In comparison to the more trendy, stylish places in Canada like Montreal, Vancouver and Toronto, that have tons of malls to visit, Ottawa isn’t exactly the swankiest, most fashion-forward place to go if you want to shop.
But if you’re in town, and love to do a little bit of shopping, there are a few Ottawa outlets where you can find your favourite brands at an irresistible price.
For those of you that aren’t familiar with outlet malls, to sum up, they’re basically a store that the retailer sends clothes to that are then sold for a fraction of the original price. For example, if American Eagle makes 100 sweaters, but only 50 of them sell for a regular price, they will send it to the outlet store to sell for cheaper.
All that to say, if you’re on the hunt for a good deal in Ottawa on brands you already love, but don’t want to compromise quality by shopping consignment, outlets are your best bet. If you enjoy outlet shopping, you might want to check out this article.
In Ottawa, you have two true outlet malls to choose from, which seems futile, but trust me, it’s not. They are both giant complexes that have dozens of brands to choose from.
The first and most popular outlet complex (for good reason) in Ottawa, Tanger, is Located in Kanata, just around the corner from Canadian Tire Centre.
Tanger is a sparkling outdoor mall, and although having an outdoor mall in Canada might seem a bit risky due to the frigid, relentless winters we experience here in the capital, it’s actually quite charming. There is a food court, a Beaver Tail stand, a playground for the kids, a gorgeous fountain, and well over 60 stores to choose from. They even have their own lifetime exclusive member club that can be used at any of their locations across Canada and the US.
Some notable stores at Tanger are Coach, Polo Ralph Lauren, Michael Kors, Calvin Klein, Saks OFF 5TH, Banana Republic, Tommy Hilfiger, Fossil, American Eagle, Guess, Lucky Brand Jeans, Adidas, Puma, Reebok, Under Armour, Sunglass Hut, and many others.
All that shopping is definitely going to work up an appetite, and thankfully there are a ton of food options to choose from.
Some of the best restaurants include Nestlé Tollhouse, Cinnabon, BarBurrito, Teriyaki, Villa Madina, and Subway. If you’re willing to trek all the way out to the furthest West reaches of Ottawa, you will not be disappointed. Tanger is definitely worth the commute.
Train Yards, located in the East end, ranks second in popularity, mainly because it’s older and doesn’t carry as many high-end brands.
They’re known more for carrying practical, everyday stores that we could all benefit from. Nonetheless, it’s a great shopping spot if you’re looking to shop the sales and grab a bite to eat. A great advantage that Train Yards has over Tanger, is that it is more centrally located, and easier to get to — especially for tourists. In fact, it was Ottawa’s first centrally-located retail powerhouse. It covers over 110 acres of space and has over 60 stores to choose from, as well as restaurants.
A few notable stores in this district are Bed Bath & Beyond, Carter’s Osh Kosh, EB Games, Guess, Moores Clothing for Men, Tommy Hilfiger, Nordstrom Rack, and Old Navy. Some restaurants on-site include Scores, Thai Express, Mucho Burrito, and Kettleman’s Bagel Co. There is also a Movati Athletic Club on the premises, and an LCBO.
That is essentially everything you need to know before you decide to pound the pavement in Ottawa, in search for the best deals on all of your shopping needs.
Featured image: Instagram/@sufedasue