Faces from the past fade in and out from the television screens lining the wall as history books whisper invitingly throughout the space of The Hamilton Store, Donna Reid’s gift shop, billed “for people who love their city.” From its inception, Donna wanted to offer an alternative to the typical tourist product by providing residents and visitors with a space to celebrate their civic pride with quality goods representative of Hamilton’s past and present.
The charm of Hamilton’s sense of community convinced Donna to become a denizen in the 1990s after a career spent travelling in direct sales and marketing. Wanting to debunk Hamilton’s maligned reputation, Donna launched the store in 2013 with the intent of encouraging dialogue. “This is an amazing city. I want to take something from my city and give it to others,” Donna enthuses as she explains the origins of the teas, hot sauces, ephemera and artwork gracing the store’s shelves.
