Q&A: Girls Shopping Weekend in Montreal
Q: I am trying to plan an agenda that includes shopping for a weekend away with my girlfriends in Montreal. Do you have some suggestions? I have read mixed revues about the Chabanel garment district.
A: Chabanel is and has been the heart of the garment industry for all of Canada. Over the years, with out-sourcing production, there isn’t as much as there used to be. Having said that, there are 5 tall buildings still full of manufacturers, importers and distributors, so there still are fabulous deals there.
The best building to start with is the 555 Chabanel building but only on a Saturday morning from 9-1. In my Smart Shopping Montreal book, I list suite by suite everything I found in all the buildings the last time I was up there. I still find fabulous finds there but you have to work it.
Our “Main Street” is Ste-Cathering St downtown where all of the usual chains are as well as Zara, Mango, Forever 21 along with our fabulous Simon Department store and our “TJ Maxx” which is called Winners. St-Denis St (from Roy to Mont Royal) is more for the avant garde new fashions, independent designers, etc.
You can find 1500 shopping ideas to plan your trip using my book which is now in its 14th edition.