In our 5 Shops series, we introduce you to our favorite independent shops in some of the world’s best cities. From food markets to bookstores, vintage goods and home-made designs, there’s a diverse and exciting mix of local retailers where you can find unique products.
Toronto, Canada’s largest city and business hub, has seen much of its retail space taken over by large multinational retailers in recent decades.
As a born-and-bred Torontonian, I have witnessed first-hand the loss of a genuine connection to a place and sense of community when beloved businesses close for good. Thankfully, some of Toronto’s most beloved independent retailers are surviving, thanks in large part to loyal customers who continue to support Canadian manufacturers.
For travelers visiting Toronto, the following five shops offer a window into local culture, both the city’s history and the people who continue to shape its identity today.
Perfect souvenir: Collected Joy
Most visitors to Toronto head to the West End’s trendy boutiques for shopping, but Torontonians know the city’s best-kept secrets lie to the east. Located in a quaint area of the beach. joy of gatheringis an independent shop that has been a local favorite for Canadian products and up-and-coming Toronto makers for nearly a decade.
As warm as the warm welcome you’ll receive from owner Sharon when you walk in is the wool throws and cozy socks you’ll find throughout the store. Shelves are lined with Canadian-made natural candles and quiet ceramic pieces by local potters. The pharmacy section features locally made bath, makeup and skin care products that are not only kind to the planet, but also nourish your body. Meanwhile, the “At Home Bar” department is a large store for foodies stocked with cocktails, his syrups, jams and popular local brands. sloan tea and soul chocolate.
A visit to the beach is highly recommended for anyone visiting Toronto. But if the east end is too far, head to Collected Joy’s second Midtown location in Mount Pleasant Village.
Best for local design: Arts Market
Rising rents have made it nearly impossible for artist-entrepreneurs to run their own stores. Fortunately, since opening in 2011, art market It is an important year-round market, providing a permanent space for artists and designers to sell their wares. Spread over three locations, two on the east end and one on the west end, Arts Market features thousands of handmade items by more than 150 local creators. From pottery to photography to carpets, vintage antique finds to kitschy modern jewelry…an incredible variety of products keeps locals (and tourists) coming back for more.
Perfect for Vintage: Black Market and Public Butter
From Kensington Market to Trinity Bellwoods to Leslieville, Toronto is full of independent vintage and second-hand shops to explore. Long before the city’s vintage boom, black market It was a vintage hangout for local punk rockers and art students from nearby OCAD (Ontario College of Art and Design). Today, locals know to look for the unassuming open door on Queen Street West. From there, you can descend a black-and-white swirling staircase to a vast underground hideaway filled with shelves of vintage finds. From flannel to band T-shirts to retro jackets, the selection is both nostalgic and vast.
As the institution celebrates its 30th anniversary, a second generation of Black Market shoppers is heading to its sister store in Parkdale. public butter. Here, you can expect to find a more carefully curated (and more expensive) collection than the vintage encyclopedias kept on the mothership.
Perfect for foodies: St. Lawrence Market
Toronto, the food capital of the country, has no shortage of food options, but none compare to St. Lawrence Market. Since the market first opened in 1803, it has expanded to three buildings in the St. Lawrence neighborhood of downtown Toronto and has become not only a local but national institution.
Browse 120 stalls and shops set up It spanned the entire main level and lower floors of South Market, the original market building. The pea moule and bacon sandwich is carousel bakery One of the most popular vendors.If you like things with a bit of spice, go here. Kozlic mustard, a small stall serving mustard since 1948. Enjoy the flavors of the East Coast. Buster’s Sea Cove We offer popular lobster rolls and fish and chips.A must-see for cheese lovers alex farmIt’s my favorite place to buy cheese because of the consistently friendly service.
If you’re visiting on the weekend, head across Front Street to North Market for the Saturday Farmer’s Market, a tradition that’s been going on for more than 200 years. His third building in the market, St. Lawrence Hall, was built in his 1850s and serves as retail and city hall space. For a deeper understanding of the surrounding Old Town, take a market tour led by a local actor-turned-historian. bruce bell.
Best for books: Book City
Sadly, Toronto has lost many of its most beloved bookstores over the past two decades. But one indie bookstore has stood the test of time. book city. It started in 1976 as a quaint shop in an annex and has since expanded to include his four locations around the city. This is a testament to the customer loyalty they have earned. Owned and operated by a family with four generations of experience in the book industry, Book City stocks its shelves with an eclectic mix of new and popular titles. You can always find cheap but attractive products in our special outdoor bargain cart. Not just books. We also stock quirky souvenirs, cards, tote bags, puzzles and more.
