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.

Gifts and Souvenirs

When you visit an island called the “Spice Isle,” it is almost required that you return home with a variety of local spices. Vendors willing to sell you baskets filled with bay, cinnamon, cloves, ginger, mace, nutmeg, and vanilla are situated practically on every corner, so finding these items will not be an issue. These spices are also constantly used to create other products, such as jellies and jams, aloes to soothe sunburns, toiletries, candies, and alcohol. Grenada's rum is a special breed, made with local sugar cane and spiced for a unique flavor.

Outside of the spice industry, local crafts that are popularly sold include batiks, coral jewelry, fabric dolls, leather work, screen printed textiles, wood carvings, and woven baskets made from palm fronds.

It is important to know the local terminology when you purchase spices on Grenada. Below is a list of common slang that should be aware of:

• Saffron - tumeric
• Sweetie - candy
• Vanilla - essence of tonka beans (a vanilla subsitute)

If you're hoping to find some souvenirs you might want to check out Imagine, which is located within the vicinity of St. George's, in southwestern Grenada. At Imagine, visitors are welcome to look through a wealth of Caribbean arts and crafts that on display. Some exhibits include a collection of crafts constructed from natural products such as straw, Grenadian Batik, clothing stamps, and eye-catching ceramics. If you have questions, try calling them at (473) 444-4028.

Check out the table below to learn more about gift and souvenir shops in this general area.

Specialty Shops

One of the area's popular speciality shops is Aquanauts Grenada. They are situated in 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. If you want to call before booking a room, do so at (473) 444-1126.

A second option is Lisa Herrera Gallery, which is located a short distance away to the east-southeast of Aquanauts Grenada. The selection of merchandise that this shop carries includes original oil and acrylic paintings, art prints, t-shirts, mugs, coasters, mouse pads, beer cozies, and fridge magnets all printed with Lisa Herrera art. If you're looking to call ahead, you can do so at (473) 420-1086.

Scubatech Dive Center: Close your eyes and imagine the nicest beach in the Caribbean. That's where ScubaTech is located! Reach them at (473) 439-4346.

Take a moment to read the following table for more information.

Clothing and Apparel

Interested in shopping for clothing? Perhaps you would enjoy Art Fabrik Batik Boutique & Production Studio -- it's located in downtown St. George. Whether you're in the market for a new piece of clothing or not, a trip to Art Fabrik Batik Boutique & Production Studio is well worth the journey. Since 1986, this Grenadian boutique has been employing graduates from the School for the Deaf to create their luxurious batik offerings, as well as a beautiful collection of jewelry and other accessories. They are situated on Young Street.

You can look through the chart below to learn more.

Food and Grocery

Want to check out some local food offerings? Blue Water Liquors is found in Grand Anse, in southwestern Grenada. Blue Water is available from 8:00 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. Try calling them at (473) 435-8956.

Another possibility is North South Wines, which is found 1.4 mi. (2.3 km) away from Blue Water Liquors. As the largest wine specialist on Grenada, North South Wines takes their job seriously. The company operates out of a 9000 square foot climate control warehouse that distributes wines from around the world to local restaurants, hotels, and companies, as well as individuals and private yachters. If you want to call ahead, do so at (473) 439-9463.

Real Value Supermarket: One of the island's favorite supermarkets, you'll find that most local residents do their grocery shopping at one of Real Value Supermarket's numerous locations. They are known for their friendly staff and reasonable prices. They're on Morne Rouge Road.

Be sure to look at the following chart for more information about your options.

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.