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Shops at Don Mills
Category: Shopping Shopping Centres Shopping Centres [Edit]
1090 Don Mills RdToronto, ON M3C 3R6
(416) 447-6087
- Hours:
Mon-Fri 10 am - 9 pm
Sat 9:30 am - 9 pm
Sun 11:30 am - 6 pm
- Price Range:
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$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Parking:
- Street, Private Lot
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
22 reviews for Shops at Don Mills
Review Highlights
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"...also boasts Ontario's first McNally Robinson Booksellers, a..." In 4 reviews -
"Still great with even more stores now open." In 12 reviews -
"I really like this mall, and happy that it survived the..." In 3 reviews
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21 reviews in English
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Review from Edwin A.
5/18/2012 1 Check-in Here
Lots of history on this parcel of land it's gone through many changes over the years, I liking the outdoor mall concept. Yes there are some climate issues to contend with -- this is Toronto it comes with the territory. It's revitalizing this area that been dormant for the past 10 years and people are coming.
Condos are on its way soon, selling the lifestyle of upscale and experience.
Highlights for me; McEwans Grocery - gourmet you should see the olive oil aisle $500 bottles, Linda's Thai restaurant - nice red interior, Joey's - funny drink menu, Bier Markt - woot uptown location, Murale Shoppers Drugmart's Cosmetic - ok not a highlight for me but for her lol, highest margin dept goes stand alone.
Only downside is surrounding area isn't all that. Just walk just outside your upscale bubble and poof welcome to the real world outside Shops of Don Mills. -
Review from Johnny H.
Toronto, ON
5/10/2012 5 photos
Shops at Don Mills (SADM) can be useful for many things, but also useless at many things as well. First, this is an outdoor mall. You add exercise, getting fresh air and tanning to your shopping experience. No stuffy air or artificial lightings in the mall. It is a great place to walk around.
But that only applies when the weather is nice. This place is good when weather is warm and nothing is falling from the sky. The stores are not really that diverse. Many popular brands are not present at SADM. Many stores (Tristan, Aldo, Guess, Anthropologie) are not well-stocked either. Items are not really up-to-date, and something you might find at other locations may not be there.
On a brighter note, there are many activities going on during summer such as concerts, promo events, movie screening and more. Furthermore, this mall has some unique stores and specialty stores as well.
But also in summer, it can get really crowded. Not fashionable crowded, but unpleasant crowded. People who live around the mall just come out and chill. And they bring their whole family with them!
In winter, this place is a ghost town. This place needs more decorations and more activities during cold season.
I've been to this kind of malls around the world. SADM lacks a lot of things. They can do much more to improve and attract more customers. But for now, I think they are just satisfied with where they are. -
Review from Darren S.
Markham, ON
1/3/2012
I love this mall! Or strip mall! Or upscale plaza! Whatever, I give up. I actually cannot categorically describe this place to relatives when they visit. They give me the "Canada is so damn cold, so why is it outdoors? Are you nuts?". Yes. Yes we are.
The selection of shops here is actually quite nice. I especially love Anthropologie, which is a favourite with my family members, the girlfriend, and visiting relatives (who all happen to be artsy-fartsy-bohemiany). The store isn't cheap, but it's great for browsing and getting ideas. I guess the same can be said for most stores here. The not-cheap part, that is. The stores here are noticeably of a more upscale variety, and getting bargains is out of the question. Then again, that's probably not their purpose in the great scheme of lif...I mean shopping scene.
Some highlights here are Roots (the store is decorated very nicely and has a pretty big selection), Teaopia (always a nice treat), Joey Don Mills (personally haven't been here but many who have tried told me it's great), the aforementioned Anthropologie, and Tristan (because I'm a well-dressed guy, so sue me :P).
Walking around here from December to February is probably pretty much tantamount to suicide by frost so it's best not to. However I disagree with Kat K. who says this place is only a treat for a quarter of the year, because walking around during spring and fall is fine. If it's a bit chilly, just duck into a shop :) Of course when the weather is painfully cold, i.e. the aforementioned Dec-Feb, then it's just torture.
So to sum it up, it's not really like a mall. But then again it's not really trying to be. And for that, I applaud this shopping centre.
Oh, and they have Linda's. That place is awesome. See my review :) -
Review from Mark S.
Vaughan, ON
5/20/2012
I went to the shops at Don Mills a few days ago on a gorgeous day. It was very boring. Everything was a little too spread out and the walkways/exterior architecture was kind of suburban. There's a lot of young friendly dog walkers, but also a lot of middle aged european men sipping espressos on patios people watching. Overall, if I lived in the area I may have enjoyed my time more, but I travelled pretty far to get to the shops, so I was kind of let down.
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Review from Kat K.
12/22/2011 2 Check-ins Here
I've got pretty mixed feelings about this place; mostly because it is an outdoor mall - and outdoor strolling in the winter isn't exactly the greatest when I have dislike of super cold weather with the windchill happening.
However in the summer, this place is a real treat - but that's only for a quarter of the year.
I guess I could say it is the equivalent of Bayview Village only Outdoors - meaning there are plenty of upscale restaurants with a mix of mid-range to upscale boutiques for your browsing pleasure.
And Shops @ Don Mills has the pleasure of being the only location (for now) that has Anthropologie.
The best place to find parking is being the McEwans Grocery Store - there is there is a multi-level garage.
They've got some events happening such as live music and in the winter the main common piazza (?) is a skating track. -
Review from joyce k.
1/2/2012 1 Check-in Here
Does an outdoor mall really make sense in toronto, which is freezing half year round?!
This gets 4 stars based on their selection of shops, but 1 star based on how hard it is to find parking:( -
Review from Janna S.
11/5/2011 5 Check-ins Here
This concept seems a bit too hopeful for the Canadian climate. Sure, it's nice on the odd day where the weather works in your favor, but in the winter this place is not inviting at all. Having to go outside from shop to shop isn't very pleasant, and even if you do have a car you can't park in a central location. The lots are both on the outside of the shopping area.
I guess I have to give the mall administration props for trying to bring business to a very out-of-the-way spot for TTC users, but if I really wanted to shop swanky, I'd rather go to Bayview Village. It's located right beside a subway stop and, well...about 3 minutes walking distance from home. So I'm definitely biased.
On the plus side, this is a nice pedestrian experience and when the days are sunny and warm, it's a great little jaunt. I hear they have live music in summer, so that could be worth checking out too. -
Review from bold c.
Toronto, ON
8/20/2011
Love the new mall experience -- every store except ROOTS!
Absolute drama from the Roots manager when I went to return a gift purchased two days prior.
Seriously - Not worth it.
Pity I really enjoyed the staff customer experience days prior.
Manager was absolutely a control freak. Poor staff and customers.
Seriously please read the return manual when a customer needs a simple return experience not 20 minutes of wasted time - especially when the original receipt, credit card and Cadillac Fairview (gift MasterCard) was presented.
The mall is 5+ stars. Staff at roots is 5+.
Roots manager and her poor customer service = 2 stars. -
Review from Keith C.
9/17/2011 1 Check-in Here
This whole concept is a pretty good idea ... if it was in the US. The concept of this shopping area just does not work this far north. It is perfect for hot summer locations like in the southern US but this far north, it just doesn't work. Don't get me wrong, in the summer time, it is awesome here. People can walk around, relax, hang out, etc. However, once it starts getting cold, no one will want to walk around. The big problem is that there is absolutely no parking and no access to the subway. If you don't have a car, you will need to take the buses to get here.
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Review from Jennifer K.
Markham, ON
I love to browse around at Shops at Don Mills! And I think my dog would love the idea too!!
So neat that you can bring your little doggie inside the stores and shop with you as long as the stores does not sell any food products! I know for non dog lovers it does not sound really appealing but what the heck... as long as the dogs are well behaved!
The shops here are more upscale and it is a wonderful experience to browse and do some window shopping when the weather is nice and sunny.
At least Shops at Don Mills is an unique experience compares to all those suburban malls that feature the same stores and selling the same goods! This is a breath of fresh air!
I can hear my dog calling me and want to spend an afternoon doggie shopping on a nice sunny day!Listed in: Shopping Malls!, Dog Friendly Places in GTA!
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Review from Amanda A.
Toronto, ON
Updated - 10/17/2010
Shops at Don Mills has officially become my favorite shopping "mall" in Toronto. At first I was skeptical about the concept and how it would survive in the winter. I have been shopping here year round and I absolutely love it.
I love how much work they have put into keeping SADM busy and active. Between the free concerts, movie screenings in the centre court, ice rink in the winter, and various other events there is always something going on here.
I really appreciate the collection of "regular" stores along with specialty shops. The restaurants are great, and they finally opened a fast food option (besides Pizza Pizza), South Street Burger Company.
My ultimate pampering Saturday is spent getting my eyebrows done at Murale, hair done at Donato and then a pedicure at Aphrodite. Top it off with a Teaopia Tea and I'm set.Listed in: Toronto's Best Shopping
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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7/25/2009
I really love what's open at Shops at Don Mills, so far. I am not big on crowded malls, so this open… Read more »
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Review from Karl R.
9/20/2009 17 photos
Shops at Don Missing: This place looks like it was opened somewhat prematurely. There are a number of empty store fronts. And of course the down economy was probably a nail biter for the mall's investors. It's reminiscent of the outdoor mall concept popular on the west coast, like Seattle's U Village and the Redmond Town Center. While the aforementioned malls are both decidedly positioned for middle classed consumers, the Shops at Don MIssing seems positioned to be upscale.
The mall is, after all, a short jaunt from the uber tony Bridle Path neighborhood, which hosts the cribs of some of Canada's most prestigous imprisoned captains of industry like Conrad Black. So I guess the mall is really meant to cater to their needs, not a desk drone like me.
Still I'm no stranger to upscale shopping and can window shop with the best of 'em. And... well.. I dunno. Nothing here made me wish my income was doubled. It could use a couple more coffee shops. There is a Starbucks but it might be nice if there was a Timonthy's or Second Cup. -
Review from WaYnE c.
Maple, ON
8/25/2010
Brief Intro:
Shops at Don Mills located at Lawrence ave. and Don Mills rd. is an outdoor Shopping facility in an old neighbourhood of rental apartments and a few office buildings. It has ROADS and lanes within the area itself that allow a limited few cars to parallel park while others will have to settle for the parking areas on the outer edges or the Four level Parkade on the NW end.
Multiple Guest Services and Washrooms throughout what they name MEWS. Two grocery shops battle it out as McEwan to the North and Metro to the South. Two banks face-off as RBC to the NE corner, while TD near the SW corner. The ideas and designs are carefully thought-out from the names of the streets to the artwork and structures each have their own heritage story to tell.
Restaurants OUTNUMBER the fastfood joints here as the 2nd Quick Eats of South St. Burger is still in construction while Pizza Pizza has tons of 8x11 B&W printouts covering their windows to show you the deals. Some Restaurants are the upscale versions of known franchise businesses such as Glow(Pickle Barrel), Jack Astor's, Linda Modern Thai. Joey Don Mills looks the most awesome with a 2nd floor patio.
Seating Comfort Level:(**---)
What do you expect from OUTDOOR seating? Grab a bench seat in front of some random shop overlooking the fake street like you're waiting for the bus to come. If that's not your cup of tea, then grab a umbrella covered patio seat at the Town Square. Of course no shop is complete without Canada's first robotic Water Feature otherwise know to us normal folks as Water Fountain. Don't mistake it though because it is energy efficient and entertaining, for you to discover.
Safety Zone:(*----)
Tough call as you can see other Yelpers loving this place. It's not a large place so SUCK it up and enjoy shopping at the 1 Official Men's Apparel shop of Barbuti Fine Men's Clothing. Although I had half a foot inside Aldo and Browns footwear myself. On a perfect weather evening, its great to enjoy a brief walkthrough of shops such as Ko's Gift Shop, Anthropologie{which I almost walked in following a couple ladies}, Salomon, Guess, Mexx, then end the night at one of the patios of any Restaurant.
Exit Strategy:(***--)
I believe if you came here in the first place, EXIT strategy is already too late for you unless the idea was only to come here for a meal. There's a Town Square open area that leads everywhere but there's no point because the shops are actually reasonable/affordable considering that the design of this place can initially intimidate someone and lead to think that it is more upscale than other malls. I mean the only Jeweller is Symphony Diamonds while theres a good variety of Services, Medical, Personal Car & Health Services.
Entertainment Level:(****-)
I quite like the entertainment factor here and I'm not talking about that Water Feature. The feature I speak of is the People Watching slash Automobile Watching factor. It is an outdoor space so you're always on a street or seating in a patio that overlooks the passing people or stationary but either one is cool while you sit on the bench. Almost like watching a CAR show of BMWs, Mercedes, Porsche, etc... I walked into McEwan and had the pleasure of listening to a young girl talking to her mom about planning to got to Hawaii after Australia.Listed in: The Guys Survival Guide to…
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Review from Kat F.
3/6/2010 1 photo
This mall is a total destination and worth a TTC detour! Teaopia, Anthropologie, Bath & Bodyworks, McNally Robinson (OK, R.I.P.) and the most exciting of all: Murale! I must review it separately - it's Sephora to the power of 10.
The valet parking service was puzzling. Who uses this service at a mall? -
Review from Hailey E.
Toronto, ON
4/28/2009
Yesterday I discovered Toronto's brand-new outdoor shopping experience - and I'm thrilled to report that it seems as though it will be a great addition to the city!
This beautifully landscaped, 30-acre, outdoor mall (reminiscent of what you'd find in California) features walking paths, water fountains, loads of parking, and retail heaven!!!! Not all of the 100 stores are open yet but I've already discovered a few gems.
Anyone whose been to or lived in the US is sure to be familiar with Anthropologie -- a stunning clothing/decor shop (similar to Urban Outfitters) with amazing women's fashion, jewelry, furniture, accessories and more.
The new outdoor mall also boasts Ontario's first McNally Robinson Booksellers, a Winnipeg-based business (with a location, now called McNally Jackson Books, in NYC). This beautiful, two-story book shop will certainly rival Indigo. They have a fantastic selection of fiction and non-fiction titles & they call themselves "Canada's Most Eventful Bookstore" offering one event/author-reading/book-talk per day! {note: for the first 6 months that they're open, they're giving away free membership cards which entitle you to 10% off all book purchases and usually cost $25}
Finally, it looks as though cookbook author, Rose Reisman & the Pickle Barrel have teamed up to develop GLOW Fresh Grill & Wine Bar... a 6,500 sq-ft restaurant opening soon. (looks good!)
While the weather is nice, I'm certainly going to take advantage of Toronto's first outdoor lifestyle centre! Can't wait to discover what other shopping adventures await me... -
Review from Laura C.
Toronto, ON
3/30/2010
I really like this mall, and happy that it survived the Winter. An upscale, but not pretenious with affordable goods, and stores we've never seen before in Toronto. In the summer it's wonderful, with outdoor musicians and performances. The whole mall is outdoor, so walking around it's nice.
In the Winter, I only came here to go to a specific store, and that's it.
I think the valet parking is useful esp if you are clear across on the other side, and don't feel the need to brave the cold and walk back. -
Review from Katrina L.
Richmond Hill, ON
Updated - 11/1/2010
Still great with even more stores now open! It's got such a great atmosphere with events happening every Saturday during the Summer! Outdoor malls may be a but unpractical in Canadian weather but I think this mall stands the test as it has great stores and great restaurants to draw you in!
1 Previous Review: Show all »
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12/14/2009
WOW! Driving into the Shops at Don Mills is like being transported to another city, like a city that… Read more »
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Review from Barbara K.
Toronto, ON
1/12/2011
I have to say I have tried to like this mall but somehow I don't get it. It has actually become our neighbourhood mall, after a recent move. Our family has been here a number of times but I just feel that there is something missing.
My husband and I went to the Starbucks, hoping to sit and enjoy a coffee and chat. Every table was taken by customers taking care of "business", computers, phones and work papers about.
The Metro is a lovely store, nice to shop. However, other than the sale items the cost of the products is considerably higher than the other grocery stores we frequent.
And where is the bookstore? Was one, but no more.
My son and I had a wonderful lunch at the Jack Astors one Sunday. Recommend this place for sure.
My son also tells me there are great concerts in the warmer months.
We will no doubt keep trying. I am always hearing good things about this place. Maybe one day soon I will figure it out! -
Review from Peter R.
Richmond Hill, ON
8/25/2010 2 Check-ins Here
Good stores but nothing else around, needs a movie theater.
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Review from Evan H.
Peterborough, ON
2/14/2010 16 Check-ins Here
If you stop in at The Shops at Don Mills expect to spend a good hour there with plenty of stores to stroll through (check out the full list at http://www.shopsatdonm...). There is a great two story parking lot which always has available parking (as opposed to the angled street parking which people are always fighting over). I mainly visit the Salomon store (which is the first in North America) but also enjoy the Eddie Bauer store (largest one in the GTA). The Teopia is a good stop for a sampling of the teas of the day and the Starbucks is always packed. Sadly the McNally Robinson bookstore has recently closed. There are nice touches at the shops such as small street lights that make you feel like you are shopping in a small ski village and the area at the centre of the 'village' has been made into a small circular skating rink.
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Review from Margaret M.
Toronto, ON
6/20/2009
I was kind of excited to go here because who doesn't love the prospect of a new shopping centre... i was a bit dissapointed though because the stores weren't all that great (although i went about 2 weeks ago so at that point some of the stores were still in construction/there weren't many people around.) I feel like going there once was enough for me, & since its an outdoor concept mall I'm not sure if I would like to go there in the winter... lugging shopping bags in the snow doesn't sound like fun, but i heard something about climate control of the centre? maybe just a rumour...) What I did love was the fact that they had a Salomon Sports store (which is a bit on the pricey side like most other stores there including coach) AND McNally Robinson Booksellers (which I didn't have time to fully explore so that's the only thing I will go back for). Other stores like GUESS, Aldo, Mendocino, etc you can find in a mall closer to home or on queen st/downtown where there is more stuff within walking distance.
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