The outside of Ella Grace Marketplace.
Everyone has that one store they gatekeep.
Often it’s not to be mean, but it’s your hidden gem. Maybe it’s a thrift store ran by a guy who adventures the West coast. Or maybe it’s the market you buy very affordable produce from. If you talk about it, the prices might suddenly skyrocket. That rule is being broken today as one hidden gem is spot lit.
Ella Grace Marketplace is that hidden gem.
As an antique market in Deerfoot Meadows Plaza, they are not only are a huge world of vintage treasures, but their story as to why they do it is inspiring. There is over 60 vendors that market in the three-floor store, sharing the space with the main curator and owner of EGM, Dawn Dynes.
A one-stop shop for everything to art, apparel, and even furniture. She spoke further about why she let so many vendors set up shop in the store, “[to] bring all the local vendors to have their own little niches, it’s what draws people in. And the customers can see a huge variety of items. It stimulates the local economy.”
Besides the platform they provide for local businesses, Dynes says that there’s always people moving around, so they buy their well-loved goods.
“There’s a lot of people in the local community that need help with getting rid things,” Dynes said. “Distributing and disposing, downsizing… These things were built to last, they were passed down through generations.”
Memories that can still be passed down, yet made more affordable to the general public. That is the main objective of the store, Dynes had said as the theme of our interview. To break the cycle of fast-moving trend cycles and throwing things away faster than people can buy what’s in.
They accept donations, and are currently working with a charity known as True North to help with outsourcing some of their more ornate and rare items.
What can you find in Ella Grace Marketplace?
Some of the things you can see and buy includes:
- antique silver rings of various styles
- An array of carpentry tools and outdoor equipment
- a fancy set of vintage spoons
- Vintage glasses (which may or may not be uranium glass or even crystal if you’re lucky)
- Many, many options of hot wheels including a couple of collector’s editions
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- 1. Rings sitting in a display case, ready for a new life
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- 2. A snippet of the Slim Pickens display, a local vendor on the first floor of the store.
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- 3. A blue velvet lined box of silver spoons
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- 4. Three glasses side-by-side on display.
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- 5. The array of hot wheels toys curated by a local vendor
Dynes says it best when it comes to how you can help make sure a local platform that is trying to make a difference. “Go in, feel around. Bring your friends, family. Share and talk about it.”
What did I learn after working with EMG?
This project has taught me a lot. In filming, in editing, and in the things I learned people are doing to be sustainable. It also taught me I get distracted very easily in a store with something new and interesting to look at everywhere I look. These photos and this video are what I can do to contribute to their cause. The wonderful staff and Dynes are welcome to use the things I captured in their store, plus maybe a couple bonus images.
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