Yeah, sorry. I do that a lot. I don't like sprawl- it starts to look like lego-land. Nor do I really like building things higher to avoid it even though I live in a high rise because it was the best available that we saw and we needed a decent place to live- but it's not my real preference. I like converted homes, interesting use of old spaces. I like shopping areas with character- places that are pleasant for human beings to be in, in community- places that are relaxing not frenetic- not just places to buy things from and go home.

When it comes to getting things done, I like convienence and that depends on the type of store.  If it's large things, or many things I'm buying, the big box model works I think.

 

When I'm buying various things at multiple stores, or even browsing I find traditional malls are best.  I can even toss things in the trunk and repark to prevent someone from breaking in, knowing there's stuff in my trunk.  Big box models do not work well for this.  I find getting in and out of the parking lots is difficult, and it's really hard to go to more than 2 stores without going to the car in between.

 

The trendy areas in cities are nice for strolling down and browsing on a nice day.  I don't find them all that easy to get to, and if I'm buying more than a few small things there's usually little parking.

 

I did enjoy being walking distance to a mall.  Here, things are a bit further, but there are big box stores I could walk to, but they aren't designed for it.  I wish all those clothing stores were all in 1 mall!

I get the one stop shop idea. I guess I just prefer to shop less now. I get more and more frustrated by all the choices. It's exhausting. I just want to find what I need and get out before I spend more. I'm becoming like my husband! I do like slow paced low pressure window shopping and coming across special unique things. If I'm out downtown I like a good coffee shop, or a pub and a few unique stores. I buy intentionally in small amounts- so generally I can carry it home. When I am in a mall I can hear the $$ going ca-ching and I get a little too tempted. It takes discipline to go into a mall for something and not come out with things you never intended to buy. Easy to get swayed by trends. A few bucks here, a few bucks there. Lately, I find I go to Winner's too much because it's near one of my bus stops. I really have to be disciplined- especially with all the salon cosmetics and soaps, and little items like gourmet candy that getcha while you're waiting in line! ;)

I'm not too much of an impulse shopper.  I will to an extent, but it's typically things I would buy eventually.

 

For example, the last bigger purchase I made were some boots.  I need some, I own 2 good pairs and they are falling apart.  I shopped around at a bunch of stores last year and didn't find comfortable ones.  I came aross these ones when chemguy wanted slippers.  We ended up with both, spent more than planned, but I won't be wasting more effort searching for boots later.

 

I do some Christmas shopping that way too. I would love independant stores in a suburban mall, they would get way more business from me that way than being in trendy pedestrian areas downtown.

I can understand that because when it's snowing heavily and really cold it's tough to be strolling outside- whereas we only get a tiny bit of snow usually (only lasts a few days) but bring your umbrella in your purse!

I buy ahead but try not to. I've bought things I only wore once- and that's a waste.

My favourite place to shop- but I don't get there often either. Mostly just Whole Foods, Safeway, and Shopper's add: these days. Sometimes to stop at the small corner markets that have produce outside, but if I am tired I just want to stop off and get all I need and get home, too, lately. Which is an unfortunate side effect of the modern lifestyle. I have less time or energy to stroll and browse. Chop, chop- get a move on! Argh. That's so not me. I'm just not made that way and I struggle with it. Call me lazy, but I'm a daydreaming tortoise, not a fast paced time conscious hare- by nature! Time pressure and time management are work and stress- often too much so for me- and malls in some ways feed that pressure because they are designed for convenience- time is money, sort of thing. Anything designed to slow the pace of life down a little so we can appreciate our surroundings is welcome. Why life's such a race to get things done all the time, more, faster- so it just whizzes by- I don't understand. Cities designed to maximize quality time rather than daily grind, I applaud. Places where, when you go shpping or for walk in the neighbourhood, you enjoy looking around, taking your time, refreshed and inspired- not just getting from A to B. Like Whistler has done- pedestrian village, no cars- and it's cold in winter. That's such a cool experience, people just walking in the middle of the lane. Winter wonderland- all year long wonderland that fits well with it's natural surroundings. Bigger cities can be built on the same concept- with neighbourhood villages in each neighbourhood- designed to hang out in. More online shopping means more room for small boutiques, cafe and green space/ open public space. But they'll depend more on tourism, arts, and culture, to stay alive, probably. An afternoon out to this place is more inspiring than tiring- and if I do get tired, it's in a good way, not a frenetic over stressed way. I just find so many modern conveniences like malls and uniform sprawling neighbourhoods slapped up quickly and cheaply (same with condos around here- the main difference is they're being built upwards not outwards) are sucking the life out of us, culturally. I like the more European town square approach (which Whistler is. It's amazing how much you unwind there just with the traffic gone). Here in the Lower Mainland, I find Surrey is sprawling- and example of row upon row of similar houses without anything resembling a shopping "village"for blocks and blocks.

http://granvilleisland.com/discover-island/visitors-guide

I've done that too, usually because I was specifically looking for something and couldn't find something I was really happy with and settled for something.  My impulse buys are usually things I'm happy with.  There are probably some foods I should have gone without :)

I like to shop in malls that are easy to get into and easy to get out of. I don't really care what kind of shopping centre it is (traditional mall, strip mall, collection of stores, etc.) as long as I can find my way around it with relative ease. I have a traditional mall down the street from me with pretty much everything I could ever need or want in a mall - it's got a supermarket, a department store (with two more opening up in the near future to replace the Zellers that closed), a drug store, a chocolate shop, a couple of places to get nice shampoos/soaps/etc., a music store, some clothing shops, an independant book shop, a large food court, etc. I often just stop in for a couple of minutes on my way home to pick up whatever I need.

 

The only time I'd say that I really enjoy shopping is when I go to farmer's markets. I love getting fresh fruit, veggies, etc. and talking to the folks who produced them. 

That's why I like Granville Island, somegal. It's got the Farmer's Market/ Artisan Fair thing going on. You can do everyday shopping there- but most people don't I suppose.

I wish we had something like that in this city Kimmio! Granville Island is fantastic! I love the artsy feel there!

Given the rather chaotic weather of Southwestern Ontario, I much prefer malls to power centres. Everything is close together and indoors. The damn power centre where we go to shop at Walmare and Crappy Tire is so spread out that in bad or cold weather you pretty much have to drive from store to store. The one near my office has compromised a bit in that it was built up out of a former mall so things are closer together.

 

What I miss is a robust downtown. Downtown London deteriorated badly between the late eighties when I went to school here and when I moved back 14 years ago.

 

Back then, it was a retail paradise with some interesting shops, a few movie theatres, some nice fast and sitdown food places, and so on. I killed many a Saturday morning there while attending Western. Downtown Kitchener (where I grew up) was even better, with a plethora of great used and new bookshops, a couple good gaming and comic shops, and so on.

 

Today, it's run down, most of the interesting stores have moved or closed, and much of what is left is now office space. Can be rather dangerous at night, too. There are a few bright spots. The central library, built out of an old Bay store, is wonderful and there are a few neat shops and cafes. The area around Budweiser Gardens (our major arena) and Covent Garden Market is nice, but that's because of restaurants and bars servicing the arena crowd. The bright spots just highlight how ratty the rest is. Not sure about Kitchener, though I know they've made a few good stabs at remaking the downtown there, including new office space in old factories that has attracted the likes of Google Canada, and a children's/science museum bankrolled by a former RIM/Blackberry exec.

 

Mendalla

 

The old part of downtown where you are (heading towards the bridge) is neat- was at least. Still is, but is not thriving as much. Unique shops and cafes- very bohemian- which used to be in and of itself a good reason to want to spend time there. It has it's own charm. I liked it there in the late 80's to mid 90's it was an interesting place to shop and look around and meet for coffee. It may have deteriorated a bit- downtowns in general seem to be going through that. The fear that that would happen arose way back when they were debating the big new mall downtown there back in the 80s? Remember that? People said it would kill the character of downtown. I was there, then (and at that age I wanted a mall with trendy retail chains in it). Since then that mall has gone through a few transitions and businesses in and around it have struggled, I think. Big business moves in, drains the unique culture out- and the little businesses struggle and signs of depression set in, in the little spots where there was once vibrant community- and after awhile even the bigger businesses suffer. There are signs of that downtown here too- but places like Granville Island- unique spots that are not right downtown- off on their own- that make a point of being home to only small unique businesses- seem to hold up. It's always busy there (especially weekends) since I can remember.

The big businesses eat the little business- and when there's nothing left to eat- they burp and keel over. Lol.

I can't even remember the last time I went downtown to go shopping - with one exception. There is a new little public food market in the old Bay building that is showing some promise - everyone who sells there is a local producer. So far they have local produce, cheeses, olive oil, pies and more - and it's definitely expanding. It could end up being really good - a sort of year round farmer's market.