Kit Your Kitchen

While we might admire the aesthetics of a kitchen’s cabinetry or countertops, it’s all the tools and gadgets within the kitchen that make it functional—which are the things these Island kitchen stores specialize in selling. 

North Central Island

It was 2018 when Kathy Gellerman and Priscilla Wood questioned the lack of a kitchen and janitorial supply business in Campbell River. Their question led them to answer with their own solution: Your Island Kitchen Depot, which offers supplies in reasonable quantities to small and medium-sized businesses from Campbell River to Port Hardy. A half-hour south in Courtenay, Perch Kitchen is tucked amongst the many boutique shops of 5th street, making it a perfect place to pick up some gifts for the cook in your life or some new gadgets for your own kitchen.

Central Island

Prior to becoming kitchen store owners in 1994, Vickie Sissons and Patrick Simpson had two young boys, zero retail experience and had never lived on Vancouver Island, but they loved kitchen stores and wanted to escape big-city life in Vancouver. Now, their store What’s Cooking in Qualicum Beach is a popular shopping destination for anyone who enjoys cooking or baking. Not far away in Lantzville is Jemco Food Equipment Ltd., which has been carrying industry-leading brands and a wide range of products and services since 1981, establishing themselves as the largest supplier of commercial food equipment and small wares in the mid-Island.

In Nanaimo, Maison Cookware + Bakeware is the kitchenware store of owner Julia House’s dreams. Her rule is that if she wouldn’t have it in her own kitchen, she doesn’t want to sell it in her store. As a result, she has carefully curated a selection of quality, effective kitchen tools and hired staff that are knowledgeable and familiar with all the products. Nanaimo is also home to Flying Fish, a home furnishings and kitchenware shop located within a 6,400-square-foot heritage building that was erected in 1898. In in the mid-1990s, Flying Fish’s owner Glen Saunders purchased and refurbished the building, keeping many of its historic features—including the basement (which staff fondly refer to as “the Dungeon”) that previously housed horses and prisoners and is now where Flying Fish holds its popular “Behind the Red Door” garage sale. 

Cowichan

Kamal and Therese Saab own The Worldly Gourmet Store in Ladysmith. The pair have had quite the journey to kitchen store ownership, which you can read more about in our Edible Profile on Kamal on page XXXX. Their store products are reflective of the store’s name, as they bring in products from around the world and are always looking into new kitchen ideas, suppliers and products. In a beautiful brick heritage building in Duncan, you’ll find Pots & Paraphernalia, which has been open since 1980. Their motto is a confident one: “You’ll like it.” And it seems their customers agree, as the store provides a unique shopping experience with their incredible inventory and friendly staff. Duncan is also home to Country Home & Kitchen, who is on a mission to outfit your space with texture and warmth with their variety of kitchen and home products. It’s impossible not to be inspired to update your kitchen when you step into their welcoming shop. 

Victoria

Jed Grieve has fond childhood memories in the kitchen of helping his mom prepare vegetarian feasts on Sunday afternoons. Now he instills that love of healthy eating into his own children, also reflecting that priority through his store Cook Culture. He operates the store on a “less is more” strategy, selling simple, efficient tools to help you create delicious home-cooked meals. Meanwhile at Penna & Co., their motto is that if they don’t have it, you probably don’t need it. As the “ultimate candy store for cooks,” they offer a wide selection of cookware, knives, utensils and tools, as well as in-store knife sharpening and gift registries. The Tuscan Kitchen is the must-visit destination for hundreds of unique majolica in bright, bold patterns, as well as elegant, everyday tableware and linens, a variety of culinary tools and a selection of gourmet food from the Mediterranean. And when Elaun Cable found herself ready to change her life, she decided to move to Vancouver Island and Googled “businesses for sale”—and in September 2020, she took over WHISK Victoria. She has worked hard to make the store accessible for those with walkers and strollers and keeps the store stocked with practical, but fun and whimsical, items. 

Gulf Islands

In the little downtown hub of beautiful Gabriola Island, you’ll find Island Home & Garden. The colourful, bright products will immediately draw you in—and don’t be afraid to bring the kids to this shop, as their shelves are stocked full of Island home and garden needs that everyone will enjoy perusing. Over on Salt Spring Island, Love My Kitchen has been a mainstay in Ganges for almost 30 years and is filled with everything from practical kitchen tools to playful items that will make you smile. 

Pacific Rim

Christine Washington began working at Flandangles Kitchen & Gifts in 2012, and immediately knew: “this is what I wanted to do when I grew up!” She has owned the store for six years now, but the store has been serving its customers in the Alberni Valley for 42 years. Carrying over 4,000 items in their 2,200-square-foot shop, Flandangles prides themselves on their wide variety of kitchen items and gourmet foods.