Walking into Anthony Lazarek’s shop on King Street East feels a bit like going back in time. The hardwood floors in Office & Shop Furniture creak when trod upon, and the aisles are full of furniture and knickknacks both vintage and modern. Look down one aisle and you’ll spot mesh-backed office chairs, but turn down the next and you’ll come face-to-face with a small-scale replica of the Bluenose schooner. And on the west wall, you’ll find photographs on display, each one taken by a Canadian artist. Anthony displays images and sells them, with the only stipulation being the artist must be Canadian.
“It’s a very old Canadian business,” says Anthony, “and we pride ourselves in being Canadian and offering Canadian content…so that means our stuff is made in Canada by our neighbours and that’s always been a mandate of this store.” Keeping true to his roots is important to Anthony because he believes in all the great things this country offers: freedom, flexibility, inclusivity and fine craftsmanship.
