London’s 'coolest' store is back at its original location
London, Ont.’s 'coolest' store is back in a new form.
Novack’s, a retail staple of the downtown for over 70 years, has been resurrected — albeit as an occasional pop-up store — in its original King Street location.
Opened in 1939, Novack’s closed in 2012.
In its time, the store evolved from a music and luggage shop to a clothing, army surplus and outdoors store.
Novack’s is seen in its heyday in London, Ont. in this undated image. (Source: Facebook)
Now, thanks to the efforts of a former shopper Novack’s is back.
Marty Kolls secured a storage room of original stock and is selling it again.
“The quality goods that are still here are still in really good shape,” she explained.
Items include Novack’s famous bags, vintage clothing and a staple of the store: army surplus items.
Gina Farrugia is seen holding a vintage, early 1990s ski jacket for sale at the Novack’s pop-up store in London, Ont. on Dec. 4, 2022. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
Most date to the late 1980s and 1990s — the height of Novack’s popularity — when it was a hotspot for youth shoppers.
“I actually bought my knapsack right along this wall, the one I took to Europe right after university,” said Gina Farrugia, a vendor selling vintage clothes as part of the Novack’s pop-up shop.
Nostalgia is the draw for shopper Nora Cuzzocrea. She found a pair of cargo pants matching those she bought at Novack’s in the early 1990s.
Nora Cuzzocrea is seen holding a pair of Novack’s surplus cargo pants on Dec. 4, 2022. They match a pair she bought in the 1990s as a teenager working in downtown London, Ont. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
“Oh my God, it was absolutely the cool place to shop, and you could get affordable things to look cool, even if you weren’t,” she said.
Even shoppers not born in the 90s or who have arrived since seem to understand why Novack’s was “cool.”
“I think right now, there is a wave of nostalgia. There’s a love for vintage and retro,” said shopper Richard Brewer, who is new to London.
Richard Brewer is seen with some of the vintage army surplus clothes available at Novack’s Christmas pop-up store in its original location in London, Ont. on Dec. 4, 2022. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
And nothing is more retro at Novack’s than the submarine periscope, installed to look out at London.
It is still in its place, and behind it on Sunday was the store's last owner, Paul Kaplan.
He is flattered and humbled his family legacy is suddenly “cool” again.
“What a wonderful world we live in, where things can still live again after we think they’re gone, they’re not,” he told CTV News London.
Paul Caplan, an original owner of Novack’s is seen at the helm of the former store’s periscope n Dec. 4, 2022. It drew people into the London, Ont. store in the 1990s. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
But, perhaps only possible because Novack’s original sign, and the vintage building it hangs from still stand.
“The creak in the stairs. I bought my first flask here. It was the thing to do when you came downtown,” Farrugia concluded.
While the Novack’s pop-up at its original store location is infrequent, the goods are being marketed at multiple open air markets and online.
You can learn more on Novack's Instagram page.
An original Novack’s sign is seen inside a pop-up shop return of famed London, Ont retailer on Dec. 4, 2022. (Sean Irvine/CTV News London)
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.