A fresh wave of local shops, restaurants and Indigenous-owned businesses has landed. Here’s who to visit, and why they chose this spot!
SUMMARY
- Hear from Buffalo Run’s newest tenants why they chose Taza for their new location
- New arrivals include: Delicious Jems Farmers Market, Taza Barbershop, Wayback Burgers, Chopped Leaf, and MAKWA7
- Discover what makes this shopping and dining hub a destination for connection and convenience
Just west of southwest Calgary, The Shops at Buffalo Run quietly became one of the region’s most interesting new destinations. In the span of a few months, it welcomed a farmers market, a barbershop, two restaurants, and a First Nation-led tech company, with a Real Canadian Superstore and McDonald’s still on the way.
Set against the foothills west of Calgary on Tsuut’ina Nation land, The Shops at Buffalo Run sits at the heart of Taza’s 1,200-acre development. It brings together everyday essentials, fresh dining, and a growing community of Indigenous entrepreneurs, all in one convenient destination.
It is a place built for the communities around it, from Tsuut’ina Nation and Taza Park to southwest Calgary and beyond. We sat down with the newest tenants to hear why they chose Buffalo Run as their new headquarters.
Meet the new arrivals:
- Delicious Jems Farmers Market: fresh, local groceries
- Taza Barbershop: nine years of craft, now in one spot
- Wayback Burgers: cooked-to-order classics
- Chopped Leaf: fresh, wholesome, made-your-way
- MAKWA7: Indigenous data sovereignty, based in Buffalo Run
Everyday essentials, one convenient stop
Delicious Jems Farmers Market
Fresh, local food doesn’t get fresher than this. Delicious Jems Farmers Market is quickly becoming a Buffalo Run favourite. It’s a family-owned Alberta market with roots dating back to 1991.
Owners Mychele Quach and Chat Pham took the reins in 2021, after years of working in the market themselves. Today, Alberta-grown produce, Hutterite farm products, locally raised meats, fresh eggs, and honey line the shelves.
But what really sets the market apart? The relationships.
“What makes us unique is our commitment to quality, our relationships with local farmers, and the personal connections we build with our customers,” Mychele says. “Many of our customers have become friends.”
As refugees who came to Canada seeking a better life, Mychele and Chat feel deeply grateful and are proud to give back to the market they now call home.
Taza Barbershop
Every great barbershop starts with a story. For Taza Barbershop, it started in a basement, where owner Ali Nadhim first learned the craft by cutting hair for his brothers.
The basement practice grew into nine years of professional experience at established shops. Then Ali decided to build something of his own.
Ali chose The Shops at Buffalo Run for its energy and its potential. A growing mix of nearby residents, visitors and businesses, it felt like the ideal place to bring his vision to life, a welcoming space where people can relax, look their best and enjoy good conversation.
The convenience does not hurt, either. Easy access, plenty of parking and a diverse mix of neighbouring businesses made it the ideal spot to bring his vision to life.
The convenience seals the deal. Easy access, plenty of parking, and neighbouring businesses mean clients can grab a fresh cut, then a coffee, a bite, or some shopping, all within steps.
Book your next cut here.
Try the best bites at Buffalo Run
Wayback Burgers
Craving a classic? Wayback Burgers brought its fresh, never-frozen beef patties and hand-dipped milkshakes to Buffalo Run in April 2026.
Local franchisee Navdeep Kang leads the fast-casual spot, which has quickly built a following for cooked-to-order burgers, crispy sides, and a clean, welcoming space with easy parking right out front.
Open seven days a week, it is an easy stop for families, gym-goers and anyone after a satisfying bite between errands.
Chopped Leaf
Want something fresh and wholesome? Chopped Leaf has Buffalo Run covered.
The new restaurant serves up customizable salads, wraps, bowls, soups and sandwiches, all made with high-quality ingredients. Proof that healthy food doesn’t have to compromise on flavour.
Whether you are dining in, grabbing lunch on the go, or feeding the whole family, the team has built a welcoming space that makes eating well easy.
Convenient access, ample parking, and a lively mix of neighbouring retailers round out the appeal. It’s the kind of atmosphere that benefits customers and businesses alike. It’s a great place, the team says, to be part of a growing and welcoming community.
Indigenous innovation finds a home
MAKWA7
The Shops at Buffalo Run is more than a place to shop and eat. It is a growing hub for Indigenous entrepreneurship, and MAKWA7 is a standout example.
As a First Nation-led company advancing data sovereignty (the movement to put Indigenous communities back in control of their own data), MAKWA7 helps organizations, communities, and private entities decide how they collect, store, manage, and access their information.
Founder and Chief Revenue Officer Jon Harrison, a member of Wabigoon Lake Ojibwe Nation, started out as a tradesman and welder. He spent years bridging the gap between field and office in the oil and gas industry.
Then came a pivotal career shift. Jon launched a consulting engineering company and built the software that became MAKWA7’s foundation. That tool grew into a company of its own. Its mission got closer to home: helping Indigenous communities reclaim ownership of their data.
Today, MAKWA7 operates from its office at The Shops at Buffalo Run and a data centre on Tecumseh First Nation land in British Columbia. That setup keeps client data on sovereign land within Canada.
The company follows OCAP principles: Ownership, Control, Access, and Possession. Its secure system keeps information entirely in community hands, giving First Nations across Alberta, British Columbia, and Ontario the power to host, manage, and control their own information, and tell their own stories, on their own terms.
More to Come at Buffalo Run
These new neighbours are just part of the story. The hub keeps growing. A Real Canadian Superstore opens this fall, and a new McDonald’s is on the way, adding even more choice and convenience for the communities Buffalo Run serves.
From local bites and fresh cuts to small businesses and Indigenous-led innovation, The Shops at Buffalo Run has something for everyone. All set within a community that celebrates the spirit and heritage of Tsuut’ina Nation.
Plan your visit!
There has never been a better time to explore everything the Shops at Buffalo Run has to offer. Browse the full directory and see why so many businesses and so many neighbours are proud to call it home.
