Every shopaholic in Calgary has been to 17th Avenue S.W. road more than once. With over fifty spaces to shop, it’s pretty much a mecca for us!
If you want to do some retail therapy of your own on the avenue, you’re on the right page. Today, we’re listing our top stores on 17th Ave in various categories, from fashion to food.
Table of Contents
17th Avenue S.W.’s Fashion and Accessory Shops
Thrift Couture
Thrift Couture carries tons of designer pieces at affordable prices. This store is a thrifter’s dream, especially since they even offer one-on-one styling sessions.
Although they primarily carry women’s wear, there are select pieces for men available. We’ve found their pieces to be truly versatile, working for anybody if you’re savvy enough.
Our favorite part about the space is how cozy it is, so it always feels easy and relaxed digging through the great fashion pieces here.
The Bamboo Ballroom
The Bamboo Ballroom, despite its specific address, is part of 17th Avenue’s official list of shops. It offers great quality clothing that you can either browse in-store or get via curbside pickup.
This store ships out across Canada, but we personally feel like a big part of what makes the experience great is being able to peruse through the selection yourself in the shop. They pretty consistently announce new arrivals, and the options are plentiful.
They have different types of apparel, but our favorite is their cardigans which haven’t let us down yet.
From Another
From Another has a great selection of streetwear, vintage clothing, and branded sneakers. Since it is popular for its sneaker offerings, you can also find specialty laces, socks, and merch.
We also have to mention the distinct new sneaker smell that permeates this space in an oddly satisfying way. Frequenters of the shop have liked this so much that you can even get a scented candle here that recreates that profile.
The space is not too big but has a fun aesthetic and loads of pieces worth looking through.
Fjallraven
If you’re looking to buy some outdoor gear to explore the beauty of Calgary and the Rockies, Fjallraven is a must stop. All the clothing, bags, and accessories here are built with exemplary quality.
Every item comes with a limited lifetime warranty, and the equipment is sustainable. What we like about this particular branch is that it also offers waxing and tailoring, which you can never really go wrong with if you want to curate your wardrobe.
Pacific Jewellery
We can spend hours just looking through the pristine bespoke pieces at Pacific Jewellery. Considering how long they’ve been around, it’s really no surprise that they’ve mastered the craftsmanship of jewelry design.
The collection is extensive, so there is already a lot for you to browse (with plenty of variety in material!). That said, they can also make a custom design if you want your own truly unique piece.
And although their main attraction is jewelry, we must also vouch for their impressive watch repair.
GlamWigs
If you’re looking to complete your look with a stunning wig, you’ll want to visit GlamWigs. The wigs here are priced fairly and always top-tier in quality.
It may seem intimidating to visit because of the sophisticated space and glam nature of the real human hair units, but we love visiting this shop because Renee (the owner) is very friendly and helpful. You won’t feel lost if you’re looking to get your own wig.
There’s also a wide variety available, so you can easily find the best style for you.
17th Avenue S.W.’s Desserts and Baked Goods
Philosafy Coffee
Philosafy Coffee is truly inviting for a quick rest and hot brew, but you can also just pop by to pick up some pastries, tea, and a bag of Philosafy beans. Our personal favorite is the Plato espresso for its hints of cinnamon, but all of the variants are rich and satisfying.
The coffee here is truly worth visiting, even if you aren’t a caffeine aficionado. While it is brewed fresh by experienced baristas, you shouldn’t worry about losing any of the distinct flavors if you just want to take home a bag of beans to brew yourself.
Their philosophy theme is quite interesting, and we love the vibe of the shop for those moments when you just want to take a break and feel rejuvenated. Make sure you look through the seasonal drinks offered, too.
Amato Gelato
Amato Gelato hits the spot if you’re having that hankering for authentic gelato. This spot also offers espresso, pizza, and other food offerings, but it’s truly the delectable gelato selection that you must check out.
The lengthy operating hours make it pretty accessible at any time that’s convenient for you, but we have to say that the ambiance really hits differently when you have gelato here at night.
The space is very charming if you want to stay for a bit, with a different menu for breakfast, lunch, and dinner. There’s also an Aperitivo Hour, in case you want dessert with a kick.
Ollia Macarons & Tea
Ollia Macarons & Tea is a great place to pop by and pick up a delicious box of French macarons. The selection of flavors here is quite fascinating, with both classic and modern twists available.
We love their advent calendars, which include tons of tea variants that range from zesty to sweet and more. If you’re really in a rush, curbside pickup is also offered.
You can also get macaron cakes, make wholesale orders, and even take classes or attend their events.
Made by Marcus
Made by Marcus is a wonderful ice cream shop that prides itself in using sustainable practices and grass-fed cow dairy. Everything is locally sourced, which is especially great considering the high quality of farmer’s markets across Calgary.
The selection is a lot of fun, and you won’t feel iffy trying their unique flavors as everything tastes great. Mixing and matching is truly encouraged, as you can even build your own box of pints, cakes, or bars that will be delivered to your home.
There are also many seasonal flavors and blends with special toppings, so you won’t want to miss out on that. Our favorite time to go here is Taco Tuesdays when you get an ice cream concoction wrapped in a waffle shell.
Don’t Yell At Me
Don’t Yell At Me lives up to its interesting and catchy name with a unique selection of drinks worth trying at least once. Crepe cakes, merch, sparkling water, and coffee are also offered here, but the boba is really the highlight that we drop by for.
If you’re not feeling adventurous, this boba shop also offers classic flavors that will hit the spot.
COBS Bread Bakery
You can’t really go wrong with good old bread, and COBS Bread Bakery is simply one of the best you can find. Everything is baked fresh daily, so you won’t come out feeling crummy (pun intended.)
Whenever we visit this branch, we end up buying more than we initially intended because of just how many baked goods they have. If you haven’t had the sourdough and croissants here, take this as a sign to come over and try one.
The staff will also help you with the vast selection, so you can really dive into whatever kind of bread you’re looking for. Whether you want something savory, simple, or sweet, you’ll likely find it in no time.
17th Avenue S.W.’s Home and Decor Shops
Earth Gems Ltd
Earth Gems Ltd is for the homeowner that likes to imbue their space with natural energy and likes crystals, gemstones, and minerals. They also have jewelry for sale, but this is primarily a stop you’ll make to build a home collection.
Both raw and polished stones are available here, and we’ve found ourselves pouring hours going through the different gems and cool stones on offer. You can also get smudge sticks, incense, Selenite lamps, singing bowls, and a whole slew of other metaphysical goods.
Passion For Glass
The art you’ll find at Passion For Glass is quite breathtaking. You can get tickets to simply view the gallery, but you can also buy ornaments, art pieces, jewelry, and specialty scraps in, you guessed it, glass.
We really like the tools and kits they sell, which are pretty friendly to beginners looking to start creating their own glass artwork. Workshops and classes are on offer year-round if you want guidance to get started.
Enthusiasts may also take interest in the fact that Bullseye Glass is sold here.
Mr. Mansfield Vintage
If you’re looking to add that distinctive retro flair to your home, then you will want to visit Mr. Mansfield Vintage. This shop actually also buys vintage items, so the selection is large and constantly updated.
You’re not limited to one subset of goods, either. You can find vases, rugs, tables, drawers, lamps, chairs, and other decorative items here at considerable prices.
We can’t count the times that we’ve passed by and spotted something truly drool-worthy for building that awesome retro mid-century modern vibe.
Walls Alive
As the name suggests, this is the place to shop at if you want to make your Walls Alive. Be it wallpaper or paint, the selection is so diverse and plentiful that you could be overwhelmed with the possibilities.
You can also procure stains here if you just want to make the wood paneling in your home become more vibrant. There are plenty of brands for both paint and wallpaper, with finishes in metal, sheen, matte, and more.
Because of its large catalog, the options are pretty accommodating for different budgets.
17th Avenue S.W.’s Electronics Shops
Apple Expert
So, you busted your iPhone. We’ve been there, and it’s the worst when official stores just want you to essentially get an entirely new phone when you’re past the warranty period.
Third-party services can be hit or miss, but Apple Expert is a reliable place to go. You can also get replacement parts for Macs, iPads, and iPhones that have seen their fair share of use.
Plus, while being primarily a repair and recovery shop, you can actually come here to upgrade your Apple equipment. We also like the Mac Recycling service, which lets you keep or completely wipe your data and find renewed purpose for your old Mac.Â
Freedom Mobile
Although a less efficient location than its counterpart in SE, we find that the 17th Ave. Freedom Mobile is a solid space to check out data plans and mobile devices.
The prices here are quite reasonable, with plenty of long-term options for payment. Aside from cell phones, you can also choose to get tablets or wearable devices with your mobile phone service.
17th Avenue S.W.’s Miscellaneous Specialty Goods Shops
Part of what makes 17th Avenue S.W. so popular are the many specialty stores you can find carrying a range of cool items.
Vape World Emporium
Vaping has continuously become more popular, making way for shops like Vape World Emporium to have successful brick-and-mortar locations. The space is pretty straightforward, and we’ve found the selection to be quite well-rounded.
As a true-blue emporium, it has every vaping tool and accessory you may need. There are many pods, kits, atomizers, ejuice packs, coils, disposable vapes and more to be found here.
Ski Cellar Snowboard
Ski Cellar Snowboard is the shop to visit if you want to get gear for skiing and snowboarding. Whether you’re a beginner or an enthusiast, the selection here should pique your interest.
You’ll find snow skates, boards, skis, and outerwear for both adults and children. If you’re not looking to buy, you can also get individual or group rentals.
Pudding Yarn
Pudding Yarn is a haven of yarn, patterns, needles, and kits. We love visiting this shop, mostly because of how much of a comfort it is to be surrounded by all the material.
If you want to knit your own clothes or simply start a new hobby, this place may call out to you. Many of the sets offered here already come with a pattern for the finished product and all the yarn and accessories you’ll need to craft it.
While technically a short walk off from the main section of the Red Mile, it’s still considered a part of the 17th Avenue network.
Purple Orchid
Purple Orchid is a cozy little flower shop that has a very charming selection of flora. Exotic flowers and plants are also available here, so you have a wide breadth of options.
Naturally, there are purple orchids as well. We also think it’s worth checking out their collection of vases, candle holders, and pots, which have pretty unique designs.
There are plenty of unique decorative plant holders here that only serve to make the gorgeous flowers pop even more.
Sloth Records
Sloth Records is an essential stop for music lovers. Whether you’re coming specifically for this shop or going through 17th Avenue, this is a nice atmospheric stop.
We always find ourselves coming back to check out the solid selection of vinyl records, cassettes, CDs, books, merch, and even concert tickets. It’s easy to build a collection from what you find here alone, and we really do love how the fees for tickets here are low.
The place offers both new and used records, so there’s always a good deal waiting. Not only is there a great variety of genres and artists you can browse through, but the prices are also great.