About Us

Jon and Liz Chan opened the Wonder Pens Stationery Shop in 2013. Years earlier, Liz's first fountain pen, a gift from Jon, sparked a dormant lifelong interest in stationery, that resulted in a never-ending hunt for the best and hardest-to-find stationery products from Japan and around the world.

Liz's closets and cupboards began overflowing. Jon saw there was no choice but to open a shop.

First located at 906 Dundas West, a tiny shop in Little Portugal, the shop quickly grew to be packed to the rafters with boxes and inventory, along with some of our favourite customers. With increasing interest in analogue tools, slowing down to write by hand, "lost" arts like calligraphy and physical correspondence, and especially with the arrival of baby Caleb in 2014, the shop began its hunt for a larger space.

In the spring of 2015, the shop moved to its next location, at 250 Carlaw Avenue, in the vibrant Leslieville neighbourhood, taking on new team members, shop cat Chicken, and baby Naomi in 2017.

In the spring of 2018, Wonder Pens moved to its current location, at 52 Clinton St, in Little Italy, the main shop and warehouse.

In the summer of 2018, a second smaller, now defunct, Studio Shop location was launched in Cabbagetown, 290 Gerrard St. E. (where the cat lives). 

Prior to covid the main shop now offered calligraphy workshops, special events, and a monthly Letter Writing Club (the second Thursday evening of every month, from 7-9pm), and free Introduction to Fountain Pen workshops for new writers.

These days we're all just doing the best we can.

Our Team

Brendan is our General Manager, and keeps our operations flowing smoothly. A big fan of Sailor inks, he one day hopes to own them all. When not using stub nibs and admiring sheening inks, Brendan produces elaborate digital illustrations.

Sabine is multi-lingual and multi-talented.

Sean comes from afar because he knows where the good stationery is.

Elaine has long been a pen and stationery enthusiast, with a particular penchant for Japanese pens and inks. When not writing, she enjoys yoga, knitting and hanging out with her husband and son.

Mai always looking after the shop kids. A reader and a writer.

Sarah is a fellow Midori Traveler’s Notebook user, and always has her Superior Labor pen roll at hand. We knew Sarah was the perfect fit for our team after she started sharing stories about her own pup, Ruby.

My name's Chicken and I am a cat.