Barefoot Contessa boutique on Main Street
If you’re coming from a major city in the United States, you may be disappointed with the shopping options in Vancouver, since selections are typically smaller and prices higher than at similar stores south of the border. Of course, if the exchange rate is in your favor, shopping here may be a better value.
Regardless of your home base, products to look for in Vancouver include Canadian-designed clothing, local art, B.C. wines and beer, and local food items. Among the Vancouver-born brands that have gone international are shoe designer John Fluevog and yoga-wear maker Lululemon, which has a local “lab” store selling prototypes and limited edition clothing. Vancouver has a number of well-stocked outdoor stores where you can find outdoor gear for your Canadian travels.
Robson and Granville are the main downtown shopping streets, while a growing number of high-end international brands have opened boutiques on nearby Alberni Street. For local and independent labels, visit Gastown or Yaletown, or browse the storefronts along Main Street or in Kitsilano on West 4th Avenue. There’s a group of outdoor gear stores along Broadway between Cambie and Main, and another in Kitsilano.
Barefoot Contessa boutique on Main Street
If you’re in the market for art, Gastown and Granville Island are the most art-full neighborhoods, particularly if you’re interested in jewelry, crafts, and other works by aboriginal artists. Granville Island is also the top spot to find gifts for foodie friends or to locate your own delicious souvenirs.
Vancouver’s main downtown shopping district is along Robson Street, between Jervis and Granville Streets. Mid-priced Canadian and international chains predominate; a few small shops sell trinkets and souvenirs. One block north of Robson, on Alberni Street between Burrard and Bute, look for luxury brands like Tiffany and Burberry.
MAP 1: Robson St. between Jervis and Granville Sts.
Department stores, outdoor gear shops, and mid-priced boutiques line Granville Street downtown, in between the nightclubs and tattoo parlors. The Hudson’s Bay flagship store is located on Granville.
MAP 1: Granville St. between Davie and Cordova Sts.
Visit Gastown for smaller fashion boutiques and clothing by local designers.
MAP 2: Water and Cordova Sts., between Richards and Carrall Sts.
On Vancouver’s West Side, the Kitsilano neighborhood mixes North American chains and local boutiques, centered along West 4th Avenue. There’s a collection of ski and snowboard gear shops on 4th at Burrard.
MAP 5: W. 4th Ave., between Burrard and Vine Sts.
Looking for clothes you won’t find at the local mall? Main Street is lined with independent boutiques, many carrying clothing by local and Canadian designers.
MAP 6: Main St., between E. 20th and 30th Aves.
| Downtown and the West End | Map 1 |
The Vancouver flagship location of Hudson’s Bay, Canada’s original department store, is in a six-story 1914 downtown building, selling clothing and accessories for women, men, and kids, as well as housewares, luggage, and small appliances. One department carries striped Hudson’s Bay blankets and other Canadiana. The Hudson’s Bay Company opened their first Vancouver store in Gastown in 1887. They subsequently added a branch on Granville Street and then built this store, which has remained its Vancouver base for more than 100 years.
MAP 1: 674 Granville St., 604/681-6211, www.hbc.com; 9:30am-9pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-7pm Sun.
For high-fashion designer clothing, with prices to match, visit Holt Renfrew downtown, built around a gleaming white atrium at the Pacific Centre Mall. You can book an appointment with their personal shoppers to help you navigate the chic designs.
MAP 1: 737 Dunsmuir St., 604/681-3121, www.holtrenfrew.com; 10am-7pm Mon.-Tues., 10am-9pm Wed.-Fri., 10am-8pm Sat., 11am-7pm Sun.
Seattle-based Nordstrom has a sizable store at Vancouver’s Pacific Centre Mall downtown, in a multistory glass-clad space at the corner of Robson and Granville. This high-end department store chain got its start as a shoe retailer and still has a large selection of footwear. The store has three food outlets: Bistro Verde, a contemporary restaurant; Ebar for coffee and smoothies; and Habitant, a wine and cocktail bar.
MAP 1: 799 Robson St., 604/699-2100, www.nordstrom.com; 9:30am-9pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-7pm Sun.
You can often find deals on designer apparel, other clothing, shoes, and accessories at Winners, a discount department store that carries both men’s and women’s garments. In addition to their large downtown location, there’s a branch near Broadway and Cambie.
MAP 1: 798 Granville St., 604/683-1058, http://winners.ca; 9am-9pm Mon.-Sat., 10am-7pm Sun.
The now-ubiquitous yoga- and workout-wear maker Lululemon Athletica got its start in Vancouver and still has its flagship store downtown, where you’ll find yoga pants, running gear, and clothing for other athletic pursuits or for just lounging around looking cool. There’s another location in Kitsilano.
Yoga-wear store Lululemon Athletica was launched in Vancouver.
MAP 1: 970 Robson St., 604/681-3118, www.lululemon.com; 10am-9pm Mon.-Sat., 10:30am-7:30pm Sun.
Run by the Friends of the Vancouver Public Library, Bookmark, the gift shop in the library’s central branch downtown, carries a small selection of gently used books, along with cards, stationery, T-shirts, and gift items with literary themes. Sales benefit the library and its programs.
MAP 1: 350 W. Georgia St., 604/331-4040, www.friendsofthevpl.ca; 10am-5:30pm Mon.-Fri., noon-5pm Sat.
Cool furniture, housewares, and other fun design-y stuff, including watches, bags and backpacks, and gift items, fill Designhouse downtown. This sleek Scandinavian-style store carries packs from Vancouver-based Herschel Supply Company, stainless steel water bottles from S’well, and the “Anna G.” corkscrew from Alessi that resembles a smiling woman. The shop shares its space with Marimekko Vancouver (604/609-2881, http://marimekkovancouver.com), which stocks brightly patterned clothing, accessories, household items, and fabrics from the Finnish design company.
MAP 1: 851 Homer St., 604/681-2800, http://designhouse.ca; 10:30am-6pm Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
The aroma of freshly roasted nuts may draw you into Ayoub’s Dried Fruits and Nuts, which sells in-house roasted almonds, pistachios, cashews, walnuts, and more, attractively displayed in ornate silver tureens. They also carry dried fruits, vegetable chips, Mediterranean spices, and Persian-style pastries and candies. Try their unique lime-and-saffron seasoned nuts. In addition to this West End shop, you’ll find this nut vendor in Kitsilano and North Vancouver.
MAP 1: 986 Denman St., 604/732-6887, www.ayoubs.ca; 10am-9pm Mon.-Thurs., 10am-10pm Fri.-Sat., 10am-8pm Sun.
Viti Wine & Lager, a compact shop at the Moda Hotel downtown, stocks an extensive selection of B.C. wines, particularly labels from the Okanagan region. They also carry more than 350 types of beer and a large collection of whiskeys. In the coolers lining the walls, they always keep a selection of chilled wine and beer, ready to drink.
MAP 1: 900 Seymour St., 604/683-3806, www.vitiwinelagers.com; 9am-11pm Mon.-Sat., noon-11pm Sun.
| Gastown and Chinatown | Map 2 |
Operated by the Vancouver-based yoga-wear maker in a warehouse-style Gastown space, Lululemon Lab is a concept store that offers prototypes and other limited edition clothing not carried at the company’s regular retail outlets. Watch the designers at work while you browse for unique active and casual wear. The city is also home to several regular Lululemon locations.
MAP 2: 50 Powell St., 604/689-8013, www.lululemonlab.com; 11am-7pm Mon.-Sat., noon-6pm Sun.
Ready to upgrade your yoga look? Shannon Wilson, who’s married to Lululemon founder Chip Wilson, and J. J. Wilson (Chip’s son), founded Kit and Ace, which designs and sells hip men’s and women’s work-to-weekend clothing made from “technical cashmere” and other luxury fabrics, designed to dress up while still being comfortable. The soft, comfy garments may be too pricey for the gym, but they’d be lovely for the office or a casual evening out. They have a second location in Kitsilano.
MAP 2: 151 Water St., 844/548-6223, www.kitandace.com; 10am-7pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-6pm Sun.
Launched in Vancouver, Oak + Fort has a spacious Gastown store purveying stylishly relaxed, moderately priced clothing for men and women, along with jewelry and accessories. Both the monochromatic designs and the airy, high-ceilinged shop have a minimalist, almost Japanese aesthetic, and the well-spaced racks are comfortable for browsing.
MAP 2: 355 Water St., 604/566-9199, www.oakandfort.ca; 11am-7pm Mon.-Wed., 11am-8pm Thurs.-Fri., 10am-7pm Sat., 11am-6pm Sun.
This small but chic boutique in Gastown sells women’s clothing from emerging and established designers from around the world. Catering to the young, style-conscious, and well-heeled, One of a Few carries distinctive fashions that you might wear to work or for a night out at an of-the-moment bistro.
MAP 2: 354 Water St., 604/605-0685, www.oneofafew.com; 11am-6pm Mon.-Thurs. and Sat., 11am-7pm Fri., noon-5pm Sun.
Pop into Tees.ca for funky T-shirts designed by local artists and other creatives. In this tiny storefront, piled high with tees, many have Vancouver motifs and would make fun souvenirs.
MAP 2: 227 Abbott St., www.tees.ca, 11am-6pm Mon.-Sat.; noon-5pm Sun.
Canadian shoemaker John Fluevog started his funky footwear line in Vancouver, offering high-end, unconventional designs for both men and women, many of which feature bright colors and distinctive heel shapes. His two-level Gastown shop, with massive windows and a greenhouse-like ceiling, looks more like an art studio than a shoe store. There’s a second Fluevog branch among the Granville Street nightclubs downtown.
MAP 2: 65 Water St., 604/688-6228, www.fluevog.com; 10am-7pm Mon.-Wed. and Sat., 10am-8pm Thurs.-Fri., noon-6pm Sun.
The floor-to-ceiling shelves at The Paper Hound Bookshop are crammed with a diverse array of used (and some new) titles, sorted into sometimes quirky categories that range from literature and Eastern enlightenment to “books with folding maps.” In this chockablock Gastown shop, kids’ books get the same tongue-in-cheek treatment, too, organized into sections from “indomitable orphans” to “the rodent as hero.” If you can’t find what you need, ask the helpful bibliophile staffers.
The Paper Hound Bookshop
MAP 2: 344 W. Pender St., 604/428-1344, http://paperhound.ca; 10am-7pm Sun.-Thurs., 10am-8pm Fri.-Sat.
This kitchenware shop was founded in Chinatown back in 1917, and Ming Wo is still jam-packed with anything you might need to prepare or serve a meal, whether you’re looking for pots and pans, dishes, utensils and gadgets, aprons, or tableware. They stock a sizable selection of woks, steamers, chopsticks, and other tools for Asian cooking. In addition to this location opposite the Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden, there are branches in Kitsilano and South Granville.
MAP 2: 23 E. Pender St., 604/683-7268, www.mingwo.com; 9am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-5pm Sun.
The carefully curated collection of hip housewares draws you into this window-lined storefront in a rehabbed Gastown building, where it’s fun to browse for things you didn’t know you needed. Örling & Wu carries cards and paper goods, coffee- and tea-making supplies, tableware, soaps and bath products, and even stylish dog collars.
MAP 2: 28 Water St., 604/568-6718, www.orlingandwu.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-5pm Sun.
| Yaletown and False Creek | Map 3 |
You’ll likely unearth some fine finds at Fine Finds Boutique, a Yaletown shop stocked with casually stylish women’s clothing, hats, jewelry, and handbags, mixing local labels and global brands. They carry a large selection of vegan leather wallets, purses, and packs from Canadian maker Matt & Nat, plus cards and gift items, too, all attractively displayed in this window-lined storefront.
MAP 3: 1014 Mainland St., 604/669-8325, http://finefindsboutique.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Tues., 10am-7pm Wed.-Sat., 11am-5pm Sun.
Hidden down a narrow corridor in a restored brick building, this surprisingly spacious boutique outfits millennial men and women in everything from funky T-shirts, hoodies, and denim to spangled club wear from Canadian and international designers, like Naked & Famous, Religion, and John Varvatos. In the center of this shop, which was one of the first boutiques to open in Yaletown back in 1998, is a coffee bar where you can pull up a stool and consider your purchases over an espresso and a cookie.
MAP 3: 1144 Mainland St., 604/806-6223, www.globalatomic.com; 11am-7pm daily
The staff at family-owned Moulé can help you select from garments that are smart enough to dress up while still doubling as comfy casual wear. Among their women’s and men’s clothing lines, they carry several of their own in-house brands, including Rachel Mara, Colter, and Ten62. They also stock jewelry and a small assortment of housewares, and there’s even a corner with toys and clothing for the kids. Their roomy Yaletown shop, set in a heritage building with black wood floors and white wood walls, has plenty of space for browsing.
MAP 3: 1062 Homer St., 604/685-1062, http://moulestores.com; 10am-7pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-6pm Sun.
Inside Woo To See You, a teeny white-walled Yaletown boutique that gets its distinctive name from owner Hans Woo, you’ll find jeans, blouses, jackets, and other fashionably casual women’s clothing, primarily mid-priced garments from smaller or independent labels. Prepare for winter with handmade hats by Vancouver’s Hendrik.Lou, and check out the cases along the wall displaying original jewelry, including Vancouver designer Carli Marie Sita’s “famous fingers” series, necklaces inspired by American Sign Language (and other hand gestures). There’s another location on Main Street.
MAP 3: 1062 Mainland St., 604/559-1062, https://wootoseeyou.com; 10am-8pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-6pm Sun.
Shopping at this Yaletown “eco-thrift” boutique supports a good cause. At My Sister’s Closet, which the local Battered Women’s Support Services organization operates, proceeds from the store’s sales help fund violence prevention and intervention services. Allow some time to browse; this corner store is crammed with racks of women’s secondhand clothing, from pants to coats to formal wear, along with some jewelry, shoes, bags, and a small selection of men’s garments.
MAP 3: 1092 Seymour St., 604/687-0770, www.bwss.org; 10am-6pm Mon.-Thurs., 10am-7pm Fri., 11am-7pm Sat., noon-6pm Sun.
British Columbia’s largest privately owned liquor store, Legacy Liquor Store, in the Olympic Village, has an excellent selection of B.C. wines from more than 80 wineries around the province. The knowledgeable staff can help you choose, whether you’re looking for a gift or for a bottle to sip with your bread-and-cheese picnic. In this 8,600-square-foot (800-square-meter) store, they stock plenty of B.C. craft spirits, and their selection of 1,000-plus beers includes many local microbrews. They hold periodic wine-tastings and other special events; check the website or phone for a schedule.
MAP 3: 1633 Manitoba St., 604/331-7900, http://legacyliquorstore.com; 10am-11pm daily
| Granville Island | Map 4 |
Opposite the Public Market is the Net Loft, an indoor minimall in a former warehouse building. Explore its hallways, a warren of tiny shops and art galleries, for gifts and unique souvenirs, from jewelry to kitchenware to hats to aboriginal art.
MAP 4: 1666 Johnston St., no phone; 10am-7pm daily
In this light and open Railspur Alley studio, the textile artists at Funk Shui Atelier craft handmade hats, scarves, and other wearable or decorative fabric items. You can often watch the artists as they work.
MAP 4: 1375 Railspur Alley, 604/684-5327, www.funkshuifelt.com; 10am-5pm daily
At the Granville Island Hat Shop, inside the Net Loft building, you can find almost anything to wear on your head, for both men and women. Stacks and stacks of hats line the shelves, and the staff can help you find your best style. They craft custom hats and do hat repair and restoration as well.
MAP 4: Net Loft, 1666 Johnston St., 604/683-4280, www.thehatshop.ca; 10am-6pm daily
Little Dream carries an eclectic assortment of locally made fashions, jewelry, and accessories for women in its compact Net Loft shop. Crafted by Vancouver designers, their distinctive clothing, which ranges from casual to more dressy, isn’t on the racks at your standard suburban mall.
MAP 4: Net Loft, 1666 Johnston St., 604/683-6930, www.dreamvancouver.com; 10am-7pm daily
It’s worth hunting for Silk Weaving Studio, hidden in a corrugated metal-clad bungalow near the waterfront, between the Public Market and Ocean Concrete. You can frequently watch the weavers at work, creating handwoven scarves, shawls, and other garments and textile pieces on their sizable looms.
Silk Weaving Studio
MAP 4: 1531 Johnston St., 604/687-7455, www.silkweavingstudio.com; 10am-5pm daily
Even if you’re visiting in the sunny summertime, you may want as a souvenir the constant companion of Vancouverites: an umbrella. The Umbrella Shop sells good-quality rain protectors in a broad range of colors and styles, and the helpful staff can explain the benefits of different designs. Besides this branch under the bridge on Granville Island, look for their location on West Pender Street, handy if you get caught in the rain downtown.
MAP 4: 1550 Anderson St., 604/697-0919, www.theumbrellashop.com; 10am-6pm daily
Part metalworking studio (specializing in furniture) and part gift shop, Ainsworth Custom Design carries whimsical one-of-a-kind items from magnets and cards to prints and T-shirts.
MAP 4: 1243 Cartwright St., 604/682-8838, www.ainsworthcustomdesign.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Fri., noon-6pm Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
In the Net Loft, spacious Circle Craft Co-Operative is a good place to browse for handmade jewelry, leatherwork, ceramics, and other work by more than 150 B.C. craftspeople, with items attractively displayed on wooden tables and shelves.
MAP 4: Net Loft, 1666 Johnston St., 604/669-8021, www.circlecraft.net; 10am-7pm daily Apr.-Dec., 10am-6pm daily Jan.-Mar.
Harry Potter and his Quidditch team would covet the handmade sweepers from the Granville Island Broom Co. Sisters Mary and Sarah Schwieger, who own the shop, craft brooms using traditional Shaker methods. Check out the “marriage brooms” with their entwined brushes, or the only-in-Canada versions with handles made of hockey sticks.
MAP 4: 1406 Old Bridge St., 604/629-1141, www.broomcompany.com; 10am-6pm daily
Watch the glassblowers at work at Sterling Glassworks, a glassblowing studio and shop that sells colorful glass pieces of various sizes. If you’re interested in learning about glassblowing yourself, ask about their 30- to 60-minute workshops, offered by appointment only, for adults and teens (ages 14 and up).
MAP 4: 1440 Old Bridge St., 604/681-6730, www.sterling-glassworks.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Sat., 11am-5pm Sun.
The compact Wickaninnish Gallery sells cards, prints, scarves, and other moderately priced items with First Nations designs.
MAP 4: Net Loft, 1666 Johnston St., 604/681-1057, www.wickaninnishgallery.com; 10am-7pm daily
Looking for a souvenir for a foodie friend or an edible memory from your Vancouver visit? Edible Canada, opposite the Granville Island Public Market and connected to the restaurant of the same name, stocks locally produced salts, jams, vinegars, and more from around British Columbia and across Canada. The shop is decorated with canoes and other Canadiana.
MAP 4: 1596 Johnston St., 604/682-6675, www.ediblecanada.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Fri., 9am-6pm Sat., 9am-5pm Sun.
A good source of wines from B.C. and elsewhere is Liberty Wine Merchants, near the Granville Island Public Market. The staff can introduce you to the region’s wines and advise you about local labels. They have additional locations in the Point Grey neighborhood and on the East Side.
MAP 4: 1660 Johnston St., 604/602-1120, www.libertywinemerchants.com; 9:30am-8pm Mon.-Thurs., 9:30am-9pm Fri., 9am-9pm Sat., 9am-8pm Sun.
| Kitsilano | Map 5 |
For women’s clothing and accessories by emerging Canadian designers, check out Two of Hearts, a friendly boutique in Kitsilano. They carry their own made-in-Vancouver label, Cici, as well as designs from other independent companies, stocking both moderately priced casual clothes and dressier wear. In the center of the shop, look for displays of jewelry.
MAP 5: 1986 W. 4th Ave., 604/428-0998, www.twoofhearts.ca; 11am-6pm Mon. and Wed.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
Kitsilano’s Gravity Pope sells upscale style-conscious shoes for men and women, including brands like Camper, Cydwoq, Vans, and their own in-house line. Park yourself on one of the curved banquettes while you see what fits. Their next-door boutique, Gravity Pope Tailored Goods (2203 W. 4th Ave., 604/731-7647, 10am-8pm Mon.-Fri., 11am-7pm Sat., 11am-6pm Sun.), carries high-end women’s clothing that ranges from funky to fine, from labels like Comme des Garçons, Naked & Famous, and Alexander Wang.
MAP 5: 2205 W. 4th Ave., 604/731-7673, www.gravitypope.com; 10am-9pm Mon.-Fri., 10am-7pm Sat., 11am-6pm Sun.
Kidsbooks is Vancouver’s best place to find reading matter for toddlers to teens. The Kitsilano shop stocks a large selection of titles by Canadian authors and books with multicultural themes, plus games, crafts, science projects, and audiobooks. This spacious store has nooks for young readers, middle grades, and teenagers to browse. If you’re shopping for a gift or want some suggestions, ask the knowledgeable staff for ideas.
MAP 5: 2557 W. Broadway, 604/738-5335, www.kidsbooks.ca; 9:30am-6pm Mon.-Thurs. and Sat., 9:30am-9pm Fri., 11am-6pm Sun.
One of the city’s long-established booksellers, Pulp Fiction Books carries both new and used books on their sturdy pine shelves in their Kitsilano location. They also have two shops on the East Side.
MAP 5: 2754 W. Broadway, 604/873-4311, http://pulpfictionbooksvancouver.com; 11am-7pm daily
The friendly cheese mongers at Les Amis du Fromage will help you pick the perfect wedge, whether you’re looking for locally made brie or a pungent époisses from France. Sampling is encouraged. The Kitsilano storefront, where you can peruse the cheese-filled display cases and coolers, is a short walk from Granville Island; there’s a second location on the East Side.
Les Amis du Fromage
MAP 5: 1752 W. 2nd Ave., 604/732-4218, www.buycheese.com; 9am-6pm Sat.-Wed., 9am-6:30pm Thurs.-Fri.
Based in Victoria, local leaf expert Silk Road Tea runs a spacious store in Kitsilano, where you can browse and sample from their extensive inventory of tea, tea-related products, and cosmetics. They also offer tea classes and workshops; check their website or call for details.
MAP 5: 2066 W. 4th Ave., 778/379 8481, www.silkroadteastore.com; 10am-7pm Mon.-Sat., 10am-6pm Sun.
Near West 4th Avenue at Burrard Street in Kitsilano, several shops sell gear for skiing, snowboarding, surfing, and cycling. Comor Sports is a well-stocked outdoor gear store with a helpful staff. In their large, warehouse-like location, they carry skis, snowboards, winter accessories, and bicycles, as well as clothing for outdoor sports.
MAP 5: 1766 W. 4th Ave., 604/736-7547, www.comorsports.com; 10am-6pm Mon.-Wed. and Sat., 10am-8pm Thurs.-Fri., 11am-5pm Sun.
Wander into Wanderlust, a well-stocked Kitsilano travel store, for a large selection of guidebooks, maps, luggage, and other travel gear. One room is full of books, while the second is stocked with useful gadgets and bags of all shapes and sizes. The staff know their stock, whether it’s what kind of plug adapter you need or which backpacks fit different body shapes, and they’re quick to make recommendations.
MAP 5: 1929 W. 4th Ave., 604/739-2182, www.wanderlustore.com; 10am-7pm Mon.-Fri., 10am-6pm Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
The Travel Bug has a cozy nook filled with travel books, and this compact but well-stocked storefront carries luggage, bags, and travel supplies as well. They also host occasional author talks or presentations about travel destinations.
MAP 5: 2865 W. Broadway, 604/737-1122, www.thetravelbug.ca; 10am-6pm Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
| Cambie Corridor | Map 6 |
The motto of this Main Street boutique is “all things lovely,” and with their stock of frilly, flouncy, feminine styles, it’s hard to dispute that claim. At Barefoot Contessa (which has no connection to cooking guru Ina Garten), you can find a perfect dress to wear to a garden party or a flowery frock to brighten a rainy day. Check out their vintage-inspired jewelry and other sparkly baubles. Their second location is on Commercial Drive.
MAP 6: 3715 Main St., 604/879-8175, www.thebarefootcontessa.com; 11am-6pm Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
For vintage, designer consignment, and smart new clothing, the fashion-conscious frequent Front and Company. While it can take some hunting to unearth the stylish finds from this jam-packed Main Street shop, the selection of men’s and women’s garments is generally high quality. They also stock jewelry, handbags, shoes, and fun gift items.
MAP 6: 3772 Main St., 604/879-8431, www.frontandcompany.com; 11am-6:30pm daily
The three Vancouver designers who founded the Main Street boutique Twigg & Hottie carry their own made-in-Canada We3 label along with clothes, shoes, and accessories by other local creators and international brands that meet their sustainable, ethical ethos. Some of their comfortably fashionable pieces, like the Spanish Banks dress and the Kits Beach cover-up, take their names from local landmarks.
MAP 6: 3671 Main St., 604/879-8595, www.we3.ca; 11am-6pm Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
Canada’s largest bookstore chain has a two-level location on the corner of West Broadway and South Granville. Find all types of books, including fiction, travel, food, and titles for kids and teens, by both Canadian and international authors; there’s plenty of room for browsing. They carry some gift items, stationery, and magazines as well.
MAP 6: 2505 Granville St., 604/731-7822, www.chapters.indigo.ca; 9am-10pm Mon.-Sat., 10am-10pm Sun.
Remember the days when writing meant pen and paper or perhaps a typewriter? Even if you don’t, you can journey back to the pre-digital era at The Regional Assembly of Text, a Main Street stationer that stocks cards, journals, and anything to do with correspondence.
Even cooler is their Letter Writing Club, held at 7pm on the first Thursday of every month, where you can gather to send notes to your friends and family. The shop provides supplies for this free event; all you need to do is show up and write. Your mom will thank you.
MAP 6: 3934 Main St., 604/877-2247, www.assemblyoftext.com; 11am-6pm Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
If you need a retro-styled Bluetooth clock radio, a guide to Canadian cocktails, or vibrantly colored nesting measuring cups, stop into this emporium of cool design stuff. At Vancouver Special on Main Street, you’ll find shelves and tables piled with art books, cookbooks, Scandinavian textiles, Japanese ceramics, and a few Vancouver-made objects, as well as a second room with a selection of home furnishings.
Vancouver Special
The shop shares its name (though not its design) with a type of house built across the city in the 1960s and ’70s. Resembling a ranch house atop a box, many of these two-story homes sheltered multigenerational families.
MAP 6: 3612 Main St., 604/568-3673, https://shop.vanspecial.com; 11am-6pm Mon.-Sat., noon-5pm Sun.
If you need outdoor clothing and equipment, camping supplies, or cycling gear, head for Broadway between Yukon and Main Streets, where you’ll find a cluster of outdoor shops. The largest, MEC, as Mountain Equipment Co-op is known, is a Canadian chain stocking their own label and other brands of clothing, backpacks, and gear for hiking, bicycling, rock climbing, kayaking, and other sports. You must be a “member” to purchase anything at MEC; a lifetime membership, which you can include with your first purchase, is $5.
The Vancouver MEC store organizes a variety of events, from free group runs, hikes, and cycles to back-country adventure planning workshops and bike maintenance clinics. Check the website for an event schedule.
MAP 6: 130 W. Broadway, 604/872-7858, www.mec.ca; 10am-7pm Mon.-Wed., 10am-9pm Thurs.-Fri., 9am-6pm Sat., 10am-5pm Sun.
Sports Junkies has good deals on new and used sports equipment and clothing for both kids and adults. The jam-packed store, located between Cambie and Main Streets, can feel a little disorganized, but if you take the time to hunt, you can frequently find bargains.
MAP 6: 102 W. Broadway, 604/879-6000, www.sportsjunkies.com; 10am-7pm Mon.-Wed., 10am-8pm Thurs.-Fri., 10am-6pm Sat., 10am-5pm Sun.
| Commercial Drive | Map 7 |
Commercial Drive thrift shop Still Fabulous carries good-quality secondhand women’s and men’s clothing. It’s a small shop, but the packed racks may hold bargains, and your purchases are for a good cause, too. Proceeds from the shop benefit B.C. Children’s Hospital and B.C. Women’s Hospital. There’s another location on Main Street.
MAP 7: 1124 Commercial Dr., 604/620-6110, www.stillfabulousthrift.com; 10am-5pm daily
Vancouver’s best kitchen supply store is the cavernous East Side Gourmet Warehouse, which carries a vast stock of small appliances, kitchenware, and food items, from spices to snacks to chocolates. If you can eat it or cook with it, they have it, and the accommodating staff can help you find what you need or suggest why you might choose one product over another, whether you’re looking for the Pacific Northwest’s best dried cherries, Vancouver-made snack crackers, or ingredients for a molecular gastronomy project. They’ll make up gift baskets for your foodie friends, and they offer periodic cooking workshops and other events.
MAP 7: 1340 E. Hastings St., 604/253-3022, http://www.gourmetwarehouse.ca; 10am-6pm daily