Alliston near Essa in Simcoe County, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)
Theodore Pringle Loblaw 1872-1933
Photographed by Tim Boyd, August 21, 2026
1. Theodore Pringle Loblaw 1872-1933 Marker
Inscription. T.P. Loblaw was born in Elmgrove, Ontario to William James Loblaw and Isabella Stevenson. Orphaned in his teens, he was raised by his Scottish-born grandparents, William and Elizabeth Stevenson, who lived in the farmhouse on this property. At age 17 he moved to Toronto with twenty dollars and a dream. In 1897, Loblaw married Isabella Adam and in 1900 purchased his first grocery store on College Street with partner J. Milton Cork. Loblaw pioneered the concept of self-service grocery stores that provided all types of food products under one roof and opened the first Loblaw Groceteria in 1919. His innovative merchandising methods fundamentally changed the way that people shopped for food in Canada. He donated generously to the Toronto Western Hospital, the Toronto Kiwanis Club and Alliston's Stevenson Memorial Hospital. Loblaw is buried at the Alliston Union Cemetery. He was inducted into the Canadian
Business Hall of Fame in 1999.
T.P. Loblaw, né à Elmgrove (Ontario), est le fils de William James
Loblaw et d'Isabella Stevenson. Orphelin dans son adolescence, il a été élevé par ses grands-parents d'origine écossaise,
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William et
Elizabeth Stevenson, qui vivaient dans la ferme sur cette propriété. À 17 ans, il est parti à Toronto avec vingt dollars en poche et un rêve en tête. En 1897, il a épousé Isabella Adam et en 1900 il a acheté sa première épicerie sur la rue College, avec son partenaire J. Milton Cork. M. Loblaw a lancé le concept des magasins d'alimentation libre-service qui proposent toutes sortes de produits alimentaires en un même lieu; il a ouvert la première Groceteria Loblaw en 1919. Ses méthodes de marchandisage innovantes ont révolutionné la façon dont les personnes faisaient leurs courses au Canada. Il a fait des dons généreux en faveur de l'Hôpital Toronto Western, du Toronto Kiwanis Club et de l'Hôpital Stevenson Memorial. M. Loblaw est enterré au Alliston Union Cemetery. Il a été intronisé au Temple de la renommée de l'entreprise canadienne en 1999.
Erected 2008 by Ontario Heritage Trust.
Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Industry & Commerce. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical year for this entry is 1919.
Marker is near Essa, Ontario, in Simcoe County. It is in Alliston. It is on County Road 15 1.8 kilometers north of 5th Side Road, on the right when traveling north. Although the the marker can be seen from County Road 15, it is on the property of the Stevenson Inn and Spa, approx. 500 metres from the entrance to the property, on a private road just to the south. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Essa ON L9R 1V3, Canada. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Central Ontario Cottage Country and specifically in Georgian Bay Country. It is also in Central Canada. Globally, it is in North America, on the Great Lakes, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony, the Viceroyalty of New France, the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy, and Rupert’s Land.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within 5 kilometers of this marker, measured as the crow flies: Founding of Elmgrove (approx. 3.5 kilometers away); The McDonald Log House (approx. 4.2 kilometers away); The Barn (approx. 4.2 kilometers
Source: Loblaw Groceterias Limited via Wikipedia (public domain)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 26, 2026. It was originally submitted on August 25, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 9 times since then. Photos:1, 2, 3, 4. submitted on August 25, 2026, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
