Where to Enjoy Local Shopping in Edmonton

Edmonton is a shopping hub that can compete with any other major city in the world. From malls to markets to vender gatherings, Edmonton is sure to have a shopping center that appeals to anyone. What are the best shopping centers in Edmonton AB?

The Barr Estate Winery

The Barr Estate Winery is not only a place to find wine but to visit and see how a family winery works and enjoy the fruits of their labor literally. If you are a wine lover then this is the best place to go for some very delicious wine and a variety.

Vintage Petals

Vintage Petals is a unique tea shop with more than 100 loose teas for sale. It's found in Morinville in the downtown area. It may seem like a bit of a drive for a cup of tea, but here’s something unique about this shop. It's not only a large selection, but you might also learn something new when you come here.

If you seek a comfortable place for a cup of tea, Vintage Petals may be the answer for you. You can sit and talk for hours in the store, while enjoying tea in antique teacups. The shop is quiet and you will be surrounded by beautiful plants, cookware, jewelry, spice mixes, cards, teapots and more. It's the perfect place for reminiscing and gossiping with a few friends.

Along with enjoying a cup of tea and choosing a batch of loose tea to take home, you can shop for a number of other items. From tablecloths to candy, you'll find plenty of items throughout the shop.

Pottery by Heather

Pottery by Heather is a great place to go not only buy pottery, but to see it being made. You can order custom designed pieces or shop through all the porcelain dishes and tea sets in the shop. There's something for everyone.

Lilypad Lane

Lilypad Lane is a one of a kind shop located in the heart of Bon Accord. It is adjacent to the clock tower, and is housed in one of the oldest dewellings in town. This dewelling was once a farm equipment dealership in the 1990s. In 2010, the building was used to start a web based business, soon after it turned into a unique retailer that possessed a wealth of countryside appeal.

Gayle Boyd, the owner of Lilypad Lane, wanted to bring a warmer shopping alternative to large retailers. The building received a major makeover in 2012, and Lilypad Lane is expanding in their offerings of gifts, toys and books.

There are a variety of coffee’s and tea’s offered, which are brewed from locally roasted beans. Among the products offered in the shop you will find, stuff animals situated on rustic wooden toys, loud coloured puzzles, rare craft kits, and green products for babies. It is a mission of Boyd’s to fill her store with products that are made in Canadia. Other things you may find as you stroll through the Lilypad Lane shop include sock monkeys, hair bows and homemade soaps.

You will want to check the website for hours, as they are different according to the seasons. You can also make an appointment to visit the shop during off hours. Appointments can be made on the phone, or you can fill out the form on the website. During your scheduled shopping appointment, your purchases will be gift wrapped and drinks will be served.

The Aqualine Aquatic Plants and Water Features

The Aqualine Aquatic Plants and Water Features store shows you their products on display. If you are looking to spruce up or redo your yard then you will love looking at the different garden displays that are set up here. The water features are running so you can picture them in your yard and staff is standing by to help you find the best possible fit.

Edmonton as a Retail Haven

Edmonton is among the largest shopping hubs not just in Canada but also in the world. That is the implication of an article recently published in the Financial Post. The city’s locals have known it for quite some time already. Interestingly, the retail industry in the area continues to grow. In fact, more than 3 million square feet of new retail space is expected to be added to Edmonton’s new retail developments over the next year.

The addition is amid significant vacancies in the commercial real estate of the city. Indeed, shoppers, retailers, commercial real estate agents, and even job seekers in the retail sector can have all the reasons to be ecstatic about retail prospects in Edmonton.

There are logical explanations for the industry’s growth in the city. First, the population not just in Edmonton but also in the entire province of Alberta is continuously growing in line with lower taxes and higher paying jobs in the manufacturing sector. Second, the population in the area has greater disposable income compared to the rest of the country. This is a sure-fire formula for retail success. Third, numerous local and international retailers are magnetized by the attractive income and retail statistics of the city.

As retailers from many other locations flock to Edmonton, commercial real estate becomes scarce. Consequently, construction of new commercial structures ensues. In effect, construction firms and contractors become busier, which lead again to more disposable income that in the end also ends up to the retailers.

Not to be overlooked of course is the fact that Edmonton is home to the biggest shopping mall in North America, West Edmonton Mall. Also within it is the biggest open air retail center, South Edmonton Common. With more commercial properties coming in the way next year, Edmonton commercial real estate will surely get even busier in the foreseeable future. Indeed, the city is a retail haven.