Maple's guide to all things vintage in Canada's largest city.
Canada's metropolis has many things it can boast about. Toronto is widely known for its diverse population, impressive skyline and sports culture (all-year round.) As Canada's most populated city, it should come as no surprise that there is a lot to see and do.
Despite its hustle and bustle persona, being a leader in the world of business and finance, that is not to say it is simply all work and no pleasure. Toronto's plentitude of neighbourhoods, each offer up their own unique charisma and charm, often providing a welcomed surprise.
With so many offerings on all fronts, you can be sure that there are an abundance of vintage spots to check out when in the city. Due to the cities sheer size, it can certainly take you a while to explore the vintage scene on all fronts. Which is where we come in. We've shortlisted our very favourite spots from our time spent in the city, selecting our "must visit" locations, should you be ever be in the 6 (sorry but had to drop a Drake reference in there.)
So let's get into it. Read on to see the best vintage stores in Toronto from the team at Maple.
Fruit Market Vintage
938 College St Corner Entrance - Basement, Toronto
Head down the stairs and be welcomed into a vintage oasis. Fruit Market Vintage is a quirky enclave of all things vintage. Expect to find a range of vintage categories, ranging from single stitch t-shirts and union made sweatshirts to rugged workwear.
From the hand painted ceiling that cartoonishly mirrors the sky to the make-shift fruit stand filled with vintage goods, Fruit Market Vintage puts a fun easy-going spin on its interior. The carefully curated selection intertwined with the fun thoughtful interior makes for an experience we highly recommend.
Exploring the fun interior of Fruit Market Vintage
People's Champ Vintage
709 College St, Toronto
If you happen to be strolling through Little Italy, make sure you don't miss this store. People's Champ Vintage is a welcoming vintage hangout offering a solid selection of vintage to peruse.
The instore staff are notoriously friendly, creating a friendly and inviting atmosphere which goes a long way. If you're up for talking vintage, taking it easy and finding some of the best vintage in Toronto, definitely hit up the guys at People's Champ.
Digging through the rails @ People's Champ Vintage
Waybach Vintage
1344 Bloor St W, Toronto
With Bloordale continuing to see some great new ventures pop up in the area, Waybach Vintage has been a much welcomed addition to the area since opening its doors a few years back.
Waybach keeps it simple and does the goods things well. Expect a top range of tees, sweatshirts, caps and denim. Whilst shopping you can admire some of the collectables on display, through which you can see where the store gets its inspiration (rap, popular culture, sports and POLO to name a few.) If you make it to this side of Toronto, we highly recommend a trip to the store.
Wall of tees @ Waybach Vintage
In Vintage We Trust
1580 Queen St W, Toronto
This long standing Parkdale institution can be considered as much a vintage museum as it is a vintage store, due to its sheer amount of vintage on display.
To have so many grails on display is insane to see, however it can be difficult to browse through all of the items, due to them all be perfectly folded and stacked upon one another.
All of the sports memorabilia and vintage collectables paired with the thousands of items available, makes for a must visit for any fan of vintage.
Coffee table books @ In Vintage We Trust
Fevers Vintage
55 Roncesvalles Ave, Toronto
Another top notch spot in the heart of Parkdale, Fevers Vintage is one of Toronto's best and definitely creeping under the radar. Its honest and affordable pricing makes it one of our favourites, something that is greatly appreciated in an expensive city for vintage, in general.
Fevers offers up a solid selection of vintage for all seasons, ensuring you can grab a deal all year round. Be sure to head to the backyard to see what's on sale (we grabbed a bunch of things upon our last visit.)
Wall of vintage goods @ Fevers Vintage
Throwback Vault
550 Queen St W
Despite the strong competition littered across Queen St W, Throwback Vault holds it owns as one of the go to vintage stores on this road. The store offers up an eclectic mixture of vintage items, ranging from everyday staples to one-off vintage pieces.
You can tell that every piece of vintage has been laundered, steamed and is ready to be worn. The store is airy and bright with plenty of space, which plays into the clean aesthetic. So you can expect only the best quality when browsing. PS, we also appreciated the vintage section dedicated to Toronto's various sports teams. So if you're after a souvenir, this could be a great shout.
A rack of Toronto Sporting Memorabilia @ Throwback Vault
Black Market Vintage (Two locations)
Upstairs - 347 Queen St W 2nd floor, Toronto
Underground - 256 Queen St W, Toronto
If you think one giant vintage store isn't enough to give you your vintage fix, then you're in luck. Black Market Vintage offers up two huge locations pretty much in the heart of Toronto, both opposite from one another.
Both stores offer a gigantic range of vintage accompanied with affordable accessories and wearables. Black Market offers up a much different experience to the other stores on the list, however do not let that deter you. We have spent many the hour sifting through the rails, finding many great vintage pieces for an affordable price. If you have a few hours to kill and want to dig through some rails, hit up Black Market Vintage.
Down in the basement @ Black Market Vintage
Kensington
For any fan of vintage, Kensington is a must visit, on all fronts. Located in the heart of Toronto, Kensington boasts itself as the cities most vibrant and diverse neighbourhood.
The eclectic area provides a wealth of things to see and do, ranging from street food vendors and third wave coffee shops to trendy boutiques and of course vintage clothing stores.
Expect to see the traditional bay-and-gable style houses, that are synonymous with Toronto's Victorian architectural past, littered in different colours that double up as quirky boutiques and vintage stores.
As Toronto's self proclaimed hangout for hip Torontonians, it is no wonder why so many great vintage stores have found their home in the thriving neighbourhood.
We highly recommend for anyone visiting Kensington to simply soak it all up. Walk the streets, see the graffiti, or chat with the locals. With over 250 unique businesses here, there's plenty to see and so.
However, with so many vintage shops on offer we understand everyone may not have the time to see it all. So we've highlighted our top picks, should you end up in Kensington looking for the must-visit vintage stores.
Uncle Vintage
33 Kensington Ave, Toronto
In the heart of Kensington, where the vintage stores go toe to toe for customers, Uncle Vintage caught our eye for its clean spacey interior combined with a solid selection of vintage staples.
Expect single stitch tees, workwear, denim and sports jerseys, all at a consistently high standard. Simply a no-nonsense spot, with a great vintage selection. Whilst it doesn't do too much too stand out, it makes sure to make a statement through the stock supplied.
Shoe wall @ Uncle Vintage
King of Kensington/Victory Girl Vintage
29 Kensington Ave, Toronto
We stay on Kensington Avenue for our next pick. King of Kensington is a great spot for those looking to source older styles and eras of vintage. Expect to take a step back in time when browsing the stock, with many items hailing from the 60s, 70s and 80s.
The interior is fun with an abundance of character, with some great statement pieces and memorabilia upon the walls and shelving. If you're looking for a truly unique vintage piece, you'll be sure to find it here.
Eclectic Interior @ King of Kensington/Victory Girl
Lost Boys Vintage
38 Kensington Ave, Toronto
Any trip down Kensington Avenue wouldn't be right without a visit to Lost Boys. Don't let the stores compact interior fool you. This vintage haunt is jam packed with vintage grails from top to bottom.
Expect a strong selection of tees, varsity jackets, sportswear and workwear. It's clear that Lost Boys know their stuff when it comes to vintage, letting the shop do the talking through its curation and selections on offer.
Street Rack @ Lost Boys Vintage
Honourable Mentions
Public Butter Vintage
1290 Queen St W, Toronto
A mish mash of items under one roof, merging together vintage clothing, accessories, furniture and homeware. Great for skilling some time and snapping up a deal.
Expo Vintage Outlet
1978 Dundas St W, Toronto
Giving you a taste of the bins. A great spot to pay by the pound for vintage and secondhand clothing. Be prepared to dig and be patient to find some gems though.
Relocation Vintage
499 Bloor St W, Toronto
Streetwear, designer and vintage amalgamating under one roof. Great spot for shopping vintage whilst also giving you the option for more contemporary pieces.
Conclusion
If you've made it this far, you've made it to the end of our vintage travel guide for Toronto. We hope you enjoyed it and that it has provided you with some new favourite vintage pieces or stores along the way.
If you're interested in seeing our top vintage tips for other cities, why not check out our vintage guides to Montréal or Vancouver.
If you would like us to cover a particular city, let us know!