Our Home: The Historic Wrigley Chewing Gum Factory
The history of the Wrigley Chewing Gum Factory in Leslieville remains an important chapter in Toronto’s industrial heritage, representing both the rise of global brands and the local communities that shaped their success.
A photo of the south Wrigley building following its construction, now home to Beaverton's soap factory ; Image: Leslieville History/Library and Archives Canada
Born in Philadelphia, William Wrigley Jr. was the man behind the now famous Wrigley name. He first began business in Chicago in the late 19th century selling Wrigley’s Scouring Soap, incentivising sales by giving his customers samples of baking powder with their purchase. After seeing how popular the baking powder was, Wrigley decided to make the powder his main product while continuing to offer incentives with purchase, famously giving his customers two packages of chewing gum with each full can of the baking powder. Yet again, his customers displayed more interest in the bonus incentives than in Wrigley's primary product, prompting him to start focusing on the manufacture of chewing gum. It was this chewing gum that made Wrigley a household name and helped him secure his fortune. Wrigley’s then established itself as a leader in the gum industry by offering products like Juicy Fruit, Spearmint, and Doublemint, which are still beloved worldwide.
An early advertisement for Wrigley's gum manufactured at the Leslieville factory ; Image: Leslieville History/Toronto Star
Following the turn of the century, Wrigley’s began making plans to expand its operations in response to a growing demand for chewing gum in North America. Along with intentions to construct a new chewing gum factory in Chicago, the Wrigley Company decided to build an additional facility in Toronto to serve the Canadian market. It was 1914 when the construction began in Toronto’s Leslieville neighborhood. The building itself was designed by the same firm which had been contracted to assist with the Chicago expansion, and it was constructed in a beaux arts style typical of early 20th-century industrial architecture. Situated at the intersection of Queen Street East and Carlaw Avenue, the Wrigley factory was completed in 1916 and became a key site for production and distribution.
Architects' rendering of the original Leslieville factory design ; Image: Leslieville History/The American Architect
Over the decades, the Wrigley factory was a key employer for the surrounding Leslieville community, serving as a reliable source of income for many families and contributing to the neighborhood’s ongoing urbanization. Changes in production methods during the 20th century and shifts in the local economy eventually led to uncertain times for the factory. Wrigley made the difficult decision to relocate its Canadian manufacturing operations, finally closing the Leslieville plant in 1989. The closure marked the end of an era for the Leslieville factory, which was left vacant for several years before undergoing a significant redevelopment.
Photograph taken during the construction of the south Wrigley building in 1915 ; Image: Leslieville History/Library and Archives Canada
In the early 2000s the former Wrigley factory building was divided, with half of the property becoming residential lofts while the remaining commercial space was sectioned off into smaller units. Today, the area is known for its vibrant arts scene, boutique shops, restaurants, and small craft producers like Beaverton’s. The Wrigley building is now home to Beaverton’s main manufacturing facility, echoing the humble beginnings of the Wrigley company as a producer of soaps and other cleansing products.