[3] In 1952, he purchased a house on Markham Street to expand backwards,[4]: 62  using original tactics to thwart the area's residential zoning.

[3][4]: 69–71 Around the same time, David's mother Anne Mirvish spent five months studying sculpture at The New School in Greenwich Village, a result of the urging of artist Paul Burlin.

[4]: 39–40  While Anne was away in New York City, David, who had just graduated from high school, told his father that he wanted to run an art gallery.

Since Anne had wanted David to attend university, a decision was postponed until her return; after overcoming some initial shock, she endorsed his plan.

I felt that most of the interesting painters were working in an abstract manner and this was the most difficult way to make a successful paintings at that time.

[6] Also in September 1963, Ed Mirvish opened the newly renovated Royal Alexandra Theatre, on King Street.

Corkin feared David Mirvish's reaction, given the fact there was no precedent for that price at the time, but he accepted Jane's reasoning.

[14][15][16] Abstract artist Daniel Solomon worked full-time as an attendant;[17] he would eventually be represented by Mirvish and later Klonaridis.

[9] Waddington Gallery in Yorkville opened in the late 1970s, taking over representation of Kenneth Noland and the estate of Jack Bush, the latter one of the most desired Canadian names in the United States' art market.

[9] The styles of art that interested Mirvish were no longer popular by the late 1970s;[5] The Globe and Mail noted dealers were forced to maintain price levels despite a smaller base of prospective collectors.

[18] The Fine Arts department at York University took over the gallery's building for four months, beginning in December 1978, as part of their outreach program.

[5] Artists collected include Jack Bush, Anthony Caro, Helen Frankenthaler, Morris Louis, Robert Motherwell, Kenneth Noland, Jules Olitski, Larry Poons, David Smith, and Frank Stella.

The Fort Worth Art Museum presented "Grand compositions: selections from the collection of David Mirvish" in 1985.

[49] In 2012, Mirvish announced a new condominium project designed by Frank Gehry, an acclaimed Canadian-born architect, dubbed Mirvish+Gehry Toronto.

The project would necessitate the demolition of designated heritage properties at 274, 276, 284, and 322 King Street West,[50] including the Princess of Wales Theatre.

Unconfirmed reports suggested a $100 million asking price,[6] but no sale had been made, and no demolition would happen within a three-year period.