Top 5 Quaint Stores to Visit in Niagara-on-the-Lake

Shopping time!  Niagara-on-the-Lake offers the most unique, quaint little shops you will find in a span of a few blocks.  All of the stores are located on Queen Street, wedged between little cafes and extravagant restaurants. It’s a perfect place to find travel souvenirs for those picky relatives and one of a kind gifts for that special someone.

My Top 5 Favourite Stores

Olde Tyme Candy Shoppe

The colourful candies are blinding and the rainbow of jellybeans in the dispensers will make you drool as you enter the shop.  The tin cans and bottles of some of the hard and liquid candies look like they were brought right from the 1940’s – old world charm galore.  The variety of jelly beans and chocolates make it rather hard to decide where to look, never mind which one to choose.  The shoppe is small, but filled to the brink with delicious and eye captivating sweets.

Just Christmas

Who doesn’t love Christmas season?  And being able to marvel at the beautiful and unique ornaments in the middle of July? AMAZING! The store is packed with tens of thousands of Christmas ornaments and decorations.  You will definitely find something you’d like to hang on your Christmas tree in this store.  All the displays are organized by theme and there are so many of them. From ornaments personalized for growing families and relatives, through weddings, babies, sports, hobbies, seasons, pets, nature, interests, to Christmas colours and various counties themes – this store has it all. And the best part is that they personalize it for you on the spot.  What can be better than that?

Kurtz Culinary Creations

Beware!  If walk into this store, you won’t be able to walk out empty-handed. Whether it be dressing, curd, butter or jam – it will be hard to resist choosing at least one. Spreads, dips, wine jellies and vinegars, Kurtz Culinary Creations offers a wonderful selection of unique flavours and combinations.  If you’re not sure which one to choose, go for the gift basket. They’re great for hostess gift for that foodie friend and for that picky great aunt who loves homemade fruity delectables. If you’re anything like me, once you tried them, you’ll be hooked.  The good thing is, that Kurtz Culinary Creations has an online store as well.  That means that even though I’m hundreds of kilometers away, I can still get my favourite curd once in a while.

 

Versions

Now, I have to admit that this store is not for everyone.  But is it so unique that it was hard not walk in and enjoy the feel of going back into mid-20th century.  It was fun browsing through the selection of wall posters, plaques, t-shirts and nicknacks.  They reminded me of those treasures and collectibles hidden somewhere in the grandparents’ attic that you dig out at one point and marvel over.  A great place to find a perfect gift for that classic movie aficionado in your family or the history buff cousin who is so hard to buy for.

Maple Leaf Fudge

You can’t pass by without stopping in this store.  For almost 40 years, this little shop offers many unique and delicious varieties of fudge, maple syrup products, ice wine chocolates and speciality candy.  This company makes varieties of fudge not seen in many stores. That’s what makes it so unique.  I’ve rarely seen Ice Wine Fudge or Irish Cream Fudge on the shelves of other speciality stores.  Another very unique product, that you don’t find often, are the ice wine chocolates and candies.  I couldn’t resist picking up a box of Icewine Truffles – Chocolate with Maple Liquer and Icewine Cream Cookies.  It is a perfect place to get some special sweets for fudge or chocolate aficionados or to create a unique gift basket for that friend with a very sweet tooth and good taste.

There are many other stores on Queen Street in Niagara-on-the-Lake that I’m sure you’ll enjoy as much as I did.  However, these five truly stood out to me.  I enjoyed browsing their shelves and marvelling over their unique and one of a kind displays and products.  Most of the products in these stores are not the cheapest, but the quality is definitely worth the price.

All in all, it was a wonderful afternoon. Great “mommy time” moment and fun shopping experience.  If you’re ever in Niagara-on-the-Lake, make sure to stroll down Queen Street to enjoy the beautiful flowers, restaurants and these and many other quaint little shops.

Niagara-on-the-Lake offers more than little quaint stores.  To read about the highlights from our family visit to Fort George Historical Site click here.