The Stratford City Centre
47 Downie Street N5A 1W7 Stratford, ON, Canada

Wow-wee. Help them celebrate! Daily!!

Many of our downtown stores are reopening. Hooray!! Please check with your local retail shops, restaurants, cafes, and services to see what they've decided to do for now. : realtor Blanka Michale

Many businesses are choosing to open their doors back up this week. Check-in with your local retail shops, restaurants, cafes, and services to see if they're choosing to allow in customers gradually (staggered), fully (within allowed parameters), or not yet. And check back in our InstaStories for individual updates. Travel safely on this blustery, snowy day. ... Some businesses will be having a snow day today. Check before you venture out. Thanks for the : The Livery Yard -- #REPOST Don't forget to sanitize! #BeSafe #BeKind #FollowTheRules #DontForgetToSanitize See more

Happy Valentine's Day and Happy Take-Out Day -- it's on Sunday this week :) What a gorgeous day filled with self-love, abundant love for this community and each other, and love for the take-out that is helping us through until our beloved downtown restaurants can reopen their doors.

The long weekend is here. And our downtown shops are chocked full of fun items to make your Family Day memorable. Grab your skates, snowshoes, skis and head outdoors with your family. Many of our downtown shops carry outdoor equipment/clothing so you can embrace all that winter has to offer this weekend. Need indoor activities? Scroll down to our Stay Home Ideas post for a fun list of options -- and places to grab everything you might need.... Warm back up a hot beverage from one of our wonderful downtown cafes. And after all the fun, you deserve some take-out from our fabulous downtown restaurants. RJS Bird Photography -- we adore this shot you took #FamilyDay2021 #FamilyDayWeekend See more

With Halloween just around the corner... everyone is thinking about how to do things a little differently this year. And here are plenty of delectable ways to celebrate. In order of appearance -- treats treats treats: Rheo Thompson (pumpkin fudge and chocolate) Chocolate Barrs (all the chocolate ever)... Rocky Mountain (chocolate, candy apples) Small-Mart (for vintage candy memories and fun) Edison's Cafe Bar (for healthier decadence) The Gentle Rain (for healthier candy) (And find other treats at Dollar Haven and Shoppers Drugmart) Transform into costume: La Osa (put together a vintage-cool look) The Greenroom (costume accessories - not pictured) Shoppers Drug Mark (make-up - not pictured) Decorate like a trouper: Got It Made Wills & Prior Head to the drive-in movies: Movies Under The Stars | Parking Lot Edition (featuring Cora) And not too late to carve a pumpkin: The Little Green Grocery (not pictured) Rotary Complex is holding a drive-thru event (sold out) but the city is offering rides on Stratford Transit #8 city bus at 4:45 p.m. carrying pre-registered (by Oct.30) passengers to the Rotary Complex for a trip that will last approximately 10-15 minutes and include treat bags safely handed out by volunteers at the end. For details head to: https://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com//city-bus-rolling-th

Introducing Loyd’s Antiques & Collectibles!! > today’s business spotlight. Nestled between the alley and Red Lion on Albert Street, you are charmed and greeted the moment you walk through the door by all the unique pieces, and husband-wife team, Edward Neeb and Annie Coulter. Oh, and their cat, Misty. Together they took over the family business from Edward’s father, Loyd, six years ago. But Edward has been lived and breathed antiques his entire life and his father’s pas...sion has now become his own. While they specialize MOSTLY in Royal Daltons (and some Moorcroft and Bezwick), the shop is sprinkled with all sorts of cool and interesting pieces. Including an old jukebox that still works (and is for sale but only for the right price). They’re offering deals, covering taxes, and offering free delivery in Stratford. And will ship smaller pieces through UPS, where they arrange deals for their customers. Example: the rare Dalton featured here: Daddy’s Joy (4th image) is booked to sell at $500, but they're selling for $300). COVID forced them to get creative and now they do a large portion of their business on Facebook Marketplace. You can find them on FB Marketplace under @edwardneeb OPEN Tues to Sat 10-6, Sunday 12-5 or CALL for a viewing at 226-755-0034 #StratfordSeen #DTStratford #BusinessSpotlight #LoydsAntiques #LoydsAntiquesandCollectibles

Perspective! A very cool shot of our city centre. So pretty. #Repost @heatherkosik It really is pretty here.

The Anti-Racism and Inclusion for Small Business training sessions still have spots left!

Great spotlight on the #LoveWins Mural Project!

We hope you are having a gorgeous long weekend, Stratford. Embrace the fall colours, the changing leaves, the cool air and sunshine, and take a stroll through downtown Stratford -- before hitting the kitchen to make food with your family. Happy Thanksgiving!

The Sunday Slowfood Market will be open 10am-2pm for all your Sunday or Monday dinner needs! Enjoy the @stratfordslowfoodmarket in the York Street parking lot until November 15th. After this weekend hours switch to 10am-1pm. #Repost @stratfordslowfoodmarket... Reposted from @edibleacreshomestead See more

As times remain uncertain, and travel is discouraged, it is important to get creative! Why not consider a #staycation at one of our beautiful downtown accommodations. Create your own getaway without having to leave the city. Leave your kids/pets/work/mess behind for a night (or two). Nestle in, order food in, snuggle up after a colourful fall stroll around the river. Indulge. There ARE adventures to be had close to home this autumn. ... For a list of Downtown-Stratford Accommodations head to http://www.stratfordcitycentre.ca/print_directory.php For ideas on "What To Do" for your hometown getaway go to visitstratfordon.ca

Simply thrilled about this upcoming initiative. Cannot wait to see downtown Stratford transformed

The Thanksgiving long weekend is going to be gorgeous! You’ve got all this month to enjoy dining Al Fresco on downtown patio extensions and licensed Market Square and Tom Patterson Island tables. Celebrate the changing colours, the cool evenings and warm days. Plus pulling on the cozy sweater you just bought at one of our downtown shops. #StratfordAlFresco song credit: I See Gold by The Good Lovelies

Get outdoors and dine #StratfordAlFresco style this weekend -- before it's over. Our boardwalk extensions and licensed outdoor dining tables/umbrellas will soon close up for the season. StratfordON has created a fabulous map of our downtown patios, dine-in and take-out options here: https://visitstratford.ca/al-fresco What a remarkable way the community came together to make this happen. A reminder that beautiful things can happen through unprecedented times. #DTStratford #StratfordStrong #StratfordLove

Our Love Wins mural is underway. This past weekend our commissioned artists, Claire Scott and Amparo Villalobos, began the prep work on a container storage unit in the Revival House parking lot. The Love Wins Mural Project is in partnership with RTO4 Sharable Moments. Pop by and see how the project progresses through the next couple of weeks. We cannot wait to see what they come up with. Talent + a very cool canvas + a great location that's about to get more beautiful. ... Photos by another talent: Kris Von Kleist

Yesterday Stratford Amnesty held a vigil in Market Square to honour the over 1000 missing and murdered indigenous women across Canada. Businesses throughout downtown showed their support by displaying red dresses inspired by Metis artist Jaime Black as part of the REDress Project. #mmiwg #sistersinspirit #redressday #mmiw #amnestyinternational #amnestycanada #amnestystratford

Who doesn't love a reason to celebrate something?! So...how are YOU celebrating National Noodle Day? What is your favourite type of noodle? We have plenty of places in the city centre for you to explore your noodle cravings. Whether it be a rice noodle... or pasta. Where are you dining out today? Stratford Noodle Zone is the newest addition to Stratford's downtown. Located on Erie Street, this "noodle focused" hot spot should be your go-to when celebrating noodles. (Second im...age.) Other NOODLE and PASTA Hot Spots: Stratford Thai cuisine Mone-Thai Gene's Restaurant AO Pasta Pazzo Taverna & Pizzeria Fellini's Restaurant And our #StratfordAlfresco locations are still open until the end of the month. Savour October and eat a bowl of steaming hot noodles OUTDOORS!! #nationalnoodleday #nationalnoodleday2020 #dtstratford

ANNOUNCING: The Shareable Moment Challenge Lights on Stratford "Special Edition". Lights On Stratford is a winter festival of lights that will transform the downtown core with luminous art and interactive light installations. And we want you to be a part of it! ... We are asking downtown establishments to create a piece that is light-focused for their space. This will run from mid-November to February 14th, 2021 (from 6-9pm nightly). Businesses and organizations can apply for up to $5,000. Be bold, creative and think outside the box. How can you inspire visitors and locals to capture and share a moment you help create? Deadline to apply is October 16th, 2020 at 11:59PM. https://rto4.ca/shareable-moment-challenge-lights-on-stratf

Thank you, neighbours!! We love London, too!

This is SUPER exciting! Thanks StratfordON (Destination Stratford) for highlighting how to bring our Stratford Festival home with us!! https://www.stratfordfestival.ca/athome #Repost @visitstratfordon Last week, @stratfest shared how they are busy working out the exciting details of their return to the stage in 2021 but you didn’t think they'd just leave us until then, did you? With this intermission extending farther than we'd all hoped, they're here to try somethin...g different. Introducing STRATFEST@HOME: a rich mine of theatrical content housed in their brand new streaming service! Think of it as a virtual Stratford season, featuring a catalogue of filmed productions AND all-new original creations, everything from game show to ghost story and soap opera to song! Here’s what you need to know: -Special introductory price: $10/month -Exclusive new content by Stratford Festival artists -Immediate access to Stratford Festival on Film catalogue -Watch icons of the stage in special recordings of historical performances -Ever-expanding library of content as new titles are continually added And if that’s not enough, their free Thursday night watch parties are back! Stay tuned! They will be ready to introduce everything soon, but it’s all ready for you to explore on their website. Welcome to your new Stratford experience! Subscribe now through link in bio! stratfordfestival.ca/AtHome See more

A number of our downtown spots are involved in this. Yesterday Sirkel Foods! sold 112 MS society sandwiches and raised $112!! Today The Livery Yard is donating 100% of the proceeds of fall beverages purchased to the MS Society - note they're not open Sunday) Alley Cat Cafe is 100% of the proceeds of any coffee/tea/iced coffee purchased to the MS Society. ... Outside the city centre, Jobsite Brewing Co. and Junction 56 Distillery are also involved in this. Wow, Stratford! We're awesome!!

Stratford accommodators, shops and restaurants safely welcome you. Visit https://visitstratford.ca/al-fresco for a complete list of available dine-in and/or take-out options. Be sure to bring your appetite and a mask.

#Repost @yorklaneartcollective MURAL TIME! ~ @artbyclaire.ca & @amparo.officiale have been painting an epic mural @revivalhouse_on over the past week!!! it’s getting close but not complete just yet .... here are some process photos of the fun we have been having ... Oh & send us your good weather vibes . supported by @revivalhouse_on funded by @stratfordccbia media by @krisvonkleist . . . . #art #artists #mural #artwork #paint #painting #lovewins #revivalhouse #stratfordon #stratfordontario #muralart #murals #muralist #scenicpaint #scenic #love #creativity #collaboration #artistsoninstagram #artistsofinstagram See more

The Stratford and District Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual Business Excellence Awards at the Movies Under the Stars drive-in theatre in Stratford Thursday night. It was the perfect place to host at a distance. And what a great night it turned out to be. Congratulations to our BIA Members who took home awards. A well-deserved recognition. Business Leader of the Year: Franklin Famme, partner at Famme and Company (Stratford)... Business of the Year: Mercer Kitchen + Beer Hall + Hotel Hospitality: Mercer Kitchen + Beer Hall + Hotel (Stratford). Innovation: Home & Company Real Estate Brokerage (Stratford). Image reposted from The Stratford Beacon Herald. https://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com//stratford-chamber-o

Movies Under The Stars: Parking Lot Edition has extended by weeks. And NOW you can spend some spooky, fun nights at the movies in the month of October. Here is the line-up for the next bit. Buy tickets online at moviesunderthestars.ca

Well this is exciting! Contest alert. Go to this post over at @visitstratfordon and follow the instructions to enter the contest. We love the Chocolate Trail. No one can ever have ENOUGH chocolate, in our opinion. See more below! #Repost @visitstratfordon... (CHOCOLATEY) CONTEST ALERT We are giving away TWO Golden Ticket Chocolate Trail experiences to two lucky winners who will gain access to all 20 Chocolate Trail stops for free! Contest rules: Like this post Tag someone in comments who you would like to take with you along the Golden Ticket Chocolate Trail experience Share post to story for a bonus entry Only one voucher per stop to be redeemed The winners will be selected on Friday, October 9! Your Golden Ticket awaits Best of luck, Chocolate lovers!!! See more

A beautiful weekend for an Art Crawl in downtown Stratford. Grab a hot beverage from one of our many downtown cafes. Bundle up in a sweater from one of our gorgeous downtown shops. Explore the gallery that is downtown Stratford on our #StratfordAlFresco boardwalk patio extensions -- before October 22nd. Stop for a drink on your favourite patio while you’re at it. Or pop in somewhere for dinner afterwards.... Head to https://visitstratford.ca/boardwalk art map, which highlights each piece, along with their artist. And don’t forget to stop at one of the many art galleries, downtown, along the way.

Good morning. Happy International Coffee Day!! Where are YOU getting your cup of jo this morning? We have SO many delicious options right inside the city centre. Want to make your own? Grab a bag of FairTrade beans from The Little Green Grocery or The Gentle Rain -- or even substitute it with an alternative like Dandy Blend. Butcher Baker has coffee beans, and so do many of our cafes and smaller shops. Need a way to make the perfect cup? Bradshaws has everything from espress...o makers to Bodum, grinders and mugs. Want to celebrate this day of coffee and NOT have to make it yourself? Explore all the gorgeous take-out options from Coffee Culture, Alley Cat Cafe, Edison's Cafe Bar, The Livery Yard, Revel, Balzacs. And don't forget, when dining out at one of our downtown restaurants, to finish a satisfying meal with a cappuccino or coffee. Maybe even indulge in something a little more "specialty" -- like Old Man & Son boozy coffee cocktails. So many ways to celebrate :)

With the changing seasons, from lots of daylight to less, and the cooler air, and back-to-school, and a lingering pandemic, it's more important than ever to reduce stress and take care of yourself. Thankfully there are so many wonderful services in the city centre that are designed to do just that! Please take advantage of all these gorgeous businesses, and what they have to offer. Here is a list of ideas for you...... YOGA: The Yoga Chapple at Stratford BJJ Stratford Yoga Collective Modo Yoga Stratford Stratford Perth YMCA HEALING SERVICES/MASSAGE: Brunswick Massage And Wellness European Footcare And Reflexology Jeff Tuling Acupuncture Stratford Health And Wellness Wishpath Healing Stratford Yoga Collective HEALTHY EATING: The Pulp Fresh Bar Grounded Edisons Cafe Bar The Farm Juice Co HEALTHY SHOPPING: Gentle Rain Store The Little Green Grocery

Perspective! A very cool shot of our city centre. So pretty. #Repost @heatherkosik It really is pretty here.

Beautiful #StratfordAlFresco

Amber, The Pink Millennial, literally took our city by storm this fall -- and ate and shopped and explored the heck out of downtown Stratford. We love her blog piece, Travel Guide to Stratford Ontario Part 2, and so will you: https://thepinkmillennial.ca/travel-guide-to-stratford-ont/ (Part 1, from 2018, is linked at the bottom of the post.) ... So many of our awesome downtown locations were mentioned this time. La Osa Jewelry, Small-Mart General Mercantile, Harmony Online, Danna Nicole, Sawdust & Stilettos, The Livery Yard, Edison's Cafe Bar, Coffee Culture Café & Eatery, The Pulp Fresh Bar, Pazzo Taverna & Pizzeria, Braai House, StratfordON Chocolate Trail, Avon Boat Rentals, Queen of the Square Cinema, Stratford, Ontario, Justin Biebs at The Stratford Perth Museum, The River Merchant

Are you a dynamic self-starter with a passion for social community building, creating killer copy and visual content? We are looking to hire on a Social Media Coordinator who can help increase the Stratford City Centre BIA voice on social media channels and help drive traffic to our digital properties. For details on this position please go to our website at http://www.stratfordcitycentre.ca/positions... Application deadline: October 9 at 4:30pm

Join the youth-led climate shoe strike - that is growing by the minute! - right now in front of City Hall! There is still time to drop your shoes and "stand up" for our planet. Well done Climate Momentum! Don’t forget to pick your shoes up between 6:00 and 6:30. Please observe social distancing and wear a mask when dropping off and picking up your shoes. #unitebehindthescience ... #stratfordon #stratfordontario #fridaysforfuture #climateactionnow Fridays For Future Canada See more

Introducing Mountain Galleries East!! > today’s business spotlight. One of four galleries, MG East has been open in Stratford one year. While the others are located out west in Fairmonts at Jasper, Whistler, Banff this small but mighty Eastern gallery hosts as much as 15+ artists at any one time. Owner Wendy Wacko wanted an eastern presence that featured artists local to Ontario. And what a fantastic job she has done. Particularly in hiring her Stratford location ma...nager, Jacqueline de Grave (featured in the cover image) an artist in her own right. Jacqueline curates the day to day, while Wendy rotates between the four galleries. Wendy’s moved away from her background in film to travel and paint with well-known Canadian artist, Doris McCarthy. So, so exciting!! The gallery has also hosted two artists in residence this summer. And much of the work on display lately has become remarkably Stratford-esque from Shakespeare puppets to landscapes of our beautiful city and downtown (3rd image). New artists are being brought in all the time. They are busy preparing for a Christmas shop, with smaller works and gift sized pieces, leading up to the holidays. Can’t travel this year? Why not get a piece of Stratford instead?! Find them on FB at @mountaingallerieseast Look for their display currently in the @visitstratfordon window. #StratfordSeen #DTStratford #BusinessSpotlight #MountainGalleriesEast See more