With my Christmas shopping underway, I began scouring Queen Street West for gifts, and as I headed east, I wandered to Bathurst. There, I spotted what looked to be a brand new antique store… but inside I realized I had been there before.

Unlike many of my favourite spots at Queen and Bathurst that have long since disappeared (Zap Records, Travel Cafe, Suspect Video), Abraham is still going strong with his amazing collection of totally random techniques.

Now, he’s renovated his shop, and it appears to be over three to four times the size it previously was… and I suspect that it won’t stay that way for long. The main thing I like about the reno is that the space looks far more composed than it ever has before… you have always been able to tell he arranges his shop like a giant living art installation, but with the revamp, you can take in the giant canvas far more easily.

While I’ve only ever bought vintage art pieces from his shop, I’ve always been tempted to find out what he charges for his music equipment: there’s walls and walls and walls of guitars, guitar bodies, guitar necks, and a massive shelf of vintage microphones available for rent.

Abraham himself is a stand-up guy himself, with extensive knowledge about his stuff, and is more than willing to work out a good, fair price for it. I know that some people find him intimidating to approach, but once you get him talking, you can tell that he takes a lot of pride in what he does.

I love Leslieville and it’s quaint little mid-century modern stores like GUFF and Ethel, I wish the east side had a shop like Abraham’s, the kind of place you can get lost in (and not think that everything is junk).

(Read more about Abraham in this City News piece from last year… some great photos there too)