Put “shop” and “west Edmonton” in the same sentence, and “mall” just naturally follows. But there’s more to shopping around the city’s west end than the massive mall. You just have to look a bit harder to find it.
If you don’t live in Terwillegar, Magrath or anywhere close to Edmonton’s deep southwest, you likely think of the region as a shopping wasteland full of gigantic grocery stores, gas stations and fast-food outlets.
Mill Woods isn't the first neighbourhood that comes to mind when one thinks of shopping, and those who have been to the area's lone indoor mall will know why. But this series isn't about shopping malls; it's about finding the hot local spots where those in the know go, and in Mill Woods, there's no hotter spot than Little India.
Bounded by leafy ravines, close to downtown, with landmarks like the provincial museum and the Valley Zoo nearby, Crestwood is among the more desirable, established neighbourhoods in the near west end. As you might expect, it has parks and schools nearby, but unlike many older 'hoods, it also has a substantial pocket of great shopping, beyond the standard dry cleaners, banks and convenience stores.
St. Albert is that interesting mix of historic community and suburb, home to legions of middle-class commuters but also to one of the province's oldest settlements, with its own rich heritage and, unlike most suburbs, its own downtown.
When you live in a region dominated by the largest mall in North America and ringed by suburban power centres, you really have to think outside the big box to find quirky, interesting neighbourhoods in which to shop. That's where we come in. Every second week in Style, we've been introducing you to a fun, unexpected or offbeat shopping area that you might never have noticed, or at least, never fully appreciated. It might be just a couple of blocks or a bigger 'hood with a bunch of worthwhile stops. No matter, you can shop, browse, snack or just stroll around. We'll walk you through it.
Who doesn’t love going out of town to shop? New York, Vegas, Phoenix, Sherwood Park ...
Suburban shopping isn’t necessarily pretty. It often involves strip malls, concrete and driving, even in one’s own neighbourhood. But there’s a lot to be said for supporting local businesses, particularly when they’re a stone’s throw from your home, whether that’s in the suburbs, downtown or somewhere in between.
When you live in a town dominated by the largest mall in North America and ringed by suburban power centres, you have to really think outside the big box to find quirky, interesting neighbourhoods in which to shop. That's where we come in.
Sure, Whyte Avenue is top-of-mind when it comes to street shopping in Edmonton. But for most people, Whyte Avenue ends at the train tracks at 103rd Street (on Gateway Boulevard), even though the street clearly continues right under them.
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