Where to shop: Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

[NMMB]

-edit by AACJ for NMMB on behalf of Andrew, get it??


Please consider this to be a work in progress. I will add more shops when/if I find them. If you have anything to add, please do so.


-MenEssentials (http://www.menessentials.com/oxid.php/sid/3a2e61438e546096a6b810070d4b99c4/cl/info/tpl/contact.tpl) (146 Colonnade Road)

- Check their webpage to see the products they carry


- The Real Canadian SuperStore (190 Richmond Road)

- KMF (Kiss My Face) creams - Look for them in the Natual section (to the back of the store from the pharmacy)

- Personna blades (branded as exact)


- Loeb plus (1705 Merivale Road)

- Proraso Cream (tube), AS splash, and Pre/Post Cream.


- Ottawa Cigar Emporium (110B Clarence Street)

- Wide election of AOS (Art of Shaving) products


- The Body Shop (http://www.thebodyshop.ca/) (St. Laurent Shopping Centre, Place d'Orleans, Rideau Centre and Bayshore Shopping Centre - 4 retail locations in the city to choose from)

- Body Shop shaving creams, aftershaves, face washes, scrubs, scents


- Glebe Apothecay/Glebe Pharmasave (http://www.glebe-apothecary.com/) (780 Bank Street)

- Proraso

- KMF (Kiss My Face)

- Omega

- Roger & Gallet

- perhaps other products


- Crabtree & Evelyn (http://www.crabtree-evelyn.com) (Bayshore Shopping Centre, Rideau Centre and St. Laurent Shopping Centre)

-Edwin Jagger Brushes

-Crabtree & Evelyn shaving soaps


- The Barber's Chair (Rideau Centre, Bayshore Shopping Centre)

- Proraso


- La Bottega (http://www.labottega.ca/) (64 George Street)

-Proraso


- Holt Renfrew (http://www.holtrenfrew.com/english/) (240 Sparks Street)

- AOS (Art of Shaving)


- The Bay (Rideau Centre)

-L'Occitane Cade shaving soap

[vox_rox]

- Glebe Apothecay (http://www.feelbest.com/pages/home.aspx) (780 Bank Street) carries Proraso, KMF, Omega, Roger & Gallet and perhaps other products.

Ah, the Glebe. I used to live in Riverdale, just across the canal from the Glebe and, although the Apothecary is way further up closer to downtown, it was always a nice walk through a great old part of the city with tons of history.

My wife fell in love with the area when we were there last summer for a visit, and if not for the humidity and the occassional poor air quality days because of the proximity to the S.O. megacity, we'd move there ina flash.

Anyway, this is way off topic, but the Glebe is special, in my books anyway.

Peace,

Pierre

[Argus]

Please consider this to be a work in progress. I will add more shops when/if I find them. If you have anything to add, please do so.

- MenEssentials (http://www.menessentials.com/oxid.php/sid/3a2e61438e546096a6b810070d4b99c4/cl/info/tpl/contact.tpl) is presently located in Gatineau, Quebec (cross the river, and you are there), but are reportedly moving to Ottawa early in the fall of 2006. You can find their location on their website (you can also see all of the goodies they sell on their website).
- The Real Canadian SuperStore (190 Richmond Road) carries KMF creams as well as Personna blades (branded as exact)
- Loeb plus (1705 Merivale Road) carries Proraso Cream (tube) as well as AS splash.
- Ottawa Cigar Emporium (110B Clarence St) carries a wide selection of AOS products.
- The Body Shop (St. Laurent Shopping Centre, Place d'Orleans, Rideau Centre and Bayshore Shopping Centre - 4 retail locations in the city to choose from).
- Glebe Apothecay (http://www.feelbest.com/pages/home.aspx) (780 Bank Street) carries Proraso, KMF, Omega, Roger & Gallet and perhaps other products.
- Crabtree & Evelyn (Bayshore Shopping Centre, Rideau Centre and St. Laurent Shopping Centre)


MenEssentials is moving to Colonnade Rd on the 21st of August. :smile:

[NMMB]

To any wetshavers in or around Ottawa,

Last night I was at Loeb plus (1705 Merivale Road) and noticed that their stock of Proraso cream (in the tube) is getting low - but it is priced at either $5.99 or $6.99 (I don't remember), either of which would be a good price. In addition, they appear to be out of the Proraso AS products.

[Dansk]

Wow! Thanks, I was just looking for information like this!!

[Dansk]

Alright!! I just rode my bike down to MenEssentials when I realized how ridiculously close they are to where I live. I picked up a Merkur HD and some blades and stood around and talked to the (very friendly) guys that work there. They were surprised to see me, they do most of their business over the net. And they know who you guys are, apparently they get a lot of their business from members of this site!! Highly recommended, anyways, I'll certainly be shopping there again!

[srajguru]

We lived in Ottawa for 25 years- and are now in Texas..it's great to hear from some of the folks that live there and share the same interests- my wife happens to be there this week- I may ask her to step into some of these stores..

A canadian in Texas

[NMMB]

Alright!! I just rode my bike down to MenEssentials when I realized how ridiculously close they are to where I live. I picked up a Merkur HD and some blades and stood around and talked to the (very friendly) guys that work there. They were surprised to see me, they do most of their business over the net. And they know who you guys are, apparently they get a lot of their business from members of this site!! Highly recommended, anyways, I'll certainly be shopping there again!

Where is ME located now? Have they moved to Ottawa, or are they still in Quebec? I'm sure that I could look it up, but that wouldn't keep this thread going, would it?

[Argus]

Where is ME located now? Have they moved to Ottawa, or are they still in Quebec? I'm sure that I could look it up, but that wouldn't keep this thread going, would it?

There on Colinade Rd now. I ordered my HD from them a month ago. I was going to walk in but they have no weekend hours.

______
Sean

[NMMB]

There on Colinade Rd now...

Thanks for the info.

[Dansk]

The store is a little hard to find at the moment because they don't have any signs up yet. I came in via the back entrance by accident. It's 146 Colonnade Rd., which is a big block of offices. If you're facing the front of the building, they're around the right side, a few doors back.

[Dansk]

Well I spent the entire afternoon riding my bike all the way downtown and back, stopping at every pharmacy and skin care emporium along the way. It is incredibly difficult to find any Proraso stuff in this city!! I was trying to pick up the whole set (preshave, shaving cream, aftershave) but managed to find only the first and last. I got the aftershave from the Glebe Apothecary, which has been bought out by Pharmasave now. I also have another store to add to the list: The Barber's Chair in the Rideau Centre. Ever checked it out, NMMB? They normally stock the whole Proraso line, but were sold out of the shaving cream when I got there so I only bought the pre/post shave cream from them. I'm going to ride out to Loeb Plus on Merivale tomorrow, hopefully they'll still have some shaving cream left. If not, I'm out of luck.

[NMMB]

Dansk,

A few points...

First, I don't think that Pharmasave has necessarily bought out the Glebe Apothecary. I believe that Pharmasave is one of those brands/companies where independent retailers have use the name, but remain independent (i.e., they aren't controlled by a centralized Pharmasave office somewhere)... if I am wrong on this please let me know.

Second, I am not familiar with The Barber's Chair in the Rideau Centre... but I'll have to work on changing that.

Third, you may also consider looking for Proraso in some other stores... I know that there is a small Italian grocery store in the strip mall on the corner of Kirkwood and Carling (near the LCBO) that sometimes stocks Proraso products... I would also suggest looking in some of the shopps in the "little Italy" area (Preston St).

[Dansk]

Cool, thanks for the info!

[c white]

I was in the Loeb on Merivale yesterday and they were well stocked with Proraso shaving cream, they also had the pre/post, but they didn't seem to have the aftershave in stock. Prices are really good: $6 for the shaving cream, $10 for the pre/post and the aftershave.

[vox_rox]

I just applied for a job at Carleton Univresity, so if that works out, I move back to Ottawa and I can get in on these great shaving places!

If I don't get the job, I'll stay here in Calgary in the desert of Wet Shaving supplies, mail-ordering everything I need.

Alas, time will tell.

Peace,

Pierre

[Twilliger]

I am also from Ottawa area and La Bottega, a terrific Italian deli, grocer and sandwich maker, sell Porasa - tube of green I think was only $3.99 - I also saw a bunch of creams, AS, brushes etc - all behind the check-out at the front so I could not see all the prices.

Located in the market area, on the south side of George St. across from the Hard Rock

http://www.labottega.ca/

Add it to the list.

[Wilfrid Laurier]

Boy am I happy to find an Ottawa thread! A couple of more places:

For Art of Shaving products you can also go to Holt Renfrew on Sparks St. at Kent

Also the Bay at the Rideau Centre has L'Occitane Cade shaving soap. I had never heard of it but bought it (a bit pricey with the nice container) based on this review: http://www.badgerandblade.com/vb/showthread.php?t=613

If you're looking for Merkur blades, the Ottawa Cigar Emporium has them but they only carry the standard Merkur razor.

Just went to La Bottega and their Proraso shelf is really impressive. They've got pretty much everything and I picked up the Pre and post shave cream for just $9.99, a great deal! (compared to mail-order).

[Mini-T]

Ok, who's been buying all the Proraso shaving cream at the Merrivale Loeb? They had plenty of the Pre/Post, and about a dozen bottles of the aftershave. Here is the odd thing, I'm sure someone else has bought the aftershave there before me. When the cashier went to ring it up the aftershave wouldn't scan. Odd right? It should be in the data base by now.

I'm just getting back into wet shaving, and I'm looking forward to trying a DE. I just won a Gillette long black handle adjustable. It should be here in a week or two.

Thanks for all the info on places to get supplies in Ottawa. I'll be sure to post anything I find that hasn't been posted already.

Andrew

[scagooch]

Just remember when you see something you want buy It!! The good stuff goes quick. All Toronto Wal-Marts seem to be out of Blades

[NMMB]

Was it the AS splash or the "milky" balm? I've purchased the splash there in the past... and when I made my purchase there was no problem scanning it.

[Mini-T]

Its the splash type.

[NMMB]

That's strange... like I said, I've purchased that product there in the past with no problems... oh well, I can only hope that the problem is remedied and will be a non-issue for others in the future.

[Mini-T]

I've recompiled the list with all of the new places and I changed the formatting a bit. The txt file has all the text and coding and is ready to go in to the first post. Please feel free to change it if you like.

Andrew

[Mini-T]

Thanks AACJ

Andrew

[creel]

Hi guys I joined the site to update this thread a bit.
The older Loeb on Merivale closed and the new one has a very limited selection for Men's shaving, like most stores they cater to women and seem oblivious to the concept that men shop at grocery stores. The manager put on his best vacuous face and you could tell his brain was promising to release endorphines if he would just smile and nod sympathetically.

The Personal edge is in most of the malls and has a limited selection of shaving tools but the staff aren't exactly up to speed on the products. For example when called them to find out what DE products they had they said. "We have a Merkur" When I asked which model they said "It's a Merkur-solingen:confused1
*sigh*

[Halden]

Anyone got Blade shopping tips other than ME or The Glebe Apothacary?

[Halden]

- Men Essentials has moved to:

348 Richmond Road
Ottawa, Ontario
Canada
613.728.4MEN (4636)

- Glebe Apothecay/Glebe Pharmasave (780 Bank Street)

also carries Wilkinson Sword blades

[Kazeryu]

Update with my experiences:

Various Shopper's Drug Marts in the downtown area:
-Proraso Green tube
-Proraso green soap (some stores)
-Aqua Velva/Brut
-'Exact Brand' DE blades. I believe these are the 'Made in USA' ASR blades.
-Omega boar brush (some stores)

Menessentials
-check their website
-> Tf&H, AoS, Col Conk, Merkur Super blades, Merkur HD
-don't buy proraso from them, it is quite expensive compared to SDM

Glebe Apothecary
-Wilkinson Sword blades
-Schick Injector blades
-Proraso: tube & soap, balm, AS splash, sensitive skin soap.
-Omega brush (boar?)
-Extra cheapo brush (synthetic?)

The Personal Edge
-Merkur HD
-a few straights
-Merkur Super blades
-Barber's Saloon soap

[Kazeryu]

The Westboro Pharmasave:
Aqua Velva: Blue, Green, Musk, Blue ASB, Sport ASB.
Kaloderma Shaving Cream
William's Mug Shaving Soap
Wilkinson Sword blue soap bowl
Wilkinson Sword brush (it didn't say but I assume boar)
generic brand $5 brush (synthetic?)
VDH normal soap
VDH glycerin soap
VDH Boar Hair brush

There was also a VDH brush/bowlette/soap set for $16

Considering the selection of 'real' shaving stuff there must have been some blades around, I forgot to look.

[dloyd9999]

Imperial Barbershop on Kent - Col Conk, straights, DEs, old fashioned shaves, kent brushes, pinaud, american crew - just too cool a place for words...

Ask for Victoria!

tell 'em Doug sent ya

D

[Coyotebd]

My boss gets his hair cut there. I'm planning to go at some point, but as much as I love relaxing in a barber's chair I find it hard to get up the energy to actually go.

[dloyd9999]

Go to the imperial. Get Victoria. Enjoy yourself! I was there today, and they have a new bunch of pinaud shave creams.

:biggrin:

D

[tantousha]

I definitely think I'm going to check out this Imperial place... not to be a cheapskate (just a starving student), but how much is a shave there? standard haircut? Oh... what I'd do for an ol' hot towel shave... knew a great place in Vancouver, but didn't know such a thing existed in Ottawa...

[olps]

According to the menessentials website they are going to start having 'gourmet shave'. I wonder how they'll be.

http://www.menessentials.com/oxid.php/sid/fbf743eacefcaacc3092e6ae8f7cd998/cl/info/tpl/locations.tpl

[olps]

I just picked up some Fraser's cream at Bytown Beauty Supply, 1198 Bank Street. It's a small shop, with a small shave section, but they have Fraser's cream, as well as a number of booster's aftershaves. THey had a few other shave items there, but these seemed to be the best.

[sir_towel_rack]

OP should update the original post here with the latest info provided in the last few posts.

MenEssentials is located on Richmond Rd, as someone mentioned.
The hot-towel shave was fine. She (the barber[ess?]) I think used a shavette-type straight; they advertise that the shave is done using a DE blade. It involved AoS pre-shave oil, some hot lather of unknown type, a couple rounds of hot towels, and Brave Soldier Code Blue AS.

I plan to check out Imperial for my next hair cut.

Kiss My Face is available at Hartman's Independent Grocer (Bank & Somerset). They had unscented, mint and peaches & cream at least twice I was in there.

[sir_towel_rack]

Got a haircut at Imperial on Slater. It was fine, but definitely quite expensive. Did not get a shave but they run 20-65 bucks according to signage. Really bright, clean and modern shop though, modern-salonish almost, except it still had all the fixings of a proper barbershop.

They had a small selection of Merkur razors, Dorco and Merkur blades, a couple of brushes, Kent likely, a few other items I obviously wasn't too interested in .. but I'm pretty sure I spied some Mitchell's Wool Fat which I was glad to see!

[tantousha]

I'm done with Ottawa now (moved back home to Vancouver after 4 years of school), but I did manage to sneak a shave at the Imperial Barbershop before departing.

I have only had one professional shave before then, it was a small hole-in-the-wall in Vancouver that I honestly don't remember where (Except I'm pretty sure it was somewhere on Broadway). That shave was exquisite and made me look sadly at my electric razor at home (this was before I discovered this amazing forum).

To put it bluntly, the shave at the Imperial didn't come close. I was expecting a professional (and considering I had splurged for the $65 one) luxurious shave. What I got was a hack job that left my face smooth but minus five layers of skin. The girl was your typical gum-chewing ditzy hairdresser you'd find at a cheap hair shop in a walmart... She broke pretty much every rule of wetshaving and I knew from the beginning this was going to be a mistake. She started with way way WAY to much pressure on the blade... after the first drag I was convinced that she had taken off most of my upper cheek... and then she proceeded to pass over the same area another 5-6 times before applying anymore shave cream. Towards the end of the shave it was so bad that applying more lather was beginning to sting... needless to say the application of the aftershave just about stopped my heart.

I got the shave the same day as my grad and while my face was smooth (and not yet red) for the walk across the stage, I had a red blotchy face for the next two weeks after that... I couldn't even think about picking up a razor for at least a week and a half, it was just way to irritated.

My Dad got the regular $40 shave and from what I could discern the only difference was 1 extra hot towel (which wasn't even that hot, it was just hot tap water), and twice as long under the knife (oh and probably an extra couple of layers of skin removed). Oh, and with all that hacking, she managed to miss a couple spots under my chin.

In short, I left knowing I could do a much much better (and arguably more luxurious) job myself using my shave den... and I believe that's not the point of paying someone else to do it. Why pay $65 and have to sit under some gum-smacking girl who smells way to perfumy when you can do it better yourself????

[superfoe]

To update:
Menessentials now has sharks and crystal blades.
A Bath and Body Works just opened in Bayshore. Not sure what they have yet, but if anything like their US stores, they should have CO Biglow in the green tube(proraso).

[moe lather]

MenEssentials is now closed.

[Nate1976]

I'm going to be in Ottawa in a couple of days. Does anyone have any updates on where to Shop. I'm really looking for Prorasso ASB (the milky type), alum block, and witch hazel.
Thanks,