaurant
Address: 678 Ellice Avenue (Map)
Architect: Waisman, Ross and Associates
Opened: March 1962

March 1963 ad, Winnipeg Free Press

In 1961, a consortium of prairie dry cleaning companies, including Perth's in Manitoba, Trudeau's in Edmonton and Nelson's in Vancouver, formed Carlton's Cleaning Carousel. Their $1 million plan was to create a chain of 100 "upscale" coin-operated laundromats across the West. 

The partner company provided an on-site dry cleaning counter and "laundry counsellors" that could offer washing advice and / or do your washing for you.

December 18, 1918, Winnipeg Free Press

Perth's was an institution in Winnipeg. It was created by brothers J. M. and Nathan Portnoy in 1914 when they bought out a single outlet called Fort Garry Dyers and Cleaners.

By 1950, it was a chain that boasted 57 stores and a large plant on Good Street.

In 2012, Perth's was sold to Tower Cleaners of Calgary.

Newspaper images from April 17, 1962 Winnipeg Tribune

Winnipeg architects Waisman, Ross and Associates created the unique design.

Beneath the wavy roof line was a small section of patterned glass and below that a wall of windows that gave the stores a bright, airy feel. They also included a well-appointed reading lounge for customers. 

It appears that this design was unique to Manitoba. Waisman was Perths' architect of choice, (here and here.) Examples I have found in Saskatoon and Kamloops had a more conventional retail look.

March 19, 1963, Winnipeg Free Press

In March 1962, the company began advertising three Manitoba locations: Polo Park Shopping Centre, Main Street at McAdam and Ellice Avenue at Victor.

The following year, they added a location in Brandon and Portage la Prairie. A fourth Winnipeg outlet was added at Grant Park Shopping Centre in 1969.

Top: March 28, 1962. Bottom: 2012

In 1971, Carlton's disappeared from the Manitoba retail scene, though the chain appears to have carried on through the 70s in other provinces. In fact, until the 2000s there was still one Carlton's in Kamloops, you can see the shape of the company logo in the sign atop the building.

Most Manitoba locations became Perth's Cleaners outlets, including Main Street at McAdam, (above). Ellice Avenue at Victor, however, became The Carousel Restaurant.

In 1976, Bill Papanikolas, bartender at the Town N Country dinner club, purchased the building and reopened it as Juliana Pizza and Restaurant. He ran it along with his wife Anna and brother-in-law Dino.

They served up Greek food plus 22 varieties of pizza. Subs and hamburgers could also be had.

The restaurant has been sold twice since then, most recently in 2005 to Marrian and Bill Polsom. They added Jamaican food to the menu.

Related:
West End Institution Still Going Strong Winnipeg Free Press

My Perth's Cleaners Flickr album