Mom & Pop Stores (YEG)
Mom & Pop Stores Popping on the Market
Header image from The Skinny website
The start of the pandemic has had most small business owners struggling. With a capacity limit being enforced, it has caused the traffic within these shops to decrease. This past year has inspired and empowered our communities on ways to support local shops.
This week we would like to focus on Mom and Pop shops here in YEG.
To define, “Mom and Pop shops” are small, family-owned or independent businesses.
We have gathered a few stores you may or may have not heard of, that are actually “Mom and Pop Shops”. After all, nothing beats the support of a family when starting your own venture.
The Skinny
The story begins with mom-of-three, Erinn Trebaczkiewicz, who had a vision to create pieces focusing on women and children. With the growing success of her dream-turned-reality business, hard work and passion helped her open up an online shop, a pop-up store and eventually lead to owning three physical stores. This would not have happened if her mother in-law didn’t step-in to take care of her boys, and of course her loving husband— her partner-in-crime, both within and outside The Skinny.
Home of “The Erinn Cardigan”, The Skinny was established in 2014 and has opened three physical stores in Edmonton— Southgate, West Edmonton Mall, and the Premium Outlet Collection. Here you will find a collection of baby, children, and women’s clothing, as well as a personal stylist service (available only at the WEM location and, free of charge). Aside from their apparel, there are other unique finds, such as jewelry, home and stationery items, and much more!
“The Erinn Cardigan” in Black Dahlia (image from The Skinny website)
“The Mini Erinn Cardigan” Is also available for the kiddies! (Image from The Skinny website)
Visit the Skinny:
WEM: #2169, 8882 - 170 Street, Edmonton AB T5T4M2
Southgate Mall: #17A, 5015 - 111 Street, Edmonton, AB T6H 4M6
Premium Outlet Collection: #234, 1 Outlet Collection Way, Edmonton, AB T9E1J5
Arturo Denim
Husband and wife, James and Janna, along with their good friend Scott, teamed up and opened a denim shop, now known as Arturo Denim in December of 2016. The trio all had different ventures prior to opening Arturo Denim— James was in a band, Janna designed her own clothing line called Cinder+Smoke, and Scott used to own a movie rental store, the Movie Studio.
After trial and error, the three settled on the designs,: “Typical Girls” for ladies and “Riff Raff” for men. Their denim comes from two different mills— one from Kuroki, located in Okayama, Japan, and the second being Kurabo, from Anjo, Japan. Arturo Denim manufactures their jeans at Beauce Jeans, located in Saint-Come-Liniere, in Quebec’s Beauce region. To top things off, their jeans are VEGAN! No animal products are used in the creation of each piece. This rule even extends to the leather detailing with their logo.
Arturo Denim also offers a “Denim Restoration” service, where repairs, hemming, zipper replacements, alterations, and more are done in-store while you shop!
“Typical Girls” Denim in classic blue (image from Arturo Denim website)
“Riff Raff” Denim (image from Arturo Denim website)
Visit Arturo Denim Co.:
10443 124 ST NW Edmonton, Alberta T5N 1R7
IG: @arturodenimco
Shop Harrow
From the basement in Hinton, Alberta to the streets of 124th in Edmonton, to Europa Blvd in West Edmonton Mall, Shop Harrow met their beginning with a bang. With the help of her family, Nicole Charlton was able to take her small business to the next level. The boutique is inspired by European trends, and sells additional vintage pieces, which include as many Canadian brands as possible. Shop Harrow’s goal is to deliver the #supportlocal movement in a way where quality and quantity are both considered while catering to their customers.
”Blue Floral Print Dress” from Triana By C (image from ShopHarrow)
“Botanica Print Earring” from Hello Ashto (image from ShopHarrow)
“Haystack Henley” by Street & Saddle
Visit Shop Harrow:
High Street: 10177 125 St NW, Edmonton, AB. T5N 1S7
WEM: Europa Boulevard, Phase III, 8882 170 St NW. Edmonton, AB T5T 4J2
IG:@shopharrow
Whether it be dropping by to say hello, sharing and liking posts, or recommending your favourite spots to a friend, it’ll be up to us to show love to our small business owners, and give them the support they need to continue doing what they love.
To read more on supporting local brands, also see our latest article The Shop Local Movement, and stay tuned for more articles on Mom and Pop shops in other cities across Canada..