Ottawa Shopping: Discover Rideau, The Shopaholic’s Paradise
July 10, 2023
Embrace your inner Carrie Bradshaw by letting your shopaholic tendencies run wild with a visit to Rideau Street in Ottawa’s Original Downtown. This street has a rich history of being the best place for Ottawa shopping, catering to all senses of style.
True to its roots, almost 200 years since its creation, Rideau Street remains home to over 600 incredible businesses, all with something unique to offer. Whether you are vintage-obsessed, a book lover, music enthusiast, or a designer label fan, Rideau is sure to check all your boxes!
180 BUSINESSES UNDER ONE ROOF
CF Rideau Centre first opened its doors approximately 40 years ago and has since grown to become the 4th most extensive and busiest mall in all of Canada. Every year, 20 million visitors walk through their doors to check out its diverse business mix.
Home to 180 retailers, this shopping-hub boasts a little bit of everything from quintessentially Canadian décor to the hottest children’s toys and designer labels to luxury self-care items.
Coming from another end of the city? No problem! The CF Rideau Centre has ample parking, LRT access, bus stops for both OC Transpo and STO, and bike lanes to make getting here a breeze!
Patrons of Rideau Centre are also anxiously awaiting the arrival of the mall’s newest expansion on Nicholas Street, which is slated to be completed in 2026. The expansion will feature a 288-unit residential rental building and will transform the historic Ottawa Registry Office into a modern café-bistro.
📍 50 Rideau Street
⏰ Sunday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
📞 613-236-6565
YOU WON’T FIND THESE ICONS ANYWHERE ELSE IN OTTAWA
UNIQLO
Shoppers across the city have been eagerly flocking to the latest addition to the CF Rideau Centre. UNIQLO provides exceptionally high-quality clothing with simple designs for outstanding prices. From its clean and orderly interior, staff dressed in kimonos and highly efficient self-checkout system, visitors of UNIQLO will get a true taste of the Japanese approach to product quality and customer experience.
📍 50 Rideau Street, Level Three
⏰ Sunday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
📞 613-858-1928
NRML
When it comes to fashion, some of us want to challenge the norms in any way we can; to inspire others through our individuality and sense of style. For anyone who considers themselves a street fashion enthusiast, NRML is the place to be!
From the moment you walk into the store, you will be awe-struck by its three stories and 10,000 square feet devoted entirely to a carefully curated selection of street wear from brands like Ksubi, Stussy and Fred Perry.
Sneakerheads will have no shortage of options to choose from when viewing entire walls lined with the latest Air Jordans and other footwear from Nike. Whatever your tastes may be, NRML delivers the experience of being on the true cutting edge of high-end street fashion.
📍 184 Rideau Street
⏰ Monday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 9:00 PM
⏰ Sunday: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
📞 613-562-2043
Simons
Looking to update your wardrobe and your home décor all in one shopping trip? Be sure to check out Simons! This celebrated fashion and home furniture retailer boasts an incredible 100,000 square feet of floorspace at the Rideau Centre. Patrons can easily lose track of time while shopping for new outfits and furniture, all without ever leaving the store.
The experience of shopping at Simons’ Ottawa location is largely akin to the merchandise it sells – forward-thinking, contemporary and user-friendly. From the moment they enter, customers are sure to be struck by “Torrential Red,” a monumental art installation conceived by Shayne Dark that occupies two floors of the store.
Simons carries both its own in-house brands like Miiyu and Djab as well as the latest and greatest external brands such as Ralph Lauren, Nike and Calvin Klein. And if that perfect outfit you picked out isn’t fitting quite right, the store offers on-site clothing alterations if needed.
📍 50 Rideau Street, Level Three
⏰ Sunday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
📞 613-230-3630
One of a Kind (OAK)
Rideau Street is proud to host one of the three locations that One Of A Kind has throughout all of Canada! This store, also known as OAK Shop, carries some of the rarest and most sought-after items from popular street wear brands the world over.
Fashion enthusiasts and collectors alike will find something they have to add to their wardrobe before their next night out on the town. And shoppers can always take advantage of Sezzle at OAK Shop, which allows them to make interest-free bi-weekly payments on items they purchase.
📍 158 Rideau Street
⏰ Monday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
⏰ Sunday: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
📞 613-569-0000
Arc’teryx
Another recent addition to the Rideau Centre retail roster, Arc’teryx specializes in products designed to help you conquer the great outdoors. Need to gear up before making the trip across the river to Gatineau Park? This Canadian retailer sells sports apparel created by a devoted team of designers and athletes. They are committed to building clothing that allows you to not merely withstand the harshest conditions, but thrive in them.
📍 50 Rideau Street, Level Two
⏰ Sunday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
📞 613-912-1155
Athleta
A subsidiary of Gap Clothing, Athleta has quickly become a prime destination for women’s activewear, including yoga clothing, running apparel and swimwear. If your closet is already packed to the brim with clothes from lululemon, consider making a stop here to pick out your next gym outfit.
And for those in Ottawa who like to be socially and environmentally conscious while shopping, Athleta is a B-Corporation, taking steps to lessen their footprint by sustainably sourcing materials for their clothing and investing in renewable energy, among other things.
📍 50 Rideau Street, Level Three
⏰ Sunday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
📞 613-702-6460
LEGO Store
For anyone looking to get in touch with their inner child, a trip to the Ottawa LEGO Store in Rideau Centre is sure to bring a smile to your face while shopping! This fun, colourful store has LEGO sets that builders of all ages can enjoy.
You can also check out their Pick & Build Wall, where you’re able to build whatever you can imagine from bricks that are available to play with in the store. Whether it’s your dream house, dream car or a spaceship that will take you to the moon, you’re always free to let your creativity run wild at the LEGO Store!
📍 50 Rideau Street, Level One
⏰ Sunday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 9:00 PM
📞 613-241-4173
Urban Outfitters
Continue your musical odyssey at one of Rideau’s premier hipster havens, Urban Outfitters!
What better way to celebrate the purchase of a new guitar than complimenting it with a copy of all the songs you want to learn? Urban Outfitters boasts a wide selection of vinyl LPs, CDs and even cassette tapes of all your favourite artists. You can spend hours just browsing through music without buying anything!
Of course, the store is more than just a record shop. In fact, you can find everything you need to get yourself and your place ready for your next album-listening party. Pick up some hilarious board games as well as some Polaroid cameras and film in order to capture memories all night long. And that’s to say nothing of their massive clothing selection from brands like OBEY, The North Face and Urban Renewal. Everything you need to make your place your friends’ first choice for where to hang out can be found right here!
📍 135 Rideau Street
⏰ Monday to Saturday: 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
⏰ Sunday: 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
📞 613-912-1155
LOCALLY OWNED GEMS
Letellier Shoes
This is one of the most historically rich and long-standing businesses not just in Ottawa’s Original Downtown, but the entire city!
Letellier Shoes is one of the most storied shopping outlets in Ottawa, tracing its roots as far back as 1897. Back then, the store was founded by Joseph Letellier in Gatineau. After a fire destroyed the store shortly thereafter, Joseph’s son Ernest moved the store to downtown Rideau in 1913, where it has remained ever since.
In the years since, Letellier has remained steadfast in its commitment to providing its patrons with top quality footwear for any occasion. Are you looking to pick up a new pair of hiking shoes before crossing the Ottawa River and visiting Gatineau Park? Maybe you need a cute pair of heels to go with that dress you bought in the Rideau Centre. Whatever the case, Letellier’s wide selection of footwear and exemplary customer service will ensure that you leave with the perfect pair of new kicks.
Psst…here’s some insider info! Letellier is now proud to carry shoes from Thierry Rabotin! Once exclusively available at Nordstrom, these widely celebrated artisan shoes are hand-crafted with striking blue interiors and are sure to be the envy of your friends. Pick up a pair for yourself today!
📍 146 Rideau Street
⏰ Monday to Saturday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
⏰ Sunday: 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
📞 613-241-6557
Steve’s Music
Musicians rarely need an excuse to take a trip to visit their local music store! If you’re looking for the next addition to your guitar collection, the sheet music to your favourite Broadway musical or even if you just need a new microphone at your desk in order to work from home, Steve’s Music Store on Rideau Street has you covered.
With over 50 years in the music business, Steve’s is one of the first shopping choices for musicians in Ottawa to find anything and everything they need to perform to the best of their abilities.
Whether it’s a broken guitar string, malfunctioning patch cable or a forgotten PA system, Steve’s is the place to be if you ever find yourself in a sticky situation before you take the stage at Dekcuf or Avant-Garde Bar. And you can always stop by to just pick a guitar off the wall and rock out for as long as you’d like. Either way, their friendly staff are ready to serve you, whatever your needs may be.
📍 308 Rideau Street
⏰ Monday: CLOSED
⏰ Tuesday to Friday: 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
⏰ Saturday: 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM
⏰ Sunday: 12:00 PM to 5:00 PM
📞 613-789-1131
Gregory’s Leather
So you’re looking for the perfect piece of leather to compliment the outfit you just bought, but you’re curious as to what options you might have outside of the Rideau Centre. If this sounds like you, be sure to stop by Gregory’s Leather Jackets & Suede Fashions!
Gregory has been selling and repairing leather-based products for half a century. During his time in downtown Rideau, he has acquired the skills and expertise to offer the very best in sales and service for all his patrons’ needs. Jackets, pants, wallets, mitts – you name it, Gregory has it or he can fix it for you. And on the off chance he doesn’t have what you’re looking for, Gregory will design the perfect product for you according to your needs.
📍 456 Rideau Street
📞 613-789-4734
Mergi Shop
Looking to make your shopping spree a little more unconventional than what you’re typically used to? Spend an afternoon browsing the wares of Mergi Shop! This quaint little retailer near Rideau and Friel specializes in Asian household goods and is certain to carry products that you didn’t even know existed.
In just one trip, you can find some meat-noodle flavoured pet snacks for your furry feline friends, a Pokémon mystery box for that person in your life who’s “gotta catch ‘em all” and some seaweed-flavoured potato chips for yourself!
📍 308 Rideau Street
⏰ Sunday to Thursday: 12:00 PM to 9:00 PM
⏰ Saturday to Sunday: 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM
All Books
Bookworms everywhere need to check out this little hidden gem located right next door to the Bytowne Cinema! If you’ve just finished your last book and are looking for your next piece of before-bed reading material or need something about a specific subject, stop in at All Books!
The store has merchandise stacked from floor-to-ceiling and even more available outside for you to browse. No need to feel overwhelmed, however; the staff on site are always ready and willing to help locate exactly what you might be looking for.
It’s easy to see why Ottawa’s Original Downtown is one of the most celebrated shopping destinations throughout the entire city! Start planning your next shopping spree by consulting a list of parking lots in Ottawa or finding the most convenient bus route for you.
To learn about all the other retailers in Ottawa’s Original Downtown, check out our business directory.
📍 146 Rideau Street
⏰ Monday to Sunday: 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
📞 613-789-9544
