Seagull Classics Ltd Furniture, Lighting, Accessories

Seagull Classics is a home decor store and mainstay in The Beaches neighbourhood. Whether you’re a new customer visiting the area on a summer afternoon or a regular client shopping for custom furniture, you’ll be sure to receive a friendly welcome from June Smith. June is the mother of Jen Jones and Peter and Bruce Smith, all co-owners of the business since the mid-80s. “It’s very much a family business," says Jen. “My 85-year-old mom has been with us the entire time. She greets and chats to people about what’s in the store. It’s a nice part of the business.”

The store carries an array of unique, quality items for the home including lighting, accessories, giftware and furniture. They also sell custom pieces, which are a key part of the business. “We go to the annual big gift shows for products from all over the world and we try to sell Canadian where we can,” explains Jen. “We have a local carpenter who does custom cabinets and bookcases for us and another one makes Canadian woodwork products.”