24 Reasons To Visit Calgary’s Inglewood Neighbourhood in 2024

Inglewood is not only Calgary’s oldest community, but it is home to the city’s original main street now known at 9th Avenue SE but was originally called Atlantic Avenue. Today Inglewood is one of Calgary’s most desirable neighbourhoods with its main street offering live music venues, art galleries, boutiques, cafes, bistros and fine dining, that combine to create an eclectic vibe.  It is Calgary’s funky arts district and part of the Music Mile.

Here are 24 reasons (in no particular order) to visit Inglewood’s main street aka Atlantic Avenue in 2024:

Esker Foundation Gallery is a privately owned public gallery that offers not only an ambitious contemporary exhibition program but a great view of Calgary’s downtown skyline.  Look for the building with the wavey roof.

The Blues Can, an old Quonset hut, is Calgary’s best (most authentic) juke joint offering local and touring musicians 7 days a week. Unfortunately, it may not make it until the end of 2024 as the landlord has plans to for a new residential building on the site.  Tuesday night is Tom Phillips, Calgary’s country legend and Saturday afternoon is a blues jam hosted by Calgary’s Tim Williams, one of North America’s best bluesman and storyteller.

Fair’s Fair Books is not only Calgary’s largest used bookstore, but it is a vintage museum with 1000s or artifacts strategically placed on top of the shelves.  It is the perfect spot for bibliophile treasure seekers.  It too may become a victim of Inglewood’s growing popularity as there are plans for residential redevelopment of the site.

Cold Garden Beverage Company is not only one of Calgary’s best craft breweries, but  perhaps the city’s coolest, hippest, funkiest place to hang out. Don’t be surprised if you are sitting beside a dog.

Circa, is the only gallery in Canada that focuses on mid-century modern glass art from around the world.  Owner Brian Imeson is a wealth of knowledge and very approachable if you want to learn about modern glass artworks he is your guy. Circa is eye candy, for those interested in the visual arts.

Next Page bookstore is like a walk back in time, as it is in an early 20th century building complete with a tin roof and a heritage patina. It is the younger sister to Kensington’s Pages bookstore, hence the clever name. It combines both new and used books with a café at the back.

Recordland boasts an inventory of about 1,000,000 records (largest in Canada), as well as CDs and music memorabilia. The place is packed floor to ceiling with records and the aisles are only about two feet apart, so best to wait at least an hour after you have eaten. Portraits of Bob Marly and Jimmy Hendrix guard the front door.

Today the 1936  Garry Theatre is the Ironwood Stage & Grill offering a diverse live music program 7 days a week. Originally opened as one of Calgary’s first small scale community cinemas like the Plaza in Hillhurst and Tivoli in Mission.

Every vibrant neighbourhood needs its signature café, in Inglewood that would be  Gravity Café, which not only offers up a fine cup of java, but also has a well-respected live music program - focusing on local musicians.

Inglewood is home to three fine dining restaurants all located in heritage buildings.  Rouge is in the 1891 Brewery House that was home to the A.E. Cross, one of the Big Four who funded the first Calgary Stampede. He owned the huge Calgary Malting and Brewing Co. located further east on Atlantic Avenue, hence the name Brewery House.  It even has its own vegetable garden – backyard to table cuisine.

The Deane House was built in 1906, when Captain Richard Deane’s wife refused to live in the Northwest Mounted Police’s Fort Calgary barracks. Today is home to a fine dining restaurant of the same name and is a sister restaurant to downtown’s iconic River Café on Prince’s Island. 

The Nash and Offcut Bar, the flagship restaurant of one of Canada’s best known chefs Michael Noble, is located in the National Hotel built in 1907 and which was owned by A.E. Cross as part of his brewery empire (hotels were the only place you could drink alcohol in public at the time).

Spolumbo’s is Calgary’s iconic deli. Former Calgary Stampeder football player Tony Spoletini opened Spolumbo's in 1991 after realizing Calgary didn't have many high quality Italian sausage options. Calgary’s consummate food guy, John Gilchrist, loves all the sandwiches but in the end had to go with the meat ball sandwich on a crust Italian roll slathered in tomato sauce. Extra napkins please.

Hint: It is busy at lunch so get there early or go later. And grab extra napkins.

Smithbilt Hats, located in a building that looks a bit like a “grain elevator” just off 9th Ave, is the supplier of Calgary’s famous “White Hats,” that are given out by the City to visiting dignitaries.  

Backstory: Smithbilt’s founder, Morris Schumiatcher, was only 18 in 1910 when he convinced his father to move their large family to Canada from Russia. As a way to get around language barrier, he renamed the family Smith. At first Smithbilt produced mostly small brim dress hats, in the style that flourished in the East and in Europe. In 1926, however Morris began a co-operative effort with local businessmen and the Stampede Board to promote western wear for spectators. 

The family of oilman Bill Herron debuted the “White Hat” in the Stampede Parade of 1947 and took the “best-dressed” prize with their matching black and white outfits, horses, saddles and bridles. Shumiatcher invested heavily in white felt after this auspicious debut. In the early 1950s, Mayor of Calgary Donald Hugh Mackay began presenting the white hat to visiting dignitaries, a tradition that the mayor's office continues to this day.

Plant is exactly what you would expect it to be – a plant store. No, not a florist, but a green plants from succulents to snake plants. The place always has a buzz about it as both green and brown thumb people are with looking to add to their plant collection or replace dead ones.

From the outside espy looks like any other fashion boutique, but what makes it unique is the “espy experience.”  The fashion stylists of espy pride themselves on being able to help clients find the perfect pair of jeans - no matter what their age or size. espy  carrying sizes from 00 to plus 16 for women and special sizes for men with long arms and long legs (which is not me).

Ironically Inglewood’s New Street is one of Calgary’s oldest streets and it is lined with charming old homes, that makes for a fun stroll for any history buff. There is a walking tour of Inglewood online if you are interested in learning more about Calgary’s early settlers’ homes. Link: Inglewood Walking Tour

Knifewear’s flagship store is located in Inglewood. Owner Kevin Kent’s fascination with handcrafted Japanese knives began while he was working as sous-chef for the legendary chef Fergus Henderson at St. John restaurant in London England (I have been there). Back in Canada in 2007 he began selling them out of a backpack from the back of his bicycle, while working as a chef in Calgary. In 2008 he opened the first Knifewear store across the street from the current store in Inglewood.

Legend has it Cher once shopped at Crown Surplus when she was in Calgary for a concert. From the outside it looks like a military surplus store, but inside it is a hip  outdoor/camping store.

Great neighbourhoods always have a signature pub. Inglewood’s would be The Hose and Hound Neighbourhood Pub located in the Old Fire Hall #3 built in 1906.  It is full of the British pub charm and character. (sorry about the leaning sign, must have had one too many.)

In the summer Inglewood is home to a popular monthly night market that showcases Calgary emerging designers and food entrepreneurs with live music. It is fun for all ages and backgrounds.

The Attic Bar & Stage is a quirky lounge, vegetarian restaurant, music and event space. It is home to Carly’s Angels a very popular cult drag show that has be entertaining Cowtowners for decades.

Let’s get the party started! Looking for something fun to do with visiting family and friends? Why not book a Pedal Pub Tour where you can enjoy some Calgary’s finest brews while pedaling around the city centre.

Craving some ICE CREAM? The Blue Store, aka Inglewood Food Mart & Video (yes it is.blue), the 1923 Byth Hall, at the corner of 9th Ave and 13th St SE. has a sidewalk take-out window that offers a large one scoop ice cream cone for only $3 (at least that was last year’s price).

Or if you prefer soft ice cream the Inglewood Drive est. in 1949 offers a dole whip along with numerous other fun retro favourites like malts and banana splits. On a nice summer evening you can watch people lawn bowling across the street while you enjoy your treat.

Last Word

In addition to its funky main street, Inglewood is also home to the Calgary Zoo and Botanical Gardens, Inglewood Bird Sanctuary, Bow Habitat Station & Sam Livingston Fish Hatchery and Harvie Passage a white water adventure.  It doesn’t get much better than this.