FEATURED STOCKISTS
Can you tell us a little bit about Synonym?
My business partner and I took over Synonym in August (yes, in the middle of all this craziness). The previous owners had wanted to sell for quite sometime. We discussed it in February - before the first lockdown happened. We didn’t know how bad it would get, but then it got bad. Luckily we hadn’t signed anything yet. We held off until the summer when things seemed a bit more optimistic.
It’s a cozy coffee shop on James Street North in Hamilton set in an old gallery space. We kept a lot of what the previous owners had built but expanded the drink selection and food options. We wanted to operate as a wine bar - which will happen when things are back to “normal.” Right now, we have a nice selection of independent books/magazines, local beer, natural wine (to drink here or takeaway) and a small all-day menu that changes seasonally.
Toronto is a big city, where is Hamilton in relation?
For the longest time people referred to Hamilton as the “arm-pit” of Ontario. It’s industrial, a bit rough around the edges. It’s a 45-minute drive west of Toronto on Lake Ontario (in between Toronto and our “wine country” - Niagara). However, now, a lot of people refer to it as the Canadian “Brooklyn.” There’s a lot of young energy here - it’s a hub for creative industries; art galleries, independent theatres, film. They’re actually building Canada’s largest film studio here next year. In the next 5 years, Hamilton will look a lot different.
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For the longest time people referred to Hamilton as the “arm-pit” of Ontario. It’s industrial, a bit rough around the edges. It’s a 45-minute drive west of Toronto on Lake Ontario (in between Toronto and our “wine country” - Niagara). However, now, a lot of people refer to it as the Canadian “Brooklyn.” There’s a lot of young energy here - it’s a hub for creative industries; art galleries, independent theatres, film. They’re actually building Canada’s largest film studio here next year. In the next 5 years, Hamilton will look a lot different.
How important is community to Synonym?
What is a coffee shop without its community? There is so much joy in knowing someone’s name, coffee order and sharing a bit of their day with them. Just those few minutes of interaction have really made this year more bearable and a little less lonely. Our community is incredible - so many different kinds of people visit us from the people across the street at the Mission, to our neighbours who own floral shops, barbershops, restaurants; to artists, actors, musicians, construction workers etc. Our neighbourhood has really come together through this time: offering late night shopping, doing donation drives for the Mission, helping with street permits and the like.
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The food industry has been hit bad with the pandemic, how have you guys been faring?
This industry is the 4th largest employer in Canada and we’ve never seen anything this detrimental hit us. It’s been really tough. It’s forced us to be really creative and think outside the box by offering unique dinner kits, new takeaway and delivery options, online shopping, merchandise. Carrying niche books and magazines also helps.
SYNONYM is a neighborhood wine bar, bottle shop, café and bookshop that celebrates art, community & culture.
A portion of LONG DISTANCE sales from SYNONYM will go to Mission Services to help provide meals and shelter for the homeless.
Photographs by Brandon Titaro
What is a coffee shop without its community? There is so much joy in knowing someone’s name, coffee order and sharing a bit of their day with them. Just those few minutes of interaction have really made this year more bearable and a little less lonely. Our community is incredible - so many different kinds of people visit us from the people across the street at the Mission, to our neighbours who own floral shops, barbershops, restaurants; to artists, actors, musicians, construction workers etc. Our neighbourhood has really come together through this time: offering late night shopping, doing donation drives for the Mission, helping with street permits and the like.
The food industry has been hit bad with the pandemic, how have you guys been faring?
This industry is the 4th largest employer in Canada and we’ve never seen anything this detrimental hit us. It’s been really tough. It’s forced us to be really creative and think outside the box by offering unique dinner kits, new takeaway and delivery options, online shopping, merchandise. Carrying niche books and magazines also helps.
SYNONYM is a neighborhood wine bar, bottle shop, café and bookshop that celebrates art, community & culture.
A portion of LONG DISTANCE sales from SYNONYM will go to Mission Services to help provide meals and shelter for the homeless.
Photographs by Brandon Titaro
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