Downtown Abbotsford is full of thriving, independently owned businesses. Recognized as the hub of BC’s Fraser Valley region, it’s become one of the fastest growing business centres in the country. A diverse and livable city, our team at Infinity Properties is honoured to make Abbotsford the home of our upcoming development project: the Rail District. The community is brimming with kind-hearted, and ambitious locals, and we’d love to introduce you further to some of our favourite locals.
Spruce Collective, a locally owned boutique showcasing a curated collection of local items, eclectic vintage finds, and quality goods, shoppers can get lost in the whimsey of this timeless establishment. Small but substantial, we wanted to know more! So we reached out to Spruce Collective owners, Lily and Monica, to learn more about their business and what it means to be a business owner in Downtown Abby. We were so honoured to chat with Lily to hear the story behind Spruce Collective.
It All Started with Lily & Monica
Long-time friends turned business partners, Lily and Monica have known each other for over 18 years. The pair, who started as family friends but have since watched their own kids grow up together as they did, started the Spruce Collective in 2012 with three other business partners. They have since moved on to pursue other endeavours, making Lily and Monica the sole owners from 2019 onwards.
This past September marked Spruce Collective’s 10-year anniversary, a milestone that marks significance in more way than one. To run a successful and beloved shop is one thing, but “to have the friendship grow alongside the business” is an achievement like no other, said Lily. As the shop continues to look for ways to evolve and grow, it's clear that these two are just getting started.
The Spruce Collective Speciality
In the heart of Downtown Abbotsford, shoppers can find a curated collection of locally made goods. From candles and décor to skin care, books, and clothing, their boutique items have something for everyone, making it the perfect gift-buying destination. All made within Canada and North America, customers get to know the story behind their buys. When buying from Spruce Collective, consumers have the comfort of knowing where their goods come from, how they are made, and who makes them.
Throughout the past 10 years, Monica and Lily have gained familiarity with fellow small businesses. With a focus on selling local treasures, they give other entrepreneurs (many of whom are moms just like them) the chance to showcase their products in a storefront. The team gets to watch these small businesses grow and thrive because of Spruce, ultimately playing a big part in other people’s success. “It’s amazing to see their items on shelves,” said Lily, rather than just on a screen. Shoppers can interact with the goods, learn their history, and therefore fully understand their quality. For creators and consumers alike, this builds a platform for a meaningful shopping experience.
Why Choose Downtown Abby?
10 years in the making, we wanted to know what drove the duo to choose Downtown Abbotsford as their first location. But according to Lily: “[Abbotsford] chose us.” Fate unfolding, the property became available for lease and things just fell into place. “People thought we were crazy for opening a store in Downtown Abby,” she recalls. The area wasn’t always the booming community people see today. It was full of empty spaces, dark alleys, and didn’t hold as much intrigue for shoppers like the nearby malls did.
“One of the only other businesses in the area was Tracycakes [Bakery Café],” said Lily. This made Spruce Collective amongst the first to bring new, boutique business to the area. Despite the disbeliefs of others, the pair followed their intuition and have watched the area evolve into the tight-knit community people know and love today. As other businesses have come to the area, more infrastructure and culture has been introduced, making this a destination spot for visitors and locals alike.
Downtown Abbotsford provides a “small town feel in the middle of a big city.” It’s the kind of place you can wander through, stop at a local coffee shop, and run into people you know. With charm and value on every corner, Monica and Lily have loved “being able to watch [Downtown Abby] grow” around them.
A ’Collective’ Community
An aspect of Downtown Abbotsford that Lily loves is the “sense of community over competition.” Over the years, local businesses have collaborated for events and networking opportunities. This creates the true ‘collective’ experience the pair envisioned a decade prior. When people ask if they’re worried about other businesses opening nearby, Lily and Monica say: “Bring it on.” Not in a way that evokes rivalry, but with the perspective that with expansion comes opportunity. Opportunity that has the potential to improve the community as a whole. “The more the merrier,” said Lily. If another business brings people to the area, that gives visitors a chance to stumble across nearby stores and bring them back to the neighbourhood in the future.
Bridging Collective with Community
We are in awe of the business Lily and Monica have built. Ingrained with a sense of community, quality, and heart, their values mirror the hopes we have for the Rail District. A master-planned community, the Rail District will blend urban excitement with laid-back Valley living to deliver a connected living experience. As part of historic Downtown Abbotsford, it’s the close-knit network of restaurants, cultural events, and small businesses like Spruce Collective that inspire us to push the limits of innovation and tradition. Thoughtfully designed with community in mind, we can’t wait to unveil the authentic spirit of the Rail District to the Historical Downtown Abbotsford.
