The building at 203 Main St. E. was built in 1926 for Carter's Limited.
Source: 32022189079490.jpg Local History & Archives, Hamilton Public Library
The first Canadian Tire Associate Store was at 372 King St. E. at West Ave. S., in the Meakins Brush building.
Charles William Meakins 1832-1908 The Story of 1 West sign 1 West Avenue South by
Joe, on Flickr
"In 1934, a man named Walker Anderson convinced Canadian Tire founders Bill and Alf Billes to let him sell their products out of a tiny shop at King Street and West Avenue, which he would own.
The brothers, still touchy from a failed attempt to open branch locations in Toronto beyond their Yonge and Isabella shop, wouldn't let Anderson call the store Canadian Tire in case it failed, too.
So it was called Super-Lastic Tire Sales. Once it was clear the venture would succeed, the store was renamed and Canadian Tire began opening franchises across the country.
The Billes brothers became great believers in independently owned franchises. There are now 490 of them.
At some point, Hamilton's first Canadian Tire was shifted a little south and east into what was then a big store featuring huge windows looking out on to Main Street"
Hamilton Spectator May 21, 2013
https://www.thespec.com/news-story/28823...-victoria-canadian-tire-gets-a-facelift/