Top Six in the 6ix
- Amanda Breeze
- Jul 3
- 9 min read
Updated: 7 hours ago
“I sold a lot of weed before legalization,” laughs Sean, “my brother and I are both 90s kids. We grew up stoners in that era. When legalization was happening, we saw it as an opportunity to put our spin on a retail space. We wanted to draw from our past and create something colourful and space-themed, like Willy Wonka's dispensary on the moon.”
Mission success! Cosmic Charlies is stacked with time-warped furniture and retro tech, including vintage TVs and a classic game cube. The shop fits in perfectly with Queen West’s artistic and offbeat energy.
“When we were looking for locations and first viewed this space, there were Grateful Dead albums still on the wall from the previous owners. It just clicked,” Sean explains. “Cosmic Charlie is a Grateful Dead song about someone who follows the band for too long and gets lost in the trip. ‘It's time for you to go home, Cosmic Charlie’. I'm a big Grateful Dead fan, and it connects us to the counterculture that was always there.”
Cosmic Charlies is just steps from Toronto's outdoor social hub, Trinity Bellwoods Park. If you visit in the summer, you might catch the brothers riding around handing out ice cream on vintage DickieDee's bikes. “It's one of those things that doesn't really exist anymore. But it's fun. We love bringing back a bit of that 90s era, and it's our way of being part of the local community.”
While you’re in the neighbourhood, Sean highly recommends UFO Restaurant. Around the corner on Niagara Street, it’s a family-run hidden gem for food. “It's like a greasy spoon meets Vietnamese food. Their bánh mì and Vietnamese iced capp are legendary. It feels like an old-school NYC bodega in the heart of Toronto.”
For the ultimate stoner afternoon, pop into Cosmic Charlies for a few pre-rolls and cold drinks, then head to Trinity Bellwoods Park and hang out with the locals. If you're into podcasts, the brothers record their podcast, Higher Orbit, in the back of the shop!
“We actually get people walking in almost daily announcing that they're curious, which makes me endlessly happy,” Zaira smiles. “A lot of very cute interactions that start that way.”
It’s no surprise people are curious! This dispensary stands out on an otherwise grey street, with its luxurious green and gold exterior reminiscent of an old-timey curiosities shop. The unexpected aesthetic is carried into the interior, which was inspired by Victorian-era wallpaper.
“I love creating spaces,” Zaira shares. “Even before we had the name, I knew that there was this certain emotional energy I wanted the store to have. I found the exact wallpaper we needed from a Toronto-based designer who does Victorian reproduction prints. I had seen this one design—almost like a mural. It just set the whole vibe.”
From there, the rest came together with warm woods, deep greens, and the shop’s centrepiece: a gorgeous antique jewelry cabinet. “It actually feels like a turn-of-the-century apothecary. We’re really tapping into the kind of shop people might have bought their weed at before it became criminalized."
“Everything we built here was about creating a place where everyone feels welcome, no matter their
experience level,” she explains. “I helped my mom navigate medical cannabis pre-legalization and realized how cold and standoffish so many cannabis retail spaces were. What we hear the most is that people feel very comfortable and safe asking questions in our store.”
Zaira curates their menu to feature quality craft products from other family-owned businesses across Ontario. “There's this misconception that all regulated weed comes from massive corporations, so we love telling people that some of what we carry is grown just a
few blocks away.”
Located near the Junction Triangle, Curious Cannabis Co. is part of a neighbourhood that celebrates independent businesses and hidden gems. Even though this isn't Toronto's busiest area, you can wander around, and on any side street, you’ll find an art gallery you've never heard of next to the unlikeliest bespoke shop.
“If you want to find the weirdest mishmash of businesses possible—come to the Junction Triangle. There's a vintage store with a half-pipe in the back, a hat maker, and a record store that serves coffee. It's very Toronto.”
Built by family, for family, at the heart of this neighbourhood dispensary is its owner, Rayna Bliss.
Originally from Windsor, Ontario, she opened the shop two years ago and brought her whole family with her! “My cousins, nephews, my husband— half my family work here!" Rayna laughs.
“I was really grateful to be able to move to Toronto and be exposed to different things, different people, and different environments. I built this store to share those experiences with them.”
Before opening her shop, Rayna worked in the corporate world, feeling wholly disconnected from her purpose. “I remember calling my dad while crying at lunch. I felt like I wasn't leaving a good footprint," she recalls. “I wanted to help people, not just sell hot tubs or trips to Cancun— I always believed I was meant to create something that mattered."
When cannabis legalization came along, it all clicked. Rayna's father, a lifelong salesman, had joked for years that he'd only retire if it meant opening a dispensary. “The stars aligned, and I asked him if he would retire and do this. He said, ‘Absolutely!’”
A welcoming and inclusive community hub, On High is redefines how people connect with cannabis. “We're big on education,” Rayna explains. “Because there are 3000 products out there, you have to know what makes one product different from another. If we can help you understand weed better, to make better-informed choices for yourself, we’ve created a bridge."
“Life happens. Bills pile up, you've got weird neck pain that won't go away, or your laundry's out of control— cannabis isn't just about getting high. Our shop is for regular people who use cannabis. As if you were going to the butcher, the baker, or anywhere else on your way
home from work. That's why we're here,” she laughs. “I always say we don't sell weed. We sell experience and expertise. People just leave with weed.”
Though Rayna is humble about the shop's impact, her vision is clear: she's building bridges. “If we can create a space where people feel connected and supported, I've done something meaningful.”
Located on St. Clair West, you’ll find the shop in a family-friendly Toronto neighbourhood that feels like a hidden gem. “I wanted to bring my family to a beautiful neighbourhood that was for families. It's all about community here. People know each other. Most of them have been neighbours for 30 years.”
After a visit to On High, you can head next door for a traditional Greek coffee or pop-in and hang out at the social club for a drink. Rayna’s recommendations? “Pharaoh is a gem. The brothers are running that place so beautifully. Crave Coffee is the coziest, comfiest café, and their drinks are fantastic. And definitely visit Bloomberg. They have the most beautiful bouquets, great food, and serve the best wines. Plus, they also host really cool events."
“I've got a sweet tooth, so the bakeries around here are a real perk,” smiles shop owner Clifford Tindall. “There's a Japanese bakery, a Turkish bakery, an Italian bakery, even a Portuguese bakery— it's such a multicultural neighbourhood. I love being part of it.”
A proud Torontonian from the city's west end, you can often find Clifford chatting with customers from behind the counter of this historic location. “It’s a Toronto heritage building from the early 1900s, but before we moved in, it was a Starbucks," he laughs. “We're blending the old with the new.”
When designing the space, Clifford kept the exposed brick and the wainscotting, but it’s not the old-Toronto aesthetic that keeps this shop busy— it's the welcoming vibe as soon as you walk in the door. “At the beginning of legalization, many stores opened up, thinking they could just flip a light switch and start selling, but it doesn't work like that. Service is more than just being friendly,” Clifford explains. “Customers want to feel confident they're speaking with people who get it. We know cannabis and understand the culture.”
His approach is all about balance, respecting the legacy of cannabis legalization while offering a fresh rotating menu and new product selection. “I've always been a cannabis consumer, so I respect and recognize that if it weren't for the people from the legacy side of the business, I wouldn't be here— but I also come from a sales background. Customers always want to try something new. We're constantly refreshing our inventory and running deals to keep things exciting. You've got to give people reasons to keep coming in.”
A passionate business leader, Clifford is exemplifying how cannabis dispensaries can have a positive impact on their communities. As the only cannabis business in Little Italy's local Business Improvement Association (BIA), he’s involved in neighbourhood revitalization, beautification, and neighbourhood events. “Being a part of the BIA makes a difference. We can improve the neighbourhood and build our community while supporting other local business owners.”
When visiting Little Italy, you have to try some authentic Italian cuisine. Clifford recommends eating at the iconic local restaurants Café Diplomatico and Trattoria Taverniti. “They serve the best Italian food in the city. But for the best pizza, go to Benny's. It recently opened and is
super reasonably priced.”
Grab a slice and wash it down with an infused drink on Spiritleaf’s front patio for the perfect spot to soak in the Little Italy street life!
Located in Toronto’s east end, this community favourite is owned and operated by local trailblazers Brooke Silversides and Mike Dunn.
“When we found out that they were going to legalize cannabis, it was one of those ‘aha' moments,” explains Mike. “We wanted to build a space that challenged the social stigmas around the plant going back through history. Even our name, 1922, represents the last year cannabis was legal before being criminalized in Canada.”
“It was also important to us to create an open, inviting shop specifically to welcome more women into the store,” adds Brooke. “They're underrepresented in the marketplace. And we want to change that.”
While the shop draws many walk-ins with its big windows and lush plants, 1922 is known for its iconic delivery bikes. Often parked inside the store, they've become a symbol of the brand. “Everything we did was aimed at getting people in store and feeling welcome. Then all of a sudden, we're doing delivery,” Mike laughs.
“We wanted the bikes to be an extension of the store experience. The fact that they could be stylish and something that could differentiate us is great, but most people don't realize how practical they are in the city. We started with me on a single-speed bike and now, we've made over 10,000 deliveries, which is pretty insane. And there's no way we could've done that in Toronto with cars— that's how we just bootstrapped our way into a busy delivery business, and we're loving every moment of it."
East of downtown, the store itself is near Toronto’s Moss Park neighbourhood, a focal point for community-driven revitalization and social initiatives. “I've been in this neighbourhood for 15 years,” Mike shares. “There's so much to love about it, and we're really proud to be part of its transformation.”
When you're stopping by 1922, the team recommends checking out local spots like Bulut's Mexican or Old Town Bodega for a one-of-a-kind lounge bar.
Co-founded by best friends from Thunder Bay, Dave Lai and his business partner drew inspiration from their Northern Ontario upbringing to build a warm, welcoming shop infused with Cantonese flair.
“We're not from Toronto originally, but after 16 years, I've been here long enough to call it home,” laughs Dave. “My business partner and I grew up together in Thunder Bay. We always dreamed about owning a business we're passionate about— Má is that dream.”
Now with two locations, Má opened its doors in downtown Toronto in April 2022, followed by a second location in Etobicoke just a year later. “Each shop has its own energy,” says Dave. “It was a hectic decision to start in the downtown core, but we wanted to be where the action is. Retail cannabis is a unique space. Anyone can stock the same products, but the experience you create makes the difference.”
Stepping into Má, it's a calm and modern dispensary punctuated with warm wood features and a delicate green colour pallet. “We didn't want to adopt a 'higher culture' look because it's not us. It's all about being authentic. Our design reflects who we are and our northern upbringing but with a contemporary vibe that feels right for Toronto.”
The name Má is a slang term for cannabis in Cantonese and a playful nod to Dave's Chinese heritage. With stylish merch inspired by Chinese takeout boxes and annual Lunar New Year celebrations, Má is infusing some Chinese culture into the cannabis community. “Around Lunar New Year, we get a little extra celebratory. I wanted to honour that part of my background.
Traditionally, you'd see festivities in Chinese restaurants or banquet halls, but we decided to bring that same energy into the cannabis space— this is who we are and what makes Má special."
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