Find A Downtown Business
All We Offer in Downtown Red Deer
The Downtown Market
Our downtown market is back, bigger than ever, and on the street. Don’t fall off the turnip truck, look for it and other fresh delights right on Gaetz Avenue from the corner of Ross Street right to 48 Street (Alexander Way). Bread, veggies, honey and much more. Wednesdays from 4pm-7pm straight through to October 3. Rain or shine! Many of our merchants are open late to serve you on Wednesdays. Drop into their shops and say hello.
Time For Lunch
The following exceptional downtown restaurants are taking place in an innovative lunch promotion from June 4-28. They have received marketing dollars and campaign strategy from the Red Deer DBA.Thank you for seeing the value of working together to make Downtown vibrate with full-bellied shoppers:
Centrefest
This is the 10th Anniversary of Centrefest presented by MNP, and as a value add for our beloved businesses, everyone is encouraged to bring their wares onto the sidewalk. Please contact us at the DBA office so we can add you to our site map and help ensure you get the most visibility possible. There are still opportunities for sponsorship. Creative ways to partner with us can have big returns for your business.
The Ross Street Café
Back by popular demand, the Ross Street Café is going to have tables out along with the piano for a beautiful European style atmosphere. Turn yourself into a solar panel from sitting in the sun with a latte on June 1, after a little bit of construction. And feel free to join us for information sessions on Gaetz Avenue revitalization each Wednesday at the Scott Block in the DBA board room from 5-6pm.
Downtown Red Deer truly is the most diverse and interesting area of town. Come on down to take a look for yourself.
Local Business Profiles
Bling By Bev
Friday, May 25th 2012
All In the Family at Saro's
Tuesday, May 8th 2012
The Saro’s story is about two great things: delicious food and family. John Giannioudis purchased this downtown fixture from his parents Sarantos and Annastasia about four years ago, “They owned it since day one,” said John. That was back in 1978, when the family was encouraged by an uncle to come to Red Deer in an oil boom, “My parents came to Canada with one suitcase and two hundred bucks.”
OK Tailor Shop
Tuesday, February 28th 2012
Made To Measure
By HARLEY RICHARD
Advocate business editor
Seated across from an official with the Canadian embassy in Hong Kong, Kwan Tong knew his application for immigration could go either way.
Speaking through an interpreter, the bureaucrat quizzed Tong about his desire to make Canada his home, the contributions he expected to make here, and why he wanted to work as a cook — despite having spent the previous decade as a tailor.
Tong didn’t confess that he had simply taken a cooking course to improve his chances of admission.
“At that time, tailoring was not that popular,” the owner of Red Deer’s OK Tailor Shop explained three decades later. “Cooks were in high demand.”
Was the official fooled?
“He looked at me with a little bit of a smile, and he just folded his hands,” recalled Tong.
“He said, ‘OK, the interview is done. I will let you know if we accept or not accept.’”
About a week later, the much-anticipated letter arrived and Tong and his wife Yuk were on their way to Red Deer. He went to work at the local Kentucky Fried Chicken restaurant, where owner John Konopaki made a wry observation about his new hire’s tailoring skills.
“The chicken doesn’t need any clothing,” Tong remembers his boss telling him.
The Bra Lounge
Wednesday, January 4th 2012
“The Bra Lounge” has been a cornerstone business of Red Deer’s Downtown since it first opened in the lower level of the Imperial Block building on February 1, 2007. The vision of sisters Cortney Murphy and Sheena Johnson, The Bra Lounge has become one of Red Deer’s most respected locally owned and operated businesses.
Tail Blazers
Monday, November 14th 2011
In December 2005, Aly Seymour opened her pet health food store, Tail Blazers. “I have always been interested in animals. I raise sheep and I have many other animals at home. So it fit that I would open a pet health food store,” says Aly. Tail Blazers is located on 53rd Street in downtown Red Deer and is home to a large selection of raw pet food. Tail Blazers also carries a wide range of pet food including dry and canned as well as raw and fresh foods. In addition, Aly wants her customers to be educated on what they feed their pets so she carries books on natural pet health, nutritional supplements, pet shampoo, toys, and treats to name a few. All of the products in Tail Blazers are natural, safe, and delicious!
Amaryllis Centre
Monday, October 24th 2011
Before October 23, 2009, Red Deer lacked a local hot yoga studio, but Shauna Clark changed that. While working for the television show Survivor, Shauna discovered the physical and mental benefits of hot yoga. She then moved to Red Deer and opened the Amaryllis Center located on 53rd Street. “I wanted to open a yoga studio for 4 or 5 years and I was so excited to be able to do it,” says Shauna. Shauna admits that she likes her “hidden” downtown location because of the sense of community, central location, and the eclectic mix of people.
Victoria Lane Brides
Tuesday, October 11th 2011
Victoria Lane Brides is a downtown business that has proven longevity establishing itself 20 years 
ago, providing all aspects of formal wear: grad, wedding, cocktail, and prom dresses, to name a few. In July 2010, sisters Jackie Boyer and Louise Toews, bought the store. Jackie was a former oil field worker and a stay-at-home mom who wanted to go back to work. The former owners were selling the store and the sisters seized the opportunity to do something that they enjoyed together. It is also nostalgic because both sisters purchased dresses from Victoria Lane.
The Green Clinic
Thursday, September 29th 2011
Some say that their career is a calling, something that they are destined to do. This is true for Abrah Arneson, clinical herbal therapist and owner of The Green Clinic, located on the second floor offices of the Scott Block on Gaetz Avenue downtown. Abrah began her business in 2006 after a four year intensive academic training program. Throughout her life, Abrah has always had a keen eye on the exploration of plants and herbal medicine. After traveling Europe and Asia, attending many retreats to learn about great medicine, and being hospitalized, Abrah decided to become an herbal therapist.
Wipe-Out Ski and Bike
Wednesday, September 14th 2011
Owners Kim and Tim Wright opened their store Wipe-Out Ski and Bike to provide an avenue for those who have a passion for riding and skiing. They opened on November 1, 2008 at 101 4918 46 Street, downtown Red Deer. Wipe-Out Ski and Bike carries high quality bikes, skis, snowboards, helmets, and accessories. In addition to sales, Wipe-Out services and repairs bicycles, snowboards and skis as well.
Adrienne Marie Photography
Friday, September 2nd 2011
With her bubbly personality and back-to-basics technique, Adrienne Corcoran has established herself as an accomplished photographer. After being a stay-at-home mom, Adrienne opened her business, Adrienne Marie Photography, nine years ago. She started small by taking photos of children, then graduated to ladies and couples, and finally took the leap to weddings.
