Opened in 2018 by Annie Christiaens, The Heart originally started as a multi-purpose retail and coworking space where small businesses in Downtown Cloverdale. Entrepreneurs in the Cloverdale area could connect and grow together. Celebrating amazing brands and local vendors comes naturally to The Heart with every single product in the store being personally selected by Annie herself. 

During 2020, the co-working had to close due to gathering restrictions. With this came the opportunity to grow the retail side of The Heart. With large community support, the online store quickly became a Canadian favourite for shopping small. 

The store re-opened as a full retail store. It was an inclusive space that many enjoyed visiting daily on their breaks for work. It was described as their "happy place". Somewhere you could go even just for a friendly hello.

Fall of 2024, weeks after Annie welcomed her first baby girl, she was faced with a 60 percent rent increase. In the current economic climate and becoming a brand new mom, unfortunately we had to close the brick and mortar side of the business. It was not only absolutely heartbreaking for Annie but a huge loss in the community. 

Now as we begin 2025, we are working on growing our online store and re-establishing this incredible business. We need your support now more than ever and look forward to the things we accomplish in the coming years with your help. My new. mission is to bundle up that feeling of "happy place" and deliver it across the country via social media partnerships and shoppers. 

About Annie

With a background working in both the public and private sector with a focus on community, Annie continued to work on her education while running her own graphic mug company, Pier Prints. 

The Heart started out as a dream. A space where she could grow her current business and create a special place that was more than just a retail store. She wanted to build something that was a place of gathering; a place where the community could turn to share new ideas and meet their people. Since The Heart first opened in Cloverdale in 2018. 

Photography by Wilder Heart