Lacombe Shopping Trip: How We Spent a Day Supporting Locals

By Rowan Rocskar

If you love thrift shopping as much as Emilie and I do, you have to check out what Lacombe County has to offer! We spent a day in Lacombe shopping, exploring charming local boutiques, and discovering sustainable second-hand stores, which made the drive from Calgary totally worth it.

Come along as I share all the cool, sustainable finds from our Lacombe shopping day—plus the amazing local spots we visited in the Village of Alix, the Village of Clive, and the City of Lacombe.

✍️ Disclaimer: Lacombe Regional Tourism invited Rowan from Rowan Explores to explore thrift shops in the area with Emilie, and Rowan has shared this amazing 1-day itinerary that the Lacombe team prepared. All opinions are our own. Lacombe County municipality is situated on Treaty 6 lands, the traditional and ancestral territory of the peoples of the Cree, Dene, Blackfoot, Saulteaux and Nakota Sioux, as well as the Métis. 

But why Even Plan a Day trip thrifting?

Besides the thrill of finding treasure and saving money, thrift shopping:

  • reduces waste,
  • supports local communities and charities and
  • offers you the chance to give something unique a second life!

💡 Important: Before you head to any small town or village, check their days and hours of operation! We visited Lacombe’s local businesses on a Friday between 10am to 4pm, and everything was operational for us!

Map of our Lacombe's shopping stops
Map of our Lacombes shopping stops Alix Clive and Lacombe

Stop 1: Village of Alix

Alix Gator is the village of Alix mascot

Alix is located East of Lacombe and is a two-hour drive from Calgary. We left the city around 8:30 a.m. and arrived just after the Alix Village Shoppe opened at 10 a.m.

Alix Village Shoppe

This small-town thrift store is packed with great finds and even better prices. Puzzles are only $2, and they have a massive selection of books and games

Kids clothing ranges from $1-$5 per item, and a snow suit only costs $6! 

After you’ve tired from treasure hunting, head down the street to see the Alix Gator, the village’s mascot!

Stop 2: Village of Clive

From Alix, head West to find the quaint Village of Clive surrounded by farm fields. Clive is a small village with less than 800 people!

Elite Treasure Chest

Elite Treasure Chest
Elite Treasure Chest a great stop for thrifting

The Elite Treasure Chest thrift store is entirely volunteer-run and returns all proceeds to the community. The volunteers who worked there were so helpful and kind. I managed to snag some new silicone oven mitts and steel tongs for just $2!

Prairie Fire Cafe & Lounge

Prairie Fire Cafe Lounge
Quick snack break at Prairie Fire Cafe Lounge to test their delicious Saskatoon pies

Our day of thrifting happened to fall on Pi Day (March 14), so we had to stop at Prairie Fire Cafe, located in a 100-year-old historic hotel, to grab some famous Saskatoon berry pie! It was as delicious as it looked!

Stop 3: City of Lacombe

Despite becoming an official city in 2010, Lacombe still maintains its great small-town feel and has many cute shops and restaurants! If you’re looking for more to do in the area, check out this 2-day summer itinerary and discover even more things to do here. 

Milly Oak Cafe

Milly Oak Cafe offers many to-go options and a sit-down restaurant with a full menu and was the perfect place to stop for lunch. The cafe owners are inspired by local producers and fresh ingredients and driven by quality food, and it shows! We chose one of Milly’s classics, the Cinnamon Bun Sandwich and an eggs benedict!

Building Blocks Thrift Store

Building Blocks Thrift Store
Building Blocks Thrift Store had a really nice used books selection

Another non-profit thrift storeBuilding Blocks, has a huge selection of home goods, adult and kids clothingbooks, and more! Their prices are much lower than most thrift stores in big cities like Calgary, so be sure to check it out if you’re visiting Lacombe! I got some cork hot plates, a glass bread pan, a stapler and four books for just $7!

And Everything Nice Antiques

And Everything Nice Antiques

And Everything Nice Antiques is beautifully curated and situated in a lovely old home built in 1938. If you are an antique collector or simply looking for the perfect gift, their ever-changing selection will have you returning time and time. You’ll also find something interesting in every corner.

They offer a wide selection of rare china, jewelry, antiques, fur coats, as well as hand made soaps, candles, and gourmet chocolates from Canmore. I bought some soaps to gift to my family, and the ingredients are great!

Good Company Eco Store & Refillery

Good Company Eco Store Refillery

We were happy to stumble upon Good Company Eco Store, located downtown in the basement below Oodles of Chocolates. Good Company has a huge selection of sustainable home and personal care products and tons of zero-waste refillable goods like shampoo, conditioner, and lotions.

I was happy to find some felted soap on sale and some Canadian-made natural deodorant to try!

Amazing Wonders Emporium

Amazing Wonders Emporium

We were sure happy we were kid-free when we entered Amazing Wonders Emporium, which is filled with collectable toys, Pokemon, Dungeons and Dragons and games! It’s located in the Lacombe Centre shopping mall.

Juff-E-Nuff

Juff-E-Nuff in Lacombe

If you like vintage cars, this place is for you! Juff-E-Nuff has a huge selection of antiques and collectables, Hot Wheels, Diecast and vintage toys like Cabbage Patch, Barbie, and Disney. There is so much to see, so give yourself time to explore! 

On May 25, 2025 they are hosting a Grand Opening Show & Shine Car Show, and you can learn all about the event here!

Final Thoughts: Sustainable Shopping in Lacombe County, Central Alberta

Lacombe County has a lot to offer when it comes to thrift and antique shopping! If you’re looking to plan a fun day trip with a friend, we would recommend checking out the shops we cover in this article.

If you’re looking for more to do in the area, check out this 2-day summer itinerary and discover even more things to do here!

👉 We’d love to hear about your greatest thrift find! 

author avatar
Emilie Brillon
Emilie is the founder of Love Life Abroad. She helps moms plan epic road trips and outdoor adventures with their families. Because who said adventuring had to stop once we have kids? She's based in the Canadian Rockies and shares her love for the region as well as other unique places in Canada & USA. She works with tourism boards and outdoor brands to inspire families to experience new unique destinations and outdoor activities.