Known in the 1930s as the Jewish Market, Kensington today is an awesome display of the city's multi-ethnicity. Here you will find shops packed with products from Europe, Middle East, South America, the Caribbean, Africa and Asia and you will hear dozens of languages spoken. A visit to this neighborhood is like taking a trip around the world! With more than 100 shops in all selling everything from second-hand clothing to fresh produce, from exotic pastries to art objects and furniture, you won't go away empty-handed.
Just one street over from this trendy strip is the Ontario College of Art and Design, Queen Street West is one of the top shopping streets in the city. When young artists graduated and were desperate for cash, they would bring their treasures here to sell. Soon small shops stuffed with unique items began popping up on Queen Street West. Today, you can still find unusual gifts from cool clothing to antique comics either in the stores or from one of the many friendly street vendors. It's also a hot spot for restaurants and bars such as the Epicure Cafe, the Rivoli and the Queen Mother Cafe.
BMV Bookstore, with three branches in Toronto, is a serious book lover's haven. This flagship branch in The Annex neighborhood offers four storeys filled with popular as well as rare books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records and magazines. The highlight of this place is that the pre-owned merchandise is available at highly discounted rates, yet this store ensures that their products are not worn out or unusable. This is one of the biggest second-hand book shops in Canada. One can spend hours browsing through the racks of classics, best sellers and special editions. This place is most popular for its large collection of comics, where customers can complete their collection of books featuring their favorite comic characters.
Flanked by high-end, luxury stores like Gucci, Tiffany's and Escada on all sides, Winners is a unique shopping space where you'll find top quality, designer merchandise at discounted rates. This Bloor Street outlet of Winners offers trendy designer wear of great quality at rock-bottom prices. The ever-changing shelves here stock gorgeous collections of apparel for men and women; apart from this, there are branded hangbags, shoes, belts and much more. Unlike most other boutiques, Winners divides clothing section in sizes rather than patterns; you can just head to the section meant for your size and save a lot of time! Be runway ready in no time and without breaking your bank; drop in today!
If you're looking for stylish apparel at reasonable prices, Joe Fresh is a great option to go to. With over 12 individual stores across Toronto, Joe Fresh is known for its trendy designs for men and women. Using fresh colors, comfortable fabrics and a youthful fashion sense, these stores are often sought by teenagers and young adults. Located on Carlton Street, this outlet is a part of the Maple Leaf Gardens. This Church & Wellesley store also boasts of a good collection of accessories like shoes, bags, swimwear, belts and a selection of clothing for babies and toddlers.
From clothing, fragrances, Chinese art, gift articles, antiques, accessories to repair shops, household items and much more, Mississauga Flea Market is where you can find it all. Open only on Saturdays and Sundays, a visit to this flea market is must while in the city for the array of products and service it has on offer. For those wishing to buy fresh produce, the farmers' market at the Mississauga Flea Market comes highly recommended, as they sell fresh fruits and vegetables sourced from nearby farms. The Mississauga Flea Market also has an extensive food court where visitors can sample Oriental to Occidental cuisine.
Just one street over from this trendy strip is the Ontario College of Art and Design, Queen Street West is one of the top shopping streets in the city. When young artists graduated and were desperate for cash, they would bring their treasures here to sell. Soon small shops stuffed with unique items began popping up on Queen Street West. Today, you can still find unusual gifts from cool clothing to antique comics either in the stores or from one of the many friendly street vendors. It's also a hot spot for restaurants and bars such as the Epicure Cafe, the Rivoli and the Queen Mother Cafe.
Sanagan’s Meat Locker is a butcher shop located in Kensington Market, Toronto. This store offers a variety of premium quality produce including a select of beef and pork cuts, dry-aged beef, chicken and mutton. Also available are homemade sausages and a changing daily selection of sandwiches made with the best of their meat offerings. This is a great place to pick up a quick bite to eat and take home some prime meat to cook later on.
BMV Bookstore, with three branches in Toronto, is a serious book lover's haven. This flagship branch in The Annex neighborhood offers four storeys filled with popular as well as rare books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records and magazines. The highlight of this place is that the pre-owned merchandise is available at highly discounted rates, yet this store ensures that their products are not worn out or unusable. This is one of the biggest second-hand book shops in Canada. One can spend hours browsing through the racks of classics, best sellers and special editions. This place is most popular for its large collection of comics, where customers can complete their collection of books featuring their favorite comic characters.
A much loved bookstore by the locals, Ben McNally Books is treat for book lovers. It houses a wide collection of books from different genres and has beautiful interiors. The store is known for housing rare books and not just any other best seller which is easily available anywhere. So, if you are looking out for some unique collections, Ben McNally Books is the place to be! For more details, please visit the website.
If you are in desperate need of groceries for the month, walk into Longo's and stock up on all the fresh and packaged food items you could possibly need. From pancake mix to firewood, this store has everything you could possibly need. Sales and offers can be viewed on their fliers and are regularly offered at their stores. This shop on Rathburn Road East also has a pharmacy within its premises.