From big shopping malls in the Golden Village and City Centre districts to boutique shopping in the historic fishing village of Steveston, Richmond offers a delightful diversity of options for shoppers. Richmond's malls are an easy 20-minute ride away from downtown Vancouver, thanks to the Aberdeen, Brighouse and Lansdowne stations on the new Canada Line rapid transit link.
The Golden Village is an Asian-focused shopping and dining district that covers a four-block radius mostly centred on No. 3 Road, just west of Highway 99. Three major destinations for shoppers are Aberdeen Centre, Parker Place, and Yaohan Centre.
At the three-storey Aberdeen Centre (4151 Hazelbridge Way), there are more than 160 stores to visit. This was the largest enclosed, Asian-themed shopping mall in North America when it opened in the early 1990s. Today, the anchor tenant is The Daiso, which carries more than 50,000 products (tableware, clothes, cosmetics, garden tools, and so on), mostly Japanese-made and priced at $2 apiece. The 800-seat food court serves up noodles, BBQ dishes, and desserts from China, Japan, and Korea. The mall's central atrium features music-synchronized fountain shows.
Celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2009, the nearby Yaohan Centre (3700 No. 3 Rd.) has more than 80 stores, stocking Chinese-language books and games, Asian health and beauty products, and traditional arts and crafts. Everything from bubble tea to roast duck can be savoured at the mall food court.
Founded in 1993, Parker Place (4380 No. 3 Rd.) is another bustling, Asian-themed shopping mall with 150-plus outlets. Numerous clothing boutiques showcase the latest Hong Kong fashions, and specialty stores stock tea, health food, and jewelry items that are hard to find elsewhere in Canada. A gold-plated Four-Faced Buddha is a popular subject for photos.
Shopping in the City Centre
Just south of the Golden Village lie two more major shopping malls, featuring mainstream Western shopping options.
Richmond Centre (6551 No. 3 Rd.) includes more stores than any other Richmond mall, with close to 250 shops. Tenants include some of Canada's biggest department stores, sporting goods retailers, drugstores and electronics outlets. There's also a six-screen movie theatre.
The 130-plus outlet Lansdowne Centre (5300 No. 3 Rd.) has brand-name homewares and electronic stores, ladies fashions and shoes, specialty food shopping, and more. Its Centre Court often plays host to events such as children's art shows and local photo club exhibitions.
Stores in Steveston
This picturesque village in southwest Richmond was originally known as a salmon canning centre. But today, visitors can also reel in some nice deals at local boutiques or pick up some fresh fish right off the boats in the harbour.
Shop for jewelry, masks, and prints by First Nations artists at Canoe Pass Gallery (115-3866 Bayview St.), home accessories at Pieces (100-3580 Moncton St.) or handcrafted furniture and accessories at The Spotted Frog (110-12480 No. 1 Rd.). Fashionable female shoppers can stock up on garments at Bare Basics Lingerie (3871 Moncton St.) or Jet-Lag Travel Fashion Boutique (110-12031 2nd Ave.). For children, there's a wide selection of toys and collectibles at Splash Toy Shop (140-3580 Moncton St.). There are also a number of speciality food shops, including the fabulous Mercato Nel Vicolo (12251 No. 1 Rd), a deli and shop that features excellent Italian and Mediterranean meats, sauces and baked goods.
For those with a sweet tooth, the Diplomat Bakery (110-6111 London Rd.) is a hidden gem. The bakery's creations, such as triple-chocolate mousse cake, have earned it several reader's choice awards from the Richmond News.
Richmond's Summer Night Market
The Summer Night Market (12361 Vulcan Way) has been a popular open-air attraction in this community for years, attracting crowds as large as 30,000 on weekends and holiday Mondays from late May to early October.
Attractions include Asian food vendors and stalls selling DVDs, clothes, handbags, glassware, and much more, often at bargain prices. Live music and dancing spice up the proceedings, from Asian dragon dances to Peruvian flutists. Some years, the Summer Night Market has up to 400 booths. It's considered a magnet for family fun in this community. Hours are 7pm to midnight on Fridays and Saturdays, and 7pm to 11pm on Sundays.
Show Less