Hairy Tarantula Comics & Games

I’ve been here with a friend who is into cards and gaming a few times back in my university days. Located up a flight of dark and dingy stairs on Yonge Street. I remember my first time going here, I thought my friend was taking me to buy meth or to do a psychic reading so I just followed along anyways. As you open the rusty metal door on top of the stairs, it’s essentially an abandoned moldy apartment filled with toys, board games, animé/​manga books, and cards. It felt like an episode of Law & Order when the detectives and forensics team go into the suspect’s dirty place looking for clues but the only things found are creepy children’s toys and other juvenile geeky paraphenila. Staff members there were expectingly apathetic like most small businesses that sells comics and games.

Real gamer’s store… cramped and a bit grungy for sure but staff are friendly and pretty knowledgeable. It’s also possible to find some out-​of-​print gems if you are prepared to spend time going through the stock.
Because of the cramped nature of the store it can get a bit crazy if the owner (?) is playing some CCG at the counter with regulars!

What a great comic book /​game /​RPG store. I stopped here on my way through the city. The store has character and attitude in spades, but I can imagine that a little bit of that goes along way for some people. There’s a huge collection of not only board games but also RPG books, comics, and some Warmachine/​wargaming stuff. This sets it apart from what I imagine is its main competitor, 401 Games, up the street.
All staff were nice, and some were very helpful. Others seemed a bit flustered, but eager to help. I had a long chat with the owner, who was very cool and welcoming.
Look at starting about as your brows the games? Sets up a very nice atmosphere. But I do have to say, that people with dust allergies/​people who are sensitive to dust will probably have a pretty bad time here. I had to dust off the goods I brought home from the store.
Yes, the store is a bit dilapidated and haphazardly organized, but these are part and parcel with what makes an FLGS different from an online only retailer.

Friendly staff, good selection of trade paperbacks and games.
Store is a bit dingy and cramped.
Its actually my hubby who shops here, but he doesn’t Unilocal

I remember my very first time visiting the store, I had trouble finding the entrance and I passed by it multiple of times before locating the stairway up to the store. There aren’t really any storefront signs except for the Hairy Tarantula art that can be only visible if you are walking southwards on Yonge. Every other time, I’ve been here; I just use the nearby McDonalds as a location setter for the entrance.
The store feels out of date and there is not that much space to move around. However, service at this location is very good since every time I’ve entered the store, someone would always be there and say, «hi, what can I help you with?» They sell board games, comics, figurines, and trading card games (primarily Magic: The Gathering). Their prices aren’t competitive as their board games are a bit more expensive than other game stores and their Magic singles prices include tax.
They have a vicinity loyalty point system and they offer weekly and monthly deals.
If you have an allergy to cats, this store might not be the best place for you. I do not stay too long since I am allergic to cats. And the stairway up to the 2^nd floor is pretty steep and there is no handicap accessibility to the 2^nd floor.

Dam, i go to the one uptown close to steeles; but this location is pretty awsome! i usually come here with friends to just chat;not much of a cards fanatic but i do like there comics and figures that they display! If you’re into Comics, Manga, Animé, Cards, Board Games, Classical things this is a place you should visit if you’re walking about.

Do you want to buy a board game? Because that’s what I want to do, when I come here.
If you’re like me, and you do, you need to go here. Don’t buy your games anywhere else. No seriously. Don’t.
The only, *only* reason I might give it 4.5 stars is because of the multitude of times I’ve come, there’ve been a couple times that the on-​shift staff was a greenhorn, and wasn’t sure where the games were that I was looking for — they have an interesting sorting system, you’ll see.
Otherwise, don’t worry about the creepy, scary staircase that leads up to it. I know it looks like you might get mugged or raped at the top, but it’s perfectly safe and fine. There are even lovely cats to purr at you while you choose.
Walk in, and be welcomed by mountains of great board games, all at THE BEST PRICES IN THE CITY. PERIOD.

Fantastic selection with knowledgeable staff that puts in the effort. A great store and a must-​see for any visit to Toronto.

I have to say that this business has a great website and the deals certainly seems very enticing but they have already lost one potential customer before he even stepped through their doors.
So my experience goes like this:
I call in to inquire about Pandemic: On the Brink, which every store so far has told me is out of stock. I was greeted on the phone with a very rushed person who seemed to want me to get off the phone with him asap. At first I was like okay. His response to me wanting the Pandemic expansion was met with extreme sarcasm with the person telling me that I can’t find it anywhere unless I can magically make it appear out of nowhere. Suffice it to say I was already a little annoyed at this point. I proceed to tell him about how the status on Z-​man Games the distributors of the games listed news about Pandemic: On the Brink was back in stock and was available to order online. He proceeded to again brush me off and said «oh well we still don’t have it now but it could be something we could have next week». Despite him saying this his tone led me to believe that it went in one ear and out the other and he was rehearsing a line for dismissing my information.
I called on October 24, 2012 @ 6:25ish. I have no idea what the name of the employee is but this guy easily lost out on a very interested customer eager to purchase something. Shows how far customer service can go in the industry

Despite what has become a professional familiarity with the management and staff over years of working at various events in the Toronto area, I was already quite a fan of HAIRY TARANTULA and the wide variety of games and gaming material they provided. The shop also offers a variety of DVDs and graphic novels and weekly comics.
Accessibility is an issue in the shop, as a precipitous staircase is met with a sales area where the aisles are narrow, so I advise a call beforehand to ensure that whatever a gamer may be looking for is in fact available, but the staff has always been helpful on the phone and very friendly and helpful in the store.

I visited Hairy Tarantula back in March and the pleasant experience was so lasting that I needed to come on and sing their praises months and months later.
My friend and I found it completely by accident, noting the odd advertisements against the wall leading up a small staircase.
Am I glad that we found it!
They have a fantastic collection of D&D books and supplies, miniatures, Magic, and a rare series of Animé that my friend was ecstatic to find. We were thoroughly helped by a young lady who kept referring to my friend as «dear» and was all too excited to have us in their humble establishment. Mind you, we were far from the only people in the store, but everyone was well looked after!
This is what a niche hobby store should aspire to be! We’ve returned several times already and will continue to do so!

This store sort of feels like a guy had a an attic/​bedroom full of comics and other geeky goodies and when his mother told him he needed to clean his room he opened his bedroom to the public to sell his wares.
There’s certainly lots of things to choose from. There’s lots of board games, graphic novels, animé, magic cards, and other random oddities. The store isn’t pretty. It’s actually a little scary when you’re climbing the narrow staircase to the 2^nd floor. The products are organized into their various sections and are generally organized well, except for the board games. The games seem like an afterthought and are haphazardly lined up on tables, over-​head on shelves, or stacked on the floor.
The staff were a little aloof. Not really interested in helping the random customers that were in the store, they just stuck to chatting up what seemed like regulars, or playing with the cat.
The prices seem fair. I don’t have a ton of knowledge about the graphic novels and animé, but the games seemed to be competitively priced.

It is on the second floor just north of Dundas on Yonge street. It is easy to miss so be careful.
First time I wandered in here, it was like going to nerd heaven. Since I am a partial nerd, I was happy. my female friend that I went with was not. However, if you are looking for some new sort of board game or card game, this is the place to go. It has everything. Very friendly people working there.
Just remember to close the door when you come in so the cats don’t escape.

What is it about comic book shops and weird names? Hairy Tarantula, Silver Snail, Zaftig Honey Badger… okay, I made that last one up. Anyway, despite the goofy name, Hairy Tarantula is a great place to browse and buy. I was looking for a specific trade paperback that they were happy to locate for me on their shelves, and engage in a little nerd talk as well. It’s a little claustrophobic in there, but that’s part of it’s charm. Plus, there’s a cat. How could you not love a bookstore that has a cat to pet?

Hairy T is everything your mom/​friends/​boyfriend/​girlfriend/​whatever ever thought of and feared when it comes to gamers. It’s nigh-​impossible to navigate, located above a rickety walk up of dingy stairs, and packed to the gils with «STUFF».
Really, it’s the kinda shop I typically hate… so why the 4 stars?
I’m not sure, honestly. They’re unabashedly geek, for one thing, totally shameless in their approach to all things comic and game, and that’s endearing. And while the staff kinda look scary at times, they’re rather awesome. Quirky, endlessly interesting fonts of geek-​lore, from the youngest member to the eldest statesman (er, owner). Honestly, a day spent here chatting would not be a wasted day.
Their prices are generally about par or sliiiiiightly high, but their regular sales — as noted by numerous other reviewers — makes them very appealing, especially if you know when to hit ‘em up and for what.
Finally, it’s important to note that Hairy T is cat friendly and kinda dusty, making it an allergy-sufferer’s nightmare. So make sure you take that antihistimine before braving the place! The cats are great, though, super adorable…
… though I swear I’ve bought stuff there because the cats have psychic powers. Kind of unnerving.

A literal hole in the wall, Hairy T’s is located up a narrow stairwell, wallpapered with posters for many events of days past.
The store has a rapid staff turnover, and if you’re lucky when you go in they’ll have someone who meets at an intersection of knowledgeable of product and possessing of a pleasant personality.
My last visit I was served by a very friendly pair who seemed somewhat knowledgeable of their product. That was a surprise, and raised the score on this review to a three.
Hairy T has a revolving sale each month, and each quarter holds a larger sale. That helps them stay competitive, pricewise, with other stores in the area.
The store is as unwelcoming as possible to anyone with accessibility issues, and once inside it’s difficult to navigate. I can only imagine what sort of havoc the dusty interior would wreak on someone with allergies of any kind.

I like to think Hairy Tarantula and Silver Snail are two sides of the same coin: the former may not be as pretty, but has plenty of selection in regards to everything; the other is clearly more trendy, but don’t cater as well to certain items.
From the moment you walk into Hairy T’s, if you’re a hardcore geek, you know this is your store. Every wall is covered in board games, tpbs, animé and manga, and they even have a room just for miniatures. Behind the counter is a surplus of Magic and L5R cards ranging from almost any set you could want (alas, they had no Unglued).
The staff is extremely helpful and knowledgeable about every subject matter, so ask them any questions you may have. Also, if you don’t see something: ask! They may have it in the back.
I had a great time I went two days in a row, and would strongly recommend it for any geeks.

Toronto, or Hogtown as some people call it has a number of very good comic book stores. Nestled on Yonge Street across from Zanzibar this hidden gem lies. The store itself is easy to miss, I have been shopping here for almost 15 years and I still sometimes walk past it by accident.
Inside the store, which is on the second floor is a treasure trove of comic books, graphic novels and RPG books. Every inch of the store is covered with various geekery, and the suggestion shelf bristles with good ideas on what you can read if you like that specific type of book.
The staff is helpful, and are willing to give ideas on what you can read next if you want, and are often accurate with their suggestions. The difference between this place and somewhere like Silver Snail, is at other places it feels like you are there to just pay for the product that they have put on their shelves. HairyT is an experience, from getting into the store, to the cats that wander around the store, to the character of both the people who work here, and the other patrons.
To be honest, the only other stores of this sort that I have been to which approach the amount I like this place have been in Boston and New York. It is stores like this that makes Toronto the world class city that it is.
**beware if you have cat allergies, or are arachnophobia, lots of spider related stuff around**

I should really be thanking this place. It is because I was bored, in an unfamiliar city, wandering around looking for fun and adventure that I stumbled across Hairy Tarantula Comics and Cards… and it introduced me to not only a really wonderful place… but a really wonderful person who has instantly become one of the best friends I have ever had… and this is all within a week of knowing her. But then again, I’ve been treated like crap by everyone who has come and gone in my life… so an act of kindness… or two. or three… or hell… constant kindness this person has shown me goes a really long way. But that is neither here or there.
First of all, if you dare put something as awesome as the word «tarantula» in your store name… then I am expecting awesome things from you. That word alone put together with «comic» is instantly going to catch my attention… and sure enough I did. So, intrigued, I venture into this little establishment, and sure enough I was not disappointed.
Hairy Tarantula’s have a simply wonderful stock of both Manga and comics… and the shocking thing is that the people who work there are very well educated about what is good comics and good manga, and what is terrible. Humbly shocked that the person I was talking to hates Naruto, which I consider to be one of the WORST animes/manga’s in existence… so that put this place immediately in good standing with me.
They have a strong selection of thing things. Games, card games, posters, collectibles… it has virtually everything you’d expect to find in a comic shop. But the great thing about this place is the people who work there. I don’t know if it’s because people in the U.S. are that big of pricks or what… but I was treated so nicely by the people here. Really. They were knowledgeable, kind, and respectful. This place is definately one of my favorite comic shops… a shame it’s technically 2,500 miles away from where I live… but that’s probably going to change since I hate the Bay Area.
This place will always hold special meaning, because it’s where by completely random chance I met someone who has just been… absolutely wonderful to me. And if it wasn’t for seeing «Tarantula» in the store name… I may not have stopped when I was driving by… heck many not have even noticed. But I did… and when I was looking around I found a wonderful person who has become a wonderful friend.
Thanks for everything Hairy Tarantula. You are a wonderful little store.

Mike the wild-​bearded owner keeps a good stock of graphic novels, manga. and games. The staff is helpful and the cat is fairly friendly. It smells of the kind herb more often than the other comic shops in town, but it’s probably the neighbours, right? They’re happy to do orders and they’re particularly good at calling when something comes in. The frequent sales (around holidays) rock, so get on the mailing list.
N.B. The Hairy T is almost impossible to locate, so count the street numbers and keep looking up. When you’re across from Zanzibar Tavern, you’re in the right area.