Where to shop for Dad this Father’s Day in Toronto

Finding the right gift for Dad can be a challenge at best. This year, skip the boring mug and tie and get him the perfect, personal present from one of our favourite specialty shops. Whether your old man likes to kick it with a beer, is one of TO’s most antique-savvy, or is a proud and loyal Torontonian, here are some of the best spots in the 6 to pick up something he’ll love. [Image credit: iStock.com/Catherine Lane]

By Christine Ottoni

Left Field Brewery

1

36 Wagstaff Dr, Toronto, ON M4L 3W9

• Phone Number
  • 647-346-5001Primary
• Directions

Left Field Brewery is all about serving up great taste and a good time to Toronto craft beer lovers, known for their laidback flavour profiles that don’t compromise quality and craftsmanship. Try the seasonal Sunlight Park Saison, zesty, crisp and perfect for a backyard BBQ. Or pick up the Eephus Oatmeal Brown Ale, a sweet and nutty brew perfect for cozy nights with the ones you love. Already a fan? Check out the Fan Shop and stock up on Left Field t-shirts, hats, totes and pint glasses, all touting the now-famous, ole-timey baseball logo that Torontonians go nuts for.

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Smash

2

2880 Dundas St W, Toronto, ON M6P 1Y8

• Phone Number
  • 416-762-3113Primary
• Directions

Smash offers one-of-a-kind furnishings in the Junction. With a rotating repertoire of stock, it’s worth it to stop by often and see what treasures they’ve got on offer this week. If you’re looking to splurge, spoil your dad with an antique stool or poster. On the lighter end of the spending scale, you’ll find trinkets and fixtures like vintage fishing floats that can be repurposed as paperweights or mantle pieces. In between, there’s plenty of stellar lighting, maps, mirrors, chairs, taxidermy and more, so you’re sure to find something worthy of the man of the hour.

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Bmv Books

3

471 Bloor St W, Toronto, ON M5S 1X9

• Phone Number
  • 416-967-5757Primary
• Directions

Take an afternoon to peruse BMV’s multi-level bargain bookstore in the Annex. Filled from wall to wall, BMV offers bargain books in mint condition at an excellent price point. Despite the sheer volume of product, BMV is kept orderly and arranged by genre. You’ll find cookbooks, coffee table art books, mysteries, thrillers, science books, vinyl records, comics and graphic novels, and more. Get ready for a book-lover’s treasure hunt – at these prices, you can grab Dad a few things he’ll love.

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Planet Of Sound Hifi Inc

1020 Queen St W, Toronto, ON M6J 1H6

• Phone Number
  • 416-530-9703Primary

Planet of Sound is where audio aficionados go for the finest sound experience around. Their open, exposed-brick space is perfect for highlighting a collection of high-end audio equipment sourced from all over the world. Planet of Sound stocks headphones, tube amplifiers and turntables and carries a solid selection of vinyl staples like John Coltrane, Bob Dylan and some new releases as well. They also retail their own brand of ear buds – the aesthetically pleasing Mies, which allow anyone with a Smartphone and some tunes to access a truly great listening experience.

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Spacing Store

4

401 Richmond St W, Toronto, ON M5V 3A8

• Phone Number
  • 416-644-1017Primary
• Directions

If your dad is a proud Torontonian, he’ll love anything from Spacing, Toronto’s own civic pride store. Spacing carries apparel, bike accessories, homewares, prints and stationeries, all relating to life in the six. Find t-shirts, pennants and toques with different neighbourhood names printed on them, or celebrate your city with vintage TTC posters, maps, subway stop pins and magnets. There’s a slew of novelty items for joke gifts too, like TTC token-shaped cufflinks and sewer cover coasters, that will definitely spark some conversation at your dad’s next dinner party.

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MEC (Mountain Equipment Co-op)

5

400 King St W, Toronto, ON M5V 1K2

• Phone Number
  • 416-340-2667Primary
• Directions

For the outdoorsy dad who loves camping, hiking, cycling and climbing, Mountain Equipment Coop on King Street West is your one-stop-shop this Father’s Day. Pick up a new Nalgene water bottle or swanky Clean Canteen. You can find merino wool, wicking and base layers, caps, gloves, and utility belts for all your dad’s favourite activities.

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Canadian Salvaged Timber

6

440-442 Dufferin St, Toronto, ON M6K 2A3

• Phone Number
  • 905-237-1529Primary
• Directions

Hobby enthusiasts and wood-working dads will love the off-cut section at Canadian Salvaged Timber. This wood reclaim and design space on Dufferin is known for its retail section where treasure seekers will find beautiful pieces of oak, maple, cherry and more for their next project. Pair your gift with some high quality Osmo wood finishes, exclusively from CST – they’re environmentally friendly and will provide a quality finish to your dad’s next project.

More from Christine Ottoni

Christine Ottoni is a writer based in Toronto. A worshipper at the altar of Brunch, cycle fiend, and mom to a rescue dog, Christine spends most of her days exploring what the city has to offer, notebook in hand. She attended the University of Toronto where she completed her Bachelor of Arts with a double major in English and Philosophy.

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