London, ON – Described as a “Curated Boutique of Curiosities”, Whim & Wonder opened its doors
this month in the heart of downtown London (226 Dundas St) providing products and experiences that,
previously, were only available in Toronto. Owner Alex Rupert also hopes her new business can fulfill
a need that many in the Forest City feel is missing in our communities: an accessible, welcoming and
affordable third-space.
Japanese Gachapon, or “Capsule Toys” have been all over social media, with videos of people turning
the handles and revealing the often wacky, humorous, and cute animal or anime-inspired collectibles
inside. “The only way you could find actual imported ones was to pay a ton for shipping from Japan, or
drive all the way to Toronto. We've got the real machines, the authentic Gachas from Japan, and we'll
be getting new ones in regularly” says Alex. In addition to this, you'll also find blind boxes from
popular franchises like Pokemon, Sanrio & Miffy, adorable Capybara and Cat collections, plushies, and
more.
For creatives in the community, Whim & Wonder has partnered with The Japanese Paper Place to
provide extremely high-quality, hand-made paper. Also previously only available in Toronto, “washi” is
prized by calligraphy artists, silkscreeners, conservationists and bookbinding enthusiasts, while
“chiyogami” has a number of uses in crafting and is very popular for Origami. Journals, notebooks,
sketchbooks and guestbooks made with The Japanese Paper Place's washi and chiyogami round out the
offerings, and stationery such as pens, pencils and markers are available with options for professional
and hobbyists.
The second half of the space is entirely dedicated to a cozy, inviting lounge. “Londoners have often
mentioned a lack of third-spaces in the city that are affordable. Somewhere they can go to just hang out
for an hour or so without having to spend money. Our lounge is available for free to people working
from home who'd like a change of scenery (we have free wifi!), shoppers in the core who just need a
place to get off their feet for a few minutes, or small groups like book clubs or board/tabletop gamers
who are looking for a space to meet up in the evening. For larger groups, we can provide a private
space for a very reasonable booking fee, and we'd love to talk to local artists who want to host
workshops, showcases, or who want to sell their art on consignment.”
Downtown London is planning a ribbon-cutting to celebrate the store's opening on Wednesday, July
15th, 2026, with an official Grand Opening to follow later this summer