So Flock Boutique is this cute little shop in my 'hood that sells cool indie Canadian brands and…read morealso Canadian brands that have made it big(ger). They have clothes by Jennifer Glasgow and Miik. They have soaps and body care by Purple Urchin. They also have jewelery by local designers and weird knick knacks like hand puppets of Canadian prime ministers, lol. So funky and weird! This store is more neat, clean and upscale-ish, a la "Yorkville" (Toronto reference) and not like Adorit in the Byward Market (that also carries local and Canadian designs, and some of the same brands, like Miik) which is more, a la "Kensington Market" (sorry, another Toronto reference), but meaning more bohemian and smelling of patchouli. Prices are high, but your getting good quality and supporting the Canadian market.

I will definitely be going back to this trendy boutique soon. I have been looking for a wedding…read moredress (something trendy and artistic and untraditional!) and I found several options here. The great thing about Flock Boutique is that the clothes are made by Canadian designers, the majority of which are women! They try to bring in lots of fashions from Ottawa and Montreal also, to be local. The accessories here are amazing! They have lots of colourful pins and earrings and some great bags! I really had to control myself, or I would have had an empty wallet when I came out. I did see several dress options, but was tight on time, so I couldn't try anything on. One of the girls working in the store patiently showed me several dresses and answered all my questions about the designers and the store. The people who work here clearly know what they are talking about. It is also great that so many of the designs are by Canadian women! For someone who wants to dress artistically, this is the perfect spot to shop.

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.

Joanne's is owned by the same people who own Marianne's in the same mall. Like Marianne's, they…read moresell a lot of Canadian designers and made in Canada pieces. Unlike Marianne's, they don't sell lingerie. Regular prices are not cheap (I'd say about $150+ for dresses, $50+ for tops, $75+ for pants/skirts). However, they often have 50%-80% off sales (and that's when you'll see me in the store, lol). Admittedly, many of their items are frumpy (at least in my opinion), but they have some cool pieces, you just have to look for them. Staff are friendly and nice and their change rooms are beautiful (looks a little like a boudoir). Joanne's is in the Westgate Shopping Centre. Lots of free parking.

Beautiful new store in the heart of Preston Village. Popped in due to the beautiful window display…read moreand found a new retail shop full of clothes, accessories and jewellery. It was uber cold so I picked up a pair of mackage gloves where I can text and use my phone. So helpful! Great staff, and the mirror and dressing room reminds me of a tailor or a seamtress's with the multi dimensional mirrors. Feels cozy and friendly.

Vincent is an amazing store located in Little Italy. Angie and Amanda welcome customers into the…read morestore like it was their home. I couldn't help but admire all of the interior decor and wished I could make my house look as good as the store! Last year Angie and Amanda were so helpful in helping me special order a very limited and unique jewellery piece. I get compliments on it all of the time. Without their outstanding service, I would not have gotten it! I loved their store so much I wanted to write a blog post on them! Read more here: http://www.tobakiss.ca/vincent-a-womens-fashion-boutique-on-preston/

TL;DR: In my opinion this mall is just mediocre. It's functional but definitely not a destination…read moremall. The mall is only 1 floor but it's quite large. The anchor stores are Super C (a supermarket), Jean Coutu (a drug store), Rossy (a discount store) and Dollarama (a dollar store, lol). It has a variety of retail stores and services, but nothing really stood out to me as wow. I also found it unusual that they didn't have a proper food court. They have some restaurants to eat at but they are scattered throughout the mall. There's a Pizza Hut and a St. Hubert and a few other restaurants. The mall looks a bit dated and is reminiscent of malls in small towns, which I suppose has its own charm. It has some of those kids rides where you put coins in and the rides go up and down, back and forth or round and round. They also had some claw machines where you can win stuffed animals. I think it's a mall to go to run your errands, but not a mall to hang out at, lol. I would stop by again if I was already in the area for something else. Lots of free parking available. (152)

From the owner: Magasinez, mangez ou visionnez un film aux Galeries Aylmer. Au coeur de la communauté de Gatineau…read more(secteur Aylmer) depuis 40 ans, notre centre commercial vous offre une vaste sélection de boutiques et de services de tous genres. Que ce soit pour acheter une nouvelle paire de chaussures ou pour consulter un professionnel de la santé dans une clinique, tous vos besoins seront comblés chez nous. Visitez notre site Web pour voir la liste de tous nos commerçants.

There should be a zero star somewhere because I would the Chaussures le Pacha none!…read moreI had an awful experience with Chaussures le Pacha. I ordered a pair of shoes for a party and after 5 days I received some wrong items. I contacted to let them know and they told me that there was a mistake and my shoes had been sent to some other person. So I was supposed to send the wrong shoes back, and they were to send me my shoes as soon as they received them from "the other client". As soon as the wrong shoes were received by them; I received an email saying that they don't have my item and i will be refunded! Well, thank you for nothing.

Unfortunately the 2 pair of Attiba boots I purchased have been a complete disappointment and when I…read morereached out to the store I received radio silence. From the product description I had been expecting a somewhat robust boot made for walking in Canadian winters. Upon receiving these boots, I was taken a back by their light build which i was hoping was due to modern material and advancements in manufacturing. What we have found is that this light build quality translates into a thin foot bed, and in my case no insole what so ever resulting in quick foot fatigue and discomfort due to the pressure felt from stones and material that you are walking on. To offset this, I have purchased 3rd party insoles for my boots as there is nothing but the bed of wool glued to the footbed which quickly became matted down. The insole improved things slightly, but very quickly due to the nature of the light sole and its pliability, both the right and left front spike frames began coming out of their locked positions. I believe because the spike frame is of a harder plastic it is unable to stay in place while the boot sole is bend and flexing. On the right boot, the frame will randomly dislodge from its locked position whether it's spikes are in or out. On the left foot, I have completely lost the front spike frame on 3 seperate occasions, luckily finding it in the snow after back tracking. The issue seems to be more with the horizontal pegs that lock into the sole itself. I now carry it in my pocket when out for walks. I have made certain that all spike beds and locking areas are clean of debris on both soles, but nothing has corrected this behavior. In the end, though it's tough to sacrifice the cost we paid for these boots, I think we will be donating them to a shelter as they just aren't meeting our needs. It may be that my expectations are too high given my go to hiking boot is the Salomon Quest which only now after 10 years and many multi day treks have i had to replace them. An even larger disappointment is the lack of response from Le Pacha store m

I was searching for a beaded bracelet for my mother and found the perfect one at East Wind. The…read morestore is unique and has a variety of products. It is a great place to find the perfect gift. Since finding the bracelet I have been back several times and always find what I am looking for. The owners and staff are very pleasant and helpful. The service is exceptional. If you are around the area it is well worth dropping in. I guarantee you will be pleasantly surprised.

This is a pleasant and reasonably priced store that offers Asian decorative products. They have…read moreclothing, dishes, sushi sets, chopsticks, many books on Asia's culture, beautiful silks, Feng Shui products, art, cards, and calligraphy and painting supplies. There aren't many stores like this in the surrounding area, so if you're nearby and looking for anything I just mentioned, it's worth taking a look. I've always received exceptional service when I've come here. I think one of their best products is their tableware.