Shopping in VancouverVancouver shopping is perfect for the fashion-conscience spend thrift and the budget-minded browser. Each specific shopping district sets itself apart from the others and offers distinctive designer labels, kitschy retro boutiques, and specialty shops.Granville Island
This island, on False Creek , has an authentic farmer's market and lots of galleries, boutiques and artisans' stores. Ambitious revitalization has breathed life into this area, turning what was once a neglected industrial site into a vibrant shopping and entertainment mecca.
The 'heart' of the island is The Emily Carr Institute of Art and Design, named after the famous West Coast artist known for her tall trees and totems. The atmosphere is perfect for dining, with passing yachts and panoramic views. Seafood at sea level!
Chinatown
Vancouver's Chinatown is North America's second largest, after San Fransisco's. Mandarin and Cantonese are the mother tongues in 30 per cent of Vancouver homes, which makes Chinese the dominant "minority" ethnic group. There are lots of interesting markets with so many varieties of fresh and dried seafood and mushrooms.
You'll also find inexpensive Chinese house wares and unusual Chinese apothecaries (offering time-tested herbal cures for pretty much everything). On weekend evenings (Friday to Sunday from 6:30pm to 11:30pm) Keefer and Pender Streets become a busy open-air public market. If you have time for a long leisurely meal, try "Dim Sum" at one of the many small restaurants that offer this unique fare. It is a multi-course culinary adventure. Relax in the peaceful Dr Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden or marvel at the beautiful Ornate gates adjacent to the Chinese Cultural Centre.
South Granville
Just south of downtown, South Granville has the trendier stores and boutiques, with higher price points, primarily because of its proximity to the Shaughnessy area. It also very handy when you need to get that last minute gift when you're on your way to the airport from downtown. Many designer clothing shops are concentrated between 12th and 16th Streets. The area is also well known as "Gallery Row" because of the art galleries just under the Granville Street Bridge. You can find pretty much anything here without having to go downtown or to a mall.
Robson Street
Robson Street is synonymous with world-class shopping. The stretch of shops between Burrard and Jervis features all the top names in designer fashion, like Louis Vuitton, Chanel & Fluevog. It is also home to major brand names including The Gap, Roots, and Banana Republic intermixed with local boutiques, souvenir shops, and countless restaurants. The retail rental rates along this corridor are some of the highest in North America due to the incredible amount of foot traffic. But great bargains are still to be found. It is truly a shoppers paradise.
West Broadway
West Broadway is a major east/west thoroughfare. Concentrations of eclectic commercial districts can be found along it's route. Between MacDonald St. and Alma is a collection of tiny, trendy clothing shops and an emerging assortment of famous destination shops. Catering to students and young, fashion-conscience professionals, it is a terrific spot to pick up fabulous clothes at great prices. In the evening, action occurs around the Hollywood Theatre (3123 W Broadway).
East of Cambie Street is the area known as "Fleece Row", so named because of the plethora of outdoor stores and outfitters. Anchoring the area is the 30,000 square foot Mountain Equipment Co-op store (130 W Broadway), a Vancouver institution.
Kitsilano
Kitsilano has long been a trendy neighbourhood for fringsters and ultra-cool professionals. The commercial heart of this area is focused along 4th. Ave. Here you will find a diverse mix of urban home furnishing stores, hip book stores and some of Vancouver's best kept dining secrets. The proximity of this district to Vanier Park, Kits Beach and other tourist destinations makes it one of the busier shopping areas outside Robson St.
Just east of Burrard St. is an emerging neighbourhood of outdoor sports stores. This concentration of snowboard, ski, and other sports equipment suppliers allows shoppers to cash in on the hyper-competitive environment. It is a great place to stock up before hitting the slopes.
West Tenth
This district, on Tenth Ave close to UBC, caters to local residents and area families. There are also some high-end specialty shops unique to the area.
Kerrisdale
This neighbourhood shopping district is centered around 41st Avenue along West Boulevard, but extends from 37th to 45th, and from Balsam to Maple. It has the feel of a small town main street, catering to the residents of this quaint neighbourhood. The sidewalks are often full of locals browsing the many shops.
Antique Row
This district is on Main Street, between 16th and 25th Avenues. Many stores feature traditional antiques and 20th century nostalgia, ranging from art deco accessories to 1950s and 60s kitschy retro items. Sunday afternoons tends to be the busiest time, attracting groups of browsers and window shoppers.
Commercial Drive
Commercial Drive is the hub of the multi-cultural east side of Vancouver. It is a collection of shops catering to recent immigrants and adventurous shoppers alike. The main shopping district extends from Venables to East 10th. Ave and features bakeries, boutique clothing stores and ethnic groceries. Commercial is also one of the best spots in the city to sip a latt?at a curbside caf?and people watch.
Central Granville Street
Granville St. is the centre of the downtown shopping experience. Just south of Robson St. is the Granville Pedestrian Mall, home to funky clothing stores and numerous used records stores. It's piercing and tatoo studios cater to the urban/alternative scene and is also home to two movie theatre complexes.
Nearby, and accessible from either Georgia or Robson St. is the Pacific Centre, a 200-store underground mall. Anchored by big name Department stores like The Bay and Sears, it is the perfect spot to shop away the blues on a rainy Vancouver afternoon. Just outside the Robson St. entrance is the Virgin Megastore, a can't miss stop for music and movie fans. It is a three-story interactive experience! Vancouver boasts the cheapest C.D. prices in North America, making this a particularly attractive stop.
Gastown
This district is the oldest part of Vancouver, dating back to its reconstruction after the Great Fire, and then revitalized in the 60's. It now has lots of touristy shops along its brick-paved streets. The area starts just west of the Seabus Terminal (which can take you to North Vancouver) near the upscale Sinclair Centre. The funky side of Gastown is centred around the one-of-a-kind steam powered clock. At the eastern end of Gastown is Carrall St with a number of aboriginal art galleries. The entire area is scattered with many great restaurants and bars.
Yaletown
This is another area which has undergone a major revitalization since the Expo 86 World's Fair. It is now a trendy centre for shopping and bustling nightlife. It is pretty quiet before the noon downtown lunch crowd, but picks up quickly. It can be amazingly packed on a sunny Friday afternoon for the see/be seen crowd. Mainland and Hamilton (between Davie and Nelson) are the main shopping streets, with a concentration of unique home furnishing and design shops- many of which are popluar among both the corporate types and the many multimedia and gaming companies headquartered in the area.
