Shopping Districts
Alberta is happy to accommodate those who love to shop till they drop. For starters, try the world's largest mall—48 city blocks—in Edmonton. Beyond the mall scene you'll find plenty of specialty stores, art galleries, bookstores, boutiques, antiques and collectibles, gourmet food and wine and more.
Calgary’s Retail Scene
Shopping Malls
For the latest in fashion trends from clothing to home décor, visit Chinook Centre—the city’s largest mall and only 10 minutes from downtown Calgary shopping. In the northwest quadrant of the city, try Brentwood Village, Market Mall and Northland Village. In the southwest, Southcentre is your best bet. Downtown you'll find The Core an area that covers several blocks on our Stephen Avenue pedestrian mall and can be accessed from the street or traversed indoors from end to end. Looking for brand name bargains? Head to the Deerfoot Outlet Mall in the northeast. For the “big box stores,” try Marlborough Mall in the northeast. Visit Bankers Hall for three floors of specialty downtown Calgary shopping.
Inner City Shopping Strolls
An excellent resource for downtown shopping strolls is the Calgary Downtown Association. Check out the six areas they suggest and describe. Only four blocks south of city centre, on 11 Avenue SW, you can find the latest in avant garde furniture, home décor, gourmet kitchen shops and art galleries with their own cafés. Ten minutes south of downtown you can browse the boutiques and galleries along 17 Avenue SW, and then wander south on 4 Street into the Mission district. You’ll find boutiques, galleries, arts & crafts shops, unique furniture shops, a fabulous Italian market and many fine restaurants, local brewpubs and cafés where you can rest and refuel.
Ten minutes north of downtown, cross over the Bow River on the 10 Street Bridge to wander through the Kensington neighbourhood. If you head north on Centre Street you’ll be in the heart of Chinatown while still in the downtown core. And if you head west on Third Street you’ll wind up at the Eau Claire Market, a stone’s throw from the Bow River, where specialty shops and restaurants and western souvenirs abound.
A short walk east of downtown Calgary shopping, the Inglewood district on 9 Ave SE is a haven for antique hunters. For those with offbeat and eclectic tastes, there are numerous collectibles shops featuring vintage electronics, clothing, records, as well as galleries, glassware, funky and futuristic furniture stores and more.
Outdoor & Western Outfitters
Because Calgary is the gateway to the Rockies, it's home to many outdoor activity retailers. Mountain Equipment Co-op is one of the most comprehensive, catering to your every need—from hiking boots to camping and backpacking gear and all the clothing our changeable weather demands. Looking for a Stetson, cowboy boots or belt buckle? Lammle’s Western Wear, Riley & McCormick’s, Smithbuilt and Alberta Boot are good places to start for everything from riding the range to the latest in western duds for the Calgary Stampede.
Where Calgary is your best bet for comprehensive retail listings, maps, and detailed information.
Edmonton’s Retail Scene
The Largest Mall in the World
Imagine a mall with 58 entrances, 800 stores and services, more than 100 eateries, 26 movie theatres, three postal codes, the world's largest car park, wave pools and water parks, porpoises and penguins. Our West Edmonton Mall is spread over 48 city blocks. Wear your comfortable shoes and bring bathing suits for the children; this is going to be a shopping experience like no other.
Inner City Shopping Strolls
Take an easy amble through Edmonton's bohemian, boutique-laced Whyte Avenue in the Old Strathcona neighbourhood, situated between Edmonton Trail North and the University of Alberta. You’ll find funky one-of-a-kind shops that sell everything from handmade shoes to aboriginal art. It has a high density of restaurants and cafés in which to rest your weary shopping bones. If you’re there on a Saturday, pop into the Farmers’ Market in the old bus barns to find fresh produce, flowers, baked goods, crafts and more.
Downtown Edmonton is the place to go for the major department stores and malls. Check out Manulife Place which is nteworked to movie theatres, mini-golf, over 100 stores and services. The buildings are connected by pedways, a bonus on a rainy or snowy day.
Southgate Centre, at 111 Street and 51 Avenue is your upscale fashion stop with over 138 shops and services.
West of the downtown core, is the 124 Street shopping district. The area is known for its art galleries, and the High Street Mall features many specialty shops and boutiques.
If you're hunting for bargains, head to South Edmonton Common. This retail power centre on Gateway Boulevard is fast becoming the largest shopping development of its kind in Canada.
Where Edmonton has comprehensive retail listings and maps.
Unique Shopping Opportunities Around Alberta
Canadian Heritage
Discover more about our storied past. Learn about our famous Royal Canadian Mounted Police and where to find memorabilia and souvenirs for sale. Learn about prehistoric aboriginal life at Head-Smashed-in Buffalo Jump and visit the gift shop for unique aboriginal arts and crafts and souvenirs.
Crafts
Enthusiasts will find a wealth of outlets in Alberta covering crafts of all descriptions. Visit Alberta Craft Council for information on artist exhibits, shopping and events. The Alberta Country Register provides a comprehensive directory of craft shops and boutiques specializing in quilting, beading, scrapbooking, jewelry and doll making.
Antiques & Art
Old Strathcona Antique Mall in Edmonton is the largest of its kind in Alberta, with more than 200 antiques and collectibles merchants under one roof. Several blocks away is the Rocky Mountain Antique Mall, an enormous space filled with antique and vintage houesewares and collectibles. Also in Edmonton and featuring North American antiques, Ye Old Antique Furniture House is one of the largest antiques houses in Canada.
The town of Nanton, an hour south of Calgary has become a mecca for antique hunters. Much of the town has been restored to its frontier splendour. Nanton's merchants also offer a wide range of hand crafted items and specialty services including custom built furniture and restorations.
Tour the Cowboy Trail through southern and central Alberta to find treasure troves of western antiques and art in the shops, galleries and studios spread throughout the twenty communities along the route. The website includes a complete directory of shops.
A variety of antiques shows are held around the province every year. Canada Olympic Park and Spruce Meadows hosts summer shows that feature antique dealers from across the country. Visit Antiques Shows Canada for details. The Leduc West Antiques Society holds an annual two-day exhibition with fun for the whole family.
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