News
& Media
Press Release
November 13, 2024
University District Celebrates More Than 50 Businesses Now Open Along its Retail Main Street
The popular northwest community has welcomed a wide range of businesses from a variety of industries to its growing Retail Main Street.
University District (U/D) continues to expand its presence as a strong destination community with a thriving Retail Main Street, marking a significant milestone with the opening of over 50 businesses. This is a testament to the vibrant, growing neighbourhood that has attracted a wide range of residents, visitors, businesses and services since its first retailer opened on University Avenue in 2020.
As a vibrant mixed-use community, the residential buildings along University Avenue NW are designed to include retail spaces at grade. Most recently, University District has welcomed a number of businesses to the ground level of the recently completed Argyle building developed by Homes by Avi. Among these new businesses are Bronze Baxx Tanning and Wellness, Flowers & Beyond, Lagree YYC, Stephen Cleaners, Shoppers Drug Mart, Pho Pham Vietnamese and Easy Blink Optometry. Additionally, Seed N Salt and Hot Yoga on University District opened last week in The Forge building, the first two retailers to open on the ground level of the development.
Says Jeff Harris, Vice President, Commercial Real Estate of University of Calgary Properties Group, “We have been working hard to develop University District into a thriving community since the first business on Retail Main Street opened in 2020, and reaching more than 50 retailers is a major milestone for our team. We appreciate the many businesses who choose to operate here and the customers who frequent them. The continued success of University District reflects our commitment to creating a diverse community where people can live, shop and connect.”
With the recent openings, University District continues to solidify itself as a desirable mixed-use community, offering retail, dining, wellness and service-based businesses.
The heart of University District, Retail Main Street has more than 50 retail businesses providing everyday services to the more than 2000 residents who call U/D home as well as other members of the Calgary community.
Many services and businesses including Clara Optometry and CloudBreak Eye Care and most recently, Verdex Capital, have since opened their doors following the complete customization of
their new office spaces.
With close proximity to major employers and healthcare facilities including the Foothills Medical Centre, Alberta Children’s Hospital, Arthur J.E. Child Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Foothills
Hospital, the University of Calgary and more, University District is a desirable location for a hotel, restaurants, grocers, retailers and businesses including healthcare and professional services, to call home.
New retailers will continue to open throughout the rest of the year, with UNA pizza + wine, Native Tongues Taqueria, Swish Oral Care and University District Vet Clinic expected to open their doors in the coming weeks. Additionally, U/D has begun leasing for ground-floor tenants of the future Block 17C (Autumn by Homes by Avi) building which will add over 16,000 sq ft of retail to the community.
For more information about University District’s Retail Main Street, visit https://myuniversitydistrict.ca/whats-here/retail-district/
About University District
To the west of the University of Calgary and overlooking the Bow River and Rocky Mountains, University District is a comprehensive 200-acre community with a bold new vision for urban life
in Calgary. Through a collaborative, people-first design process, the Master Plan and thorough engagement program forged strong respect between local community members and University District Trust. The neighbourhood applies the best ideas in urban design and incorporates the wants and needs of surrounding legacy communities–weaving current aesthetic, technology,
and lifestyle options into the strong social fabric of the city.