-
Modern Times Antiques
The assortment of furniture, lamps and mirrors is as dichotomous as the name. It's got a bit of everything - old and new, local and global (particularly items from Thailand and Indonesia), Buddhas and Bugs Bunny collectibles. The kind of place you'll find a great stained-glass window that won't fit in your suitcase, it's one of several antique stores lining the 'Antiques Row' section of Main St.
-
Momentum
A sign that a well-groomed appearance has become an equality issue, not only can visiting males enjoy a full menu of treatments at locals spas , they can also drop by this men-only grooming shop for the best in quality razors and shaving brushes and enough skin care products to have you taking over the bathroom cabinets back home. You go guy.
-
Motherland
Selling cute art-house designer wear for bright young things, Motherland defines Main St's emergence as a fashion center. The clothes - quirky skirts, pants and Ts - are Canadian designed, in-house-made and well-priced enough that even those on student loans can afford them.
-
Mountain Equipment Co-op
The granddaddy of outdoor stores, where grown hikers have been known to weep at the amazing selection of own-brand clothing, kayaks, sleeping bags and clever camping gadgets, MEC has been turning campers into fully-fledged outdoor enthusiasts for years. You'll have to be a lifetime member to buy here, but that's easy to arrange and only costs around C$5 .
-
New World Designs
Gothic fetishwear shares rack space with Renaissance ball gowns and brocade corsets here, all of which are a pretty tight squeeze to fit into. Less confining but still a conversation piece are the velvet capes and square-toed witch shoes. Each item of clothing is handmade by the designer-owner.
-
Paper-Ya
If you thought stationery was just a pen and paper, think again at this treasure trove of writing-related ephemera. Among the desirable items that will lure your wallet are cool journals, fountain pens, envelopes and greetings cards, as well as sheaves of breathtakingly beautiful washi paper. It's a store that makes you rue the day the internet was invented and long for the return of letter writing.
-
PD's Hot Shop
PD's sells its own Skull Skates brand of skateboards, snowboards, skimboards, BMX bikes and clothing. The company has been around forever and remains the place for the boarding scene, with resources like a skatepark directory and tidal pool charts for skimboarding. Cash only.
-
Petri Dish
If you want to pick up a quirky reminder of your time in Vancouver, drop by this eclectic arts and crafts store stuffed with exquisite but generally inexpensive creations by local artists. There's an ever-changing selection but items can include treasures such as painted tea bags or collage greetings cards, as well as small but lovable original paintings for less than around C$50 .
-
Punjabi Market
You won't find cows wandering the streets, or bicycle rickshaws weaving between the traffic, but some of the sounds, smells and colors of the subcontinent are condensed into this short Main St strip.
-
Purdy's Chocolates
Like a beacon to the weary, this purple-painted chocolate purveyor stands at the corner of Granville and W 11th Ave calling your name. A homegrown family business with outlets dotted like candy sprinkles across the city, it's hard not to pick up a few treats for the road here. Among the favorites are the chocolate hedgehogs, peanut butter daisies and sweet Georgia browns - roasted pecans wrapped in caramel and chocolate. Yum.
-
Advertisement
-
Red Cat Records
The best record store in town to dip into the local scene, Red Cat is owned and operated by Buttless Chaps lead singer Dave Gowans. The store is packed with rare and local CDs and vinyl and Gowans is often on hand to give you a few pointers on who to see live (and where). At the time of research, he was considering relocating, so check the shop's website for the latest info.
-
Roots
Basically a maple leaf emblazoned version of the Gap, Roots designs athletic streetwear that's unmistakably Canadian; its retro-styled Olympic jogging pants and hoodies are ever-popular. If you can't find this one, there are additional outlets - usually in malls - dotted throughout the city.
-
Scratch Records
Initially a tiny specialist record store, Scratch has expanded over the past 15 years to become a record label, concert promoter and international distributor. But the inauspicious store remains, its bins packed with 99% independent labels, obscure releases and vinyl that the staff know intimately.
-
Sikora's Classical Records
Sikora's blows away the classical inventory of mainstream music stores with its more than 25,000 CD/DVD titles - plus hundreds of LPs for all those traditionalists out there. Opera, organ, choral, chamber and early music are represented, and there's a section devoted to Canadian musicians. The staff are highly knowledgeable and can point you to a hot Mahler or Rachmaninov recording at the drop of a hat.
-
Silk Weaving Studio
Weavers here turn out luxurious, hand-dyed silk dresses, blouses, scarves, shawls, lingerie, belts and hats in a rainbow of colors. Visitors are welcome to wander through the small waterfront studio and watch the weaving process in action. Silk yarns and fabrics are sold, too.
-
Smoking Lily
Quirky art-student cool is the approach at this SoMa store, where skirts, belts and halter tops are whimsically accented with prints of ants, skulls or the periodic table. Men's clothing is slowly creeping into the mix, with some fish, skull and bird-sketch T-shirts available. It's a fun spot to browse and the staff are friendly and chatty.
-
Sophia Books
This multilingual bookstore serves ESL students, homesick francophones and Japanese manga fans, as well as just about everyone else interested in reading in another language. Shelves devoted to comics, anime , foreign magazines, language-learning tapes and Japanese origami fill the cramped aisles.
-
Ten Lee Hong Enterprises
This authentic Chinese tea and herb shop is a great place to buy supplies of good green, red, white and black teas. The friendly staff - women in cool pink pantsuits - are used to dealing with curious Westerners: they'll instruct you in the art of how to brew and will also serve you samples so you find your favorite tea.
-
Ten Thousand Villages
You'll find decorative paper from Bangladesh, baskets from Vietnam, hammocks, drums, clothing and other 'fairly traded' handicrafts from around the world. The store is part of a nonprofit program that buys from 120 artisan groups in 30 countries; outlets are located throughout North America.
-
Travel Bug
There's an extensive array of travel guides covering just about every corner of the globe here, plus a good selection of excellent travel literature for those who like to read about other people's epic journeys from the comfort of their armchair. Book launches and travel-related slide shows are regular events and there are racks of handy gadgets and accessories for serial trekkers.
-
Advertisement
-
True Value Vintage
'Value' is a bit of a misnomer since the used duds at this subterranean cave of cool clothing kitsch are sometimes fairly pricey. But if you really need that 1950s bowling shirt or Jimi Hendrix tour hat, you'll pay anything, right? Bargains are to be had on the musty-smelling sale racks.
-
Umbrella Shop
Often the only outdoor gear you need in Vancouver is a good brolly to fend off the torrential rain. This family-run company has just the thing, with hundreds of bright and breezy designs that should put a smile on the face of any drench-weary visitor. Duck inside, choose a great umbrella then launch yourself back into the tempest.
-
Urban Empire
This wacky, all-out, kitsch trinket shop is just the kind of place you can pick up that Crazy Cat Lady action figure you've always wanted. Other must-haves include taste-free nihilist chewing gum and Bill Clinton condoms. Beware: the longer you browse the more you will buy.
-
Virgin Mary's
Pleasantly jumbled Virgin Mary's carries vintage clothes dating from the 1950s. New and used fashions run the gamut from burlesque-influenced items (such as pasties and bloomers) to 1970s iron-on T-shirts. Highly browsable, make sure there's room in your suitcase before you go mad with the credit cards.
-
Wood Co-Op
The silky, highly strokable wood tables and chairs on display here may not be ideal for packing home, but it's hard not to appreciate the artisanship that's gone into their manufacture. Regional woods are often used and there's a striking modern feel to many of the pieces. It's branched out in recent years and now also offers wooden toys and kitchenware - much easier to pack.
