Photo by Jamie Bradburn/Torontoist
The current economic situation has not been kind to American retailers. With sales sinking and several wobbly chains going the liquidation route, the U.S. retail landscape might not be the best model to emulate at the moment.
This brings us to Yankee Stuff, a store proudly displaying the red, white, and blue (and several small Canadian flags) on Bloor Street in Korea Town. While walking by the star-spangled storefront in December, we noticed a sign in the window for a sale honouring the state of the economy south of the border. Since it was billed as an ongoing offer we assumed that, based on reading the work of several economic pundits, this sale would last for at least a year or two.
And how has the recession sale gone?
Photo by Jamie Bradburn/Torontoist
We returned after Christmas to find that, based on the wrapping paper covering the display window, the recession had claimed another victim.
The lesson? Be careful of naming your sale after an economic event, as said event may come back to bite you.

Newsstand: November 23, 2009
"Winners Quality at Ed's Prices... THAT'S WHY CRAZY PRICES!"
Favourite store sign ever.
Prior to the recession signs, they always had signs to make it look like they were having a going out of business sale (I forget the exact wording). They won't be missed.
there was a ramen shop right across the street from this place called inoodle. i ate there a few times, but every time i did, we were the only ones in there, and whenever i walked by it was empty. and sure enough when i walked by early this month it was out of business. i find it strange that it would be so unpopular—although that strip of bloor is quite saturated with restaurants. it's just there's such a lack of ramen places in toronto, and every time i go to aJisen ramen, up in north york, it's busy!
does anyone know of any other ramen shops in toronto?
I had big hopes for that ramen place before it opened. As you say, the area's got a ramen void, and it's a long way up to Ajisen at North York station. I gave the place the benefit of the doubt a few times, but quickly decided I could do better. The stuff was subpar.
There's an excellent ramen place called Daikoku Sushi & Ramen Bistro, at 8865 Woodbine Ave Unit #D5 in Markham. Obviously, it's a bit more of a drive than most would like, but the food there is phenomenal.