Calgary is home to a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, creatives, and big thinkers who’ve helped shape a one-of-a-kind local scene. Beyond the franchises and big box stores lies a world of unique and locally owned shops, spas, and other finds that will satisfy all your consumer cravings. These local spots aren’t just places to visit, they’re experiences you won’t find anywhere else. Let's look at some Calgary Exclusives.

Vintage Apparel:

HG Vintage

Located along 17th Ave, in the heart of the city’s Beltline, you’ll find a trove of vintage treasures curated by an owner who has spent over 30 years in the fashion retail industry.

The collection inside hasn’t been picked from local donations, but has been sourced by his vintage connections throughout North America.

Inside you’ll find a diverse range of vintage band, college and sports team apparel as well as the city’s largest pre-loved vintage cowboy boot collection.

The store emphasizes sustainability through its commitment to reusing, recycling and even custom reworked vintage denim to give it a new life.

Wild Rabbit Vintage 

For the husband and wife team behind the shop, sourcing cowboy vintage is all about authentic connections, story telling, and sharing its rich history.

Their passion for their finds often sees the duo on a road-tripping adventure to rural spots throughout Alberta and neighbouring provinces, collecting unique finds along the way that always come with a great story.

From a 6’6 bluegrass musical artists parting with their stage-worn, rhinestone-adorn, western ribbon bow tie… To acquiring a secret stock of silver set turquoise jewellery worn by a traveling cowboy, Wild Rabbit Vintage houses those one-of-a-kind pieces that will have everyone talking.

It’s all about the connections and the husband and wife team behind Wild Rabbit has them.

 

House and Home:

Steeling Home

In every city I travel to I always try to find that one store that has it all; the perfect gift ideas, unique souvenirs, locally made products, and shoppables I’ve never seen elsewhere else. This is Steeling Home.

Celebrating local craftsmanship since 1993, the store has encapsulated the very essence of Calgary’s charm and character by sourcing products and brands fitting of the city’s aesthetic, and they collaborate with talented local artists to create home wares, jewellery, toys, and apparel honouring the community and makers of our city.

Recess 

Tucked away in the community of Inglewood in Calgary, Recess is a small but thoughtfully curated stationery shop that celebrates the power of analog tools in a digital world.

The shop offers a carefully selected range of beautifully designed, highly functional products from notebooks and planners to writing instruments and desk accessories, each chosen to elevate everyday tasks into something a little more inspiring.

And for those who are locked onto stationary TikTok and the consumer awards coming out of Korea and Japan, these winners can often be found stocked within Recess.

 

The Sandwich:

Scozzafava’s Deli 

The newest deli to grace 17th Ave, Scozzafava’s serves up hand stacked sandwiches layered with premium Italian meats like mortadella, capocollo, prosciutto, and salami, balanced with sharp provolone, house-made spreads, and fresh toppings all nestled between perfectly crusty bread.

The interior’s simplistic style calls on an NYC bodega with its classic black-and-white checkered floor and white and green tiled sandwich counter.

Recently this sandwich shop has begun to transform its evening into a dance party complete with craft cocktails and a rotating lineup of DJs setting the mood.

Bonjour Sandwich Shop

Tucked off the Main Street in Calgary’s lively Marda Loop district, Bonjour Sandwich Shop brings a charming blend of Europe inside the walls of their sandwich shop.

Created on a French style baguette their classic ‘Bonjour’ contains cultured butter, bayonne ham, torched morbier cheese, caramelized onions, cracked black pepper, and lettuce, while their ‘Mamma Mia’ is served on pillowy focaccia and stacked with extra virgin olive oil, gorgonzola cream, porchetta, roasted eggplant, honey, and arugula — a flavour-packed homage to Italian comfort food.

Beyond sandwiches, Bonjour adds a sweet touch with a rotating selection of delicate beignets. Flavours like raspberry hazelnut, caramel, and passionfruit offer the perfect finish to a laid-back lunch or midday snack.

 

Health and Wellness: 

Bronze Baxx

As the name would imply Bronze Baxx offers both UV and sunless tanning options, but it is the robust offering of wellness treatments and products, designed to help you look and feel your best, that has them shining.

Equipped with devices like their Red Light Beauty Angel, users will reap the benefits of this gentle red light therapy to refresh the skin and boost collagen, helping with a youthful glow.

Their Ballancer Pro provides a special massage that improves circulation and can reduce the appearance of cellulite; while the Hydration Station Spa Capsule combines steam, soothing aromas, and light therapy to cleanse and hydrate the body.

The salon is also outfitted with private infrared saunas that will help ease tension and promote overall wellness, and cryotherapy treatments that expose the body to very cold temperatures to reduce inflammation, relieve pain, and speed up muscle recovery.

For those looking to make their wellness a priority Bronze Baxx also offers an all-inclusive ‘Lifestyle Pass’ for unlimited access to its offerings.

Offline Wellness Social Club

What began as a simple motivational run club of 20, shared on social media, quickly snowballed into a movement growing into hundreds of participants.

And after seeing overwhelming demand for meaningful, health-focused connection, the club sparked the birth of something much bigger: Offline Wellness Social Club. A space designed for real-world, screen-free interactions and self-care.

Now open, this is Calgary’s largest sauna and social wellness hub containing a massive group sauna that can seat over 30 people, alongside 3 double-person cold plunge tubs, change rooms, and a curated lounge.

The club speaks to introverts and extraverts alike. During social hour, the lounge vibe transforms with upbeat music and friendly conversation, while their antisocial hours slows the tempo for quiet reflection and reset.

Ryan Massel