We’re not really mall people. Sure there are days when the Eaton Centre can’t be beat for speedily handling a long list of retail errands. And a road trip up to Vaughan Mills, with its exotic suburban location and oodles of outlets, is an easy outing for curious downtowners.[rsssbreak]
In general, though, we’d much rather be boutique-hopping al fresco along Queen West, the Danforth or College than sucking back recycled air at the closest mega-sized shopping centre.
So what are we doing at the Shops at Don Mills (shopsatdonmills.ca)?
With its winding streets, public square and lack of a roof, it’s tempting to create a whole new category for the development, which opened last April at the corner of Don Mills and Lawrence. Cadillac Fairview, the open air plaza’s developer, calls it an “outdoor lifestyle centre.” At the end of the day, though, a mall is a mall.
This one piqued our interest because it’s attracting new-to-Toronto stores you won’t find on any of your favourite shopping streets.
Newest arrival is Murale (20 Marie Labatte, 416-384-1858), Shoppers Drug Mart’s bold run at the stand-alone beauty store market and retailers like Sephora. Following openings in Ottawa and Montreal, the Toronto space is only the chain’s third location, but it’s already hit on a winning formula for selling cosmetics, fragrances and skin care.
Forget endless, intimidating aisles. Products from big beauty brands like Clinique, Chanel and Lancôme and Canadian labels including Balm-shell and Principessa, are laid out on uplit semicircular shelves. A skin lab stocks Vichy and Dr. Hauschka cleaners and toners, while an accessories area is filled with makeup bags and brushes.
For it’s-what’s-on-the-inside-that-counts types, vitamins and supplements are on offer along with the cosmetics at Your Good Health (14 Clock Tower, 416-390-9696).
For the it’s-what’s-on-top-of-your-head-that counts crowd, the opening of the Donato Salon and Spa is imminent.
Next door to Murale at McNally Robinson (1090 Don Mills, 416-384-0084), the beauty is in the books. “Canada’s biggest local bookstore” was founded in Winnipeg and has recreated its local-library vibe in Saskatoon and New York City. Bookshelves mix with music stacks, stationery and a small home accessory selection of design objects from Umbra and Fred.
Upstairs at the store’s Prairie Ink Café (416-384-0085), whose balcony overlooks the Shops at Don Mills’s grassy piazza, the always changing menu sources recipes from new cookbook releases.
Also fronting the square is Toronto’s first Anthropoligie store (19 Clock Tower, 416-449-6666). There’s now a second location in Yorkville selling a similar mix of bohemian printed clothing, but the original outlet stands out for its housewares selection. A spinning rack filled with vintage-looking doorknobs, wood-boxed domino sets and tin alphabet letters helps you channel a free spirit at home.
Most of the Shops at Don Mills’ storefronts reveal the usual mall suspects. Fall boot shoppers can survey Aldo (75 Donway West, 416-384-0308), Town Shoes (21 Karl Fraser, 416-510-0005), Madison (3 Karl Fraser, 416-384-0801) and Browns (20 Karl Fraser, 416-384-0883). Compare cocktail dresses at Banana Republic (1090 Don Mills, 416-443-1900), Guess (28 Karl Fraser, 647-426-3197) and Aritzia (6 Aggie Hogg, 416-384-0839). On the designer bag beat, there’s Coach (22 Karl Fraser, 416-384-0514) and a new Michael Kors boutique.
If you’re not familiar with the Spanner (1090 Don Mills, 416-444-4005) brand, its slick space, complete with swanky change rooms hidden behind a waterfall wall, might look like one of those multinational chains. While the Kitchener-based clothing line’s pieces can be found in over 1,000 independent stores across North America, this is its first free-standing flagship.
It’s the only space to shop Spanner’s 12 seasonal collections, from basics like fit-to-flatter denim to on-trend looks including long cashmere cardigans and fall’s ubiquitous motorcycle jacket. Sizes range from 2 to 24.
Dining options also mix mass fare like Jack Astor’s (1060 Don Mills, 416-331-9238) with local operations including Linda by Salad King (11 Karl Fraser, 416-642-3866) and cookbook author Rose Reisman’s Glow Restaurant (7 Marie Labatte, 416-384-1133), currently under renovation following an August fire.
But the Shops at Don Mills’ claim to foodie fame is local celebrity chef Mark McEwan’s gourmet market, McEwan (38 Karl Fraser, 416-444-6262). Shoppers expecting a quaint little spot will be overwhelmed by the grocery-store-sized space’s endless runs of deli counters, antipasto bars, sweets displays and take-away cuisine. It’s a stand-alone store for now but looks ready to be repeated across the city.
