Oct 31, 2012

Drake Gift ShopBy Andrew SealeTheStar.com

Toronto, ON – Taking the traditional hotel gift and souvenir shop archetype and turning it on its head, The Drake Hotel General Store caters to trendy vagabonds while still stocking traveller essentials.

Sure, its’ shelves are littered with Canadiana and Toronto trinkets – but the old-fashioned feel and clever branding make it an oddity on the gift shop front. Out front, the immaculate lettering of the store’s name contrasts with the violet-lit cross, reminiscent of a European apothecary. Inside the tiny shop is littered with old crates full of sock puppets and antique furniture stacked with pop-eye candy cigarettes and other ephemera.

“There’s one way of selling souvenirs and a lot of people do that,” says Carlo Colacci, who opened the store with Joyce Lo and Drake Hotel Owner Jeff Stober. “What we’re trying to do is put a twist on it, make it a little bit more authentic and thought out.”

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