Burnaby is a top-notch destination for avid shoppers. With huge shopping malls, as well as specialty and small independent businesses, visitors can easily spend an entire day hunting for bargains here or escape a rainy day.
Metropolis at Metrotown
Metropolis at Metrotown (4700-4800 Kingsway) is the largest shopping centre in British Columbia and second-largest in Canada. With more than 450 shops spread out over more than 160,000 sqm/1.7m sqft, this is Burnaby's most popular tourist attraction. There's a 10-screen movie theater, and two inner courtyards have hosted Cirque de Soleil performances and Canadian Idol auditions. The huge food court, with 21 outlets and seating for more than 1,000 patrons, has great views of the North Shore mountains. It's less than 20 minutes from downtown by SkyTrain. The directly adjoining Station Square Mall has close to 40 retail shops and services, including restaurants, medical clinics, electronics stores, and a movie theatre.
Crystal Mall, Brentwood and Lougheed Town Centre
Just across the street, the Crystal Mall (4500 Kingsway) offers a distinctive and unique Asian shopping experience. Its circular design is supposed to symbolize never-ending wealth, and its 200-plus shops include Chinese herbal medicine specialists, various Asian beauty and jewellery outlets, and a specialty food court with Malaysian, Taiwanese, and Japanese cuisine. Bordering on the Lougheed Highway to the north are two other notable malls. Brentwood Town Centre (4567 Lougheed Hwy.) features more than 110 shops, from department stores to brand-name fashions. Lougheed Town Centre (9855 Austin Ave.) offers a similar but even larger mix, with close to 200 shops. Both malls have self-titled SkyTrain stops on the Millennium Line.
Specialty Shopping
To get a taste of Burnaby's history and culture while shopping, it's worth heading to the Heights Commercial District. This 11-block span (3700-4800 Hastings St.) is home to a wide variety of independent bookstores, barber shops, food stores, and fashion boutiques, among other outlets. There's a strong Italian and Greek flavour, and many businesses are family-owned. Keep an eye open for colourful wall murals painted by local artists, plus the classic neon "swinging girl" sign that promoted the now-defunct Helen's Children's Wear, and has been restored for display in front of an Italian deli named Cioffi's (4156 Hastings) in 2009.