You may be inclined to think that all refilleries are the same – at Greenbriar Market + Refillery’s new brick-and-mortar storefront in Montgomery, you would be wrong. The idea is the same, but the focus is on providing the best local, natural and sustainable products for customers, so you can feel environmentally good about all aspects of your purchase. Everything from shaving kits, soaps, lotions, homeware and more can be found at Greenbriar.
The concept of a refillery has been around for a bit now – bring your own bottles, containers, etc. into the store, fill them up with product, and pay for it by weight. Since customers don’t have to pay for packaging, they save on the price. An important part of owners Mathew Beaudoin and Shawn Kearns’ mission when opening Greenbriar was focusing on sustainability. Beaudoin and Kearns opened their online store in 2021 and, after finding the perfect location on Montgomery’s newly refurbished Main Street, opened a physical storefront in June 2022.
Products at Greenbriar are heavily vetted before hitting the shelves. Beaudoin and Kearns only select products that are made sustainably, naturally and as local as possible (almost all of the products are made in Canada). Buying local products means the environmental impact is low, and so is the cost normally associated with buying natural products.
Amongst the lineup of natural and sustainable products on Greenbriar’s shelves are items like Henson Shave Kits, which use replaceable single blade razors to cut down on disposable razors, Myni cleaning products that come as concentrated tablets that you mix yourself, as well as the Greenbriar Collection coconut and soy wax candles, which are made in partnership with local candle makers.
In the refillery, products are always changing with what is available. Much like rotating taps you might find at a bar, the brands will change, but you will always be able to find natural cleaning products, homecare and body products you can feel good about buying. Just bring in your own container or purchase one from the Greenbriar and fill up on what you need.
Greenbriar is open Tuesday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., and 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays.
4535 Bowness Rd. N.W., 403-247-0629, greenbriarmarket.ca
