Meet our newest businesses!
More than 50 businesses opened in our business district last year, and another 7 moved into newer and bigger locations. This is exciting news for everyone who loves shopping, snacking and experiencing the best main street in Edmonton. Here’s a rundown on all of our new businesses from 2022, and a few sneak peeks at who’s coming soon.
Food and Drink
It was another incredible year for food in Old Strathcona. We started the year with some heat as both Waffle Bird and Flirty Bird opened up spicy chicken shops. You can also find Woahnuts at Waffle Bird’s back alley location.
As Edmonton’s (un)official dessert district, we saw plenty of options for sweet treats and lattes with the openings Ancaron Macaron, Chai Grill & Chill Café, Fuwa Fuwa Japanese Pancakes (Edmonton’s first!), Nuttea, PACT Coffee Co., Sheng’s Tea, Sorellina Coffee, and Yomie’s Rice Yogurt.
We also added eight new restaurants: Chi & Em Asian Bistro, Community Taps & Pizza, House of Kebab (by Lotus Café), Lucky Kitchen, The Mash, Munchie Bites, Pals, Yutaka Japanese Bistro & Bar; and a new night spot with Rally Social Room (currently renovating).
Retail & Shopping
If you come to Old Strathcona, you have to be ready to walk away with a shopping bag or two! In 2022, we got new clothing shops with 3 Girls Swim & Wear, Mod Uncorked and Wardrobe on Whyte.
We doubled our pet stores with the addition of Bone and Biscuit and Global Pet Foods.
Stylus moved to Whyte Avenue, bringing with it a collection of fine pens and notebooks.
Both Brits N Bobs and Churchill’s British Imports opened in 2022, and increased our opportunities to enjoy all the best snacks from across the pond.
And we also saw Edmonton Cannabis, Four20 Cannabis, Liquor Island, The VapR Room and Vapify open up across the district.
Personal Services
Sugarlash Pro opened a new HQ for the brand right on Whyte Avenue, at the corner of 108 Street. The building is also home to the Lift Lab.
You can now get your hair done at Brandi’s Barbershop (in the Strathcona Hotel), Judan Hair and Toxic Locs Hair Design.
Youthful You Aesthetics moved into the house behind SouthBARK and offers a full range of beauty and skincare services.
We added some great tattoo shops in 2022, with Chaos Tattoos, Phantom Avenue, Showdown Tattoo & Skateboard and Silver Ghost Tattoo all opening.
And you can access a full range of health services and therapies at Expand Your Roots and the Wintersweet Wellness Collective.
Professional Services and Experiences
We added a trio of pros this year, with Curex opening their currency exchange just off Whyte, and Just Be Counselling and Pineapple Therapy (counselling for teens) adding to a wealth of mental health providers in the district.
In a business district as busy as Old Strathcona, not everyone fits neatly into a single category. And that’s the way we like it! Among those bringing a little something extra to the area are the Art N About Gallery, Eyemazy (Canada’s first!), Faculty Lounge and Velo West Bike School.
Bigger and Better
2022 wasn’t just a great year for new openings, we also saw seven (!) businesses move a few doors down to bigger locations.
The Come Up, John Fluevog Shoes, From Another, and Goth Unite all have more room, and even more clothing and shoes for you to check out.
Pip moved across the street and added more tables for their own diners in a shared space with new restaurant Pals (both part of the family with Next Act Pub and Meat across the street). Daawat moved and added a new nightclub to the Ave.
And Cambridge Daycare moved a block back from Whyte into a larger space on 81 Avenue.
And that’s not all!
We can’t forget that Rapid Fire Theatre is currently renovating the Telus Strathcona Exchange Building (10437 83 Avenue) to become their permanent home! Learn more about their story and this exciting transformation of the former Telephone Historical Information Centre here.
Until their new space is ready, you can find Rapid Fire at the recently re-named Gateway Theatre (8529 103 Street). That theatre is now also home to Workshop West – their first-ever permanent location!
Coming Soon
We’re already into the 2023 openings! Second Place Studio just held a $20 sale in partnership with From Another and The Flea on Whyte (find the studio in the same location as The Flea). And Harmony Beauty has re-opened in the same location on east Whyte, but with a new owner and totally new vibe.
Here are a few more businesses we know are opening soon and expecting this year:
Station Park (spring/summer) – Edmonton’s first container park will be home to micro-retail bays and liven up the corner of Whyte and Gateway (just north of MKT).
DiveThru (expected by February) – With new and fresh approaches to mental health and counselling, this studio space is going to be unique in Edmonton.
Boulangerie Bonjour Bakery (February) – The beloved bakery is moving down 99 Street to a new home it’s building on Whyte Avenue, right beside the CIBC at that corner.
Doughnut Party (before spring) – We told you we are the dessert district! One of Edmonton’s favourite doughnuts is coming to the city’s favourite main street.
Yelo’d Ice Cream and Bake Shoppe (winter/spring) – Don’t call it a comeback! Yelo’d closed their tiny shop in December but that’s only because they’re moving to a bigger spot down Whyte. There will be even more room for tasty treats at the shop that launched Edmonton’s ice cream scene.
Ninetimes Skate Shop – The prairie shop is opening its first Edmonton location on Whyte Ave.
And we can’t wait to check out 2 for 1 Family Pizza, Bibo Wine Bar by Culina, Dorinku Bar, Good Buddy BBQ & Dim Sum, Papa John’s Pizza, Phatbar Bakery & Café and Sucre Body Sugaring Boutique.
With nearly 600 businesses in Old Strathcona, we really do have something for everyone. Check out our directly for just about anything you could ever want: Business Directory
We know there is much more to come, so be sure to follow us on social media or sign up for our newsletter below to get all of the announcements before our next new biz round up!
