Shop local this Christmas – head downtown
It's important to support local
businesses and shops, and what
better time to do so than at
Christmas? Downtown London
has many great locally owned
stores to make shopping easier.
Since many of you reading this may not be from London, you may not have had time to explore all that downtown has to offer. Here are some downtown shops that have something for everyone on your Christmas list.
Eye Candy
eyecandylondon.tumblr.com
I'm sure most of you have walked by this shop at 609 Richmond St. a thousand times but never really noticed anything about it other than the fact that it's a lovely shade of Pepto Bismol pink. When you look past the colour, you'll find that inside is a cute accessory store. It may be small, but it doesn't lack in selection. The store started when Elizabeth Noel owner Veronica Hosszu ran out of space for all her jewellery, which she designed herself and made at affordable rates. Since then, it has become a home for all sorts of other interesting gifts ideas and accessories. From necklaces to earrings, handbags to scarves, there's bound to be the perfect gift for any woman on your list.
Heroes
heroescomics.ca
Although London may have a handful of comic book shops around the city, there is no denying that Heroes, located at 186 Dundas St., has the best selection. It can almost be overwhelming when walking into the shop to see a large number of comics and figurines and to look up and only see more stacked up to the ceiling. Heroes has tons to offer, including independent graphic novels, manga, comic books, figurines and more; there's no doubt that this store is the best stop for any comic book collector this year.
City Lights Bookshop
twitter.com/citylightslondn
If you have never been to City Lights Bookshop, where have you been? It's a staple of downtown that has been around since the 1970s and has even become a bit of a tourist attraction. London's primary used book, CD, DVD and vinyl shop at 356 Richmond St. definitely doesn't skip on the cool — they even opened up a second floor for vinyl, interesting reads and classic literature. City Lights is practically guaranteed to have what bookworms or music lovers have on their list, but if they don't, there's bound to be something else hiding on the shelves. You could even just pop in and see Captain Kirk, who is always there in the Science Fiction section.
Kiss the Cook
kissthecookonline.com
Tucked away at 551 Richmond St. in between Kent and Albert is the culinary store that, although it looks small on the outside, has plenty of space for its vast selection of kitchen wares inside. There's even a section for cooking class (a possible gift idea). The chance of Kiss The Cook not having the piece you're looking for is slim, and their prices are comparable to those of the Bay and even Wal-Mart. You're guaranteed to find a gift in this store, whether it's for a culinary master or someone who needs some help in the kitchen.
Commander Salamander
commandersalamander.ca
A little blue shop off the beaten track at 360 Talbot St., around the corner from the Covent Garden Market, is the self proclaimed "Altar of Pop Culture" — and it's a well deserved name. This store has everything from lunchboxes to coffee mugs to pens, posters and knick-knacks, featuring anyything and everything from The Beatles to Star Wars. And who can forget all the tin robots? They also carry a selection of accessories and clothes from brands like Sailor Jerry and Betty Page. It's hard to list all the interesting and creative gifts available at Commander Salamander since they're constantly bringing in more. The best way to know is to check it out yourself. You won't be disappointed.
There you have it. Just remember that there is plenty that downtown has to offer and these are just a few of the great shops in the area, including Richmond Row and the Covent Garden Market. During the month of December, two hours of free parking will be offered all through downtown. So if you make the trip this holiday season, keep in mind that there are many great gifts to be found right in the heart of the city.
Since many of you reading this may not be from London, you may not have had time to explore all that downtown has to offer. Here are some downtown shops that have something for everyone on your Christmas list.
Eye Candy
eyecandylondon.tumblr.com
I'm sure most of you have walked by this shop at 609 Richmond St. a thousand times but never really noticed anything about it other than the fact that it's a lovely shade of Pepto Bismol pink. When you look past the colour, you'll find that inside is a cute accessory store. It may be small, but it doesn't lack in selection. The store started when Elizabeth Noel owner Veronica Hosszu ran out of space for all her jewellery, which she designed herself and made at affordable rates. Since then, it has become a home for all sorts of other interesting gifts ideas and accessories. From necklaces to earrings, handbags to scarves, there's bound to be the perfect gift for any woman on your list.
Heroes
heroescomics.ca
Although London may have a handful of comic book shops around the city, there is no denying that Heroes, located at 186 Dundas St., has the best selection. It can almost be overwhelming when walking into the shop to see a large number of comics and figurines and to look up and only see more stacked up to the ceiling. Heroes has tons to offer, including independent graphic novels, manga, comic books, figurines and more; there's no doubt that this store is the best stop for any comic book collector this year.
City Lights Bookshop
twitter.com/citylightslondn
If you have never been to City Lights Bookshop, where have you been? It's a staple of downtown that has been around since the 1970s and has even become a bit of a tourist attraction. London's primary used book, CD, DVD and vinyl shop at 356 Richmond St. definitely doesn't skip on the cool — they even opened up a second floor for vinyl, interesting reads and classic literature. City Lights is practically guaranteed to have what bookworms or music lovers have on their list, but if they don't, there's bound to be something else hiding on the shelves. You could even just pop in and see Captain Kirk, who is always there in the Science Fiction section.
Kiss the Cook
kissthecookonline.com
Tucked away at 551 Richmond St. in between Kent and Albert is the culinary store that, although it looks small on the outside, has plenty of space for its vast selection of kitchen wares inside. There's even a section for cooking class (a possible gift idea). The chance of Kiss The Cook not having the piece you're looking for is slim, and their prices are comparable to those of the Bay and even Wal-Mart. You're guaranteed to find a gift in this store, whether it's for a culinary master or someone who needs some help in the kitchen.
Commander Salamander
commandersalamander.ca
A little blue shop off the beaten track at 360 Talbot St., around the corner from the Covent Garden Market, is the self proclaimed "Altar of Pop Culture" — and it's a well deserved name. This store has everything from lunchboxes to coffee mugs to pens, posters and knick-knacks, featuring anyything and everything from The Beatles to Star Wars. And who can forget all the tin robots? They also carry a selection of accessories and clothes from brands like Sailor Jerry and Betty Page. It's hard to list all the interesting and creative gifts available at Commander Salamander since they're constantly bringing in more. The best way to know is to check it out yourself. You won't be disappointed.
There you have it. Just remember that there is plenty that downtown has to offer and these are just a few of the great shops in the area, including Richmond Row and the Covent Garden Market. During the month of December, two hours of free parking will be offered all through downtown. So if you make the trip this holiday season, keep in mind that there are many great gifts to be found right in the heart of the city.
