Sparetime is a somewhat unique shop that primarily specializes in 3D puzzles and construction type…read morecrafts based on The Little Prince, Studio Ghibli, and Bandai brands. I was really happy to come across this store in Hillcrest Mall. In terms of Totoro merchandise, there were colour variations I don't normally see, especially green. Of course, there are many sizes and colours of plushies to choose from, but also tote bags, figurines, and some neat in-store art decor that were all different from what I normally find. The really neat section for me is The Little Prince merchandise, which you don't tend to find much of elsewhere. Here, it rivals the extent of the Ghibli selection, with books, clothing, mugs, plushies, and puzzles. I was really eyeing the $45 Fox plushie, which was really nicely made, but I turned to one of their wooden 3D laser cutting puzzles instead, along with a mug that actually is from France. There were several books to choose from that went from toddler to adult level, including an absolutely gorgeous pop-up that really was more like a work of art for the coffee table. It's not a large space, but the amount of stock is still pretty good. The staff were polite and efficient in ringing up my purchases. When I saw the payment terminal I was worried that I wouldn't be able to get a paper receipt, but thankfully, it was provided without a hitch. This store is good enough to make Hillcrest Mall a return destination for me. If you're into Studio Ghible, The Little Prince, or Bandai, I would highly recommend checking them out. If you're into wooden puzzles and unusually themed puzzles as well, same. You can also check out their their website first to see what kind of merchandise they carry. As for me, I will definitely be returning.

So Samko & Miko come to Ottawa once a year for their annual warehouse sale which lasts a few days…read more This is how I first learned about the company. I signed up for their newsletter and that's how I discovered that they have a retail location in Richmond Hill that was going to be open to the public the same time that I was going to be in the GTA, and the hotel that I was staying at was less than 10 minutes away. I believe that they have 2 retail locations (this one in Richmond Hill and one in Toronto proper). These locations open up to the public for a few months at a time, unlike their travelling sales where they are only in town for a few days. Anyway, it's a warehouse, so it looks and feels like a warehouse. Prices are ok. Some items are fairly cheap, like stickers ($0.50) and books ($2.50-$10). Others are slightly lower than retail, but not bargain basement prices. They had costumes which were the same price as Party City after Halloween. It's pretty big, and is fun to poke around if you have kids in your life. You'll almost certainly find something for them. It's in an industrial park so there's lots of free parking in their parking lot.

This place has been around for many many years. It is a kid or kids at hearts dream place. There…read morewere endless of toys and there were books too. I saved 50% and more for the items. I have never been to a toy warehouse before. I bought 3 big red bags fill of toys. It felt like it's Christmas. The staff were friendly and seem to love there job. A staff offered to help me bring my toys to the cashier. There was no shopping carts there for customers so bring a wagon if you have. Thank you staff for doing what you do. I definitely will be coming again.

I love this store!! It is so cute!…read more I am not sure how often they cycle through different items since i haven't seen a lot of the other ones in the pictures on Yelp but the time i went they had really interesting items. I ended up buying a 3D bunny you can DIY with paper for $20, the one i wanted (the dinosaur shown in my picture) was out of stock and unfortunately i could not buy the one on display either. I gave the woman at the front my name and phone number for in case they ever got it in-stock again for the future. I went to this store about 5 months ago and till now haven't received any calls so they must not carry that item anymore. One of my other favourites was the light up shadow box picture frames (also posted in my pictures). I would've bought one if i had a spot to put it at home just wasn't sure where to put it. Will definitely return to see what new and cute things they have in store!

Only knew of this store since I worked nearby in the same building. It is such a cute little shop…read morewith lots of knick knacks and lots of cute gift options! I've made several purchases since I discovered this place and their service has always been kind, friendly and helpful. I'm surprised there aren't more reviews about this place. It is definitely a place to check out when you're looking for gifts annnd the PLUS is that they provide gift wrapping & a gift bag during the X'mas season! (correct me if I'm wrong and that they do it during the year too?) I recently picked up a few things here and they were all neatly and meticulously wrapped up, placed in a nice little gift bag with some gift paper on top. Their products always change and it is never the same. I can't say so for the electronics because I don't usually browse in that section but for sure the knick knacks and little gifts change as I've went back often just to see what's new and different. Definitely will be a place I return to when I am in need of some gift ideas and if you're in the area/live nearby, swing by this place too!

No bueno! Super low quality souvenirs that you'll likely throw out when you move. Not worth the $$…read more- especially since there is a Dollarama on Queen and Spadina with the same quality of "Canada" souvenirs for cheaper. Also, make sure to check the expiration date if you purchase any consumables from here! (Or just avoid all together)

Neat little gift shop full of Canadian items. From jerseys to snacks to Salmon jerky, they seem to…read morehave everything gift you could possibly think of related to Canada. Located it Chinatown

Always a fun time at Happy Cute Mart where you can find everything CUTE!! There are stationary,…read morestickers, accessories, and the best part, fooooooood (treats of all sorts!) I've been here 3x in a row, and if you are an early bird, then definitely get a VIP pass so you can bypass the line in the morning. I'm more like an afternoon bird lolll, so going around 1 or 2pm was ideal since there is little to no wait at the door. The event is free. I have friends who are vendors at this event. Tables are assigned randomly. Food vendors are always to the right side of the event space. People are absolutely talented and so creative! Shoutouts to some of my favourite vendors: Aunty Kelly's, Loveli Atelier, and Cloooodles!

Happy Cute Mart is the brainchild of Queenie Best, who owns Queenie's Cards. She wanted a show…read morefeaturing local artists and small businesses that sell cool, cute merchandise. This event took place on June 22, 2024. The event was free. There was an early bird deal where you could purchase a $20 ticket ($5 off the regular price) to get VIP access. It meant that you got a timed entry slot to arrive instead of waiting in line. You also got an exclusive Happy Cute Mart tote and a plush keychain. I went for VIP access. My timed entry was between noon and 2 pm. I had no problem driving over to Thornhill Community Centre. I have passed by it often over the years, but had never dropped by until yesterday. Parking was busy due to this event, along with community centre activities and folks studying at the library. I managed to nab a parking spot near the west entrance of the community centre. I then headed over to line up. The south entrance was the entry-exit point for this event. I had bought my VIP ticket so long ago that I forgot that I didn't need to wait in line. I bolted out of the lineup once I made that realization and hit the right side of the south entrance. A man greeted me. He let me know that the table with the yellow tote bags was where I'd get my VIP ticket's QR code scanned. Nice! I got my ticket scanned. I got a cute tote bag with a small plushie keychain in it. I got confused when the two women said that I could buy merchandise further down the table. I declined and went in. This event had over 85 vendors. There were snacks and food for purchase when I started. I wanted all that towards the end of my stay. The variety was great, but everything sold out quickly. I was shopping and browsing, doing my thing. I heard my name. It was Queenie who spotted me from a distance. It's pretty cool when you have a good relationship with a plushie pusher... haha! She wanted to say hi. She could tell that I got VIP access holding my cheerful yellow tote in hand. The vendor variety was amazing. I can't list all of them, but I will list those that I ended up making purchases, in buying order: - Flair Fighter - waterproof stickers (BMO, Hello Kitty, Keroppi, and Ditto) - Paige Draws - crocheted bear - The CroChic Shop - crocheted keychains (Grogu, R2-D2, and Patrick Star) - BathBunny - Miffy plushie and keychain - YenYen Design - penguin stickers - Honograms - kewpie mayo plushie - The Little Bird Designs - gummy bears belt bag - Sterling Six Threads - McDonald's popsicle characters t-shirt - Little Bakes of Kindness - colossal cookies and mini sausage buns - Queenie's Cards - Penny the pineapple bun plushies This event was well-organized. It did get a little congested with customers standing there while others were trying to pass by in the middle row. Otherwise, it was great speaking with new vendors and saying hi to a couple of familiar ones. Queenie had a Kickstarter for Penny the pineapple bun plushie. Her Kickstarters generally exceed the targeted pledge goal because her designs are cute. Shipping was factored into the price of each plushie. However, those who were coming to this event could opt to pick their goodies here. I did just that. She asked me how many additional Penny plushies I wanted, to make up for the shipping cost in my pledge. I wasn't greedy and opted for one. Before I left this show, I asked Queenie if I could pick up my plushies. She didn't give me two. I got six. Holy cow! It was incredibly generous of her. It also speaks volumes on how great our relationship is. I will keep two. I need to give four away to good homes. I'm extremely happy with my purchases. Some other highlights: - My gummy bears belt bag has two pockets in addition to the main one. The strap is also long. I love it. It's the perfect belt bag for me because I wear it more as a crossbody bag. - The mini sausage buns were on the secret menu. I originally wanted a box featuring mochi cookies and pineapple buns. They were sold out when I returned. I did get two colossal cookies. Both the sausage buns and cookies were delicious! - The three folks at Paige Draws were all undergraduate students. There was a sign that said to support them through university... haha I had a wonderful time. Now, I'm poor! I'm pleased with my purchases and look forward to this event next year. (241)

O' Canada! A novelty…read morespecialty company that offers souvenirs, clothing, food items with a Canadian flair. The Great Canadian Gift Company has a online catalog where customers can make purchases as I am able to attain my favorite Canadian maple cookies brought into the U.S. The Canadian maple is worldwide renowned and opening the box the aroma of maple is fragrant. The cookies are fresh. In the past I was able to purchase these same maple cookies at Cross Border U.S. - Canada shopping by vehicle Duty Free many years ago which I greatly missed. Since I am unable to return to The Great White North I can now bring something from Canada into the U.S. Purchasing direct from manufacturer is always great without any hurdles. The maple cookies are very tasty. I had no problems with shipping from Canada into U.S. N.B. The charge will be in Canadian dollars onto my credit/debit card but my bank converts into American dollars.

From the owner: In 2004 The Great Canadian Gift Company established itself as the quintessential online source for…read moreAll Things Canadian. Initially established in the Ancaster business park, it was not long before we expanded opening another location in Beautiful Blue Mountain in 2007. Most recently The Great Canadian Gift Company expanded to a substantially larger location in Ancaster.

Pacific Mall is home to lots of tiny little shops, selling all kinds of things, including cell…read morephones and accessories, clothing, herbs, bubble teas, and so much more. Its home to my favourite camera store, Aden Camera, where I purchase most of my hardware. They also have great tasting food from several outlets and stalls. A couple friends and I decided to do a food challenge to see what we could each get for CDN$20. We met the challenge and enjoyed some great tasting food. Our preferred vendors included QQ Noodle King, Go Curry, Chloe's Convenience, Hi Anna's Basket, Shark's Fin City, and Prairie Lamb Kabob. This mall has something for everyone. Check them out!

We were last there 8 years ago and sadly my last review still stands…read more The prevailing economic conditions have certainty not helped the situation. I hope that one day it revives itself to it's former self. I have so many happy memories of meandering through the PM. Food-wise, there remain good options on the upper floor.

I do all of my gift shopping at Impressionable Gifts, whether the gift is for me or someone else…read more Lydia is amazing at helping me find the perfect gift. The prices are reasonable, there is a lot of selection and it is nice to go in and browse as I never know what I am going to find. It is worth the time to go in for a visit and a bit of a shop. You won't be disappointed.

Fantastic store! Awesome selection, even better prices...I drive from Toronto to shop here. The…read morestaff, especially the owner, Lydia, make it worth the drive...personalized service, very unique items. I've been shopping here since she opened.

This store is so cute and probably has a gift for everyone. We went in because they were a jelly…read morecat retailer! We didn't find what we were looking for but we did purchase a solar butterfly wind chime for Mother's Day! Staff were very friendly, reasonably priced for being smack dab in a tourist area but holy moly was it so hot in there. Our family had to step outside a few times as our faces were getting flushed. A few other customers were talking about how hot it was in there as well.

I used to shop for gifts here when I'd come to blue mountain. Lately, the service is terrible. I…read morewas ignored completely when I tried to check out a couple of times that i gave up and I decided to not buy anything. A friend of mine wanted to buy a bunch of fudge to take home. Instead of helping us, the woman offered another random customer a deal and even a sample. I'm not sure what happened to the other workers but I miss their warmth. I'd look forward to stocking up on the goodies they'd recommend. I'm going to skip this store on my future visits.

A new boutique store in the Cabbagetown area that houses many local artists and talents! It is…read moregreat to get a one stop shop for stationery (cards/postcards) and gifts for any occasion. The owner is super friendly and helpful in assisting to find the perfect items. There is even an in house corgi!! Each time I visit, there is always something new to discover. Cant wait until the next time I stop by!

From the owner: Artisan MRKT is a one-of-a-kind store celebrating the creativity of Canadian small businesses,…read moreartists, and makers. Discover a curated selection of unique items that cater to all tastes and styles. From stunning artwork to thoughtful gifts, Artisan MRKT offers something special for everyone while supporting local talent and craftsmanship.