A Toronto-geared souvenir shop could one day open up inside city hall if an east-end councillor gets her way.
A motion from Beaches-East York Coun. Mary-Margaret McMahon that will be debated during next week’s government management committee meeting calls on the city manager to report back on the feasibility of “creating a City of Toronto store within city hall” that would sell “City of Toronto and TTC-branded goods as well as the best locally produced and/or themed products.”
The motion asks the city manager to report back by November with specific recommendations on where the store could be located, how a store operator could be chosen and whether or not satellite locations could easily be opened up at other locations across Toronto.
“I believe that we should offer visitors to this important building a place to sample the best of Toronto’s locally-made products as well as souvenirs of their visit,” McMahon writes in the motion. “It is a lost opportunity that a visitor to Toronto City Hall can’t purchase a book on our city’s history. Furthermore, the TTC has one of the strongest brands in Toronto. Unfortunately there is no central place to purchase a TTC mug or T-shirt.”
In her motion, McMahon notes that Toronto is behind many other municipalities who have already opened city-run stores to sell civic-themed merchandise, including New York City.
The councillor also added that the store would have a “minimal impact” on the city’s budget provided that an independent operator is chosen.
Discussing the concept with reporters at an unrelated press conference on Wednesday morning, Mayor John Tory said it does have some merit but needs further study.
“I think we don’t take advantage of the opportunity to show more of our history at city hall. From my office, I see thousands of tourists and school kids come through the building and they get very little sense of the history of Toronto while they are in there and similarly I think there is an opportunity to allow them to buy thinks that remind them of their visit,” he said. “It’s a worthwhile initiative.”
