Looking for antiques shops, fleamarkets like in the nineties in Queen St. West

[Dr. Christoph Sokolowski]

Hi there!
After a couple of years I'll stay in march for some days in this marvellous city. The last time I was in Toronto back in 2004 I missed the tons of antiques ships that used to be in Queen Street West in the late nineties. I come from Berlin and there we have the same problem having wealthy people buying houses in interesting areas moving out the fascinating shops. So I would like to ask if anybody could recommend some areas with antiques shops or fleemarket or special shops. I'm looking for the typical collector's stuff: 8-tracks, records, design classics from th sixties, toys from 50s and 60s and so on. Thank you very much!

 

[greenleaf]

The sunday antiques/flea market at the North St. Lawrence Market would be a good stop.

There's lot of shops in Kensington Market that might have some of the things you are looking for.

There is a block full of antique stores starting at Queen & Roncesvalles to Queen & Triller, although they tend towards having mostly furniture.

I've had good luck in Riverdale and Leslieville neighbourhoods starting at Queen St E & Broadview then going east until just past Leslie Street, although many of these shops also tend towards the furniture side of antiques. I think Gadabout is usually my last stop and would definitely have some of the kinds of things you are looking for.

 

[Urban Shocker]

As with other parts of town, the antique shops at Queen and Roncy have gone seriously into decline - I checked them out a couple of months ago after not having gone there for three years. Basically, eBay and digital cameras changed the antique and collectable scene starting in the late '90s - why bother renting space and spending the whole day sitting in a store when there's the internet?

 

[coltleader]

Hi there!
After a couple of years I'll stay in march for some days in this marvellous city. The last time I was in Toronto back in 2004 I missed the tons of antiques ships that used to be in Queen Street West in the late nineties. I come from Berlin and there we have the same problem having wealthy people buying houses in interesting areas moving out the fascinating shops. So I would like to ask if anybody could recommend some areas with antiques shops or fleemarket or special shops. I'm looking for the typical collector's stuff: 8-tracks, records, design classics from th sixties, toys from 50s and 60s and so on. Thank you very much!

I agree that sometimes antique malls are overwhelming. My real problem with them is that they are not always selective about what enters so there are large amounts of unauthentic pieces. I try to stick to the 18th century themed antique shows. I'm a huge leather book collector. I also go on house visits to see what treasures people have around their house. A friend recently got a magnetic messenger in the mail from a local antique dealer friend to serve as his business card since it is sometimes hard to find dealers. Has anyone else heard of this concept?

 

[Long Island Mike]

Everyone: I remember Queens Quay on the Waterfront being good for flea markets...but it has been a while so what has changed? LI MIKE

 

[Urban Shocker]

That antique centre closed years ago. It moved up to King Street, west of University, with fewer dealers. Then Cynthia Findlay took over the whole place and moved her by now gigantic antique emporium a few doors to the west, next to the Princess of Wales - without the few remaining dealers who had survived the move.