If you love shopping, Winnipeg, Manitoba is one of the best places for retail therapy. Naturally the city offers the standard big box stores you can find anywhere. And there are several sprawling malls. But where Winnipeg really stands apart from other cities is in its selection of quaint specialty stores.
Here’s an overview of the city’s biggest malls and a sampling of some of the smaller shops for those who enjoy an eclectic shopping experience.
Major Winnipeg Malls
Kildonan Place Mall
Located in the northeast section of the city, Kildonan Place features more than 100 stores, restaurants and beauty salons including big box stores such as Zellers and Sears. There’s also a movie theatre. The mall offers extensive guest services including complimentary strollers, wheelchairs, scooters, car lockout service, battery boost service and gift wrapping. You can also take advantage of the fax and photocopy services, paging for lost shopping mates and a lost and found all located at the Customer Service Booth. http://kildonanplace.shopping.ca
Polo Park Mall
Polo Park, Winnipeg’s largest mall, is located in the western section of the city and features more than 200 stores. It’s home to the city’s only Sephora store, a leading beauty, skin care, hair, makeup and fragrance retailer. There’s parking for 6,000 vehicles and a spacious 500-seat food court. Besides a central customer service base, the mall also has Roving Service Ambassadors to help you out. http://www.polopark.ca
Portage Place Mall
Located in the heart of downtown, Portage Place features an entire level devoted to entertainment where the Global Cinema, Imax Theatre and Manitoba’s second largest professional life theatre, the Prairie Theatre Exchange, are located. The mall is home to more than 125 shops and services, offers underground parking, and is connected by walkway bridges to the MTS Centre. Customer service features a coat and parcel check. http://www.portageplace.mb.ca
St. Vital Centre
As of the summer of 2009, St. Vital Mall in the eastern section of the city became one of only a few dozen Manitoba properties registered as a BOMA BEst certified building. Buildings that are BOMA certified follow sustainable practices that are kinder to the environment. The mall is home to more than 160 stores including a large food court, state-of-the-art entertainment facilities, specialty stores and professional services. Customer service includes all the standard mall services including extras such as assistance for visually impaired or blind customers and complimentary sewing kits. http://www.stvitalcentre.com
Clothing and Shoe Stores
European Shoe Shop and Mephisto Concept Store
436 Academy Road,
(204) 487-4193
If you’re discerning shoe shopper who wants top quality footwear, then this is the store for you. It sells shoes in hard-to-find widths for both men and women, specializes in casual, comfortable footwear, and offers the best selection of Mephisto shoes in Winnipeg. Also available is a limited selection of fashion and formal footwear. Other brands sold include Josef Seibel, Manas, La Canadienne, Mukluks, France Mode, Arche Birkenstock, Roberto Capucci, Ecco, Pajar, Geox, Aquatalia, Stuart Weitzman, Think, and Naot.
Lucy’s Hidden Closet
1767 Portage Ave
(204) 779-5829
This store specializes in excellent quality clothing and footwear in edgy styles not found in most stores. Clothing brands available include Sarah Pacini, Crea, Stills, Princess Goes to Hollywood, Isda, Ronen Chen, Noa Noa and Creenstone and for footwear Born, True Religion, Cydwoq and Replay. The store brings a little bit of Europe to Winnipeg and offers a relaxed, personalized shopping experience.
9 Boutique
542b Academy Road
(204) 775.9999
Fashionistas don’t need to give up their sense of style just because they’re pregnant thanks to the stylish clothes available at 9 Boutique. The clothing this store carries comes from a variety of top international designers and is made to look good and feel comfortable to wear. The store also carries specialty baby products such as gurumamas and chemical free creams and diaper pail fresheners. Also available are a variety of fashionable diaper bags with features such as carabineers, bottle coolers and hidden backpack straps.
Ragpickers Antifashion Emporium
216 McDermot Ave
(204) 942-7992
Here you’ll find Winnipeg’s largest selection of authentic vintage wear from eras gone by. Also available are beautiful historical costume rentals, a huge selection of used books, local CDs and a variety of handicrafts.
Sophia’s Boutique
836 St. Mary’s Road
(204) 254-2595
Sophia’s Boutique is a women’s clothing boutique that carries casual, business and formal attire in sizes four to 20. Styles tend to be classy and sophisticated. The store also offers undergarments like Spanx and the orthopedic TAB Bra. Also available are Tummy Tuck Jeans designed to you look one size smaller. The staff provides personalized service and knowledgeable, professional advice.
The Urban Bakery (TUB)
398 Portage Avenue
(204) 947-2664
Not a place to buy pastries as the name implies, TUB is actually a great men’s urban store that sells the latest in hip hop and skater gear. The store is also known for t-shirts with some of the cheekiest (but still legal) slogans.
Jewelry, Gift and Specialty Stores
Aqua Books
274 Garry Street
(204) 943-7555
This is Winnipeg’s biggest and most affordable used bookstore where about 85% of the books are under $10. There are more than 40,000 books and the store puts out 500 to 1,000 new books weekly. Also available are vintage photographs and postcards.
Jigsaw Accessories and More
1693 Corydon Avenue
(204) 488-9997
If you like trendy costume jewelry that’s sure to get you noticed, then Jigsaw Accessories is a store you should visit. It also carries scarves, watches, leather accessories and chic purses. Many items are brand names.
Radiance Gifts and Books
7 – 875 Corydon Avenue
(204) 284-4231
Located in Winnipeg’s “Little Italy,†this store carries a collection of more than 2,000 crystal pieces, books, CDs and DVDs and thousands of jewelry pieces all meant to increase your personal well being.
Silver Lotus
111 Osborne St.
(204) 452-3648
There’s no boring jewelry here! This store is chock full of modern rings, necklaces, pendants, watches. Here you’ll also find contemporary shoes, hats, gifts, glassware, clocks and tin toys. There’s a lot to see so give yourself plenty of time to browse.