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Honest Ed's
Categories: Shopping Department Stores Shopping Fashion Department Stores Shopping Outlet Stores Department Stores, Outlet Stores [Edit]
581 Bloor St WToronto, ON M6G 1K3
Neighbourhoods: Koreatown, Palmerston, Seaton Village
(416) 537-2111
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 9 pm
Sat 10 am - 6 pm
Sun 11 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
-
$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
52 reviews for Honest Ed's
Review Highlights
"This is a shopper's paradise and so easy to get lost in."
(in 3 reviews)
"...yourself in need of an Elvis Bust or a discount haircut..."
(in 3 reviews)
"You can get some really great "deals" but you do get what..."
(in 3 reviews)
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51 reviews in English
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Review from Paige M.
8/18/2011
As we rounded the corner, Honest Ed's appeared on the horizon, in its vast, glowing glory. An icon of Toronto since 1948, Ed's reminded me of my local Village Discount Outlet http://www.yelp.com/bi... in monstrous proportions. Honest Ed's encompasses an entire city block, three stories tall. The facade is covered with humorous slogans such as "Come in and get lost!" and "Only the floors are crooked!"
Wandering around the maze of the store, my friend and I easily spent two hours here and didn't see everything. Downstairs you'll find everything from kitchenware, to Canadian-themed items (grocery bags, flags, playing cards), to hygiene products and electronics. Upstairs are the clothing departments, where everything is heaped onto giant tables, separated only by garment type. Men's have an entire level, as well as women's and infants. It's organized chaos!
Around the store, we found podiums with giant reusable shopping bags to hold your items. This was fantastic, as by this time, we each had accumulated an armload. We left with a gigantic heap of super cheap (but well-made) stuff that cost us all of $70.00.
Our haul:
- Canada hoodie: $7.00
- Converse shoes: $7.00
- Neckties: $3.00
- Bowties: $4.00
- Flip Flops: 99 cents
- Fedora: $5.00
... and more!
If you like kitsch and great bargains, be sure to stop by Honest Ed's! I'll definitely be back the next time I visit Toronto.
Viewing time: 2-3 hours
Tip: Bring your own reusable bags for checkout. They charge 5 cents per bag for plastic ones.Listed in: Canada, Eh?
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Review from Maheen M.
Updated - 2/6/2012
I recently bought a body wash from Honest Ed's. When I got home and used the body wash, it was rancid and smelled like decaying plastic. Frustrated and POed, I called the customer service hotline on the bottle and found out that the body wash was made back in 2007, it had expired! The manufacturer's customer service representative was pleasant and understanding, they are mailing me coupons for new body wash.
Buyer beware at Honest Ed's, if the deal looks too good to be true, check the expiry dates. Quality products are something that is missing at Honest Ed's.Listed in: The Annex
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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1/27/2012
Honest Ed's is a Toronto institution. The flashy blubs makes it an attraction at the corner of… Read more »
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Review from Jen R.
Toronto, ON
2/4/2012
Yes it is a local institution and people line up outside to get in on the weekends and for the famous free turkeys at Christmas.
But, for me, it is the shop around the corner for the largest variety of European chocolate bars- including sugar free ones- at great prices! It is the place I buy canned and dry foods, toothpaste (a must with all that chocolate), and Christmas lights. I've found good simple, tablecloths in a pinch-
I made the mistake of buying a 'great deal'- a coffee bodum for under $15- it leaked grounds up into the coffee from the first use. Wasted money, should have spent a bit more and bought at the Green Beanery.
There is a tonne of junk and useless things your great aunt might have been amazed with post WWII so, I steer clear of most of what the store offers- but the chocolate section has got me hooked! -
Review from Justin C.
12/30/2011
I know this place is a local institution, and that a lot of people love it but - the outside is the best part. The facade really lights up the intersection, that's for sure.
If you're from the southern US you might be familiar with stores like Levine's of Famsa or Fazio's - where old clothes go to get stacked in big piles and there is this pervasive dirt smell, and there are white linoleum floor tiles all scratched up and stained. This is like that. There is a little souvenir section with a lot of empty space.
The prices are amazingly cheap, but its still a place that leave you feeling a little bit tacky for having gone there. -
Review from Carrie G.
Toronto, ON
12/25/2011
A real Toronto staple. If it ever disappeared, I'd be devastated. That being said, I like the outside a whole lot more than the inside. One time I got lost in there right after reading Sartre's "No Exit" and became convinced I was stuck in an endless loop. I was like OH SHIT YO this is totally what hell is! But then we found the exit and I felt silly. Also to be fair I was a little mentally unstable that year.
Fun fun fun if you're not a claustrophobic psychopath. But I think of it as an adventure zone more than a store. For cheap goods I prefer dollar stores. -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
9/11/2011 1 Check-in Here
Every time I come in here, I'm a bit uncomfortable, but then I see so many deals that it overtakes the icky ness in here.
There's something musty about the place. The decor hasn't changed in years and I don't think it ever will.
They sell everything in here, from kitchenware, to groceries, to electronics and bath and beauty. It's hit or miss to find something specific, but then again you can find a lot of basics here. I scored some Goat Milk's soap that I love at 99cents each!
What would be better is if there was a layout of the place. We were looking for something specific and we didn't know if we should go upstairs or downstairs and spent a long time wandering around. (Maybe that was the point)
Waiting at the cashier, it took a LONG time. However, there is also another cash at the Bathrust/ Bloor entrance, so maybe take a trip up there.
I think the store was more useful in the time where there was no such thing as Pacific Mall or China Town or Walmart.
Then again, at it's Bathrust and Bloor location, this is the only thing you can get. -
Review from C J.
Toronto, ON
12/12/2011
Not good! Can not compete with Dollarama or the other Chinese dollar shops.I was looking for a lid for a 25cm wok. $ 9.99 for a piece of thin aluminum..common Ed.... just as well, $ 8.55 for a single Britta filter.Vitamin prices are very high, not that I would ever buy it there.Creepy looking 3rd world washroom .Not too Honest I am afraid.
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Review from Ayesha A.
Updated - 6/3/2011
I feel so dirty when I'm there but I just can't resist going!! It's the next best thing to the dollar store...
It\s a hilarious place to send newbies to Toronto, poor students or visitors...I really want to send a posh rich person there for sheer entertainment purposes.
Most of the stuff I've bought there is crap quality, that is it it even works.
There are some real....interesting characters.....that both shop there and work there.
Unless you are a seasoned Honest Ed's shopper, you'll need at least an hour to try and work your way around the place and find the way out once you've finally found whatever it is you're looking for.
There's even groceries, but it's not supermarket, don't get your hopes up.
Great for finding random kitschy stuff including Elvis busts and Marilyn Monroe swivelly wall clocks!
Maybe good for that person for whom you can't figure out what gift to buy.1 Previous Review: Show all »
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6/8/2010
As the name suggests, Honest Ed's is true to their word.
The sign outside says, 'Come in, Get Lost';… Read more »
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Review from Nicole C.
5/19/2011 1 Check-in Here
I'm going to come right out and say it: I HATE Honest Ed's. Why? Have you ever been to Honest Ed's Big Birthday? Let me tell you my story:
So I used to do promo for a radio station which included us giving out product from our latest sponsor Snapple. So my interns and I headed down to Honest Ed's cause we figured there would be enough people around. No, it was his birthday and there were HOARDS of people around. Now if you know the people that shop at Ed's you know they're wicked cheap, which isn't a bad thing - but it IS a bad thing when you are giving away free things outside a wicked cheap store with hoards of crazy wicked cheap people.
I was clawed by an angry little old asian woman who really wanted to get her snapple on. I had scars. NOT HAPPY. I then had to pee and got lost in Ed's while my interns continued to get attacked on the outside by an angry raspberry ice tea lovin' mob.
Okay so admittedly maybe my hate for Ed's isn't directly related to the store itself but its all about the whole experience you know?
BUT I will give it this - I showed up for a dinner date really early last week and decided to give Ed's another go - and in their kids section for $2 each they had a onesie for the kid that said "I want Sushi" and another that said "I'm with Stupid". AMAZING!! So the store can have some clever and wicked cheap stuff.
But I'll be damned if I'm ever going back there with Snapple. -
Review from Jorge L.
4/10/2011
I like the building, I hate the merchandise.
Over 20,000 light bulbs are used in the store sign - it sure illuminates Bathurst and Bloor. I can see Honest Ed's from my balcony and it's always a treat every time. The bright red and yellow sign is captivating. It reminds me of broadway stage productions and gives me a vision of a walking circus.
Cadler would want to see this.
Inside is a different story. It's horrible. Confusing. Dizzying. It's like a bad maze filled with cheap figurines, kitchen utensils and suit and tie in no logical order. You'll find cheap merchandise alright but the quality is pretty bad. Think of shirts shrinking or itchy bed sheets.
The merchandise is arranged randomly. You see underwears in one side and a tie in another aisle. Walk a bit more and you'll find a rain coat. Or even a vase. All in one section.
You'll find cheap shoes that will kill your feet. Cheap vase you can find at China Town.
I can gaze at this building forever and maybe take pictures of it. But this is not a place to shop.
Never go inside without Tylenol in your pocket. And a lot of patience.
Oh, there's FINE wine for $6. Raise your eye brows wine connoisseurs. -
Review from Imran N.
3/27/2011
Hell's yeah.
It's like walking back in time and has some sort of cultural relevance for Toronto. It's like the bi-way days, thats all disappeared, yet Honest Ed's is able to capture that moment in history and crystallize it in this huge store.
i was sad to hear Ed Mirvish passed away a few years ago, but his memory still sorta remains with honest eds.
If you want to shop, there's lots of random random things. You can't leave without buying something because anything in there can catch your eye. And it's dirt cheap.
i swear to you, i once baught a set of cotton bed sheets there for $10 during my uni days. I since have been able to afford more in life, but my 1000 thread fancy egyptian cotton bullshit sheets still don't compare to honest eds $10 sheets.
And how can i ever forget my chinese optic fibre xmas tree out of a box. Aahhh honest eds.
Such fond memories.
If you're a random treasure finder, go there.
If you're a uni kid, go there.
If you're in the area, go there.
If you're into culture, go there.
If it's thanksgiving, get a turkey for free. -
Review from Marie F.
12/25/2010 4 Check-ins Here
If Active Surplus, your uncle's basement, the neighbourhood garage sale and Circus Circus were to have an orgy... it would probably produce what we all know to be Honest Ed's.
This place has its share of pros and cons... and depending on if you are a glass half empty of full kind of person, this place is both the best and worse place to shop.
I didin't grow up in Toronto so I have no nostalgic attachement to Honest EDs but I can understand its appeal. It looks like a place I would have been dragged to on Sunday mornings after church as a child. I brought my mom and dad here once and you'd swear they had both died and went to heaven. My mother's eyes just lit up as she looked around at an endless stream of STUFF! It's easy to get lost in this place... there is an endless amount of junk and treasures in every room to be discovered.
Recent discoveries include:
$0.25 DVDs from the 50's
$34.99 for ceramic Elvis heads
$29.99 for a white cordless phone
$5.99 for an HDMI cable
$0.50 for a reusable President Obama bag
$19.99 for a HUGE shoe rack
All in all, it you get excited by kitschy, cheap, crafty, creative stuff or just have a few hours to kill and want the closest thing to a funhouse go visit Ed, he'll deliver... honestly! -
Review from hangover n.
Toronto, ON
9/15/2011
One of the strangest and neatest places in the city. I really don't understand the negative reviews for such an eclectic and historic Toronto institution. Think of it as Walmart for people who hate Walmart. Be sure to check out the weird museum-type section of $10,000 chandeliers and slot machines tucked away behind the menswear section!
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Review from Tina H.
12/13/2010
I have mixed feelings about this place. Honest Ed's is a great place for random crap. And there's lots. Lots of random crap.
I feel like I'm in a third world country when I walk through the clothing section (to get somewhere else). Piles of underwear in big metal baskets/holders/whatevs. Towels too. Nothing is folded nicely but that's why it's so cheap! Oh, it's also cheap because the stuff is crap. Remember when I said random crap? Yeah, well, literally, almost.
It's easy to get lost. There's no method to the madness. It stresses me out every time I go here but since I moved to the 'hood it's literally the closest store to me so I always end up going there. This is not a quick stop as you'll probably get lost and never find what you're looking for.
I usually find what I'm looking for, sometimes not. Sometimes I find similar stuff to what I'm looking for but crappy quality. Prices are pretty low but nothing amazing. Sometimes you can get cheaper stuff elsewhere. It's a bargain shop but not always.. Especially not in the kitchen section. This Christmas my roommates and I decorated our tree with stuff from Honest Ed's and our tree looks great, so I guess it's not all crap.
Staff get mixed reviews. Most are friendly and helpful, others are rude and often useless. It's a toss up.
When Ed designed this, I'm sure he had no intentions of creating a "shopping experience," or he failed miserably. It's hectic and stressful and if I don't feel like dealing with the madness of trying to find my way or find someone to tell me where stuff is, I'd rather go to Canadian Tire or Walmart, but if you have time and no money, it's a good place to come to find cheap stuff. A lot of the stuff they have you can't find anywhere else (because no one will sell it).
Overall, a good store with bargain prices but because I get so stressed out trying to find my way around it's gonna be a 3-star. If you've never been, go! It's definitely one of Toronto's tourist destinations for more down-to-earth travel, but it is not representative of Toronto in the least. For more crap shopping in a more hipster environment at inflated prices, check out Kensington market. -
Review from Lauren M.
9/16/2010 4 Check-ins Here
Ditto what Matthew S. says.
This place is RUBBISH.
If you want flashy lights, go to a Casino.
Honest Ed's is a giant, disorganized dollar store filled with all sorts of shit you would never want. Most of the merchandise is old and dusty. The food products aren't even particularly cheap, you can find better deals at Walmart.
I live nearby and I have ventured in numerous times when looking for something specific: "Oh I need a red spool of thread to mend my coat button, Honest Ed's will have it!!!" Yes - they did have it - but it took me 25 freakin' minutes, 9 flights of stairs, 18 corridors and directions from 6 different staff members to locate the bloody thing. (OK, I'm slightly exaggerating, but still)
Honest Ed's is ghetto. Trust me, you can see all the good parts just from standing outiside.
Oh, but it is fantastic if you want to buy a giant bust of Elvis. They have many of those. -
Review from Susan C.
Toronto, ON
3/20/2011
Good deals, but huge! You need to actually have time out of your day to search around (If I remember correctly, it was either 3 to 4 floors, but the building is MASSIVE!)
I did get lost inside...just once. -
Review from Susan N.
Toronto, ON
7/25/2011
Yeah, it's basically an oversized dollar-store, and finding your way around in there is headache-inducing. But if you have a minute, it's worth going briefly just for the experience; the sheer unabashed enthusiasm that the whole place conveys is priceless, and does have a way of growing on you. And occasionally you CAN find some decent things there: some of its stock is made up of leftovers from respectable department-stores, for instance (currently there's a whole rack of pretty nice Sears dresses for $9.99 each). Much of the rest of the clothing is of dubious quality in terms of e.g. the stitching (some things are more or less falling apart even before you buy them), but if you're the sort who likes to recycle fabric, then it's worth going to look for skirts made out of nice Japanese cotton prints and that sort of thing.
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Review from Alida S.
Toronto, ON
10/26/2010
Oh Honest Ed's. You probably won't ever get to see so much kitsch in one place. Forgive my messy review, it's almost as messy as Honest Eds.
I think everyone in Toronto should go to Honest Ed's at least once in their lives, just to see what all the fuss is about, and to say: I've been to Honest Eds, and I survived!
The store quite impressive. The corner of Bathurst and Bloor almost feels like Vegas, doesn't it?
Shopping in Honest Ed's is an adventure. There's so much junk to see, so many confusing aisles to navigate. The prices are okay: there's some cheap stuff, and some other not-so-cheap stuff. Just use common sense, and for the love of god, clean the stuff you buy!
One thing's for sure, you are bound to find what you are looking for at Honest Eds, whatever it may be. -
Review from Kris E.
Calgary, AB
9/28/2010
Honest Ed's... people seem to either love it, or have outright disdain for it. I have just recently moved to Toronto, and when I heard about Ed's, the first thing that came to mind was, "Hm... sounds like you'll get screwed as soon as you walk in the door!"
Being a broke, starving young student, and also being a hop, skip and a jump from Ed's... where better to accessorize your molding basement suite?
I do, however, recommend a thorough washing, boiling, or cooking, of whatever you buy.
Most outstanding purchase to date: leopard print velour blanket.Listed in: So You've Watched Scott…
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Review from Angela H.
4/22/2009
In its early days Honest Ed's was a small storefront selling merchandise picked up from bankrupt businesses; the goods were displayed in orange crates, and they were cheap. The current store is huge, covering three-quarters of a city block.
The first time I went to Honest Ed's, I was 16 and on mushrooms. All the store employees were wearing pinstriped smocks that said "FUN FUN FUN" on the backs, and I thought it was the most incredulous thing that packs of candles were selling for
¢0.33!!
Since that ridiculous escapade, I've returned to Honest Ed's countless times. After many many years of getting lost through the bizarre maze, I've finally mastered the skill of navigating the store. What a great accomplishment it is to know the shortcuts in and out of different departments, and quick routes to the exits (it's trickier than you think!)
You can pretty much find everything here, and for the most part, at bargain prices, just like Ed Marvish promised you. Great deals on beauty product like hair dye and body wash, and around the holidays, I always come here for inexpensive Christmas ornaments and decorations. It's also great for kitchen supplies (especially if you're a new student to the city, you can pick up everything you'll need for mega-cheap!) There's TONS of shit for sale too. Like, seriously crappy garbage.
If you're ever around to visit Honest Ed's between 10:00am-10:30am Monday-Friday, you're in luck! They have a round-robin game for door crasher deals every morning! During which they play the "Honest Ed's song", that will surely be in your head all day. The only lyrics I can remember from it ever though are:
"H-O-N-E-S-T - - E-D, Honest Ed, crazy Honest Ed!"
(That over and over and over again is pretty much the song...!!!)
All in all, Honest Ed's is a great piece of Toronto History. The store alone, he was just a great guy who constantly did things to help the community and lower-income families. There aren't many people like him, so it's sad Ed's no longer around. However, he's made quite the impact and I'm glad it happen in the city where I live! -
Review from Soukia S.
Toronto, ON
1/27/2010 ROTD 12/24/2010
I must admit that I'm partial to Honest Ed's for nostalgic reasons. When I was just a little refugee wandering the streets of Toronto with my dad; my eighties corderoy jeans; and patterned sweater, we would frequent the establishment. The decor is as tacky as before and the various maze-like levels bring you from one gigantic bargain room to the next.
As a child I loved the great flashing lights that make Honest Ed's one of Toronto's great landmarks. In my adult life, I'm loving the bargains. Although I don't get my clothing from here anymore -- my tastes have become a little more sophisticated -- I still get my gum and some hand creams and little odds and ends from this place. I don't want to create a stir but their cleaning products and toilet paper prices are really awesome.
It's worth a saunter through and if you happen to pick up some bleach bathroom products then good on you. -
Review from Amanda L.
11/19/2008
Proclaiming on its website, "New York has Macy's, London has Harrods, Chicago has Marshall Fields, and Toronto has Honest Ed's. It is quite an attraction - honest," proclaims The Great Toronto Getaway, Buffalo, USA.", I think it is setting the bar a little too high in comparison. Saying that your version of Macy's or Harrods is a huge and dirty amalgam of knock off clothing and appliances that might be left over from the Stone Age, then I feel bad for you Toronto. In the state, specifically New England we have a store that is comparable to Honest Ed's; it's called Ocean State Job Lot. It's filled with shit you don't want and crap that doesn't work, all for pennies.
The only thing I bought here was a shot glass for my Mom's growing number of alcohol enablers. I'm surprised that it actually made the plane ride home, since I was expecting to vacuum bits and pieces of cheap glass from my bag.
It's kind of amusing to look at it from the outside, I thought for a second Joe and I were going to the circus, with the outlandish sign for Honest Ed's. As if trying to rectify the situation for its customers, there are hundreds of pictures depicting Ed with famous people, but they were all probably thinking "Who the hell is this man and WHY is he shaking my hand??!?!"
Advertising itself as a must stop for tourists, it doesn't help the Canadians cause at all. It's alright for a look see, but I wouldn't buy anything if I could help it... -
Review from Harold E.
Toronto, ON
4/17/2009
Visiting Honest Ed's is almost a right of passage in the Toronto scene. This place is so tacky -- it's almost as if a homeschooled fashion designer, who failed dental hygienist school, put the place together in a another dimension.
Then again, maybe that's the charm of Honest Ed's.
This place has a little bit of everything - for both the sophisticated Torontonian, and for the not-so-sophisticated Torontonian.
Ed's is great if you have a need for kitchen utensils - pots, pans - or for cheap household appliances. Even the pharmacy, general household cleaner area is ok for a few deals. And, just maybe, If you like canned food with lot's of salt, or low-grade spam, then Ed's is your place.
If you're looking for clothes or electronics, and there isn't something horribly wrong with you -- then you've come to the wrong place. Another con is that this place is almost locked-down like a prison: most doors are entry only, and there's limited doors to go out. All exits require standing in an impossibly long line of customers headed towards cash registers. -
Review from Shari M.
Toronto, ON
1/12/2010
Honest Ed's is like a treasure chest in the movie Being John Malkovich. There are full floors, and there are half floors. The layout is crazy, but entertaining. You are never quite sure where you will end up or what you will find!
Honest Ed's is a great place if you are looking to score some cheap deals. I think your best bets are in the dishes, pots & pans, kitchen utensils, storage containers, Brita refills, Jones soda, small appliances and toothbrushes.
I was surprised to see that Honest Ed's has a dentist and a pharmacy!
I love how Honest Ed's follows its name...honest. There are no frills, it does not try to be anything but a store that sells some great deals. Mind you, not everything is a great deal - so know your prices before you go in.
If you are ever looking to get lost in the moment and stumble across something that you didn't know you needed, Honest Ed's is the place to go.Listed in: For the Love of the Annex
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Review from J H.
Toronto, ON
5/20/2011
i feel like a jackass giving honest ed's two stars. it's pretty jackassy for a person who reviews holt renfrew, pusateri's, and david's tea to give a marketplace for penny-pinchers two stars. but, i consider myself a jack of all price points. and who doesn't love a deal? okay, so here goes.
i really want to love honest ed's. there are great things about it -- location (good for me, not for everyone of course). kitsch factor. potential for wasting a ton of time and making impulse purchases. feeling like you're part of a toronto institution.
but on the flipside, are a lot of con's --
-horrible layout where you will easily get lost
-long lineups
-either a complete lack of sales help, inept/slow help, or snappy salespeople who will humiliate you for sniffing ("opening") shampoo. yikes.
-gross stuff. i'm just gonna put this out there. a lot of their things are basic and mass produced (ie, the tupperware, dish ware, hangers, lightbulbs, that sort of thing). fine. but go one step past that and look for anything that requires any basic degree of quality and you are out of luck, bud. their towels, sheets, rugs, cushions, women's shoes, kid's clothes (etc) .... bad, bad, bad. the worst of the worst quality. these items are not deals, they are practically overpriced for what they are.
-the real zinger. plenty of their products you can FIND CHEAPER ELSEWHERE!!
walking into honest ed's, you feel the history of the place and are struck by ed mirvish's semi-celebrity status. he did a lot for toronto by introducing the groundbreaking deals he did, several decades ago. he deserves his props for that. however in 2011, deals and sales are a dime a dozen and honest ed's offers poor quality at no particularly excellent price.
with all that said, i hope it doesn't close (there have been rumors). it is a landmark. i guess that's also a pretty jackassy thing to say, after tearing the place apart. -
Review from Matthew S.
Toronto, ON
2/9/2010
The attraction of Honest Eds completely mystifies me. Yes, it's kitschy and the sign is iconic. A lot of people seem to find the experience of shopping here nostalgic; it reminds them of the days before Wal-Mart I guess. I never went to Honest Eds growing up so my judgement isn't clouded by sentimentality. I see it for what it is: a hideous, monstrosity of a store selling outdated, low-quality merchandise.
Apart from the famous sign, which I do think is cool, the store and the window displays are ugly and badly in need of updating. Inside, Honest Eds is a total maze. It's okay if you're the type that enjoys wandering around trying to find what you need but good luck if you have something specific in mind. The staff are sparse or nonexistent.
The merchandise is of dollar store level quality, i.e. it's crap, and half the stuff appears like it's been sitting around since sometime in the 70s. I'm sure there is good stuff to be found if you have the patience to sort through the garbage. I don't.
I only see two potentially redeeming qualities for Honest Eds. First, it's dirt cheap. With those low prices come low quality though. Even if everything was free I still wouldn't shop at Honest Eds. Second, you can avoid shopping at Wal-Mart and support a local business. That's fair enough but I'd rather support a local business by going to my local dollar store.
Avoid at all costs unless you go for purely entertainment value. -
Review from Zhina J.
Oakville, ON
12/16/2009
Ed's glory days are on its walls, not on the floors.
Last year, I worked with a girl who advertised Honest Ed's in almost every conversation. She told me about the $3 dresses, the $0.50 earring, and how she had never seen it all because it was so big.
I got paid less than $10/hr at the time, so the thought of spending $5 on an outfit, and still having money left over for earrings was ... well, enchanting.
So when, one cold Saturday afternoon, I strolled down the wrong side of Bloor st. and saw the big flashing lights of Honest Ed's sign, I knew I was destined to enter. Soy Chai Latte in hand, my pinkie pushed the pedestrian crossing button.
I pressed my boots onto the wet asphalt to get to the other side, guilty of spending so much on them just the day before. I honestly imagined Ed's would have the same shoes for about a tenth of the price.
After the door closed behind me, I had to push through what looked like the subway exit doors, you know those horizontal metal bars attached to a pole? those.
In front of me were a dozen tables covered in stuff. I call it stuff because I can't think of a single unifying category. There were plastic clocks, $0.40 candles, and plastic flowers in pastel colours.
There were other things too, like cheap vases.
I saw stairs and took them sure Id find the fashion mayhem I'd come for. Down, and it looked like a dollar store for groceries. I'm sure I'd take advantage of the prices if I lived close by. But I don't, and soda crackers were the last thing I wanted.
I opted for the set of stairs taking me to the second floor, which I didn't actually bother walking through. My foot was on the last step when I saw a sea of hats, pajama pants, mittens, and ugly sweaters all in different variations of vomit.
I was done.
Past the numerous cash registers, on the way out, were many framed photos, newspaper clippings and collages. Bold framed letters. Everything boasted of a store that just wasn't there. If this place that so claims to be characteristic of Toronto had a golden age, it's gone.
Everything is on the wall now. I know they will never replace those old collages and pictures. I know they'll never shut the lights off outside. If they did, there would be no Honest Ed's. -
Review from andrea s.
10/25/2009
This is a shopper's paradise and so easy to get lost in. I don't think anything is over 30 dollars in the whole store. Anything you need for your house,you can find here along with some food. It's like a dollar store/Woolworth's.
I think the men's department looks better than the women's. I got two pair of Thinsulate men's gloves both being under 3 bucks a piece. I also grabbed some nice souvenirs for a dollar.
I only saw a couple of exits but many emergency exits. The store is never ending and for my first time going, I'd recommend it. There's too much stuff not to leave empty handed. -
Review from Jade H.
4/20/2010
O H M Y G O D !
This place is huge and confusing and so full of junk that people might want to buy. It is pretty cheap but so are the goods they sell. Is everything here a little irregular?
I loved walking through there and if I ever want a Canada souvenir, I would buy it here. Luckily, I hate chotchkies. I would so so so visit again. If I lived in Toronto, I might be a regular. -
Review from May B.
Vancouver, BC
8/1/2010
My two cents on Honest Ed's: claustrophobic and entertaining.
Yes, it's a maze in there. As soon as I descended my first staircase an inkling of paranoia set in; how was I going to find my way out? You're assaulted by wave upon wave of handwritten price tags and kitschy merchandise that you don't know where to begin as staircase after staircase beckons you to a new section of the store. The air is stale and the lights are fluorescent and yet you keep on walking, looking for a door that says 'exit' but keep running into bin after bin instead.
I tried to stop worrying and started enjoying myself for a bit. Gotta say, I found the store pretty amusing. You never know what second-grade crap people try to get rid of, and its fun to see what some people actually buy. The signs all over the store encouraging customers (you lucky thing, you!) are hilarious, and I think I spent more time taking a look at the old show posters and actor headshots than I did looking at actual merchandise.
Honest Ed's is definitely an experience. Despite my slightly exaggerated sense of claustrophobia, I had fun. You run into the thriftiest bargain hunters and find the weirdest things for sale, and the occasional "hey, this is pretty good" deal. Fun to be had for all! -
Review from Christina S.
5/7/2009
Honest Ed's is more of a tourist spot than a great store, but when you live in downtown Toronto, this is the closest you're going to get to a Walmart (except for that Walmart at Dufferin Mall).
The inside of the store is confusing and it's designed to make you walk through the entire thing before you can actually leave. The hardcore money saving grandmas are aggressive on the weekends and the line ups are long due to slow cashiers who probably hate their lives.
I don't mean to hate on Honest Ed's though, it still holds a special place in my heart for its sense of humor, weird finds, and Toronto landmark status. A must-visit for anyone in the Toronto area. -
Review from Erin H.
Toronto, ON
9/11/2008
I remember a story where Curious George hangs out in the toy section of a shop so long that he gets locked in overnight.
It is of course easy for Curious George to get locked in because looking exactly like a toy monkey he is easily mistaken as part of the section, but it seems to me that anyone (you, me, the man in the park, the dog tied to a tree, the neighborhood pervert, etc), anyone could get trapped overnight in this maniacal store because Honest Ed's is a little piece of you and I.
Honest Ed's is honest because it refuses to pretend it is something that it it isn't. But at the same time it isn't anything. Or, at the risk of sounding too philosophical, Honest Ed's isn't one thing.
To sum up this insane review, go to Honest Ed's for some nose clippers or a plain old good time. -
Review from Connie T.
Toronto, ON
11/27/2008 1 photo
Honest Ed's is cheap and pure kitsch, and it has certainly clung to its mission, merging cheap goods and entertainment together for the past 60 years. In fact, I don't recall it changing an iota since I first stepped foot in the store 20 years ago.
I never get tired of going to Honest Ed's, even if it's just for a random walk around, to take pictures, and laugh at the "Black Passion" incense packages. But it's more than that: I love the staff. I love people watching. I love the signs in the clothing department. I love those coin-operated rides. I love the autographed Mirvish headshots. I love encountering weird rooms like that space with those imported gold-gilded Asian dragons.
This is an institution. From the cheesy fonts to the eclectic giftware (Pope John Paul night lights, anyone?), it represents an era and to this day still embraces old immigrant culture. My mother continues to have proud memories of the place, for the vast array of cheap clothing and boxed and packaged groceries.
This is the best free museum you'll see in Toronto. Forget about paying 20-some-odd bucks to see the ROM. This place captures the late '60s and early '70s better than any overpriced formal gallery. Please visit often, and never let Ed die!Listed in: Free and cheap hangouts in…
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Review from Michael T.
Toronto, ON
11/14/2010
The air in this place is so stale it makes me sick. Big bins of irrelevancy for sale. Skip it.
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Review from Lynda W.
Toronto, ON
9/6/2008
Honest Ed's is a staple in Toronto. And by staple I mean if you buy anything here, expect to be using staples to piece it back together after it breaks two days after buying it.
The sign to this store is so big and hideously cheesy, it's an eye sore to watch. But I will admit that you can find some cheap crap here. I recommend buying kitchen things such as cooking utensils and such. Don't expect the quality to be that great, but it's worth a visit even if it's to laugh at all the random, unless stuff they have.
The great thing about Honest Ed's is that every year he hands out turkey during x-mas and thanksgiving. But be prepared to line up if you want one of these free suckas. A successful businessman who gives back to his community, quintessentially Canadian! -
Review from Julie C.
9/22/2008
This is one of those places you kind of HAVE to go at least once. Just do a google or flickr search for pictures of it and you'll see what I mean. I didn't find much of anything to buy here other than a couple of emergency insoles that I needed from wearing the same boots in the snow every day. Besides, I was visiting, so I didn't need any housewares or anything like that. I also found myself getting depressed wandering from room to room looking at piles and piles of crap.
Maybe I needed to go there with someone else to enjoy it more, but I'd definitely still recommend it since I am a huge fan of the Crap Store. -
Review from Amanda A.
Toronto, ON
7/27/2009
You know... I want to love this place. It is just so tacky that it is amazing. I love the idea, I admire the Mirvish family, and its got some real history in Toronto. But, for a store so large, there is hardly anything I'd consider buying.
Yes, the prices are great, but do I really need this stuff? In most cases - no.
I think the actual experience of walking around Honest Ed's and seeing all the funny signs and old posters, statues, etc. is what its really all about. And as a Torontonian, it gets old.
For those who love flea markets and dollar stores, this is your place. I wish my grandfather was still around, he would've loved it! You can get some really great "deals" but you do get what you pay for. Don't ask me what in the world got in my head when I decided to buy an MP3 player here. The thing fell apart in less than a month.
The clothes are not appealing to me, at all. But I could see getting some basics here... maybe.
Anyways, as much as it seems I'm griping on Honest Ed's, I do appreciate it. Its just in no means my regular shopping centre. I'm not exactly nearby so its not worth the trip. But, with that said, I do think every Torontonian or visitor should visit it at least once. -
Review from Alejandro A.
Toronto, ON
12/1/2008
The single word that best describes Honest Ed's is "overwhelming."
When you first walk into this whale of a department store, you really don't know what to do with yourself. With 3 floors spread out over two buildings which over an entire city block, chances are that if it's your first ten times coming here, you'll get lost. But the entire store is such a novelty in and of itself and you can't help but trying again and again.
Eventually, you get used to the layout on the store. Food in the basement next to the ancient artifacts, with lamps on the other side. Jackets, gloves, hats and curtains (shower and otherwise) is above the floor with the hygiene products, which is next to the electronics department.
Silly? Yes. True? Also yes.
The best thing about Honest Ed's is that it has just about everything. From tables to milk to water guns, you'll find it here. There's a good chance that it'll be a crappy knock off of a knock off in terms of quality, but it'll be here. It's just up to you if you want to buy it. -
Review from Anna V.
Toronto, ON
11/13/2008
Honest Ed's is the bomb. I don't know anyone who doesn't love going there, or doens't have a wicked story of some random piece of junk treasure they found at Honest Ed's.
It's loud, over the top and filled with piles and piles of stuff. All kinds of stuff. And the prices are better than anywhere in town. Need cheap undershirts? Cutlery? Porcelain Elvis bust? Yeah, it's all on the same floor, and cheaper than anywhere else in town.
It's basically a department store of stuff. With screaming, hand painted signs and funny bargain slogans or flashing lights everywhere.
Plus, Ed was like a total pillar of the community and really loved Toronto and poured his heart and soul and wallet right back into the city.
I wouldn't want to go every day or on a long weekend, but every now and then, you gotta pop in and feel the overwhelming stench of a hot deal waiting to be discovered.
It's the literal reminder of exactly what Toronto is all about, a giant bargain bin where the possibility is endless, but you gotta sift through a lot of junk to find a diamond in the rough. -
Review from Kim B.
ON
12/12/2008 42 photos
If you ever find yourself in need of an Elvis Bust or a discount haircut BEYOND discount, or would like to see loads of punny signs or a massive cuckoo clock with a deranged reindeer on top....or if you simply want to have a little fun, you should definitely go to Honest Ed's.
It's a Toronto legend in the form of a dilapidated discount store.
It's cheap, a great place to go to if you're heading off to college and need some basic household items OR if you're not heading off to college but need some basic household items.
But buyers beware! It is ALMOST impossible to find your way out of the store once you're inside. It's layout makes about as much sense as the old posters on the walls.
But go. Go just to see the wackiness.Listed in: CHEAP Toronto
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