Community Feature: Kensington
On the corner of 10th and Memorial…
On October 23, we finally opened our Kensington location at 102 10 Street NW.
And we have gotten to know some of our favourite Kensington businesses!
As we approach each store opening, our primary goal is to build some great relationships within the communities while learning about the unique personalities of each area in Calgary. We love to showcase the thriving local culture of each community while highlighting some of our favourite local businesses and locations.
Our location here is one we’re extremely excited about due to the gorgeous river views and collaborative, welcoming nature of the community vendors. We have worked with the Kensington BRZ over the past year to ensure we understand the needs of the community, but also so we can bump elbows with our neighbours!
You can’t help but feel like you're a part of this great city when walking through the pedestrian-friendly Kensington community. “Collaboration” was the recurring theme in the neighbourhood. The businesses we visited welcomed us with open arms and spoke of the communal vibes in the neighbourhood – something we can’t wait to immerse ourselves in.
Take a stroll by the river, snap some pictures of the street art and pop into one of the many trendy boutiques and delicious restaurants and bars – there is certainly no shortage of things to do in Kensington.
Meraki Supply Co. showcases a ton of amazing local brands, including Milk Jar Candle Co., Local Laundry, Camp Brand Goods and Calgary Heritage Roasting Co. (to name a few!). Pop in on a good day, and you’ll be lucky to find the store dog, Flea, strolling around. For those who love to support vibrant local Calgary companies and appreciate cozy, urban cabin décor, Meraki is your go-to, one-stop shop.
Stephen Deer, Proprietor at Modern Steak, said it best as “Collaboration thrives in this neighbourhood, it’s a very welcoming and collaborative environment, one which you absolutely want to be a part of.” Beyond their commitment to community, Modern Steak happens to be one of the best steakhouses in town. Serving only premium, ranch-specific, Alberta beef, wicked daily specials and fun events – like hip-hop brunch – this is definitely one of our favourite stops.
A cult-classic. You really can’t stop in Kensington without grabbing a coffee from this iconic location. The café operates with a green mission, aiming to provide organic and ethically sourced beans. Beyond their admirable mission and delicious bean water, Higher Ground boasts a wonderful vibe to hang with colleagues, set-up for a study session or simply take in some of the local art they have in-store.
Pranic Forest is a holistic spa and apothecary, focusing on small-batch artisanal beauty products. Master herbalist, Amanda Spicer, hand crafts all of the products (no small feat when you see the extensive, exceptional quality product range), except for a small few which are all sourced from local businesses and artists. A true gem for whole-body healing.
Serving slow-cooked barbeque and an extensive list of whiskeys and bourbon, it’s no surprise Hayden Block has made a big impression in the Calgary food scene. Oh, and with a patio that puts you smack in the centre of the Kensington hustle and bustle, you know where to find us.
The owner of Brassiere and Wine Bar Kensington (which we also highly recommend) wanted to come up with an innovative way to use the empty space beside their building, and thus, Container Bar was born. Stroll by the lively, artsy spot on a gorgeous day and it will surely be packed. The tiny spot packs a big punch, serving curated cocktails and upscale pub-fare. Reason why we love them #127: Their house gin, Ungava, a premium gin from Baffin Island with notes of wild rose hips, arctic juniper and cloudberry, is way above all other well liquors.
The Plaza Theatre is helping pop culture thrive in Calgary. Showing cult classics, quirky films and providing a space for up and comers to showcase their works, The Plaza is an iconic theatre in Calgary.
These cupcakes are the go-to for any celebratory occasion. Crave is a home-grown success story, starting in High River, Alberta, with the Kensington location operating as the inaugural store. Serving innovative, seasonal flavours and tried-and-true favourites– you’ll never walk out of Crave empty-handed.
