Livestock Roncesvalles

The latest Livestock location — not sure whether to call it «Livestock Roncesvalle» or «Livestock Round 6» as posted on the store front. I guess Round 6 sorta makes sense — 3 locations in Vancouver, one on Spadina, they are counting one as their online store — I guess they rather forget the failed Alberta expansion. And now it’s en vogue to called Toronto the «6ix»… and if you really want to get into the numbers… the street address is ‘604’ reversed.
Anyways, it’s the similar product and staff you can find at the Spadina location — but in a even sleeker storefront. They seem to be de-​emphasizing the whole ‘sneaker store’ aesthetic and going for more of a menswear boutique as the shoes displays are scattered throughout and in-​between clothing and accessories.
The location sorta confuses me. Roncesvalles/​Howard Park is an odd choice — the center of the local Polish community isn’t exactly the first thing that comes to much when you’re thinking of a sneaker boutique and young men’s fashion/​technical wear. Perhaps the rent in Parkdale is too high and too on-​the-​nose? Not a lot of foot traffic either and not a great location to draw customers in the burbs in – seems like a good area for a family, but not much else. However, for shops like this — if you build it, they will come. I honestly looked at property in the surrounding area — and it’s decently priced… and my dreams of getting in early on some property before shops like Livestock opened up in formerly-​sketchy Vancouver Gastown and made the area ‘cool’ and super expensive.
I guess I don’t really got the point. My first guess was that they were just trying to establish a foothold in Roncesvalles before they moving/​closing the Spadina location — but that doesn’t really make sense either — they’ve made Spadina & Camden the one-​stop shop for streetwear kids with Adrift and LL nearby. Oh well, if I got it, I would be running a successful sneaker boutique brand.
Probably the best décor of all the Livestock I’ve been to. But let’s be honest, the biggest draw is the exclusive product — and so far, it seems like they are strategically allocating/​limiting some sneaker releases to this location. Also, they were running private screenings of various ‘culture’ movies down the street at Revue Cinema before the ‘official’ launch.
Overall, still love the Livestock crew in Vancouver and the Toronto crew is more aloof (but I’m older now, so I’m not sneaker-​whale I once was). If you need nice sneakers, head to your nearest Livestock. But for a odd location and being so far for my old bones — ³⁄₅ stars.