Shop for Local Artisanal Goods in Vancouver’s Neighbourhoods
Vancouver’s maker scene is thriving and varied, with local artisans crafting unique goods, such as soaps, jewelry, gourmet treats, and sustainable clothing.
You can pair shopping for artisanal goods with getting to know the city’s many vibrant neighbourhoods, each with their own character, community, and boutiques. Stop for a bite at one of the area’s local eateries, and you have the perfect local outing.
Mount Pleasant, with vibrant Main Street as its main artery, is a neighbourhood whose shopping leans towards local and vintage goods.
Giving Gifts is a trove of locally-made items, where you can spend lots of time browsing for gifts for loved ones as well as yourself. Their offerings encompass a range of different categories including an extensive selection of locally-made face and body care (e.g., Sḵwálwen Botanicals), clothing (e.g, t-shirts by RV Designs), and jewelry (striking photographic pieces by Black Drop Designs).
Local Boom Gift Shop, east of Main Street, carries over 300 Canadian brands. The shop champions local companies, as well as prioritizes natural, organic, and cruelty-free products. You can shop for Original Bannock Mix from Bangin’ Bannock, canvas hip bags from Danica Brands, and shampoo bars from Wild Jasmine Natural Apothecary.
Coco et Olive is a charming cafe that also has an array of home goods for sale, including pottery, candles, and textiles.
Welk’s General Store brings together high-quality items, many locally sourced. Welk’s is basically everything you would want in a dream general store. They’re a particularly good destination if you’re seeking local artisanal food products, such as Mungry Spreads and InGrain Pasta.
Eats: While you’re on Main Street, grab a doughnut and coffee at 49th Parallel Café/Lucky’s Doughnuts, or a casual bite and bevy at Sing Sing Main Street.
Friendly and picturesque Kitsilano and nearby Granville Island are great shopping areas. For example, West 4th Avenue has numerous boutiques for finding unique gifts.
In particular, the street is home to Makers, a local-focused retailer with multiple locations. Their shelves are full of curated local goods, including jewelry, soaps, body care, food products, ceramics, and candles. They support handmade items created with heart, such as Sweetgrass Soap products, crafted by an Indigenous entrepreneur who initially made soaps for her son for a skin condition.
Granville Island is a short stroll away, with its abundance of artist studios, small shops selling local goods, as well as the Granville Island Public Market with local food vendors.
Circle Craft Co-op in the Net Loft Building is a long-running organization consisting of over 130 artists. The work they produce spans mediums, including ceramics (e.g., Duncan Tweed Ceramics) and beautiful jewelry (e.g., Kat Cadegan).
Also, in the Net Loft Building, Anita Jackel Leather Design (her studio is located on Gabriola Island), sells West Coast-inspired bags and purses that incorporate sustainable leather (by-products of the food industry) and local rocks as closures.
Eat: There are many delicious places to fuel up on Granville Island. For something quick and easy, visit one of the food court vendors (e.g., Sen Pad Thai) in the Public Market. The Sandbar Seafood Restaurant and Dockside Restaurant have good West Coast cuisine with phenomenal views.
Commercial Drive and East Vancouver
Pride in East Van is rooted in the area’s strong sense of community and solidarity. This is extended to the businesses, which are intertwined with the people that live in the area, as well as local artisans.
Commercial Drive is a really interesting street for walking along: pop into stores along the way, as well as visit the many lively cafes and restaurants.
Arts off Main Street is operated by an artist collective and features their art, in addition to pieces from other local artists. They carry other locally-made goods, such as pottery and jewelry.
Further north, just west of Commercial Drive, lies Cedar Root Gallery. The shop is Indigenous owned and operated, and spotlights the work of talented Indigenous artists, including gold/silver carved jewelry, masks, and talking sticks.
Just a couple blocks east of Commercial Drive, on Victoria Drive, The Coast Goods, a cozy shop housed in a century old building, stocks a range of items, many of them locally-sourced. Goods include candles, scents, bed textiles, and pottery. You can find everything from endearing greeting cards by Jeannette Ordas (The Beautiful Project), to wooden charcuterie boards crafted by Rick Labrin of Free Hand Woodwork.
Eat: The Drive has a long connection to the Italian Canadian community, which is reflected in the food and drink establishments. LIVIA is a lovely bakery/café/, while Caffè La Tana, another hybrid café, serves incredible hand-made pasta.
Vancouver’s oldest neighbourhood remains true to its heritage character, while also evolving to become a hub for unique independent shops and businesses.
Shayelily Jewelry showcases handmade jewelry with ceramic and glass blown beads and freshwater pearls. Their Charmed Collection 2.0, which includes necklaces and bracelets, is particularly whimsical.
John Fluevog Shoes has become internationally well-known but remains tied to its artisanal Vancouver origins. This Gastown store is just a block from the site of the initial Fox & Fluevog store. The design studio is located at this flagship location, allowing you to connect directly to the creativity that goes into these innovative shoes.
MAKE Vancouver – Gastown stocks gift items that recipients will treasure. Signs in the store draw attention to goods made by Canadian artists and makers, such as Julie Solvstrom’s t-shirts and mugs and Trip Poster’s magnets and puzzles. You can also design your own t-shirts, tea towels, and tote bags at MAKE.
Eat: The restaurants and drinking establishments in Gastown are diverse. Fill yourself up with perogies at Kozak Homemade Ukrainian Food or at feast on japchae or KFC (Korean Fried Chicken) at Zoomak Korean Tavern.
Finally, put on your calendar some upcoming local craft markets, including Got Craft at the VESSI 500 Championship (May 31) and the Concord Pacific Dragon Boat Festival (June 21-22); the Vancouver Etsy Spring Pop Up (May 17-18, Pipe Shop, North Vancouver); and the Made in the 604 Pop-up Markets (June 22, July 27, August 17, Heritage Hall).