Calgary's Off-The-Beaten-Path Christmas Shopping Guide
In no particular order here are ten unique places, in unique locations, to shop local this Christmas.
Tea Traders
Tea Traders has been my “go to” place for my Lapsang Souchong tea for decades - not only because I love their fresh loose leaf tea, but I also love the ambience of the historic Ramsay Design building it in. It feels like you are buying the tea directly from a tea warehouse in a foreign country, with wooden shipping boxes piled up.
It also feels a little like a tea museum with its collection of old tea pots.
And in addition to a wall of different teas, to meet different tastes, you can also find a variety of high quality tea accessories. Some amazing tea pots and fine China teacups inspired by famous artworks, would make any artists or art collector happy. It is worth checking out.
Perhaps it is time for quality tea with those cookies for Santa this year!
Located: 1902 - 11th St SE
Sentry Box
Sentry Box is the place to shop for someone addicted to fantasy, science fiction and/or military games. They boast over 100,000 different items on the shelves of Canada’s premier gaming store. They also have wide selection of board games that you can try before you buy for free. So, give yourself lot of time to browse and even play, before you pay.
Located at: 1835 105h Ave SW
Model Land
“Our store may be small but our inventory is huge” is the mantra of Model Land. Yes, there is stuff from floor to ceiling on two levels.
That “stuff” includes everything from traditional model building kits to scale metal die-cast replicas of automobiles, rockets and other machinery.
Their other manta is, “You name it and we have it! If we don’t, we can special order it.” It is worth the time to just experience Western Canada’s largest model shop; it is a bit like a flea market. It is the perfect place to shop for anyone who is interested in model building of all shapes and sizes.
Located off-the-beaten-path in a small strip mall on 26th Avenue SW (between 33rd and 34th Streets SW, in Killarney. Though it may not look like much from the street, flaneurists always say, “don’t judge a store, by its façade.”
Location: 3409A 26th Ave SW.
Villages Calgary
This is a perfect place to Christmas shop, especially if you are into unique Christmas ornaments. Every year, they import 5,000+ handmade ornaments from third world countries that adorn dozens of Christmas trees around the store – ready for buyers to take them home with them.
Villages Calgary used to be Ten Thousand Villages
In addition, Villages Calgary has books and games for kids, jewellery and clothing for women and a large selection of handmade crafts. Great coffees and chocolates for gifts and stocking stuffers are also available. If you haven’t been, you should go.
Located on the east side of Crowchild Trail between 5th Ave and Kensington Road, you can’t miss it as it has a huge mural painted on the south wall and the rest of the building is painted a bright Caribbean turquoise.
Located: 220 Crowchild Trail NW
Louche Milieu
If your special someone is into mid-century vintage you must find time to visit Louche Milieu located in the Spruce Cliff shopping centre. Owner, Laura has carefully curated selection of vintage furniture, art, jewellery and home accessories. It is the place to go if you are a treasure hunter.
Located: 4 Spruce Centre SW
Edelweiss Village
Edelweiss is like a general store. It has everything from cheese and bread to cuckoo clocks, from kitchenware to European Christmas candy and baking. It is like a trip to Austria, Germany, Switzerland Poland and Holland all combined. We often get our Christmas stollen there.
If you are looking for another nutcracker figure (one can never have too many) for your collection, this is the place to go.
I also love the collection of engraved wooden roller pins. Why not give your give you dough a fun pattern?
They even have a café if you want to absorb some of the European Village vibe a bit longer.
Edelweiss is located just off 19th Street NW just north of North Hill Mall on the western edge of Capitol Hill community.
FYI: The plum streusel desert is a slice of heaven.
Located: 1921 - 20th Ave NW
The Veterans Association Thrift Store
Though there are many thrift stores in Calgary, I find VATS one has perhaps the best range of items and best prices. It’s neatly organized too.
In the front, is a boutique / vintage / antique area, full of fun finds from around the world. I love my two beaded dolls from Senegal.
Don’t miss the lovely library on the left as you walk in the front door. It is well stocked with books, including a large selection of military books - sure to make any Veteran or collector happy.
The huge main thrift store area is perfect for the thrill of the hunt, from records to artworks, from clothing to tools and everything in between. I recently got a nicely framed Yonne Young artwork for $25. And you can feel good about shopping here as all the proceeds go to a very good cause – veterans of course! This is a great Christmas shopping spot for everyone on your list, especially Grandpa.
This off-the-beaten path shop is in a warehouse/distribution district along 28th avenue NE.
Located: 640 28th St NE
The book section is set up like a library. As you might expect it has a good military section.
I have found a few hidden gems in the art section.
It is a big store, packed with items for everyone.
The boutique section is full of vintage and antiques items
Aquila Books
Probably the last place you would think of doing any Christmas shopping is along the Trans-Canada Highway, but yes in Calgary the TCH goes right through the middle of the city and there is a great bookstore on 16th Ave North (aka Trans-Canada Highway) and 8th St NW. Aquila Books is not your average bookstore it is an antiquarian bookstore i.e., rare books and collectables.
If you are shopping for a collector with a Canadian history fetish this is the place to go. It specializes in early Canadian history, but there are lots of books and artifacts for almost any horny history or book lover, or collector for that matter. It is like walking into a museum, but everything is for sale.
FYI: It is only open on Saturday 10:30 to 4 pm or by appointment Monday to Friday.
Located: 826 16th Ave NW.
Ella Grace Marketplace
Tucked away just off the busy Glenmore and Deerfoot Trail interchange is Ella Grace Marketplace a potpourri of vintage, antique and mid-century treasures. There are two floors of treasures curated by various Calgarians each divided into its own exhibition space. It is the perfect spot to find a unique gift for a special person.
Located: 7271 12th St. SE.
Last Word
I hope this blog will help those living in Calgary to have some fun while Christmas shopping this year. And for those who don’t live in Calgary I hope you will do a little digging and find some off-the-beaten-path places to shop in your city.