An east-end city councillor wants to see Toronto-themed keychains and TTC-branded mugs sold out of city hall.
The proposal, which will be considered by council during next week's government management committee meeting, recommends opening a souvenir store inside City Hall that would sell “City of Toronto and TTC-branded goods” along with other Toronto-themed souvenirs and locally made products.
The gift shop is the brainchild of Beaches Coun. Mary-Margaret McMahon, who penned a letter to fellow councillors back in July proposing the initiative.
The letter suggests that profits from the souvenirs sold in the shop would be a revenue tool for the city.
“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 said in the letter.
“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 (and) unfortunately, there is no central place to purchase a TTC mug or T-shirt.”
In her proposal, McMahon cites New York City’s ‘CityStore’ as an example of a successful city run souvenir shop.
“Toronto is behind many other cities when it comes to city-run stores,” McMahon said. “New York City’s popular ‘CityStore’ offers a variety of books, souvenirs, clothing and gifts related to the city’s history and culture.”
“’CityStore’ has 2 locations inside municipal buildings,” she continues, “and 100 per cent of the sales benefit New York City. Retaining an independent operator through a public process for a City Hall store will ensure that the store has a minimal impact on the City’s budget.”
The motion asks the city manager to report back by November with specific recommendations on where the store could be located and who would be designated to operate it.
McMahon goes on to suggest that, if approved, the city could establish several satellite stores across the city in the future.
Speaking on the matter with reporters at an unrelated event on Wednesday, Mayor John Tory said it's a "worthwhile initiative" but that further review is needed.
“I think we don’t take advantage of the opportunity to show more of our history at city hall," he said. "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 things that remind them of their visit."
