Toronto Shoe Stores: Allen Edmonds and the like: Where to go?

[oneninetyseven]

Hi folks,

My shoes are really showing their abuse and age (I've had to reglue the fronts of the outsoles 3 times in the last few months).

In the suburbs north of Toronto, the selection is lacking. Every shoe store has what every other shoe store has - and not an Allen Edmonds in sight.

Where would you suggest in Toronto or North York (the closer to Finch station the better, ha! I'm not feeling like trekking around too far, but I am open to all suggestions!) to find good quality shoes, on par with, one "level down from" and "one level up from" Allen Edmonds - including Allen Edmonds?

Looking for a nice range of dress and casual - decent prices if possible, but I know we Canadians often get screwed in the price department.

Thanks for your recommendations!

Cheers

 

[TRINI]

Allen-Edmonds: Harry Rosen's as well as Rigo in First Canadian Place

 

[oneninetyseven]

Allen-Edmonds: Harry Rosen's as well as Rigo in First Canadian Place

How's the general selection at Harry's? It had crossed my mind, but I thought I read once that they don't have a whole lot to choose from. Someone correct me if I'm totally wrong!

Never heard of Rigo. Thank you for the suggestions!

Best Regards

 

[M4rtin]

I've been to Sherway and SQ1 Harry's to try on the Kenilworths.
What I did was get on AE website and check the closest locations and then call them and ask for the specific shoe I was interested in and if they had sizes close to my size.
The selection was very small, I think I only saw 3 different AE's, they said they only carry D sizing at Harry's.

 

[Ivon]

Rego is a small menswear store on York St, north of King St W. They usually have the best local sale on AEs in Toronto (about $300ish from what I remember at sale time), reasonable selection, Rosen stocke some AE models, but you kinda have to order most models in from what I have seen. Your best bet for AEs is sadly online. Usually there are some really good deals on the Buy and Sell here, most of the sought after models will pop up, just have to be patient for your size or NIB if you not willing to wear second hand ones. Just keep looking.

 

[eyeofthetig3r]

The Harry Rosen on Bloor St seems to have the biggest selection of footwear for any HR. They carry AE as well

 

[Ivon]

Rosen on Bloor St has the biggest shoe dept in Toronto, but most of the shoes blow chunks at fairly high prices. A whole lot of meh, there is a sale going on now and the shoes are for the most part awful. Other than the odd Ferragamo or Tods, the rest of the shoes are hell no.

I forgot to mention Brooks Brothers, I think there is a sale on and their shoes are pretty decent. Toronto is not a good place for shoes, but if you look hard enough you can find most brands, albeit with a limited selection and high prices.

AE. Rosen or Rego BB
Alden no dealers I'm aware of apart from BB
C&J no dealers
Loake Walk on a Cloud
JM Weston new this year to Rego
G&G John Ferragamo the tailor, very expensive
EG Robert Jones
Carmina no dealers I know

Rest of the city has the usual overpriced fashionista shoes. Hard to get the good brands at a good price. I wear Northampton shoes and have to get them online or sometimes get great deals off the B/S.

 

[oneninetyseven]

Rosen on Bloor St has the biggest shoe dept in Toronto, but most of the shoes blow chunks at fairly high prices. A whole lot of meh, there is a sale going on now and the shoes are for the most part awful. Other than the odd Ferragamo or Tods, the rest of the shoes are hell no.
I forgot to mention Brooks Brothers, I think there is a sale on and their shoes are pretty decent. Toronto is not a good place for shoes, but if you look hard enough you can find most brands, albeit with a limited selection and high prices.
AE. Rosen or Rego BB
Alden no dealers I'm aware of apart from BB
C&J no dealers
Loake Walk on a Cloud
JM Weston new this year to Rego
G&G John Ferragamo the tailor, very expensive
EG Robert Jones
Carmina no dealers I know
Rest of the city has the usual overpriced fashionista shoes. Hard to get the good brands at a good price. I wear Northampton shoes and have to get them online or sometimes get great deals off the B/S.

Thanks! And thank you, too eyeofthetig3r.

Is Bloor St. where Harry Rosen's flagship store is?

There's a Walking on A Cloud in the mall nearby to where I live. Never liked anything I saw there. I guess I'm after a well made but tough-enough (Vibram-style soled) plain, round-toed Oxford. No brouging, no extraneous stitching, not shiny. Just good looking, light enough, comfortable and tough.

Thanks for the thorough list. I guess once you find a pair/make of shoes you like, get two of them, huh?

Cheers

 

[Ebichuman]

I was at Rego on Friday, inquiring about their MTM but I also took a quick look at the shoes. Their AE selection is good, possibly better that Harry's and their prices are lower. They say they can give customers the "online" price so as long as the loonie stays close to the buck, it is a good deal.

 

[DeadBoy]

If you're looking to save cash and have a car and some patience, you could try Harry's outlet in Heartland Mississauga. There was a 25% off sale on AE when I was there a couple of weeks ago, bringing the price down to a bit less than what you'd pay online.

 

[oneninetyseven]

I was at Rego on Friday, inquiring about their MTM but I also took a quick look at the shoes. Their AE selection is good, possibly better that Harry's and their prices are lower. They say they can give customers the "online" price so as long as the loonie stays close to the buck, it is a good deal.

Nice - I might have to check them out some time, then. Good to see a brick and mortar store keeping up with online.

Cheers

 

[oneninetyseven]

If you're looking to save cash and have a car and some patience, you could try Harry's outlet in Heartland Mississauga. There was a 25% off sale on AE when I was there a couple of weeks ago, bringing the price down to a bit less than what you'd pay online.

Well, I don't often find myself in Mississauga (nor Toronto, for that matter), but I'll bear than in mind. I didn't even know there was a Harry Rosen outlet. My girlfriend once pointed out some "outlet mall" she stopped at and said it was a waste of time with prices and selection no different than anywhere else...but maybe she went at a bad time.

 

[Ivon]

Bloor St is the flagship Rosen store, think smaller Barneys. The Walking on a Cloud at Yonge and Richmond is the one with the Loakes, not sure about the other locations, manager there was a long time Dacks guy I believe.

Woman at the Bloor St Rosen is really nice and helpful, too bad the shoes are meh. Best SAs on Bloor are the older gentlemen, especially the ones on the third, snarky twinks on the second floor though. Matches the brands sold on the floor I guess. Check out Nicolas on Cumberland, interesting stuff, Fratelli Rosseti shoes as well. I'd suggest browse eBay or the Buy and Sell firt for AE, they are a very common brand there and there will be deals to be had.

 

[oneninetyseven]

...snarky twinks on the second floor though. Matches the brands sold on the floor I guess...

Ha ha...Actually, I have heard things about rude, tell-you-anything-to-sell-you-anything sales people at Harry Rosen before.

Thanks for the rest of the suggestions.

I have looked on eBay - but probably haven't taken enough time, yet. I have yet to check out Buy and Sell - but thanks for pointing it out.

 

[DeadBoy]

Well, I don't often find myself in Mississauga (nor Toronto, for that matter), but I'll bear than in mind. I didn't even know there was a Harry Rosen outlet. My girlfriend once pointed out some "outlet mall" she stopped at and said it was a waste of time with prices and selection no different than anywhere else...but maybe she went at a bad time.

Yeah, it's near Britannia and Mavis. Like any other outlet, some of the stuff is good, some horrible. There's usually a few pretty good deals (such as AE Strawfuts for $200 + 25% off last time I was there).