Amongst the hustle and bustle of Lower Johnson St (or LoJo, as the locals call it) you can find both Baggins Shoes and the Baggins Custom Printshop, along with a fabulous array of retail shops, natural goods and delicious dining options. In this post, we are going to give you a little intro in to the neighbourhood we call home – LoJo! We will share with you some of our favourite spots, tourist must-sees, and local hangouts for food and drink!
Photo credit: Baggins
It wouldn’t be right to start our neighbourhood tour without giving you a taste of what Baggins brings to the block! In autumn of 2014, we opened a new retail space on LoJo. Although it can be a little snug when the shop is bustling during summer months and on the weekends, our new location at 580 Johnson St gives us street level access and more room to display our ever-growing inventory of the hottest kicks from Converse, Vans, and now, Dr. Martens! If you haven’t been to the shop before, come say ‘Hey’ to Glen, owner of Baggins since 1969! He would love to tell you about Victoria’s connection to the Converse Jack Purcell and James Dean, and his personal history with the brands we know and love.
Accompanying our legendary retail location, our creative team behind the Printshop can be found at 561 Johnson St, down the colourful alley known as the Paperbox Arcade, which many of you would recognize as our old retail location! This well-known spot now houses our management offices as well as a Printshop showroom. You will also find our designers and print techs here, making the magic happen at the Printshop! Check out our Instagram for some inspiration or pop in for a chat with our team and discover how we can bring your custom shoe visions to life!
If you wander a few doors down from Baggins, you’ll find yourself at Hey Happy – one of our most beloved and frequented coffee shops. This place appeals to both coffee connoisseurs, as well as fans of the classic cuppa joe. Hey Happy always plays sweet soul jams to start your day off right. So yourself a favour and check it out! The staff will be so pleased to share their extensive knowledge of coffee with anyone who asks. Whether you enjoy nitro brew, espresso, or a nice hot pour over, the folks at Hey Happy don’t mess around when it comes to caffeine! Don’t forget to grab a tasty treat on your way out, because mmm doughnuts…
Photo credit: Baggins
Photo credit: Baggins
Next, if you find yourself hungry while roaming around our great neighbourhood, be sure to pay a visit to Salt & Pepper Fox! This location may be small but the deluxe sandwiches and salads are worth their weight in gold. Salt & Pepper Fox is the perfect destination for lunch on the fly! (Pssst… try their incredible Kale Caesar Salad).
Photo credit: Baggins
After a caffeine infusion, wander through a variety of fun shops in one of Victoria’s oldest landmarks, Market Square. Most notably, on the Pandora Street side, you will find The Drake; a Victoria must for beer lovers of any degree! Here you can find specialty craft beers from up and down the West Coast. You can also enjoy cold brews from local breweries from our own backyard at The Drake. We suggest basking in the sun with friends on their patio during the warmer months! Not to fret during the rainy season, The Drake is home to a plethora of cozy couches to snuggle on. The enthusiastic staff and overall cool-kid aesthetic make The Drake a hangout you don’t want to miss!
Photo credit: Baggins
Photo credit: Baggins
For our final stop on the neighbourhood taste tour, we had to include Fan Tan Alley. Tucked in between Pandora and Fisgard, on the outskirts of LoJo, is Fan Tan Alley. It is on the doorstep of the oldest Chinatown in Canada and is also home to Canada’s narrowest street! At its most narrow point, you can touch the brick wall on either side with both hands! Fan Tan Alley measures in at a blink-and-you-miss-it scale of only 240 ft. long! Be sure to check out this covert spot if you’re looking for unexpected local shops to explore. Don’t forget to treat yourself to some Kid Sister ice cream while you’re at it! Jam-packed with culture and hidden gems, this is a definite must see for anybody interested in the history of Victoria.
Photo credit: Baggins
Wherever you are, we hope to see you in the shop some day soon! We’ll give you more recommendations to make you feel like a true YYJ local. In the meantime, follow us on Instagram for more behind-the-scenes action, and the inside scoop on new product!
