Store Guide: Old Faithful Shop, the Vancouver general store’s new Queen West outpost
Store Guide: Old Faithful Shop, the Vancouver general store’s new Queen West outpost
Name: Old Faithful Shop
Sells: Household goods, apothecary products, books
Contact info: 886 Queen St. W., oldfaithfulshop.com
Hours: M-Th 10-6, Fr-Sa 10-7, Su 11-6
Vancouver’s Old Faithful Shop has just opened a Toronto outpost on Queen West. Walter Manning, who co-founded the store’s west coast location in 2010, draws inspiration from his grandparents’ convenience store in Newfoundland. “I thought it was cool that people would come into their store for a potato or can of beans, but they’d return for that sense of community. To me, that was missing from retail,” he says.
His modern take on the general store means the Toronto outlet is full of items for the home that are equally beautiful and functional (even rows of brooms and dustpans manage to be aesthetically pleasing). Visitors will find cocktail bitters alongside colourful Mast Brothers chocolates, silver kettles next to balls of twine and high-end apothecary products on top of hardcover cookbooks. There are also a ton of great gift items, including a DIY gin kit, military-grade woollen blankets and decadent caramel sauce. As far as prices go, there are no bargains on pot scrubbers. “The shop’s about investing in home products for longevity, rather than buying a cheap piece of plastic,” Manning says. Another reason to stop by? The store’s adorably rambunctious bulldog, Kevin.
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- The new shop took over the space previously occupied by high-end vintage boutique <strong>Magwood</strong>.
- (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)
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- Renovations took about two months, and involved tearing down a wall, restoring original floorboards and getting rid of a raised platform in the back.
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- Old Faithful Shop attached its own wooden shelving to the walls. Here, it supports artful arrangements of glass jars, copper pot cleaners, balls of twine and ceramic mortars and pestles.
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- Shoppers can pick up a pair of copper pot scrubbers for $10, or a small ceramic mortar and pestle for $43.
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- Scrumptious lavender caramel sauce ($13) from Portland company <strong>Alma </strong>perfectly complements this sweet cookbook ($30) from blogger <strong>Izy Hossack</strong>.
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- Prettily packaged <strong>Mast Brothers</strong> chocolates have been a popular seller so far. $12
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- As has the independent lifestyle magazine/Instagram-able table decorator <em>Kinfolk</em>. $18
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- <strong>Barr-Co</strong> makes small-batch, eco-friendly soap. This is the "original scent," which contains milk, oatmeal, vanilla and vetiver. $8 each.
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- This salt sampler case from <strong>Jacobsen Salt Co</strong>. contains flavours like smoked salt, vanilla bean and lemon zest. $39
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- Army green woollen blankets were made especially for the shop by <strong>Faribault Woolen Mills</strong> (a Minnesotan mill that's been crafting heirloom blankets since 1825), and woven to meet military standards. $189
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- Rhode Island craft coffee roaster <strong>Dave's Coffee</strong> makes this all-natural syrup that can be used in desserts, marinades or, most famously, in a cold glass of milk for a “Rhode Island Classic.” $16
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- Toronto tote bags from <strong>Apolis</strong> are exclusive to the store, and handcrafted by a women's co-op in Bangladesh. $79
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- The small pendant lights dangling around the shop are for sale, too. $155
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- These cheeseboards are made from marble and sustainable sheesham wood (and they're very heavy). $80
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- A table in the back stocks a large selection of beautiful books on topics like food, cocktails, interiors and design. <em>Sunday Suppers</em> by <strong>Karen Mordechai </strong>and <em>Plain Simple Useful</em> by<strong> Terrance Conran </strong>look particularly appealing.
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- The store gets its selection of hardy houseplants from local boutique <strong>Dynasty Toronto</strong>.
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- Simple dustpans and brushes have hooks for easier storage. $35 for the pair
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- <strong>Buckler's</strong> Daily Face Repair is a vegan facial moisturizer made with certified organic, fair-trade ingredients. $50
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- These hand-carved sugar spoons have chic brass handles. $9
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- The store also carries <strong>Chemex Coffeemakers</strong>, which are a great way to make a pot of joe—and are much more elegant than most machines. $47 for a 6-cup model
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- A pour-over kettle allows for extra precision, and is necessary for making that Chemex brew. $70
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- Charleston brand <strong>Jack Rudy Cocktail Co.</strong> makes these versatile aromatic bitters that can be used in a Manhattan or Old Fashioned. (Note: adding a few drops to soda water can also cure a hangover.)
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- This industrial-grade laundry cart is made with heavyweight canvas and comes equipped with four wheels (which should make dragging your haul to the laundry room a bit easier). $249
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- And here's Kevin, in front of a brick archway that was exposed when the team tore down a dividing wall.
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![](http://www.facebook.com/sharer.php?u=https://torontolife.com/style/old-faithful-shop-store-guide/&title=Store Guide: Old Faithful Shop, the Vancouver general store’s new Queen West outpost&picture=https://torontolife.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/old-faithful-shop-store-guide-27.jpg&description=[caption id="attachment_309558" align="alignnone" width="656"] (Images: Jenna Marie Wakani)[/caption]
Name: Old Faithful Shop
Sells: Household goods, apothecary products, books
Contact info: 886 Queen St. W., oldfaithfulshop.com
Hours: M-Th 10-6, Fr-Sa 10-7, Su 11-6
Vancouver's Old Faithful Shop has just opened a Toronto outpost on Queen West. Walter Manning, who co-founded the store's west coast location in 2010, draws inspiration from his grandparents' convenience store in Newfoundland. “I thought it was cool that people would come into their store for a potato or can of beans, but they'd return for that sense of community. To me, that was missing from retail," he says.
His modern take on the general store means the Toronto outlet is full of items for the home that are equally beautiful and functional (even rows of brooms and dustpans manage to be aesthetically pleasing). Visitors will find cocktail bitters alongside colourful Mast Brothers chocolates, silver kettles next to balls of twine and high-end apothecary products on top of hardcover cookbooks. There are also a ton of great gift items, including a DIY gin kit, military-grade woollen blankets and decadent caramel sauce. As far as prices go, there are no bargains on pot scrubbers. “The shop's about investing in home products for longevity, rather than buying a cheap piece of plastic,” Manning says. Another reason to stop by? The store's adorably rambunctious bulldog, Kevin.
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