Welcome to Sussex Downtown! The heart and downtown core of Sussex, NB is a vibrant, pedestrian friendly community featuring a unique downtown experience for both local residents and visitors.
Sussex is a picturesque rural community situated in the rolling countryside of south central New Brunswick. Its many heritage buildings are home to quaint shops and restaurants that line our streets and invite you to discover what makes us the heart of the “Picture Province”. Downtown Sussex has remained one of the healthiest, most vibrant downtown’s in New Brunswick if not the Maritimes.
Sussex Downtown is proud of our heritage as “The Dairy Center of the Maritimes”
From this heritage has emerged a competitive and vibrant downtown. Through the transition from residential to commercial farming in its surrounding and supporting communities, Sussex Downtown has successfully retained its historical character, and has produced an array of diverse and helpful businesses for today’s marketplace.
Personable service and expertise make Sussex one of the favorite shopping and dining areas in Southern New Brunswick. In 1999 it was labelled as one of the top ten places to live in Canada, by Chatelaine magazine, and in 2004, as one of the top ten drives in Canada, by Life Magazine!
In Sussex Downtown you will find charming gift and specialty shops, music stores, bakeries, hair stylists, furniture stores, computer sales and service, auto repair, insurance agencies, accountants, lawyers as well as numerous others. A more comprehensive list can be viewed by clicking Sussex Downtown Businesses.
Sussex Downtown is about people and lifestyle. It’s about making new friends and setting new trends. Come join us in Downtown Sussex for all your shopping needs.
Enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and best of all; take advantage of the FREE PARKING!
Downtown Sussex businesses are predominantly located along one side of Broad Street and Maple Avenue and both sides of Main Street.
The downtown business face is similar to many small rural-service communities with numerous Sussex/area resident-owned small retail and service businesses and a robust financial sector that consists of numerous banking, insurance and other related financial businesses, many of which have been present in the community for a number of years and are well-respected and loyally patronized by community and primary trade area residents.
Unlike many examples of deteriorating central business districts in small North American communities, Downtown Sussex is a hive of activity with approximately 15,000 vehicles traveling Main Street daily, evident pedestrian traffic along the core retail/service streets and a vibrant ambiance of small town friendliness.
While there are a number of reasons for this downtown impression, credit must go to business owner/merchant provision of unique offerings and a focus on customer service (customer and product knowledge, special orders, high levels of service, etc.) as a strategy to differentiate their business from that of box stores recently established in the Sussex market.
Explore our museums, unwind at one of the many events or festivals or kick it up a notch in one of the most exciting outdoor recreation settings anywhere.
8th Hussars Military Museum and Sussex Art Galley
We invite you to enjoy Sussex Downtown for a truly pleasurable shopping experience!
And while you’re there…
Sussex Murals
Sussex Downtown is the proud host of 26 outdoor wall murals painted by world renowned artists, making Sussex NB the Mural Capital of Atlantic Canada. This outdoor art gallery is a pictorial celebration of our local heritage.
These murals have been painted on the sides of many building throughout the downtown area and depict many historical events, places and lifestyles from our history.
Along with our fabulous murals, make plans to see other great Sussex events.
Atlantic Balloon Fiesta
The Atlantic Balloon Fiesta takes place the first weekend after Labour Day in September of each year Sussex. This Atlantic Balloon Fiesta is Atlantic Canada’s most colourful festival featuring 30 hot air balloons that fly twice daily that fly over the beautiful hills and valleys of region around Sussex.
Farmers Market
The Sussex Farmers Market opens in early May and operates every Friday from 11:00 am – 6:00 pm through to the end of October.
The Farmers Market features a wide selection of locally grown produce, plants, jewellery, fresh seafood, meats, fresh breads, clothes, wood crafts and other handcrafted products and more!
There are lots of vendors to serve you as well as entertainment and door prizes each week.
The Farmers Market is located on the concrete pad adjacent to the Agriculture Museum near 8th Hussars Sports Center.
The Fundy Experience
Sussex is Gateway to the Bay of Fundy and the Fundy Experience. A short drive from Sussex is Fundy National Park. Here you can experience first hand the largest tides in the world. The drive along the Fundy trail is also spectacular.
Or enjoy a leisurely tour of our countryside as you discover the wooden treasures that make our county the Covered Bridge Capital of Atlantic Canada.
You’ll find Sussex at the juncture of the River Valley Scenic Drive and the Fundy Coastal Drive, which makes us an ideal starting point for your day-trips in Southern New Brunswick.
Three major cities are an easy hour’s drive away - we’re only 45 minutes from Saint John, 50 minutes from Moncton and 75 minutes from Fredericton. Even Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia are just a two-hour drive away.
If you are a local resident you can enjoy our town everyday. If you a re thinking of visiting; come for the weekend, stay for a week or more. We’re proud to share our Sussex story with you!
So we invite you to enjoy Sussex downtown – “We are Open For Business”