Address: 254 Elgin St., Ottawa, Ontario
Phone number: 613.233.9651
Hours of operation:Mon-Wed 7am-9pm/Thurs-Sat 7am-10pm/Sun 8am-9pm
Payment methods: Cash, debit, mastercard, Visa
Directions: A ten-minute walk from Parliament Hill and 5- minute walk from city hall or the #5 Billings Bridge, #7 Carleton or #14 Carlingwood stop right in front of the store

Magazine and smoke shop, Mags & Fags, is part of the daily routine for many downtown Ottawa residents. Breakfast, coffee, and a stop at the shop to get the daily paper is a common occurrence at the store. Co-owners, and sisters, Charlene and Krista Blaszczyk attribute a lot of their achievement to the overwhelming community support.

“There’s no leather chairs or lattes but this area of Ottawa is really committed to supporting locally run businesses and our success is a real testament to the community,” said Krista.

The sisters bought the store in November 2006 and although Mags & Fags was popular since its opening in 1981, the duo has taken the business to even greater heights. With over 6,000 magazine and newspaper titles from all over the world, everyone is sure to find something of interest. Magazines range from the conventional best sellers of politics and pop culture to some more unusual topics such as ferrets, divorce, mushrooms, and watches. Specialty industry-specific magazines are also available ranging anywhere from $100 to $200. Newspapers from Turkey, Switzerland, London, and New York are stocked daily, as are those in various languages such as Yiddish and Arabic.

The sisters also launched a gift section with unique items and unusual cards. Some available products include scented note cards, mugs, stationary, and magnets that are unlike those sold at chain stores.

“People come in on their lunch hour and are roaring with laughter at the cards because it is such different, off-beat humour,” said Charlene.”

The cards range from $3.25 to $6.95 and come from nearby regions such as Montreal and Chelsea, QC.

The ‘fags’ portion of the store consists of cigarettes and 15-20 different types of cigars. The new ban on visual displays of tobacco, enacted May 31, forces the smokes to be out of plain site but they are most definitely still available and are a thriving part of the business.

This store is by far one of the nicest magazine and smoke shops I have ever visited. It is very welcoming, well stocked, well laid-out and organized. Contrary to conventional shops of its kind, Mags & Fags has lots of natural light and provides a family-friendly atmosphere.

“One thing that makes it unique is you will have the little kid that comes in to browse the children’s section and then a 90-year-old man coming in to read war magazines,” Charlene said. “Every age and every demographic comes into the store.”

As per its tag line, Mags & Fags has the “best rack in town,” but the sisters don’t just want you to take their word for it.

“It’s beyond a newsstand, beyond a smoke shop,” Krista said. “Come in and see it for yourself and you’ll know that it is so much more.”

profile & photography by Amanda Silliker