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Urban Empire
Category: Event Planning & Services Cards & Stationery Shopping Arts & Crafts Cards & Stationery Shopping Flowers & Gifts Cards & Stationery Cards & Stationery [Edit]
1108 Commercial DrVancouver, BC V5L 3X2
Neighbourhoods: Grandview-Woodlands, The Drive
(604) 254-4700
- Hours:
Mon-Sat 11 am - 5:30 pm
Sun 12 pm - 5 pm
- Price Range:
-
$$$$
- Accepts Credit Cards:
- Yes
- Wheelchair Accessible:
- Yes
5 reviews for Urban Empire
5 reviews in English
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Review from Isabelle G.
Vancouver, BC
1/22/2012
This is the best toy store for adults. I am not talking about sexual XXXX adult store, however, kitsch in the humorous obscure way. Even when I am having a bad day, when I come into the store there is always something there that makes me chuckle. The store is met with a very friendly owner who clearly enjoys her job which makes it easier to feel welcome and share in the laughter at some of the products with her. She is truly a people person which is awesome.
Another yelper Simon described the array of products the best. Where else can you buy dill pickle flavored tooth paste, cupcake flavored tooth paste, mac and cheese air freshener and bacon band-aids just to name a few?
I agree that certain things are $$$, however, to be honest, I've seen similar products elsewhere in the city with the same price range. The owner is just displaying fair market price.
It is the one stop shop for all my Kitsch shopping, especially when it comes to buying gifts for friends that share in the same Kitsch attitude. -
Review from Simon R.
BC
11/21/2008 1 photo
This is where eccentric super villains go when they're looking to add an element of obscurity to their homes. Kitsch is a severe understatement, everything in the store is simply bizarre, and yet most of it good for at least one laugh.
Products range from objects clearly invented by people on drugs, like marijuana scented pencil erasers, to religious artifacts, like small stuffed Jesus dolls. Good for last minute presents that seem clever, but are completely impractical. Unless it's a Mother Mary nightlight for your catholic grandmother. Oh, and there are lots of greeting cards with 50's style men with sweater vests smoking pipes, like on the disc cover of that Sublime album.
Of course obscurity comes at a price, and things are a little expensive considering how hilarious and yet stupid they are. But you're not going to find a cheaper price on these kind of rare items outside of NYC, the home of urban ironic tackyness (or possibly Japan).
Campy and tasteful, you always somehow expect to see Peewee Herman there, buying the novelty gum, and the bandaids that look like bacon strips. -
Review from Gina I.
5/14/2009
Where else can you get books on the science of sausage?
And plastic nun toys?
Urban Empire, for the win! -
Review from Reena M.
5/15/2010 3 Check-ins Here
Wow! This has got to be the best gag gift and funny card shop ever! Everything in here is awesome! The card selection is awesome--perfect for anyone with a random sense of humour. It's worth going in here if you're in a bad mood, just to pick yourself up. I will be back here next time I need to get a funny gift for some one!
Listed in: Driving down the Drive
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Review from Nadine N.
Vancouver, BC
11/1/2008 1 photo
If you find yourself taking part in a secret santa gift exchange over the holidays and you want to give a gift with a sense of humour, try Urban Empire. They've got packages of "gnarly teeth," mustaches, and funny eyebrows. They also got sets of glow in the flesh eating dark zombies and paparazzi. Also of note is the Freudian slippers.
