The mom-and-pop convenience store is representative of so many Canadian success stories, even earning international acclaim as the subject of the hit sitcom Kim’s Convenience. Every neighborhood has at least one, but a handful of these convenience stores have strange and, at times, uncomfortable names.
Artist, writer and cartographer Daniel Rotsztain has crowdsourced a list with some of the most outlandish and humorous convenience store names, inspired by a local spot on Dupont Street in its own Junction Triangle neighborhood.
“I live near Ample Habitat Convenience, and the name speaks for itself,” says Rotsztain, who was inspired by its “beautiful and poetic name.”
He explains that he has “always loved Toronto’s convenience stores”, adding that “like many of its other institutions, the convenience store is the cornerstone of the city’s social infrastructure, often a family store – small business – gateways to find an establishment in Canada.
Knowing there were other gems lurking in the urban fabric, Rotsztain reached out to his Instagram following, crowdsourcing names of notable convenience stores. And the results range from delicious to random to overwhelming.
On Instagram, I asked my followers if anything beats “Ample Habitat” as the best convenience store name in Toronto (and beyond). Here are some of the results: pic.twitter.com/3yKBWh18co
— Daniel Rotsztain (@theurbangeog) March 22, 2022
Rotsztain explains how these stores are “anchors of personality and familiarity” in the hoods they represent, and this is evident in the way owners flex their individuality through highly unconventional names.
MILK MILK MILK; OJJJ (the extra J is for JJJ); a minor inconvenience; SPISH-SPASH pic.twitter.com/REyPSFS3Rf
— Daniel Rotsztain (@theurbangeog) March 22, 2022
A “rude but compelling subtype” of convenience store names might raise questions about the source of the milk sold in these establishments.
Who is Milk? Another raw, yet compelling subgenre pic.twitter.com/4Zm5QESptP
— Daniel Rotsztain (@theurbangeog) March 22, 2022
And then there’s the non-PG-rated “jug” convenience store subgenre, with names like “Jug Town” and “Royal Jug City” seeming equally appropriate for some kind of dated, misogynistic amusement park for dudebros. . .
The JUG subgenre pic.twitter.com/KVbBwOqdkX
— Daniel Rotsztain (@theurbangeog) March 22, 2022
One store stood out with its curious sign, which literally offers as many questions as answers.
Where is Tony? Is he with Fred? pic.twitter.com/M2sc6MYvaz
— Daniel Rotsztain (@theurbangeog) March 22, 2022
That’s only scratched the surface, and there are plenty more convenience stores with questionable or curious names scattered around the city just waiting to be grilled on social media.
