Queen Street Fur Store Celebrates First Customer In 20 Years

By Nikola Kramaric

Queen West - Vini Bonnetti, owner of iconic Queen Street fur store, was jubilant to check out his first customer in 20 years. His business has been slumping since it opened 30 years ago and has been surviving on the kind donations of a few prominent Toronto families.

"I was actually just relieved!" Bonnetti said "When Mocha came in and reached into his leather jacket, I thought this is it, my time had come. Thankfully he pulled out his wallet and he inquired about a coat. And sure enough he bought it!".

The customer, Roger "Mocha" Lateri was delighted. He had been searching for a mink coat since he lost his at a party in the 80s. "I'd been coming by the fur shop for a number of years now, but it's always been closed and the hours made it very difficult to visit."

Bonnetti recently extended his hours by 30 mins to be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 2 to 3:30. "The extended hours I think made the difference,” Bonnetti agreed, although he thinks he might now take an extended vacation.

But will the shop ever close for good? Bonnetti doesn't think so. "It's a real furry community we have here on Queen Street and every day I see new towera going up and streets being re-paved, I know things are looking up for old Vini".