190 Baldwin, 416-?596-?0297, toms-?place.com
Over the five-decade-long history of his Kensington Market off-price clothing shop, which he inherited from his father, William, in 1980, Mihalik has watched Spadina shed most of its fashion district businesses. The loss of the shmatte neighbours hasn’t hurt business, though. Tom’s continues to expand and lure in the hardest shopper to crack: the suit-buying man.
Could it be the five-for-one suit deals? Something at Tom’s is always on sale, yet quality never suffers for a lower price tag. Two floors of designer blazers, sports jackets, shirting and neckwear look conservative, but there are flat-?front trousers and downsized blazers, too, keeping the fashion-?forward guy as well suited as the Bay Street boy shopping next to him.
Behind a small womenswear department on the ground floor is a stairway to the in-store tailor’s workshop. “Their average age is 89,” jokes Mihalik about his team of older pant-hemming gents. A few faces are obviously younger, though, and Mihalik’s son Tommy Jr. is already working the floor, suggesting Tom’s dapper deals are good for at least another 50 years.
Tom’s Place picks: A private-label suit in fine grey wool is hand finished with edge stitching along the lapel, $1,500 wool sport coats range between $650 and $895 shirting in basic solid or patterned cotton come in a regular or trim fit, $60 to $210.
Look for: A deal better than what you see on the price tag. Mihalik is summoned to the cash desk regularly to bargain for bonus discounts.
Hours: Monday to Wednesday 10 am to 6 pm, Thursday and Friday 10 am to 7 pm, Saturday 9 am to 6 pm, Sunday noon to 5 pm.
