ICONIC SIGN: Golden Star

[kurtkraler]

ADDRESS: 7123 Yonge Street, Thornhill
Text by Glyn, edited by Kurt

Amongst towering steel and glass condos, there is a little oasis of nostalgia: a vertical back-lit sign, adorned with a star like a Christmas tree, beckoning Yonge Street commuters to pull over and enjoy some classic, grilled, diner fare.

The four-point star proclaims “Hamburgers”. Below that in bright yellow letters on a contrasting brown background it reads, “Since 1964 GOLDEN STAR Drive In.” Disrupting the symmetry of the sign is a large white arrow composed of several small light bulbs, pointing toward the low-rise red brick establishment. Underneath the arrow, in brown and red letters on a gold background, it reads “Char-Broiled HAMBURGERS,” “STEAK ON KAISER,” and “Shakes & Fries.” It's an unofficial signpost, marking the boundary between metro Toronto and York Region — whose motto, coincidentally, is “Ontario's rising star.”

As the sign says, the restaurant has been around for over half a century. It was founded by Frank Doria, an immigrant from Gagliato, Italy, and his wife Margaret. The Golden Star has remained in the family ever since, with Frank's grandchildren currently running the business. The restaurant itself is a 1960s time capsule: wood panels and countertops; ruddy, red-brown brick; and hygienic, orange plastic benches for the booths. In 2002, the Toronto Star declared Golden Star “the city's ultimate hamburger joint,” calling the 6-ounce, homemade all-star burger (still on the menu) a “revelation.”

In early April 2018, the sign was completely totalled by a powerful storm: toppled over and smashed to bits, its gold and brown colours scattered across the parking lot. The massive wind storm had swept across much of the Golden Horseshoe area at the time, toppling trees, cranes, and power lines. Winds at Billy Bishop Airport were measured at 98 km/h and, at its peak, Hydro One reported 80,000 customers without power.

But, by August of that year, the sign was rebuilt, almost an exact replica of the way it was before the storm. And, like the business itself despite the rapidly changing surroundings, it still stands today: Thornhill's guiding star.