Between the hectic holiday season and the cold weather, shopping for Christmas gifts isn’t always the easiest task. Keep things simple this year and hit up one of these one-stop shops for all your present buying needs.
The Cookbook Co. Cooks
Everyone needs to eat and The Cookbook Co. Cooks retail store is packed with delicious specialty ingredients, as well as kitchenware and cookbooks. Buy your uncle some tasty olive oil, grab a cookbook for your dad, pick up some gourmet chocolates for your niece and splurge on a Le Creuset dutch oven for your mom.
722 11 Ave. S.W., 403-265-6066, cookbookcooks.com
Dept.
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photograph by Alana Willerton
Dept. in Inglewood.
In 2018, Fresh Laundry moved in with The Uncommons and now the store is called Dept. It’s full of products that are decidedly cool and unique. The Inglewood retail store features a selection of goods by both local and international designers and artists. Shop for body care products from Aesop, watches from STRY Project, house ware items and much more.
1325A 9 Ave. S.E., 587-353-9337, theuncommons.ca
Land & Sea
You’ll have to brave the holiday rush at The Core to get to Land & Sea, but once you’re there, you can probably find something for most people on your list. At this gift store, choose from home decor products from Umbra, Lug travel accessories, S’well water bottles, beard products from Mammoth Beard Co., locally made jewellery from CoutuKitsch and more.
The Core, 317 7 Ave. S.W., 403-264-9866, landandseagifts.com
The Livery Shop
Jewellery maker CoutuKitsch and apparel maker Camp Brand Goods joined forces to open this shop in a big red barn. This is the last Christmas to shop in that location before the store moves across the street. Find their products alongside apothecary items, accessories, chocolates, books, candles and more from local and international brands they like. Get a homemade hot sauce kit from The Chili Lab, soaps from Lavami and wallets from Matt + Nat.
1130 10 Ave. S.E., 403-453-7711, theliveryshop.com
Liz & Lottie
This gifts and accessories shop in East Village is a go to spot for fun gifts and trinkets. Liz & Lottie has items for men, women, children and even pets. Shop for everything from home decor to baby clothes to jewellery, including socks from Sock It To Me, candles from Coal and Canary, festive pillows, kid-sized Local Laundry T-shirts and more.
537 Riverfront Ave. S.E., 403-263-0800, lizandlottie.ca
Outside the Shape
This shop in Inglewood is hidden on 10th Avenue and sells mostly handmade items from local makers and independent retailers. It’s the kind of product you would have to search for at markets or online. Find Outside the Shape is also a workshop and event space where you can learn some of the skills behind the handmade goods sold there. Workshops have included learning how to press flowers, embroider and make jewellery.
1222 10 Ave. S.E., 403-540-9993, outsidetheshape.com
Owl’s Nest Books and Owlets
Owl’s Nest Books is Calgary’s oldest independent bookstore. Books make a great gift, and here you can find ones ranging from the latest bestsellers to independent, local reads. They also sell some locally made greeting cards and some prints. Attached to the main bookstore is Owlets, a kid-focused bookstore that also stocks toys, games and arts and crafts.
815A 49 Ave. S.W., 403-287-9557, owlsnestbooks.com
Paper Root Studios
This warm, inviting store has been around for more than 25 years, so it’s safe to say they know a few things about great gifts. Between their selection of greeting cards, wallets, journals, sassy coffee mugs, cute signs and more, Paper Root Studios is fun place to cross some items off your shopping list.
Market Mall, 3625 Shaganappi Trail N.W., 403-288-7971, paperrootstudios.com
Piece on Peace
This store in Spruce Grove is a market boutique with clothing, housewares, beauty products and pantry items that focus on sustainability and style. You’ll find Nawrap towels from Japan, Pura apothecary products from Edmonton, Luca Farms mustard from Southern Alberta and Seedlip non-alcoholic spirits from the UK alongside owner Barb McKenzie’s one-of-a-kind clothing.
5 Spruce Centre S.W., 403-663-9433, pieceonpeace.com
The Raven’s Room
The Raven’s Room opened in the Devenish Building in November and is full of products from Canadian makers as well as a few international products. The one-stop gift shop has home decor items, bar accessories, jewellery, stationary and novelty products. Look for coat hooks from Co.Create, scarves from Fashionelle and socks from Friday Sock Co.
108, 908 17 Ave. S.W., theravensroom.ca
Reid’s
Though perhaps best known for their impressive selection of stationary and pens, Reid’s is much more than just a stationary store. Pick out a Moleskine notebook and pen for the writer in your life, or head to the front of store where you’ll find everything from inventive kitchenware items to children’s toys. Finish off your gift by choosing from their great selection of gift boxes and wrapping paper, then pick up a card from the large selection in the middle of the store.
710 17 Ave. S.W., 403-229-4400, reidstationers.com
Steeling Home
A visit to this general store on 17 Ave. S.W. is like a treasure hunt — it’s fun to explore the shop and the huge variety of products guarantees easy gift buying. The store is roughly divided into sections for items like notebooks and paper goods, bath and body products, apparel like mittens and toques, rugs, toys and jewellery. More specifically, there are bars of soap from Calgary-based Crystal Bar, province-inspired Arborist toques from Drake General Store, embroidered maps from Sadie & June and more.
1010 17 Ave. S.W., 403-245-0777, steelinghome.ca
Stuff
Technically this store is a place full of stuff for him and the apparel and skincare products lend themselves to things guys would like. But, there is also plenty of furniture, housewares and bar accessories that people who are not guys will also like. It really is a store full of cool stuff.
102, 709 11 Ave. S.W., 403-209-2606, stuff4him.ca
Ten Thousand Villages
A gift-buying visit to Ten Thousand Villages is something you can feel good about. As North America’s biggest and oldest fair trade organization, Ten Thousand Villages features products made by artisans in more than two dozen developing countries. Shop from a selection of handmade goods that includes toys, cookbooks, jewellery, dishware, holiday ornaments and more.
220 Crowchild Tr. N.W., 403-270-0631, tenthousandvillages.ca
Twisted Goods
With a location at Market Mall and Southcentre Mall, you have double the chance of finding a great gift at Twisted Goods. Their selection of lifestyle goods includes paintings, knitted scarves, mugs, chic water bottles, Mat + Nat handbags and jewellery brands like The Giving Keys.
Market Mall, 3625 Shaganapi Tr. N.W., 403-247-6691 and Southcentre Mall, 100 Anderson Rd. S.E., 403-452-6086, twistedgoods.ca