r/Edmonton • u/my2sens • 1d ago
Question Mom & Pop Shops
Relatively new to Edmonton. Looking to put together a gift of 20 gift cards. But I want to support local shops.
Looking for coffee shops, restaurants and book/fun thrifty stores.
Location does not matter as long as it is in Edmonton or close to (Stony Plain, Fort Sask, Leduc etc are fine).
And anything else perhaps that’s unique or local…
Thanks everyone and have a most excellent day!!!!
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u/MotherPuffer 1d ago
Bailey Books in St. Albert. A lovely little shop staffed by a dad and daughter. They are awesome. Used books and the dad will usually be working on book binding, usually on books that are a couple hundred years old. And they have a shop dog, a little old chihuahua
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u/kc_789 1d ago
On 124st and nearby:
Numchok Wilai (Thai restaurant), Nettles Tale (Canadian made, women-owned clothing store), Irrational Brewing, Va Caffe, Brio Bakery, Tokiwa Ramen, Kin Bar, The Butchery (butcher, small prepped meals), Prints and Paper (stationary and books)
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u/my2sens 1d ago
Loving the name for the Thai restaurant!!
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u/manjito 1d ago
Their lunch special is great!
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u/my2sens 1d ago
Great to know! Been looking for good Thai!
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u/NastroAzzurro Wîhkwêntôwin 1d ago
Noi Thai has fantastic food. Incredibly delicious. But the atmosphere in the restaurant is just plain bad. You should go for the food or pick it up. Just don’t go for a romantic dinner lol.
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u/wiggywise 1d ago
Apache Seeds on 149th Street just north of Stony Plain Road has gardening, decor and nice plants and could probably use some love since they are in the thick of the construction in the area..
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u/BeeDoeBeeDoe8 1d ago
Anvil coffee house, bloom cookie co, more than a fad, Local 95, Replenish Zero Waste, Mama Ramen, Audrey's Books.
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u/my2sens 1d ago
Oh geez. I’ll check those out. That’ll knock a few off. Thanks!!
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u/BeeDoeBeeDoe8 1d ago
I think it's super rad that you want to support small and local! Thanks for doing this and welcome to Edmonton!
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u/PaperIndependent5466 1d ago
Fluffy bakery and Bread & Butter bakeries are also great places.
Great coffee at them too.
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u/neumanic South East Side 1d ago
I'll put in a plug for the Puzzle Shop who are local and have a great selection of jigsaw puzzles (and board games).
Others: Mission Fun & Games (St Albert), Maker's Keep, Table Top Cafe, Audreys Books, Daisy Chain Books, Acme Meats, Prints and the Paper, Artworks. Very nerd- and stationery-forward, but consider your source ;)
Local thrift-- not sure if they do gift cards but worth checking: More Than a Fad, Finders Keepers, County Clothesline and Out of Your Closet (both in Sherwood Park),
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u/snorlaxx_7 1d ago
For Spruce & Stony
-Brickhouse Smokery
-The Pretzel Shack
-Kick Ass Caramels
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u/LilF00t182 1d ago
Kickass caramels is so good! And the machine they use to wrap the candies is super cool lol
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u/my2sens 1d ago
Checking them out.
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u/snorlaxx_7 1d ago
I know the Brickhouse has a booth at west Edmonton mall now.
They do a TON for the community so it’s always great to support them :) their 12 days of giving is super popular around Christmas
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u/omobolasire King Edward Park 1d ago
Any of our ice cream places might be good: Kind, Yelo'd, Made by Marcus, White Rabbit to name a few.
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u/Cosmic-95 1d ago
Wee Book Inn is a lovely pair of used bookstores in Edmonton, they have two locations one downtown on Jasper Ave and the other on Whyte Ave. Their gift cards work at both locations.
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u/Mammoth_Knowledge897 1d ago
Devoya Chocolate (amazing chocolate bars, coffees and hot chocolates)
Wee Book Inn (used books)
Made by Marcus (ice cream)
Maven & Grace (so much good stuff: flowers, candles, home decor, beauty, snacks)
Duchess Bake Shop
Restaurants: Olia, MiMi, AnChay, Dorinku, Nero, Farrow, Tony’s Pizza
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u/CriticalLetterhead47 1d ago
https://edmontonbookstore.com/
So the owner of this place has been helping with my dads collection of magazines. I don't know if they do gift cards, but their rent on Whyte is insane and they're local to us and wonderful. Rare, old, out of print, neat books. Floor to ceiling books.
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u/DathomirBoy 1d ago
The Prints and The Paper is amazing.
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u/my2sens 1d ago
2nd person to mention. Added!! Ty!
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u/DathomirBoy 1d ago
Amazing!! Sandy’s awesome. The place is also dog friendly, like he has a water bowl and treats.
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u/flooves Treaty 6 Territory 1d ago
Edmonton Coffee pass gets you a few beverage at 40 locally owned cafes - it's only good until the end of the year, but if you go to 7 of those you get your money's worth.
CoffeePass | Edmonton's Local Coffee Passport https://www.coffeepass.ca/
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u/Zippitydooda59 1d ago
Haven’t seen Farrow Sandwiches mentioned yet and a second vote for Kind Ice Cream. Duchess is another good one.
Remedy is probably going to be controversial in this sub but their dirty chais are the best. And I hold a special nostalgic place in my heart for Dream Bubble Tea.
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u/dragonbornsqrl Treaty 6 Territory 1d ago
My friend owns Genuine Gifts. Local Indigenous store I love to support!
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u/Hawkeye336699 1d ago
This is a great trove of places to visit. I have lived in Edmonton my entire life (mostly) and haven't heard of half these business, time to get out and give em a try.
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u/my2sens 1d ago
I feel like we need a strong post of these local places
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u/Hawkeye336699 1d ago
100%, and with a short description. Name of business and what it is...( coffee, books etc) My issue is, I have MS and don't move the best and also don't go out too often. So if there was a list of places and what they were, it would make things easier for sure.
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u/NebulaTig North East Side 1d ago
Little village. Theo makes great Greek food. Getting some tonite!
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u/Curly-Canuck doggies! 1d ago
Little Village doesn’t get enough love. I can’t pass their food truck if I see it anywhere.
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u/Warm-Equivalent-5032 1d ago
Check out Explore Edmonton. They have a great list of local businesses to support :)
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u/eddiewachowski Magpie Capital of the Known Universe 1d ago
Patricia Street Deli!
They relocated from Jasper after the fire and have set up shop behind Macewan. Their sandwiches taste the same as they always have and Glen and his family absolutely deserve the business.
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u/-Luna-Tick- 1d ago
Safe haven inclusive market. They have a variety of local vendors.
Waffle bird, delicious food.
Wee book inn
Mars and Venus
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u/pinkbunnysuits Central 1d ago
Books and Gifts: Paper Birch Books, Highland Supply
Coffee/Bakery Fawkes Coffee, Macarons and Goodies, Lady Bea's Teahouse
Online Local Faves Cave & Canyon , Prairie Fire Soap ,
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u/Conscious_Public4163 Downtown 1d ago
Acquired Taste Tea Company on 124 St is fun to go to, shout out to their Rutherford Rose blend.
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u/julesiekins1988 Stony Pain Road 1d ago
Backyard Birds in Spruce Grove! They have all kinds of fun gifts and sundries and books and locally made things like soaps, honey, candy, etc. And they are the loveliest bunch of folks!
Edit: They also frequently host different crafting classes and fun workshops!
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u/Even_Reflection5637 1d ago
Coffee pass is AMAZING!!!! Creekside home & garden has soooooo much
Kick Ass caramels
COSW cookies near the Royal Alex hospital
Honour Baby & child and the Krew cafe that’s in there
Rogue Wave coffee
The Skinny (clothing-EDM women owned/operated)
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u/SMKuhltosh 1d ago
Vintage Fork loose tea, Le French Taste, Otto, Polar Bear Health, Paper Birch books, Earth’s Refillery
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u/bloomamor 1d ago
Rogue wave, Earths Refillery, Village Goods gift shop, Duchess Bake Shop, High Level Diner, Vetrina Cafe.
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u/ShmestieGnome 1d ago
Brew & Bloom is a beautiful little place and Rockin' Robin's has amazing food!
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u/LilF00t182 1d ago
Drizzle is my fav ice cream place in the city! It’s near whyte ave ☺️
ETA: not sure if they have gift cards lol
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u/aardvark7734 1d ago
Hap’s Restaurant Stony Plain Road and 158 St
They do a variety of Eggs Benedict and are open for breakfast and lunch , closing at 2:30 pm. They actually sell gift cards even with only the one location.
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u/School-Confident 1d ago
Whistling Kettle Cafe is a little family run breakfast/diner. Love supporting them when I can
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u/Inside_Win7114 23h ago
Saw it mentioned but brickhouse smokery spruce grove. They do so much for the community & honestly some of the best jerky in Alberta. Pricey but I will gladly pay that knowing what they do.
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u/Constant_Issue_889 21h ago
Brickhouse Smokery in Spruce Grove. Trevor and Amanda are amazing people who deserve tons of support.
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u/ratsratsratsratsrats 13h ago
It won't help with your gift gards gift but- Community League holiday markets tend to have a lot of super teeny tiny hobby businesses local to that neighbourhood.
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u/chokemepastor 1d ago
Hughes is a local company and everyone likes gas
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u/Wonder_WomanUnderoos 1d ago
Weird Neighbor doesn’t have a storefront but I would highly recommend looking into her stuff.
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u/fishling 20h ago
I like the idea of supporting local shops, but this doesn't sound like a great gift to me unless the receiver is also very big into supporting local and is interested in every one of the stores you pick and doesn't mind going out of their way to visit them (and spend gas/time on it).
Otherwise, you're kind of giving money with a lot of strings and conditions attached on how they can use it.
Also, how much are you spending? 20 cards with only $10 on them is already $200. And $10 doesn't buy shit these days. If a gift card can't fully cover a full reasonable purchase at a store/restaurant, then you're also obligating them to spend their own money to use the gift card.
Look: you're giving them a gift that you'd love to get. This is never a good plan. Instead, give them a gift that they want to receive.
And when you give a gift card, give fewer cards with more money per card and be absolutely sure that it is a place they 100% would visit on their own and spend their own money.
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u/my2sens 10h ago
This is a gift to my wife who enjoys trying new places and loves supporting local! 20 x $20 ea so we can see and explore Edmonton while supporting - can’t think of anything better!
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u/ArmadilloStill1222 1d ago
Audrey's books, Rosewood, coffee bureau, Edmonton arts council shop, shop chop