Hundreds of shoppers lined up at Toronto's Honest Ed’s on Saturday for a chance to buy some of the hand-painted signs that adorned the walls of the historic discount retailer.

The lineup began forming before dawn, and at one point wrapped around the building. One woman said she was sent to pick up some signs for her parents, who live in North Bay. She said she has fond memories of visiting the store as child.

"My mom grew up in Toronto, and she brought me here growing up," she said. "I know it's very important to her and her life."

Saturday's signage sale was the second time the familiar yellow, blue and red signs were being sold as the discount emporium prepares to close its doors for good. All of the signs purchased Saturday came with a stamp of authenticity.

"This is the kind of thing you see written all over the store," one shopper told CTV Toronto while holding up a sign that read, "Don’t just stand there, buy something!"

He said the sign reminded him of the quirky sense of humour the store's founder was known for.

After Ed Mirvish opened the store in 1948, the store quickly became a go-to spot for bargain hunters. His son, David Mirvish, says the store holds a lot of good memories.

"A lot of people bought their first frying pan, or their first winter coat here," he said.

Not all of the signs, however, are for sale. Some have been donated to the Canadian Museum of History in Ottawa.

A portion of Saturday's sales will go to Victim Services Toronto, a charity that provides services and support to victims of crime, Colin Anderson, an auxiliary sergeant with the Toronto police, said on Twitter.

The giant discount retail store, located at the intersection of Bathurst and Bloor Streets, was sold in 2013, to a Vancouver-based developer. It will close for good on Dec. 31, 2016.

With a report from CTV Toronto's Colin D'Mello