Canada’s Retail
I am so glad Josh and I share so many interests, one of them is checking out retail stores we do not have in FL. I will probably bleed ‘Publix Green’ if you cut me but we love checking out other chains. Our favorite large chain is Wegman’s in New York; we love their large prepared food area and its many specialty foods areas.
Our first full day in Canada, Josh suggested breakfast out; we also wanted to hit an ATM to withdraw some Canadian money. In the plaza where we were going for breakfast in Guelph was a grocery store called Ethnic Supermarket. Went in to use the ATM and was blown away. It catered mainly to the region’s large Asian community, and so interesting for us. There was a large fresh seafood area, and I mean Fresh ̶ tanks of large, live fish swimming, live crab and lobsters. And lots of fresh whole fish laid out on ice. The fresh produce area had the usual foods we know but also had other very interesting, fruits and veggies we didn’t know. The prepared deli foods looked like what we know as Chinese take-out plus so much more. They even had whole roasted Peking Duck hanging in a case ̶ head & neck still attached, and a whole roasted pig you could ask for parts of. Kept meaning to go back and get some prepared food for lunch one day but it we went in so many directions to see so much that we never got back to that area at a good time.
We also saw a large store called Canadian Tire but it seemed too big just to be tires so Josh did a U-turn and we went to see. Yes, it is a tire service/store on one side but the rest of this huge building was so much more. There was a hardware area like a really large ACE hardware. There was a large outdoor sportsman’s area ̶ hunting, fishing, camping, and playing in the snow. And clothing for the cold weather of outdoor Canada. The rest of the area was housewares for the home. Of course, a holiday section, Christmas going up now. Good quality goods and the store was neat, clean, organized and bright.
The US has a Walmart everywhere and there are stores in Canada but we had to go into the Real Canadian Superstore (that’s its name). It is Canada’s challenge to Walmart and we think they won! It has the size and variety of Walmart but better quality, more selection, nicer layout and better stocked shelves.
And yes, we dropped some money in each store we visited, mostly on more warm shirts, sweaters and jackets. We did not get back to the Ethnic Supermarket store but will be dreaming about it for awhile.