5 local businesses to shop this holiday season

The lead-up to holidays offers a great opportunity to shop Revelstoke-owned and operated enterprises. From picking out gifts for our food-loving friends to our book worm family members, here are five Revy shops to support this holiday season:

For the foodie: Le Marché

Where better to stock up for holiday dinners than at Le Marché, Revelstoke’s specialty grocery store?

Sonia Ratté and Olivier Dutil set up the business in 2015 as an extension to La Baguette. 

“We’re both chefs, we love good food and also wanted to promote the local farmers,” Ratté told the Mountaineer.

The store sells European delicacies alongside local produce and homemade products. 

“We like importing fine products and also going for the local products, the idea is that there’s no in-between,” Ratté said.

The pair’s farm in Nakusp produces fruit, vegetables and herbs for the store. The farm helps reduce Le Marché’s environmental footprint, with all waste composted or fed to the animals. Their Green Cheese Scheme saves two to three pellets of expired cheeses every week, offering them at a discounted price instead of being thrown away by suppliers.

“We have little to zero waste at the shop, it’s amazing,” Ratté said.

Whether you’re planning your next holiday gathering, securing some goodies for a Christmas hamper or spoiling a foodie friend, Le Marché has you covered.

“Christmas is all about enjoying good food with friends and family. Le Marché is the place to go for that,” Ratté said. “Time to spoil yourself on higher-end products and blame Christmas!”

For the book worm: Fable Book Parlour 

Starting out as a bookmobile during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the charming Fable Book Parlour has become a haven for readers and music lovers. 

A shared passion for books connected founders Stacy Batchelor and Kristin Olsen, and the shop offers a crafted selection of new and second-hand titles. 

Book subscriptions are a personalised gift idea, curated to your desired timeframe, age-range and balance of new and used books.

“It’s always exciting to get something you would have never picked yourself,” Olsen said.

Building on the reading experience, Batchelor and Olsen have a new offering of records and musical products.

“Setting a record on your player and listening is the same as reading books,” Batchelor said. “It’s that slow movement and intentionality.”

They encourage customers to discuss any special orders for music pieces with them, ensuring everyone’s needs and interests are met.

“We want people to shop local but still have access to great products,” Olsen said.

An anticipated addition to the store is Yoto players, audiobook players designed for children. 

“You simply insert little cards into the player, and the kids can listen without watching a screen.”

Looking for more stocking stuffer ideas? 

“We have lots of fun merchandise including socks and candles,” Batchelor said. “And creative advent calendars!”

For the artist: Alpine Echo Gallery

The Alpine Echo Gallery, a newcomer to Revelstoke’s growing art scene, opened at Mackenzie Village in September as a collaboration between artists Meghan Porath, Zuzana Riha and Hayley Stewart.

The gallery specialises in bigger, original art pieces. 

“It’s not all local artists, but the work is supposed to be inspired by the local landscapes and the feeling, community and animals,” Porath shared. 

The space provides the opportunity to purchase a piece that celebrates the region’s beauty, serving as a slice of home for some and a lasting memory of their visit for others

“There is a range of mediums from driftwood to glass to art that you can hang on your walls with oil and acrylic,” Porath said. “There’s something for everyone.”

Alpine Echo also has paper and canvas prints, pottery and jewellery for those interested in gifting something smaller. 

“We’re constantly bringing in more artists,” Porath said. “You can check out who we are currently representing on our website.”

Porath is excited to hear people increasingly talk about Revelstoke as an artistic town. Visiting Alpine Echo Gallery this holiday season is a great way to support the local arts community, and to pick out something unique and Revelstoke inspired.

For the earth-lover: Forage and Fill

Gift sustainably this season at Forage and Fill, where you’ll find refills of body and home products, second-hand clothing and eco-friendly gifts, all helping the community alleviate its environmental impact.

“The reason it all fits together is that every item you could purchase is either circular, home compostable or made from natural materials,” said owner Jenise Lamoureux. “People can feel good knowing they’re not having a detrimental impact, leaching microplastics or having clothing end up in landfill.”

In a contentious resale industry, Lamoureux is proud she can offer affordable lifestyle clothing to the community. 

“People can actually find something they love without breaking the bank,” she said. 

A gift card is the perfect treat for fashion lovers, offering the freedom to choose from Forage’s extensive collection.

Looking for more gift ideas? Lamoureux recommends their in-brand active ingredient skincare refill, as well as their body scrubs, organic face oils and leave-in conditioner. 

“We also have some locally made earrings. There’s lots of different, really beautiful things,” she said.

Be sure to check out their discounted bundles of kitchen and household products, perfect for holiday gifting.

For the beer lover: Mt. Begbie Brewery

Since 1996, Mt. Begbie Brewery has been a signature name in the Revelstoke beer scene.

It was founded by scientist Bart Larson and his wife Tracey, who describes their beers as high quality and diverse, offering something for every craft beer enthusiast. 

“There’s anything from light beers to more hoppy varieties. We have good representation to suit a range of tastes,” Tracey Larson said.

In addition to their beer selection, you can purchase merchandise and gift certificates to spend at the brewery, including an experience at their tasting room.

Overlooking Revelstoke against the stunning backdrop of Mt. Begbie, the tasting room offers a cosy retreat in the colder months, with a fireplace and the opportunity to connect with fellow patrons.

“We really encourage communicating with other people in the room and having that social contact,” Larson said.

Visitors can choose from flight, pint and growler fills along with the exclusive opportunity to sample experimental beers. With the drinking and dining season upon us, it’s the perfect time to visit, with food pairings available to accompany your drinks.

“At Mt. Begbie Brewery you can really have the whole experience,” Larson said.