Last month, two new boutiques moved into Rosedale. Homewares store Urban Island Official is bringing handcrafted linens, kitchenwares and gifts made by Sri Lankan artisans to the neighbourhood, while jewelry shop Augustina Boutique will be the new go-to spot for unique accessories. Although these niche shops can be a hit or a miss in other Toronto neighbourhoods, there’s something about Rosedale that keeps them coming.
Despite the recent closure of well-known boutique Wolf & Moon, and its follow-up one-stop-shop, the neighbourhood continues to be a bustling hub for independent shops and local finds, reigning supreme as the boutique district of the city. From luxurious antique and decor shops to charming neighbourhood eateries and gourmet havens — Crybaby Gallery just opened its newest speakeasy Le Tigre there — Rosedale offers a number of local shops for its community. And it’s the community, in particular, that has kept the businesses going.
“There are a lot of independent businesses versus big box stores, and coming out of COVID, I find people really supported those businesses in our area,” says Brittany Olsen, executive director of the Rosedale BIA.
Noteworthy boutiques on the Rosedale and Summerhill strip include beautifully curated shops like Clementine’s, Thursdays and The Movement Boutique. Most recently, Olsen notes, the neighbourhood has also witnessed a growing emphasis on health and wellness, thanks in part through the rise of wellness-focused businesses such as Formula Fig and Nutbar, as well as beauty services like 6 by Gee Beauty. Of course, longstanding shops have also weathered the test of time, like Paul Hahn & Co. — a piano store that celebrated its 110th birthday in business recently.
During the pandemic, Rosedale also saw a surge of pop-up events hosted by local businesses, which the neighbourhood positively responded to.
“It really comes down to the community,” she says. “These shops thrive from all the local support.”