It is that time of year again, the cold weather is here to stay and you can feel the holiday bustle throughout the streets. We have decided to put together a mini West End holiday shopping guide to help you navigate your way through the holiday shopping season and to share with you some great local businesses. The first area we are going to explore is Portage Ave, where over 240 businesses are located. Below are a few spots we found that are within walking distance of each other and offer a little bit of everything. We highly recommend taking a walk down Portage Ave to discover all of the amazing shops and businesses located in the West End.
Our first stop is De Luca Fine Wines Gifts and Accessories located at 942 Portage Ave.
De Luca Fine Wines Gifts and Accessories have been in the West End neighbourhood for over eight years. They describe themselves as a “fun, up-beat wine store” and we can assure you they are. The moment you walk into the store you are greeted by the friendly staff that are eager to help you find exactly what you are looking for and provide helpful suggestions. After doing a quick walk through the shop you will quickly be able to see De Luca Fine Wines Gift and Accessories carries a variety of unique wines that you traditionally would not find in a liquor mart. De Luca proudly sources wines from all over the globe and specifically tries to discover wines that are unique and hard to find.
“There is something for everyone,” says Rayna, Assistant Manager, De Luca Fine Wines Gifts and Accessories. Whether you are a wine lover looking to try a new wine or if you are stopping in to grab a gift, there is plenty to choose from. De Luca Fine Wines Gifts and Accessories also offer custom and prearrange holiday gift baskets. With a large selection to choose from and the ability to customize each gift basket, everyone is sure to find something within their budget.
Down the street from De Luca Fine Wines Gifts and Accessories, you will spot Prana Yoga studio located at 987 Portage Ave. A yoga studio may not be the first place you think of when you think of shopping but yoga passes can be a great non-material option for a gift. Sandra Stuart, founder of Prana Yoga Studio offers a variety of workshops and classes for all skill levels. Whether you are looking for a drop-in class or an 8-week class session, you can find all of the workshops on their website here. Pairing a drop-in class fee with one of Prana Yoga Studio’s made in Manitoba products, such as a handmade yoga mat bag or handmade cedar block will make the perfect holiday gift.
Last on our stop is Preserve by flora & farmer located at 686 Portage Ave.
Preserve by flora & farmer is your one-stop-shop for everything local. Owner, Kimberley began flora & farmer seven years ago with her specialty jams and spreads. Almost exactly one year ago today, Kimberley opened Preserve, a vibrant shop tucked behind Hildegard’s Bakery. The shop carries flora & farmer products that are made in-house as well as, a range of goods made in Manitoba. Not only will you find a variety of spreads, pickles, and fermented sauerkrauts, you will also be able to pick up locally made tote bags, candles, and cards. Kimberley suggests picking up a delicious flora & farmer savory spread, grabbing a baguette from next door and picking up some local cheese to create a thoughtful and original gift that you can bring to any holiday party. Preserve will be celebrating their one year anniversary on December 7th, they will be having a giveaway and lots of unique samples in the store so we highly suggest stopping by.
We hope this blog was able to provide you with some inspiration and gift ideas for the holiday season. Stay tuned in the coming weeks when we check out some more local businesses along Sargent Ave.