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Rolo
Category: Event Planning & Services Cards & Stationery Shopping Arts & Crafts Cards & Stationery Shopping Flowers & Gifts Cards & Stationery Cards & Stationery
24 Bellair StreetToronto, ON M5R 2C7
Neighbourhood: Yorkville
(416) 920-0100
- Hours:
Mon, Sat 10:30 am - 6 pm
Tue-Fri 10:30 am - 7 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
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$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- No
11 reviews for Rolo
11 reviews in English
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Review from Sara K. P.
Toronto, ON
2/26/2012
For some reason being inside Rolo takes me back to my childhood summers spent in Japan where everything is very cute, laughably novel and very crowded, but in a good way! Where else in Yorkville could you find adorable pet African dwarf frogs, Fuck Chow Ramen, confetti made from German porn mags and of course Bacon lube!
There is so much product neatly jammed into this small shop that visiting ROLO takes on a museum like experience, but you are bound to find that perfectly unexpected something for you or that special someone.
The owner of Rolo, the aptly named Rowley is ever the savvy yet highly entertaining proprieter as he flashes me his trademark half cherubic half devilish smile while extolling the virtues of a singing Justin Beaver animated stuffed toy. Armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of his products he'll give you the rundown of everything in his shop with the precision of a curator and the energizing banter of an infomercial announcer.
As difficult it is to find a genuinely amusing shopping experience in Yorkville, you can count on ROLO to put a smile on your face.Listed in: Fevrier Sans Food
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Review from Mark S.
Vaughan, ON
4/26/2012
The guy who owns this place is jokes, gift city.
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Review from Vivek S.
9/28/2011
I came here with my little sister convinced that ROLO was an acronym. Ridiculous Olio Life Organization? Rastafarian Organization of Les Objets? I pondered this impossible question as I browsed through the store and their ridiculous olio of laughable objects.
I'm a terrible giver of gifts, so stores like this make it easier. There is something for everyone here: young, old, male, female, coworker or lover (or even some demented combination of all of those). These curios can be pricy, but you can definitely pick up something neat for under $20. A good stop if your office is doing a Secret Santa or you're buying for a lot of people.
I spotted a cool cocktail shaker shaped like a can of spraypaint, a roll-away alarm clock, some nifty USB gadgetry and a battery operated head massager designed to ensure I would never leave my house again. There are household goodies, accessories and even some risque items for the perverts out there.
It's kind of small inside, so a full-tour of the store won't take more than 20 minutes. That's almost a good thing considering all the wonderful distractions within.
Obligatory Title Pun: Make this a part of your gift-giving ROTATION.
Menu Readability: n/a
Need to mention: ROLO stands for Realm Of Ludicrous Objects.
What this place teaches me about myself: I probably should have picked up that rolling alarm clock.Listed in: My Gift T.O. You, Yorkville and You
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Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 10/27/2011 1 Check-in Here
Everything is not as it seems in here!!
I just spent almost an hour here looking at stuff. Lots and lots of stuff.
You walk in and i slowly made my way around the store, looking from floor to ceiling with shelves upon shelves of mostly useful but quirky things.
It's the best place to find a gift for anyone of any age. The owner is super friendly and will always bring out his latest stash of toys. Today it was this silicone iPhone speaker system amplifier for $15. And it actually works.
Products here include Fred, Alessi, Lug. There's a bookshelf at the back with tons of reading on both useless and relevant information. Sarcastic and hilarious cards are also found back there. In the glass cases are silver trinkets and fancy menorahs.
I came in here looking for gifts for one person, but ended up finding gifts for myself and 3 other people. What I like best is that the stuff is useful - like a bottle top camera stand, or a kitty ring holder, or a mug but has a shark at the bottom. And decently priced too. I also saw something like a earbud cord wrapper, I thought was redundant, and now in everyday life finding myself needing it. Needless to say, I will be back.
Check out their updated website with online ordering. Browse through this well catelogued site without getting overwhelmed at the actual store, but the place is an experience on its own.Listed in: OCT 2011 - 30 days Yelp…, Gifts, Presents, Trinkets and…
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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4/6/2010
Where can you go to get someone a gift when you have no idea what to get them?!
Rolo was the perfect… Read more »
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Review from Jennifer M.
Toronto, ON
12/16/2010
This is possibly the most fun store ever. EVER.
Rolo is what the IT Store tried to be, but with designer goods (meaning from industrial designers) and genuinely whimsical products, not just flatulence and troll dolls.
I just popped in with a coworker to grab some last minute gifts. One of my best friends is really into religious iconography so I selected a fridge magnet collection of "What would Jesus Wear" with options that range from 2 live Crew attire to traditional robe and cross or business suits with Raybans. I also through in a Jesus pepper mill. For my Boss I picked up grenade salt and pepper shakers and "Put a Cap in your Glass" gun shaped ice cube molds. (Modern Warefare fan)
They do have less offensive and more practical gifts like well designed Octapus USB hubs.
You can check out everything on their site and go in with an idea if you rather. The staff is super friendly.
TONNES of useful, imaginative, intelligent, hilarious gifts for under $25.Listed in: Best of the Best
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Review from jocelyn l.
3/26/2011
Adorable gift shop. You'd miss it if you blink, so be on the lookout for it.
Small but full of fun, interesting knick-knacks and good quality gifts -
Review from Victoria M.
Toronto, ON
1/31/2009
Rolo is such a good store to find things that you wouldn't find anywhere else.
If you ever went to "The General Store" when it was in Hazelton Lanes, the guy that used to run that, opened up Rolo when it closed.
Awesome little store! -
Review from Melinda M.
Toronto, ON
10/27/2009 1 Check-in Here
This store is the first place I go when I need to buy a gift for "the person who has everything" or "the person I don't know well enough to know what they want." Just walk in and start talking to the guy behind the counter and ENJOY!
The guy behind the counter is most likely the owner and he makes Rolo so much fun! He loves everything he sells, and gets really excited and he'll show you how things work and what makes them great and you'll leave the store with exactly the right gift for your friend, some stuff for yourself, and a smile on your face. Great storel Now that I've talked about it, I want to go back.
Price range is very reasonable, too. You can find something within any budget.Listed in: 5 star reviews: Shopping in…, Yorkville
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Review from Susan N.
Toronto, ON
7/21/2011
Its name reportedly stands for Realm of Ludicrous Objects, which sums things up nicely. That said, if you've been to any sort of quirky gift-shop before, you'll know what to expect from this one; in fact, most of what Rolo sells was pretty familiar to me. The staff is enthusiastic, but so in-your-face that I found them downright pushy; if you prefer to be left alone to look through merchandise and make decisions about what to buy, then I'd say skip this store.
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Review from Melissa J.
Toronto, ON
11/12/2008
Rolo the store is similar to Rolo the candy -- they may both be small, but WOW are they ever fun. This store in Yorkville is tiny as all hell, but the walls are full of fun gift items and it's just a fun store in general.
You'll probably be drawn in by the alternative to the knife block -- the plastic person who you has all your kitchen knives poking through its androgynous body. It also comes in gold! If you're anything like me, you'll think of that one person in your life who would absolutely love to have this poor stabbed person sitting on their kitchen counter.
And once you go inside, you'll be stuck in there forever. You'll stare at one wall for half an hour, just taking in everything around you. And then the owner will start chatting with you and he'll show you all the new cool stuff he got in and you will be in here even longer.
This store has almost everything to make your life more convenient, from a flat, portable and waterproof rubber keyboard to that last-minute new baby gift -- how about a onesie with a picture of Barack Obama that says "I need a change"?
Everything in here is so cute and fun, even if you hate all things cute and fun you will probably still find something in here that you'll love. Plus it's in Yorkville without the Yorkville prices. -
Review from kelly h.
Toronto, ON
5/1/2011
When you don't know what to get for that hard-to-shop-for gal with a forensics degree and a serious love of Law and Order: SVU, you need to check out Rolo. A caution tape scarf! How fantastic is that?
Rolo the man is just as fab as Rolo the store. He modelled the scarf for me, and that pretty much clinched the deal.
