Shopping on Grenada

Supporters of local businesses will not want to miss a chance to shop on Grenada. Many of the best products available are sold by vendors who have set up shop for themselves selling goods that they love – form spices to handicrafts.

Where to Shop

When shopping on Grenada, go in with a plan of action. There are two shopping malls on the island, one in Grand Anse, and the other in Saint George's. There are a number of vendor markets in both towns, but souvenir shops and art galleries line the streets of St. George's in particular.

Espalande Mall is one of Grenada's two main shopping malls. There are over 50 stores here, many of which offer duty free shopping. Jewelry stores, clothing boutiques, perfumeries, and craft shops are all a part of the complex.

At the foot of Young Street in St. George's is Market Square, a popular open air market that sells an array of products. This is a great place to pick up your ubiquitous basket or spices, or crafts made by local artisans. The market is open Monday through Saturday, with Saturday being its busiest day of the week, especially before noon.

The Spiceland Mall and Grande Anse Vendors Market, both located on Grande Anse Beach, feature space for local vendors to sell their wares and produce. Spiceland Mall has 19 shops, while the Vendor Market has space for 80 booths.

There are also a number of independent shops you won't want to miss out on, that sell everything from toiletries made from local spices, to hand printed linens, and a number of other products. Since one-third of the island's shopping industry is dependent upon vendors who set up shop wherever there is need, if will be your job to hunt them down, and make a stop when you see something of interest.

Specialty Shops

One of the interesting speciality shops in this area is Aquanauts Grenada. This store is located within True Blue Bay, in southwestern Grenada. Conveniently located right on the coast with its own dive dock, it take only a few minutes to get from the center to some of the best wreck and reef dives in the region. This center specializes in concierge diving, which means you won't have to carry any equipment or do any of the hard work. To talk to them, call (473) 444-1126.

Another good option is Scubatech Dive Center, which is located 0.7 mi. (1.1 km) from Aquanauts Grenada. The PADI courses that are available are Rescue Diver, Emergency First Response, Advanced Open Water Diver, Adventure Diver and Enriched Air Nitrox. You can also take a Rebreather Diver or an Advanced Rebreather Diver course. Customers can contact them at (473) 439-4346.

Island Water World: Island Water World can handle all of your boating needs, from refurbishing the interior to added a stereo system. They are situated on Lagoon Road.

The chart below lists some details concerning the 12 specialty shops on Grenada.

Clothing and Apparel

Interested in shopping for clothing? You might want to try Art Fabrik Boutique -- it's located in downtown St. George. Operating hours are between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m., Monday through Saturday. Guests can find them on Young Street.

Many apparel shops located on Grenada are summarized in the chart below.

Food and Grocery

Need to pick up some food supplies? North South Wines is located in the vicinity of St. George's, in southwestern Grenada. In 2000, the Wine Shoppe opened in the Spiceland Mall, officially offering their services to the general public. Here, locals and tourists have access to fine wines from around the world. Customers can reach them at (473) 439-9463.

Another place to consider is Real Value Supermarket, which is located one and a quarter miles (two kilometers) to the north of North South Wines. Real Value stocks all of your favorite grocery products in both dry, cold, and frozen sections as well as fresh meats and produce. You will be able to find them on Morne Rouge Road.

Grenada Chocolate Company: Founded on the idea that organic chocolate is superior and the creation should be a cooperative experience, the Grenada Chocolate Company Ltd. opened in 1999. If you're looking to call before you go, do so at (473) 442-0050.

Take a look at this table if you want more information.

Other Retail

Another 15 shops are displayed directly below.

Duties, Taxes, and Tips

The official currency of Grenada is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC), though the United States Dollar (USD), credit cards, and travelers checks are widely accepted. Still, since you are likely to be dealing with small vendors, converting your money upon arrival on the island would be most convenient for everyone.

There is plenty of duty free shopping to be had on Grenada, though far fewer than major cruise ports like the Bahamas and St. Thomas, USVI. Visitors will typically find products are 20 to 40 percent cheaper on Grenada than back home.

Business hours on Grenada vary from those in the United States. Most shops are open from Monday to Friday between the hours of 8 a.m. and 4 p.m., and on Saturdays from 8 a.m. until noon. Do not expect to spend a Sunday shopping, because most places will be closed.

When traveling, souvenir shopping is a given, but Grenada makes the practice into a whole new experience. Nowhere else will you find vendors who care so much about their products. Take your time, smell the spices, and pick out a few trinkets to take back home to show off to your friends.