In Toronto for a few days: bargain hunting

[PiXmo]

I am in Toronto for a few days for business. Of course I am too busy during the day for shopping but I'll have free time during Friday 8th afternoon. So I want to find/visit some related shaving stores in downtown. Any suggestion where to go?

As I don't have to much money to spend, I'd like to find the better deals: may be ethnic stores for cheap shaving soap or other things, good promotions in regular stores I cannot let go, antic stores to find nice old razors etc...

I also need to buy Thayers Witch Hazel. I know someone spoke about a good place to find it but cannot remind where...

I have a constraint. I must take my train at 5:00 PM at Union station. As I visit by foot I cannot go farther than a 30-45 min radius from Union station.

I also search for a small flea market I found the last time I came here but I cannot remember where it is. It was not so far from Union station, in a small building like a market, and there were some sellers inside and outside the building selling all kinds of old and dirty things... (Well, not very good clue but...). Someone knows what I mean???

Just a question for Razorock. I have seen his address on his web site and it looks like he is on the other side of the road from the Sheraton Parway hotel where I rest. May be I can give him a visit if he confirm my finding...

Thanks to all.

 

[Joe Edson]

I visited the toronto barber and beauty shop in downtown on my last drive through. They stock all the JM Frasers shave creams, boosters and all the pinaud aftershaves.

Boosters and Frasers is really good stuff for the price point.

 

[Greglam]

The above post is about as good as you are going to do given your constraints. If you have a Shopper's Drug Mart nearby you can grab some Proraso in both the tub and tube.

Aside from the ethnic markets, there aren't too many "deals" to be had in Toronto, sadly, unless you happen to stumble upon one in some random variety store.

-Greg

 

[buyandhold2018]

Just a question for Razorock. I have seen his address on his web site and it looks like he is on the other side of the road from the Sheraton Parway hotel where I rest. May be I can give him a visit if he confirm my finding...

Thanks to all.

I visited the toronto barber and beauty shop in downtown on my last drive through. They stock all the JM Frasers shave creams, boosters and all the pinaud aftershaves.

Boosters and Frasers is really good stuff for the price point.

Hey PiX,

I'm in Richmond Hill, about a 30 minute drive away.

You may want to try Toronto Barber and Beauty supply... they are at Bay and Dundas, kiddy corner from the Eaton Center, here is the official address...

Downtown Toronto Location
100 Dundas St. West
416.977.2020

Last time I was there, Thayer's Witch Hazel was available the Whole Foods Market in Hazelton Lanes in Yorkville, here is the address...

87 Avenue Rd
Toronto, ON M5R 3R9, Canada
(416) 944-0500

I hope you enjoy the city!

 

[Jopo]

I think the flea market you're refering to took place at St. Lawrence market however I'm not sure it still operates (but you may want to swing by there for a meal, lots to choose from). Besides Toronto Barber Supply I doubt you'll find much in that area of town that you couldn't find at home but when you do return to Mtl, how bout Arko at Mourelatos or Gada cream at Adonis grocery?

 

[DE Shaver]

I'll echo the comments of the other here in this thread. I normally work in downtown Toronto when I'm not travelling and there really isn't any "bargains" to be had other than the Toronto Barber and Beauty Supply stores.

 

[DE Shaver]

Hey PiX,

I'm in Richmond Hill, about a 30 minute drive away.

Hey RazoRock, just to make sure but are you aware there is TBBS store in your area? I personally didn't realize this is the case until fairly recently.

 

[Haiku]

You absolutely need to go to the barber supply store right at the corner of Bay and Dundas, north west corner. They have a great selection of all sorts of stuff including the full line of JM Fraser shave creams.

Pretty much any health food store has Thayers. Take the subway from Union station to Spadina. Try Noah's Health Food store for Thayers. They're on Bloor street just a few doors to the east of Spadina.

Shoppers Drug Mart carries Proraso. There's a Shoppers on Bloor just to the west of Spadina. There's also a Shoppers in the mall that's connected to Union Station. If you go the subway level of the Union Station subway, enter the shopping mall and there's a Shoppers Drug Mart right in front of you, just on the right.

 

[buyandhold2018]

Hey RazoRock, just to make sure but are you aware there is TBBS store in your area? I personally didn't realize this is the case until fairly recently.

Yup, Yonge and 16th. The reason I recommended the Dundas location was because he was looking to stay downtown.

You are in Maple, eh? My Nonna lives in Maple (Grandma, if you aren't Italian).

Did you find anything good at the TBBS in Richmond Hill?

 

[bladebuff]

Take a look for Nivea Shaving Cream when you stop by a Shoppers Drug Mart along with Proraso.

 

[PiXmo]

I visited the toronto barber and beauty shop in downtown on my last drive through. They stock all the JM Frasers shave creams, boosters and all the pinaud aftershaves.
Boosters and Frasers is really good stuff for the price point.

With the number of recommendation for this one, sure I'll go.

I'm in Richmond Hill, about a 30 minute drive away.
...
Last time I was there, Thayer's Witch Hazel was available the Whole Foods Market in Hazelton Lanes in Yorkville, here is the address...

In fact I stay at the Sheraton Parkway in Richmond Hill (7 HWY), so I'm quite sure to be very close to your location... I you are available friday morning I can stop to say hello before going to downtown.
...
I'll also try the Whole Foods Market.

I think the flea market you're refering to took place at St. Lawrence market however I'm not sure it still operates (but you may want to swing by there for a meal, lots to choose from). Besides Toronto Barber Supply I doubt you'll find much in that area of town that you couldn't find at home but when you do return to Mtl, how bout Arko at Mourelatos or Gada cream at Adonis grocery?

No, it is not at St. Lawrence market. It was a much more smaller building although with some similarity in the design. May be it is to small to be well known or to be on the map. Anyway, I'll have several hours to walk so I could be lucky to find it by chance...

Pretty much any health food store has Thayers. Take the subway from Union station to Spadina. Try Noah's Health Food store for Thayers. They're on Bloor street just a few doors to the east of Spadina.

I'll try this one too.


To all: thanks for your answers and help. I'll tell you what I found or if get lost and missed my train...

 

[DE Shaver]

Yup, Yonge and 16th. The reason I recommended the Dundas location was because he was looking to stay downtown.

You are in Maple, eh? My Nonna lives in Maple (Grandma, if you aren't Italian).

Did you find anything good at the TBBS in Richmond Hill?

Not really, just the usual. It's a toned down version of their downtown store. BTW, I am Italian by descent and had a Nonna until fairly recently.

 

[PiXmo]

So, I am back home. It was a wonderful day in toronto this friday. Very sunny with a nice wind, very comfortable hot temperature, it was very pleasant to walk a few hours in the city.
Unfortunately I didn't find a lot of things. I bought a few things at TBBS: J.M. Fraser polar ice shave cream, Pinaud Lilac Vegetal and Clubman. I have to try them.

Jopo, you were right about St. Lawrence market. Althought the flea market I was searching was not in the main building (the big one) but in a smaller one on the other side of Front St. When I saw it last year (it was a sunday) there were a lot of sellers inside and outside the building but today it was closed and empty, looks like disused... So bad. Anyway, I found St. Lawrence market itself a very nice place with a lot of good products: fish, meat, vegetables, bakery, spices,... Wow! I like markets like that.