It's the kind of thing
Honest Ed's has always been known for, and it would've made the store's late founder proud.
The Toronto bargain mecca is holding a three-day sale from Thursday through Saturday, and prices will be slashed to 1930s levels. That means you can come in with only your change purse on you and leave with bags full of merchandise.
"We just thought, that's all you hear in the news lately. A lot of problems out there. We've been doing unique and one-of-a-kind different things for decades and we just thought this was apropos for the times, to try to recreate an event (where) people can buy items depicting prices of the Hungry '30s," the store's longtime general manager Russell Lazar tells
CityNews.ca. "I think we've come up with 50 or 60 (different) items and we've got a couple hundred thousand pieces altogether."
A few examples of what's on offer at the store over the next three days: a loaf of sliced white bread for a quarter, T-shirts for 10 cents, a bar of soap for 20 cents, tea towels for 25 cents, and sport socks for a dime.
There are also candles, salad plates, coffee mugs, soap dishes, facecloths, baby bottles, original oil paintings, light bulbs, bagels, spaghetti and milk, and most items won't set you back more than a quarter. Some of the items, notably the grocery staples such as milk and bread, are available in limited quantities, so Lazar advises getting to the store early.
The unique sale should come as no surprise to those familiar with the landmark retailer's history. For years, 'Honest Ed' Mirvish oversaw the annual turkey giveaway at Christmastime, helping to give those less fortunate something to smile about over the holidays. And by stripping things down to the bare basics at his store, no returns or deliveries, no fancy packaging, he was often able to offer prices way below his competitors. It worked, as people came in droves and lined up around the block to take advantage. And though Mirvish passed away in 2007, the store's traditions live on.
"We've been doing this for decades. We decide on a promotion and our buyers go out hunting for merchandise that we can pass on to the public. This is one of our more exciting ones than I think we've seen in years," Lazar enthuses, adding that he anticipates 15,000 to 20,000 people to walk through the doors over the next three days.
"We think it's going to create a lot of fun and get rid of these winter blahs."
Shoppers agree.
"I love this store, I come here all the time, I live just down the street and I've gotten some excellent bargains down here," said Ian Grill.
"At Thanksgiving with the turkeys and the giveaways, I think he (Mirvish) was a really, really good man, I think he had a big heart, and it's great that his son is carrying on the legacy."
The store, located on the southwest corner of Bloor and Bathurst Sts., is open from 10am to 9pm Thursday and Friday, and 10am to 6pm Saturday.
Some of the items you'll find at the Honest Ed's Hungry 30s sale (some in limited quantities):
- White sliced bread - 25 cents
- Dozen eggs - 25 cents
- Italpasta spaghetti, 900g pkg - 25 cents
- 1L Sealtest 2% milk - 25 cents
- Mac & cheese dinner - 25 cents
- 200 mL carton apple juice - 17 cents
- Assorted bouillon cubes - 25 cents
- Aluminum picture frame - 15 cents
- Evenflo 4oz glass baby bottle - 10 cents for 4
- 10 pack pencil set - 10 cents
- Ombra bath & body wash (20 mL) - 10 cents
- Ladies T-shirts - 10 cents
- Men's briefs - 25 cents
- Facecloths - 10 cents
- Tapered candles - 10 cents
- Salt & pepper set - 25 cents
- 5x6" framed oil paintings - 25 cents
- Men's gloves - 25 cents
- Men's suit bags - 10 cents
- Porcelain salad plate - 10 cents
- Coffee mugs - 25 cents
- Nail polish - 12 cents
- Light bulbs - 17 cents
- Garbage bags - 5 for 25 cents
To see the sale flyer,
click here
(PDF file).