In the Niagara Falls area, each major community has its own retail district, where you can find pretty well anything you’re looking for. We’re covering these in counter-clockwise order, starting on the New York side of the Niagara.
Niagara Falls (ON & NY)
Niagara Falls, New York’s Military Rd
Niagara Falls’s tourist-oriented shopping is clustered within a few blocks of the Falls long Rainbow Boulevard. The shopping for the locals is further east (just head east on Niagara Falls Blvd, Rt #62), past I-190 to Military Road (Rt #265), where there are a cluster of malls and shops, including the large Niagara Factory Outlet Mall. The city’s largest mall, however is even further east, not far from their airport.
Niagara Falls’ Clifton Hill
While people come to see the falls, they stay for Clifton Hill–a district next to the falls packed full of restaurants, attractions, shopping and more. This area is packed with attractions, dining and shopping possibilities, but is strictly tourist focused.
Niagara Falls’ Downtown
The historical shopping centre of Niagara Falls, Ontario is a 24 square block area just west of the Whirlpool Bridge, between Huron and Bridge Streets.
Niagara Falls’ Portage Rd
The locals have their shopping area in the north end of the city, clustered along Portage Road, where it meets Thorold Stone Road and Drummond Rd. This area has a number of smaller plazas and malls, and many of the more interesting (non-chain) shops.
Around Niagara
Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Heritage District
The shops of the Niagara-on-the-Lake’s Heritage District, recognized as one of the prettiest towns in Canada, provides a shopping environment like no other! There are literally dozens of antique and collectible shops surrounded by buildings almost 200 years old.
St Catharines’ Old Port Dalhousie
Old Port Dalhousie is a picturesque harbour front community, with an eclectic mix of shops, restaurants, and historic sites. Marking the Lake Ontario entry point of the first three Welland Canals, Port Dalhousie is a living museum of the 19th Century architecture, with the lighthouses on the pier, shops, restaurants, theatre along the restored waterfront Harbour Walkway and pier. Explore bookstores, galleries, gift shops and fashion boutiques. Enjoy a unique selection of casual and fine dining establishments.
St. Catharines’ Downtown Mercantile District
Here century heritage is wrapped in an eclectic groove. Downtown’s main street is St. Paul which grew from an ancient Indian trail and winds its way past 130 one of-a-kind shops, boutiques, and galleries. The area also has over fifty restaurants and eateries pairing of regional cuisine with local wines, as well as the flavours of Europe, the Mideast, India and the Orient.
Thorold’s Front Street District
Thorold proud to be “Canada’s Canal City”, has one of the few authentic canal downtown areas remaining in Canada. Only blocks from the Welland Canal is this shopping district, with lots of quaint shops and services.
Welland’s main Street
Welland lies where the Welland Canal crosses the path of the Welland River, and the city’s commercial center grew up around the now-abandoned Old Welland Canal route, which creates today’s very leisurely but waterway-focused community. Welland actually has three shopping areas. Prince Charles Drive and Niagara Street both lie on the north/west side of the Old Canal. Most of the commercial activity, as well as the city’s administrative centre, is clustered along East Main Street on the south-east side of the Welland River and Old Welland Canal, and extending east past the Flea Market on East Main’s north side, right before the #406 north to St Catharines.
Fort Erie’s Garrison Street
Fort Erie is both blessed and cursed by being across the bridge from Buffalo, New York, which provides ample challenges for its business community. Shopping in Fort Erie is clustered along Garrison, whch stretches dues west from the Peace Bridge.