Nice selection of thrift store clothing that is in good shape. I think they are selective about…read morewhat they accept. I find the quality and prices very good AND it's a registered charity; part of the Big Sisters/Brothers organization so proceeds are going to an excellent cause. They now have a small housewares section but don't have room for big items like furniture. I do make sure this place is on my list when I'm on the hunt for something. Ample free parking and close to other shopping on Merivale.

Thrive Select Thrift Store is a thrift store that sells clothing and accessories, and 100% of their…read moreprofits go to support Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Ottawa. I like that the impacts of donations and purchases stay local. And organizations that help kids always have my support. The clothing at Thrive appears to be geared towards youth and so skews on the younger side, in my opinion. The racks are filled with brands like Old Navy, Garage, and Ardene. Prices are cheaper than places like Value Village. They had some new items like Funko Pops and Squishmallows, while I was there, but I guess these depend on donations, perhaps these were from a business (?) They also had some used video games and controllers. They also have (new) Big Brothers and Big Sisters merchandise. Staff are friendly. I believe that many of them are volunteers. They are located in the Emerald Plaza. Lots of free parking in the plaza.

I really enjoyed my shopping experience at this Walmart. I don't frequently visit the super center…read moreWalmarts (I find it just a bit too much for me...and don't get me started on the Trainyards location), but this Walmart was very quiet on a weeknight. The entrance was big, spacious and clean. Easy to navigate around the store. I came here to buy Christmas lights. Found them quickly, and also found a lot of other Christmas goodies that were half the price compared to their competitors. Self checkout was seamless. No complaints.

Five stars for a Walmart?!? It's a Walmart. However, it is cleaner, better stocked and less crowded…read morethan other Walmarts in Ottawa. They have a good selection of imported/exotic products. They have a surprisingly good selection of snacks from the UK, especially chocolates. And they are much cheaper than specialty candy stores. They carry Tunnock's brand items from the UK: Snowballs, Tea Cakes and Caramel Wafer Biscuits! I love these. They also have a good selection of Asian products. They have Turtle Chips from Korea! They also carry my favourite ramen brand from Korea: Buldak! Oh yeah, bring on that fire chicken! Haha. They have the largest selection of Buldak flavours I've seen outside of an Asian grocery store. Their regular mainstream items are reasonably priced and they often have sale items in-stock. Their pharmacists are competent and diligent. My parents get their prescriptions filled at this Walmart, and without going into the specifics, I can say that my interactions with the pharmacy staff in straightening out issues related to prescribers not being as clear as they could have been, have been positive. I have been impressed with their professionalism and committment to getting things right. Not all Walmarts are equal. This one is better than the rest. Lots of free parking, obviously.

Ok, The Wholesale Outlet is a strange little place. It's in what looks like a converted barn (!)…read moreThe parking lot (which it shares with The Apple Saddlery) is unpaved and full of potholes. When you go inside, everything is really messy and it looks like a warehouse. The back of the store is really poorly lit. So you would expect really low prices and great deals, right? Well, every clothing item hovers around the $100 mark. Now they do specialize in clothing from Canadian and European designers, and many of their items are made in Canada or in a European country, so yes, the quality is higher. However, with a name like "The Wholesale Outlet" I really was expecting lower prices. In my opinion, the majority of their items are rather dowdy, unless you are in your 8th decade of life, in which case, you would be considered a fashion plate if you wore these items. HOWEVER, if you have the time and patience to sort through their stuff, you will find some lovely gems. I have only ever purchased skirts here, and only in the clearance section at the back of the store, where everything is 50% off (but poorly lit and items are tightly packed together - my arms often hurt after pulling all the items apart to look at them on the racks). Now to give you an idea of my style, I love asymmetric hem lines, over-sized buttons, and superfluous zippers, so I'm a huge fan of the skirt styles from French, German and Scandinavian designers. The sizing of items here is a little strange. Yes, some are European sizes, but even that I found not to be consistent. I'm pretty much a North American size 2 (sometimes 0), so typically a European 36 or 38 and a UK/Australian 6 or 8. However, here I've tried on a "European 40" and a "Canadian 6" and couldn't zip up either item :P So the take home message is, if you like something, disregard the sizing, just eyeball it and if it looks like it might fit, try it on. If you are under 50 years old, you will likely be the youngest person in the store. The staff here are very nice and friendly. I don't come here often, but I will pop in once in a while to check things out.

This store is so unbelievable! Great service & amazing…read moreFrench dressing jeans. Awesome tops, jackets, shoes & beautiful sweaters! My new favorite store! Check it out, you won't be disappointed!

This is a rather nice shopping center, however recently a rather loud woman on a mobility scooter…read morehas been frequenting the mall and making my time there unpleasant. She's rude, she's loud, she steals food and she has a foul smell. She also yelled at the security guards and made a scene when they kicked her out. If she could be banned from future visits that would be great!

Thanks to mall security for doing their best to follow the policies of the mall and addressing the…read moreconcerns of others privacy, safety, and experience at the mall. This woman is recklessly riding around on a mobility scooter-- she has put others in danger by getting in flow of traffic on the road, is intentionally live-streaming everyone including children on multiple platforms, verbally assaulted security officers (even about their genital size) and proceeded to scream slurs outside of this establishment causing multiple scenes in front of shoppers. Please be mindful of your privacy & safety when shopping at this location. The streamer goes by "foodie beauty" - Chantal Sarault and has made it clear she intends to continue.

I love this Dollarama location at The Shops of Tenth Line. It's relatively new since the plaza was…read moreonly built in 2018. It's very big and selection is less picked over than other more high-traffic areas. I've found some great board games here, and not just rip-offs of brand name games, but actual brand name games. I spotted the Hasbro game Love is Dead selling for only $5 where it's at least $20 at other stores. They also have a good selection of greeting cards for all common occasions. Like other Dollaramas they have housewares, food, toiletries and all other basic essentials. No shortage of free parking spots in the plaza parking lot. Review #192 (2025)

This establishment has always played apart of my life here as a Ottawan, and I am a colossal…read moredevotee to the fairview malls. Since the closure of the nearby Rideau street McDonalds, there has been fewer suspicious activity around, which is a shame as I enjoyed the entertainment. Whats a nice day at the mall without someone pulling a racoon out of their coat? Regardless, they have a New York Fries, which automatically gives it much more value. Always nicely decorated as well. Beware of the first floor as some report getting asked odd questions by even odder individuals.

Oh gosh this mall was exhausting ! The amount of people I felt like I was in a movie. Non stop…read moreyelling and running around was wild. They did have a lot of stores but it was way to much we left. The outlets was wayyyyyy better

This Bibles for Missions Thrift Store recently opened, so I had to check it out. It is huge, clean,…read morewith high ceilings, and is very well lit. It's not grungy and claustrophobic like the Merivale Road location. In my opinion, the stuff is rather junky and the clothing is quite frumpy, in general. However, like all thrift stores I'm sure you can find some gems with some patience and luck. They have some new items too. I saw lots of new Christmas ornaments. However, they were ornaments like a little boy holding a sign that said "my favourite middle child" or equally specific types of ornaments that would not apply to most people's lives. They had like 10 of the aforementioned ornament. They have free coffee at the front of the store. Don't be deterred by the religious values of the store if you are non-religious. No one preached to me or tried to convert me. This store is in the same strip mall as Dollarama, Goodlife Fitness and Box Low Food Prices. Lots of free parking.

I'm a big fan of thrift shopping and have been to every store in the city and this is for sure one…read moreof my favorites. It's a true non-for-profit, unlike the Walmart owned Value Village, and is mostly volunteer run. The store is really clean and doesn't have a used store smell. Being such a large store, it's no surprise they have a large variety. I find their price point is middle of the pack, cheaper than Value Village but a bit more expensive than Salvation Army, but they tend to have better quality things which is worth the price point. It's my go-to thrift store in Orleans.

... memories …read more... When I lived and worked throughout Canada's Atlantic Provinces, Ottawa was almost like a second home to me during the 70's and 80's. I travelled / stayed there often, via business, and even more so for pleasure stays. I chose to stay at hotels offering rooms with kitchenettes. Which allowed me the option to shop during walks and stays, and dine back at my hotel. The Byward Market area was one of my favourite spots to walkabout, browse, and shop. And especially so during the summer and fall months, when it was so alive with street venders, and others featuring locally-grown fresh fruits and veggies. It was a good while ago, but a standout for me during these stays was a fish/seafood shop. I used to purchase squid there. Then on the way back to the hotel, catch a bottle of white wine, and some butter. Cooking the squid back at the hotel was fun, and made for several very fragrant, tasty, and much-enjoyed meals. Street vendor selections of farm-fresh offerings of fruits and veggies, were a delight to see during summer and early-fall stays. Their products not only contributed to meals, were often purchased and enjoyed 'in hand' and enjoyed during walkabouts. And before I forget, so were the several tasty 'beavertails' enjoyed, at any time of year, from a bakery there. (previously reviewed) My visits to the Byward Market, and area, were via day time browsing and shopping walkabouts. They were fun, interesting, and much-enjoyed.

This area of the city is a popular destination that you must see for sight seeing in Ottawa…read more There's a lot to see and do down here, and more Restaurants than you can possibly eat at in a month of Sundays! They also host special events down here. Certain streets are pedestrian only, where you will find crafters and fruit/vegetable vendors, people who sell honey and maple syrup, Beavertails, and seasonal items all sold at booths on the streets. This visit, I found a rare treasure: a bracelet with my name on it!! The Byward Market is coming up to a remarkable anniversary: in 2026, it will be 200 years old!! Found this snippet on the internet: "The ByWard Market is where Ottawa was born. Established by Lt-Col. John By in 1826, the ByWard Market is one of Canada's oldest and largest public markets. The legendary builder of the Rideau Canal; Lt-Col. By himself laid out the street plan of the Market, designating George and York Streets to be extra wide to accommodate the horse-drawn carriages that brought foodstuffs to the market every day." We seem to gravitate there at least once a year in the warmer months. It's also a terrific area for people watching!!

This sweet little Orleans shop is a welcome addition to a neighbourhood filled with chains and big…read morebox stores. With a whimsical design and lovely decor, it's such a pleasure walking in here. Their selection of gifts is beautiful, and you're sure to find something special for yourself, or a special someone. Their gifts are Canadian-made, and they have great options for new babies, anniversaries, weddings, showers, and more. They also have a sweet children's section with beautiful toys and stuffed animals. This is totally the kind of place I would pick up a birthday present for the little ones in my life. If you're in the east end and looking for something personal that is high quality, and Canadian made, check this place out.

I had walked by this shop many times before hearing that they now sold Split Tree Cocktail Mix (a…read morelocal maker's cocktail mixes which I may or may not be addicted to). I ventured into this shop not really knowing what I would find inside but let me tell you it is a dream to have a store like this in Orleans. I have visited the store a few times now and love that they seem to be adding more and more locally made products every day. You can find a lot of great gift ideas and unique items in this little shop. I highly recommend picking up some Split Tree Cocktail mix - whether you drink it with alcohol or just add it to your club soda it makes for a very refreshing beverage. I love that I can support a local store and a local maker at the same time. I try not to spend too long browsing because it is the type of store I could see myself spending lots of money in. The decor is very lovely and welcoming. I love the bicycle they put out! If you are in Orleans definitely worth stopping into this cute little place!

Awesome place... Funky, odd, hard to find things that are a cut above other consignment places.read more