The year 2001 saw the construction of IKEA and two “power centres” in Deerfoot Meadows, and since then the area has exploded with furniture and décor shops, among other retailers and services.

Ken Mariash, managing partner of Heritage Partners LP, developer of Deerfoot Meadows says, “I think it’s just kind of a natural process,” referring to the congregation of similar retailers in a small area. He adds that Deerfoot Meadows has “taken it to another level by deliberately adding (related services),” such as IKEA and The Brick.

A number of home-related shops had been operating in the area along 11th Street just north of Heritage Drive for some time before the concept of the massive shopping area had been dreamed up. These included Faveri’s Unpainted Furniture, Sandlewood Furniture and Leon’s. Around 2003, more began to move in. As retailer Ron Kellsey of Sojourn (1-7133 11th Street S.E.) explains, “I liked the potential of the area.”

This potential has proven very real, with more than 50 furniture and home décor shops, home developers, and related services now located in the area with two blocks to the east and west of 11th Street S.E., from Deerfoot Meadows, anchored by IKEA in the south, to Leon’s to the north along 11th. Storeowners confirm that the smorgasbord of shopping options draws shoppers to the area and means more business for everyone in the area.

Many big-name brands anchor the strip, including IKEA, The Brick, Pier 1, Ashley Furniture Home Store, Home Outfitters and United Furniture Warehouse, but locally-owned businesses are well represented as well.

“There is a misconception that all that is down here is big-box stores,” says Kellsey.

Doug Nedohin, owner of Faveri’s (1221 73rd Avenue S.E.) was first drawn to their location in 1993 because, “you could get a decent facility for a decent price.” At the time, they joined Leon’s and Costco, and found Costco to be a good draw for customers.

At Faveri’s, customers will find a selection of unfinished, solid wood furniture in traditional and contemporary shapes. The idea is to choose pieces for any part of the home, in a variety of woods, then select an environmentally-friendly finish to complete your furniture. Buyers looking for solid wood should also check out Prestige Solid Wood Superstore across the street (7395 11th Street S.E.), which features only Canadian-made furniture of native woods. The pieces here come in traditional, shaker, mission or contemporary styles and buyers choose their stain and hardware for a customized product.

For those searching for Canadian-made contemporary-transitional pieces, Sojourn is close by. Shoppers will find bedroom, living room and dining room furniture here as well as all types of accents. Next door to Sojourn, Home Evolution (7133 11th Street S.E.) offers classic and contemporary furniture and accents in distinguished transitional shapes. Offering a selection of pieces by Sitcom, Brownstone, Baronet and Shermag, much of the store is occupied by flatware and kitchen accessories including names like Waterford, Wedgwood, Rosenthal, Nambe, Alessi, Villeroy & Roch, Royal Doulton, Orrefors and Spal porcelain.

Bondars (110, 6999 11th Street S.E.) is just down 11th Street, and under the same ownership as Home Evolution. Family-owned and operated for 45 years in Calgary, first in the Beltline, Bondars opened their doors on 11th Street 15 years ago. The Bondars showroom, shared in part with a dedicated space for the Henredon furniture line, comprises 33,000 square-feet and is filled with a stunning variety of traditional and transitional pieces for the whole home.

Sandlewood Furniture (7271 12th Street S.E.) is easier to miss, hidden on 12th Street and getting much of its business from referrals. Sandlewood also features traditional, contemporary and transitional furniture for the whole home, spread over two storeys and 10,000 square feet. Sandlewood is Calgary-owned, under the same ownership as Sandlewood Developments, and has been open in this location for 14 years.

In Heritage Town Centre, a strip of stores adjacent to Costco (just west of 11th Street) includes big names Urban Barn, Lane Home Furnishings, Ashley Furniture Home Store, Eddie Bauer Home, as well as Kitchen & Patio and The Living Room and The Bedroom Shoppe.

Calgary-owned The Living Room and The Bedroom Shoppe (52 Heritage Gate S.E.) have been selling Canadian-made furniture in Calgary for 30 years and have been in their current location since before Costco was built there. The company prides itself on educating their customers to make their own choice and buy the best value.

Owner Wanda Markin identifies The Living Room’s target market as family-oriented Calgarians looking to buy stylish, Canadian-made living room furniture.

It’s not just furniture that can be found in the area. Flooring, paint, lighting, tile, kitchen and bath hardware, heating and air conditioning systems, and even pianos and hot tubs can be found on and near 11th Street.

With 45,000 square-feet of showroom space, Cartwright Lighting (7301 11th Street S.E.) is the largest lighting showroom, with the largest selection of lighting in western Canada. This store is worth a visit just to take in the possibilities, though be forewarned that you may walk out convinced that you should re-outfit your home with all new light fixtures. Here shoppers will find everything from chandeliers and Tiffany lamps to floor lamps and ceiling fans and from wall sconces and outdoor lighting to mirrors and accessories.

Conveniently, a number of developers also have offices or design centres in the area, making designing your home and then filling it with furniture and accents much easier.

The next phase of Deerfoot Meadows, scheduled to be complete in 2009, is called the Village at the Meadows. With this phase Heritage Partners aims to create a village-type environment with an indoor-outdoor lodge and avenues of home and fashion retailers. A high-end component of the area called the Meadows Collection will also be included.

Above the shopping centre on the bluff, high-end condos will be developed in the future and offer a walkway on the ridge. CL