The first Harvey's location was opened on April 1, 1959, at the southeast corner of Yonge Street and Observatory Lane in Richmond Hill, Ontario, on a parcel of land purchased from the owner of a bankrupt Dairy Queen. The location was initially expected to be seasonal, based on the precedent of the local Dairy Queen location, but it was successful enough to remain open year-round. The first franchised location was on the company owned property on Avenue Road. Subsequently, the land was purchased for additional locations to be developed and franchised in Etobicoke, Hamilton and Scarborough.