275 replies to this topic

[JETT]

I pass by this building fairly regularly and I've found myself wondering what is in its future. I think its been boarded up for some time now.....?
I think I only ever went in there once and found it to be a true 'greasy spoon', lotsa vinyl and stools at the counter.
Does anyone know what the situation is with the building?
I did a search (probably a feeble one, as I don't seem to have the best of luck with searches.....) and was only able to come up with the following details http://www.libertyan...ner/Turner.html.

[Hotel Mike]

The site was used as a location for a film starring Kiefer Sutherland some years back. A shame...it could be really cool if done up right.

[rjag]

I used to hang out there with my friends in the early '80s, it was a total greasy spoon but made the best burgers and milkshakes and the news stand next door was great. With all the activity around that area I'm surprised nothings done with it as well.

[Holden West]

I don't think much has changed in the four years since these photos were taken:

http://vibrantvictor...9&postcount=112

[Sparky]

Ian fell ill a number of years ago, hense the closure of the coffee shop. His daughter is the caretaker of the property at present.

I am assuming that there can not be much progress here until the situation changes.

There was a post on VV a while ago where there was a link to a music video where some of it was shot at Ian's. It was kinda retro weird. I will try and find the link.

[arfenarf]

I walk by there often and try to imagine it in its heyday. I imagined it would be a license to print money, given the limited choice (Tim's/Cafeteria) within the hospital and the piss-poor White Spot across Fort. And the retro-cool opportunities... Oooooh.

[Bernard]

When I was at university in the 80s I lived near there and often stopped in. It was a classic greasy spoon and Ian was a character, I know he rubbed many people the wrong way because he was the nicest of people.

He had his walls covered in Golden Cup Coffee awards
He had a laminated note he gave to people that put their feet up on a chair or bench seat, the note asked people to ask for plastic cover socks if they want to put their feet up.

I have no memory of the place every being full. Greasy really described the place.

[victorian fan]

triviaqueen at flickr

[Sparky]

Here is the link to the music video (some of it shot at Ian's) that was posted by B.Bridge a while ago.

http://www.totallyfu..._09d9ab1ef.html

[Bernard]

Yup, that is what the place looked like, I can see the awards up on the walls.

[Bingo]

I used to get my hair cut at Jim Goodman's in the 1950's. The barbershop had an entrance into Ian's place. Ian would bring Jim a coffee and they would flip a coin to see who would pay for it. Ian's daughter used to wait on the tables, but wasn't too thrilled about it. The big attraction in those days were the student nurses from across the road that would come in with their white caps and blue capes. Jim's son Paul, cuts hair just around the corner on Fort St.

The curved Turner neon sign is looking like it is about to fall off.

[Bernard]

His daughter was close to running the place fulltime by the of the 1980s, she looked less than impressed with this.

I was never certain, but the store Turner's, was it every connected to the Turner's in Sidney?

Also, the only thing that seemed to keep it going in the 1980s was all the prono mags it sold.

[amor de cosmos]

http://toadhollowpho...k-lies-forlorn/
turners

& just around the corner


http://toadhollowpho...piggledy-house/

birch

[Bingo]

Turners is done.



Rain buckets and sagging beams



Outside wall is gone



Mold and rubble



Coffee Stop no more



The V and the R have fallen onto the sill...



... and the neon lights are out, and missing.

[G-Man]

Maybe someone is going to fix the place up????

[Heritagelady]

Maybe someone is going to fix the place up????

This is a classic case of demolition by neglect. According to what I heard the family could not agree on what to do so they did nothing. Now we lose another iconic Victoria building with its encapsulated history. So sad -- and preventable.

[Holden West]

I have heard of grief-stricken families unable to do the logical thing with an inherited house because of the memories, emotions and conflicting views within the surviving siblings.

While I admire the kindness of those saying they will volunteer to swing a hammer and rescue the building, that time has long passed. I'm sure the cost of "restoration" would exceed the cost of building a beautiful brand new deco-inspired building with underground parking and state-of-the-art features.

It's interesting. When people refer to saving "the building" are they just referring to the outside shell; the facade? Or are they subconsciously hoping that things will return to the way they were: buying a magazine and candy bar at Turners, popping into Ian's for an ice cream or coffee, maybe, just maybe a glimpse of Ian giving you a wink from the kitchen...

[gumgum]

There is nothing remarkable about the building except the curved wall and the now removed sign.

[Holden West]

Naturally, any new building would likely have a similar curved facade. And I think it would be great if the Turner's sign were reinstalled if someone were willing to have their store branded that way. A new building could be three or four storeys. How about penthouses on top and lower cost small apartments for students and low-income hospital staff. I would nominate architect Franc D'Ambrosio as he is the master of the low-rise, high quality mixed use building.

[D.L.]

Does the flagging that's now around the building mean that demolition is planned?