5 must-visit vintage stores in Toronto’s Riverside

There’s nothing quite like the thrill of going into a vintage store on a mission, hoping to find that piece. While Toronto has quite a number of good vintage clothing stores scattered around the city, Riverside in the East End has several independent shops just steps away from each other.

With that said, on Thursday, June 20th, 6pm-10pm, Riverside’s vintage shops are coming together for the first ever Riverside Vintage Crawl, a fun night of shopping and music, featuring event-exclusive deals such as “We Pay The Tax” and a fun challenge with Vibemap!

Here are 5 vintage clothing shops participating in the Riverside Vintage Crawl:

Arts Market

Address: 790 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H4

Although Arts Market is more of a gift shop and vendor market for 50+ local artisans, they do carry secondhand clothing. There’s a small display on the main floor which includes a selection of bags; but down in the basement, there’s more vintage goods to browse through.

Common Sort

Address: 760 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H7

If you’re on the hunt for shoes, Common Sort has an impressive collection of pre-loved footwear neatly arranged on a shelf. For those who need a little help finding the right pieces for them, Common Sort has a personal shopper service, which you can book here.

Good Juice Box Vintage

Address: 768 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H4

From graphic tees and shirts to vintage denim and cargoes, Good Juice Box boasts a well-curated inventory, which is personally handpicked by the owner. If you want to know more about an item on display, check the price tags for fun, handwritten descriptions.

Ran’s Closet

Address: 747 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H3

Ran’s Closet carries a good mix of vintage clothing (the patched moto jackets are a highlight) and one-off reworked/upcycled pieces. For those into K-fashion, they stock brand new apparel from Korean ready-to-wear brands as well.

Second Voyage Vintage

Address: 734 Queen St E, Toronto, ON M4M 1H2

Aside from clothing and accessories, Second Voyage also has a great selection of home decor and knick-knacks. Last March, they collaborated with UNTITLED by Flaunt Boutique for a retro-themed fashion show and shopping event.

But wait, there’s more!

There will also be a special pop-up vintage market at Queen Garden Centre & Cafe (771 Queen St E) in collaboration with the Hippie Market.

PLUS local DJs will be playing beats at select venues during the event to bring the good vibes for a night of vintage shopping and sustainable fashion.

Don’t forget to download Vibemap as well so you can join the challenge and get the chance to win Riverside swag and gift cards from the participating shops.

Make sure to follow @riverside_bia on Instagram for highlights on what to expect during the event. You can also RSVP to the Riverside Vintage Crawl here. See you on Thursday, June 20th!

Words and Photos by Christian Jay B. Quilo

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Christian Jay B. Quilo, Riverside BIA Marketing Assistant

Christian is an international student from Cebu, Philippines, currently interning at the Riverside BIA. He has a bachelor’s degree in mass communications and is currently taking post-graduate studies in Lifestyle Media at Centennial College. He has been writing professionally since 2018; his favorite subject matter being food, travel, and fashion. When he’s not busy as a student or marketing assistant, he goes full-on tourist, exploring Toronto one neighborhood at a time—most likely with an iced oat latte or bubble tea in hand.