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| - Tom's Place in Kensington Market is an institution:
I suspect that every young Bay Streeter has paid Mr. Mihalek a visit, or attended one of his 'warehouse' sales at the Miles Nadal JCC or elsewhere on Bathurst. The place is a maze, with sales help hiding around corners and ready to help you navigate the racks.
While the layout invites browsing the sales pitch can be aggressive and also focuses on the house brand rather than designer 'finds'. A fair chunk of the latter may be seconds or dead stock, but since it all just piles up like an episode of "Hoarders", Tom's could actually double as one of the better Vintage shops in the market.
Much has been written about Tom's willingness to haggle, and it's true, but watch the sticker pricing on suits, shirts and ties. For widely available brands and can easily buy off the rack, you might do better at a department store sale. Still, Tom's is good theater, and a vital part of a neighborhood built on thrift.
More importantly, customers leave happy, convinced they've scored a serious bargain.
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