Shops and Stores in NS
 

Hi, We are visiting NS later this month and were wondering what if any are the large retailers to look out for, for food, clothes, cd's etc.
j.

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

To most Canadians, I would have to say that this is a really stupid question.
Where do you think you are going, outer Mongolia??
There are loads of "large retailers" of all sorts in Nova Scotia. Just open your eyes and you will see them.

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Well Jason
There are many place to shop between the cities of Halifax and Dartmouth. When my son in law comes over he just makes a bee line for the Bayers Lake industrail Park.........they have all sorts there. Also in Dartmouth make sure you have a look at Mic Mac Mall. Halifax Shopping centre is also great....if you are staying downtown Halifax, you will find many little shops along the water front. Lots of stores and shops to keep you busy.....Where else are you visiting in NS? Are you going to venture down the south shore, thats where I am, close to Bridgewater....

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Hi, I'm sorry if this may sound stupid, but if i were asked the same question from someone who has never visited the UK i would be a little more politer and suggest a few options or give a few options as there is a big difference between Harrods and Tesco
We have searched google.ca, retail outlets, supermarkets, retail depots all in NS and all we seem to find are single store shops rather than the usual Chain stores that you might expect in North America. For example how many Costcos are there in NS as i have found 3 in Outer Mongolia.

We have been a member on here for over 3 years now. We come on here every now and then to see what people are asking and what the current topics are of those wishing to move to Canada, but it's not too long before you wonder why do people waste there time asking questions when there seems to be some on here who offer no help but criticise. Please to those people, go and get a hobby.

My question was simply so before we go we could get an idea on prices so that we could budget for food etc.

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Bayer's Lake has tons of big stores, a cinema and places to eat. It's a huge outdoor shopping park so the stores are not linked. I call it Bedrock city as the land has been quarried out. Wilmaaaaaa :rofl:

Unfortunately there is no website as such (unless someone else found it). It's a shame really as it would be really helpful. Lots and lots of parking there, plus bus stops. Costco is also found there.

Here is a link to other HRM malls.

We have been to Pete's Frootique and found that in a lovely mall.

I haven't been to Halifax often so maybe others can help out there.

I know that you are heading up our way to New Glasgow. We have The Highland Mall (almost identical to the one found in Truro), large new walmart, a fairly small town centre a couple of strip malls. Here is the shopping link.

You are also visiting in Pictou. It's a small town, with a nice newly refurbished waterfront. A great place to visit for a bite to eat is Pictou Lodge. It's set on a great location and also does a lovely buffet style Sunday brunch. If you drive to towards the ferry terminal to PEI you should drive around the lovely winding roads to Caribou itself. Lovely houses in a beautiful setting.

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Hey Jason, if you are looking to compare some prices try having a look at www.superstore.ca and also look at www.sobeys.ca both have great on line flyers. I am sure Walmart also has an online flyer so google it. If you are already a member of Costco you will have a good time there. I am sure you won't be disappointed with the sores you find in the Halifax Dartmouth area!

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Hi, thanks for the replies, i now have slightly better knowledge than i had before, which i guess is how these forums are supposed to work. I have looked at Wal Mart, we are led to believe that it is a very cheap shop but i think it is cheaper in the UK, we looked at the George range which is also available in ASDAs and the prices seem similar. Also CD's and DVD's seem expensive, which is a surprise.

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Thank you, Corky, for these links - I've been in Ontario for nearly three years now, and didn't know there was a Superstore (two of them in fact) near me in London. :)

And - Jason - your question was not stupid, but the person who answered you so rudely obviously is! ;)

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Don't forget that you'll need to add tax on most of the items you look at - it bumps the prices up somewhat

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Dartmouth crossing is also progressing nicely, with a lot of stores now open, http://www.dartmouthcrossing.com/home/index.cfm they are trying to recreate a European High street feel, which they have managed somewhat, in parts.

We will finally get a Bestbuy, and a JYSK which seems to be the nearest we will ever get to an Ikea

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Hi All,

Could anyone inform as to what it is like in and around Truro.

There could be a slim chance we have a job offer there and as we are visiting PEi in Sep and driving through Truro I was wondering if it is worth a longer visit and a serious look at the town and the job offer.

Cheers

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Truro is only a 45 minute drive from Halifax on the highway. It's population is around 12,000 although I am not sure if that includes Bible Hill. The town is built on really flat land and has a good amount of shops and facilities for its size.

Here is the town of Truro website, and here is a link to a great selection of leisure and recreation programmes in Colchester County. Notice that there is a horse race-track in Truro and next door there is also an agridome which is home to the Highland Soccer League.

New Glasgow is having its own agridome built later this year and it will be a great asset to our town. All kinds of sports will be played there over the winter months.

I think it would definitely be worth a visit.

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Thanks for the reply we are still open to any areas at present though we have been looking specificly at PEI but we are pretty flexible and New Scotland sounds great as well especially for a Greenock born Scot. As we will be passing thru on the way to & from PEI & If I can arrange an interview with the employer I have contacted it could throw a spanner in the works and turn our current plans on their heads.

Nothing like complicating things eh....:ohmy:

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Good question Jason, I know it is difficult to find the best places to shop. We will be checking out some of the links that have been supplied as they will come in very handy when visiting.

For some reason a lot people on here don't like questions being asked. A common response is "use the search button" well sometimes it is great and sometimes it is like trawling through treacle. If there are people out there happy to answer the questions then ask away.

Dont get despondent !

Kerry

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Thats true

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Hi, thanks for that. I thought is was me.

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

I think " discussion forum" is lost on some ignorant people.

It just goes to show that there is a cross section of society on here. Nice people and some not so nice :p

Don't normally rant but it touched a nerve............

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

its a shame you have to be so rude

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Jason,

I wouldn't worry too much of offending people on here as you mentioned there is always some tit who comes back with some pathetic sarcastic comment on this site who have really nothing better to do most of the day.

We live in Winchester which according to the most recent UK poll on the top places to live in the UK came out on top...yes number 1.

The nearest Tesco to us is about 4 miles Asda about 15 mile Morrisons 30 mile away the shops in town are dire the nearest out of town shopping of anything that is worth going to is at Hedge End about 40 mins drive

Avereage house price is Just under £300.000 ($600.000 ish before some other smart ass comes back and says "actually at todays exchange rate etc etc etc).

It used to be the capitol of England and is full of stuck up toffs who like it because of the post code status it gives them......Therefore your original question was not that daft mate as someome looking into the UK would think Winchester is the place to be....your better of in Outer Mongolia.

AND before someone says ......why don't you move then moaning git.....I'm still a serving soldier and aint got that choice.

Cheers

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

As Corky says Sobies and Atlantic Superstore are the equivalent to Tesco and Asda (or pick another well-known supermarket) in NS. I understand that they are actually both owned by the same company! which would seem to explain why they are both pricey. Obviously not much competition. Walmart is here but doesn't really sell food as such.

For wine/beer lookout for something called the NSLC (to us the signage made it look a lot like an insurance company - we drove around for ages looking for the "offy" until eventually we discovered it)

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Sobeys and Atlantic Superstores (aka Dominion in Newfoundland and Loblaws in ON & QC) are very much not the same company. They are however, the major grocery chains so equivalent to Tesco, Morrisions etc. Walmart does sell food but would agree that since it sells lots of well everything, that it doesn't feel like a foodstore. F'r example you wouldn't go there for your fresh produce.

NSLC (Nova Scotia Liquor Corp) is the equivalent to off licence's in the UK & would be the place to buy liquor (that's spirits), wine & beer. I think (& I'm sure a local will correct me if I'm wrong) that you can buy beer at corner stores & gas stations as well. What you will notice is that you can't go into your local Sobeys and buy liquor like you can in Tesco. Also the NSLC is a virtual monopoly - there is one independent 'offlicence' in the Bedford Mall & I believe another somewhere else - but essentially the NSLC is it. On the plus side they carry a reasonable range of English beers and the prices are better than here in NL.

Living in a more isolated region - on this lump of Rock - I envy you Nova-Scotians your shopping opportunities and the availability & low cost of fresh produce and cheaper alcohol. When we visit Halifax we tend to fall upon Pete's Frootique with unrestrained glee.

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Hi, i have just looked at the Atlantic Super Store site, very helpful, not sure about the Bear Paw Burgers?
What are the Taxes on shopping? are they added on top of the selling price?
Jason

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

It's the shape of the burger not what it's made from :rofl:

Taxes are harmonised in NS @ 14% - add it on to nearly all prices you see for cars, clothes, dining out, services, etc. Not all foodstuffs in the stores are taxed, only what is considered 'luxury' items. Thankfully, real estate is not taxed on top.

Here is a link to Nova Scotia HST which explains it all.

Takes some getting used to. Wish it was all 'hidden' just like in the UK. It would be much simpler.

PS Atlantic Superstore sells Yorkshire Puddings ;-)

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Hi Jason - taxes differ from province to province....here in Ontario two taxes are added: provincial (PST) and Goods & Services (GST) making a total of 14%. This link might be useful:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Provincial_Sales_Tax

Good Luck with everything..........:)

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

...somebody told me that Empire Company (who own Sobey's supermarkets) also own roughly a 50% stake in Atlantic Superstore too. So although the stores are different inside and sell some different products, doesn't mean there is actually much in the way of real price competition between them.

It could just be one of those rumours though!

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Well Atlantic Superstore is a brand of Loblaw Companies, so Empire would have to have a 50% stake in Loblaws overall which is perhaps less likely. The point that in Eastern Canada at least there is not very much competition in the grocery sector driving prices is one I'd definately have to give you!

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Basically there are three grocers in Canada, so competition is limited. Plus logistics in a large largly unpopulated country will add to the cost of stuff.

Loblaws
Sobeys
Metro

Between these three groups they own virtually every major "brand"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of...s#.C2.A0Canada

It may or may nor have been a stupid question, but it did come over to me at least as a "Is there <insert common everyday thing> in Canada?" type question, and could perhaps have been more clearly stated. My answer would have been "Yes". Thicker skins required all round. If you've got nothing useful to add, bite your tongue. If no one answers you, then rethink the question.

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

For AB and BC, I'd add Safeway as a major grocer.

The Dominion brand is confusing - originally owned by Argus Group (prop. Conrad Black, O how my heart bleeds), the group was split up and sold off in all directions in the late 80s/early 90s: in Atlantic provinces, Dominion supermarkets are now a trading brand of Loblaw (although IGA originally bought the Nova Scotia stores but Loblaw then bought the NS operation of IGA before the Sobeys merger - confused yet?); in the GTA, Dominion is a brand of the Metro group; a couple of stores in NW Ontario were bought by Safeway; most other Dominion stores in AB and BC were closed down.

I don't know of any ownership stake that Empire has in Loblaw through Atlantic Superstores, but given how strongly Loblaw and Sobeys have competed against each other not only in going after retail sales but in M&A spheres as well I would be very surprised to learn of such an ownership link between them.

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Halifax or Ulan Bator ; now that's a tough choice

or is that inner Mongolia?

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

Hi, This may have been a stupid question but this is the longest thread i have ever started, maybe people are bored of talking about exchange rates, snow and employment, all important subjects but variety is the spice of life. I only wanted to look at a website to see general grocery prices to help plan our trip, well to be honest i am trying to fill up the time with meaningless searches of everything Canadian till we go in 10 days time. Look forward to 'What do i do if i see a bear' thread and 'Do they sell PG tips in NS'.
Jason - currently searching ice hockey in NS.

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

The used to sell PG Tips but not sure if they still do. I did notice Typoo in Superstore last week.
Congrats on the longest running thread about grocery stores!!! Good one!
Sobeys is owned by The Empire Group which is owned by the Sobeys family, I am sure that some of it must have been sold off cause I did hear they were moving their head office from Stellerton Nova Scotia to somewhere in Ontario!
In NS the Atlantic Superstore is owned by Atlantic Wholesalers but I am sure it has someone higher up than them!Probably in Ont.
Well Jason I hope you managed to get into have alook at some of these stores!

Re: Shops and Stores in NS
 

The Sobey family live just outside New Glasgow so I hope they are not relocating their business from Stellerton to Ontario. They are a huge part of this community, employing 1000s and give a lot back to the people of Pictou County.

Here is Sobeys info from Wikipedia. They own lots of other companies too. It says there that they moved into southern Ontario to challenge Loblaws on their own turf. Up here Loblaws goes under the name of Altantic Superstore.

I am going to ask around re Sobeys relocating. :ohmy: