Manchester is a wonderful place to own a home. It’s also a great place to shop! In the middle of a gorgeous mountain valley, country roads surrounded by beautiful houses carve a winding and poetic path towards a vibrant town center. Inside of each house, the décor, furniture, and fabrics tell an equally compelling visual story. Manchester is well-known for the discerning aesthetic sensibilities of its residents. The streets are lined with enticing shops and boutiques, which are replete with stylish clothing and domestic products. Have the pressures of modern life prevented you from bringing your dream home and wardrobe into reality? Fear not! Whether you’re a lifelong local, a part-time resident or a recently relocated newcomer, there’s never been a better time to spruce up your Southern Vermont sanctuary with a revitalizing makeover. Here at Manchester Life, we’ve taken the liberty of compiling a comprehensive list of stores, which offer a wide selection of high-quality home goods, accessories, jewelry, and garments for your perusing pleasure. Get ready for some much-needed retail therapy—it’s time to begin your marvelous weekend shopping trip in Manchester!
Clothing, Jewelry, and Accessories!
SATURDAY
8AM
Rise and greet the day with a wonderful morning meal at Up for Breakfast. Located in the heart of Downtown Manchester, this beloved eatery is well-known for its delicious food, courteous service and relaxing atmosphere. In the mood for something hearty and filling? Try their “Hungry Hiker” meal or their vegetarian “Garden Omelette” with plant-based sausage. For those interested in lighter fare, their gluten-free granola is both tasty and revitalizing. Pair it with a hot and fresh cup of coffee—it’s the perfect energizing boost for your world-class shopping experience.
10AM
After you finish your breakfast, get ready to seize the day and embark on a memorable retail adventure! Walking out of Up For Breakfast onto Main Street, you will see a number of tempting shops, including the Spring & Harbor Boutique directly across the road. This inviting store is full of colorful and versatile print dresses, bags, and other fun and fashionable sartorial staples. Athletically inclined shoppers with an appetite for open air exploration will revel in the selection of outdoor apparel and accessories at The Mountain Goat, and jewelry lovers will adore the meticulously-crafted pieces at McWayne Jewelers at the corner of Bonnet Street and Main Street.
Walking northeast on Main Street, you will come across a lovely little triangular park at the intersection of Main Street and Center Hill Road. As you walk past the park, you will see Arson Skateboard Shop on your right. In addition to selling quality skateboarding gear for fantastic prices, this bold and distinctive store also features a well-curated selection of high-end streetwear from both international and local brands. After making a left at the intersection of Center Hill Road and Park Place, you will come across Miss Phyllis Fine Linens & Frocks on your right. Their charming collection of Bohemian-chic women’s clothing includes beautifully-designed shirts, dresses, and custom jackets.
After completing your park-side promenade, make a left at the intersection of Main Street and Park Place. Bear left on Main Street at the intersection of Bonnet and Main. As you continue past the roundabout, you will come across a series of sensational stores. At Apricot Lane Boutique, shoppers can browse through a vast array of trendy and affordable women’s clothing pieces. At Gap, you will find fantastic deals on a wide assortment of stylish menswear and womenswear items. For premium women’s intimate apparel, stop by La Pêche Lingerie for a fitting and consultation with their knowledgeable employees and staff members. Marimekko and The Artisan’s Key Boutique are ideal places to find both delightfully expressive garments and unique home décor essentials, and Zippy Chicks is a must-visit for seasoned shoppers with a taste for high-quality consignment clothing. Those who wish to dive deeper into the world of secondhand shopping should turn around on Main Street and head north towards the VNA & Hospice Thrift Shop. Featuring a lovingly curated selection of pre-owned pieces at unbeatable prices, this philanthropically-minded “thrift boutique” uses their proceeds to support the VNA & Hospice of the Southwest Vermont Region.
Continuing southward on Main Street, Family Footwear and UGG provide the perfect opportunity to close out the morning portion of your shopping expedition on a solid and comfortable footing. Be sure to stop at the Orvis Flagship Store and Orvis Outlet further down Main Street for some iconic apparel from Vermont’s original outdoor lifestyle brand.
1PM
It’s time to enjoy a lunchtime break at one of Manchester’s finest eateries! Looking to try something delicious and different? Stop in at Moonwink on Main Street to enjoy Burmese cuisine at its pinnacle. Their vegan-friendly “Falafel Salad” is flavorful and fresh, and their “Burma Bowl” is robust and restorative. Mystic Café on Main Street is well known for their diverse offerings, which range from their “Fresh Tuna Poké Bowl” to their “Green Goddess Chicken Salad Sandwich.” Down on Depot Street, Zoey’s Deli offers scrumptious fresh made sandwiches, soups, cookies, and house made potato chips, and the skilled chefs at Zoey’s Double Hex are celebrated for their delicious “Roasted Salmon” and “Maple-Glazed Chicken.” For lovers of contemporary American bistro fare, Firefly Restaurant & Bar on Depot Street expertly serves up sandwiches, salads, and other captivating delicacies. Before you go, make sure to try their “Go-Go Garlic Bread” with gorgonzola fondue.
3PM
Now that your hunger has been adequately sated, it’s time to resume your shopping expedition with newfound enthusiasm! Working your way eastward on Depot Street from the intersection of Depot Street and Main Street, you will pass by the well-known Manchester Designer Outlets. Polo Ralph Lauren, Vineyard Vines, and J.Crew offer a vast range of preppy chic wardrobe staples for men and women that never fail to make a powerful first impression, and Michael Kors and Kate Spade New York feature a wide variety of sophisticated handbags and accessories. Looking for beautifully fitting minimalist clothing? Theory is a treasure trove for timeless and well-fitted women’s and men’s wardrobe essentials, and Eileen Fisher provides elegant and comfortable women’s attire that adds depth to any closet. Athletic shoe fanatics will fawn over the extensive stock of high-performance footwear at New Balance, and avid adventurers will flock to Eddie Bauer for cozy and luxurious outdoor apparel. For elevated and refined suits, shirts, shoes, and other tailored garments, trust the experienced and tasteful clothiers at Armani or Brooks Brothers.
If you’re in the market for remarkable jewelry, stop in at Nina Jewelry to browse through a diverse collection of showstopping pieces. Afterwards, head to the newly-opened TJ Maxx to peruse a wide range of clothes and home goods at unbeatable prices. Talbots is well-known for its quality selection of classic women’s garments and accessories, and Pendleton is celebrated for their comfortable flannel shirts, wool apparel, and blankets.
Before concluding your exciting afternoon of wardrobe enrichment, pay visit to Jockey for some comfortable intimate wear and basics, and pop into Johnston & Murphy for some trim and dapper men’s footwear. Lastly, stop in at Tumi and snag some stylish luggage—what better way to carry all of your new clothes?
7PM
A long and successful day of shopping deserves an equally epic celebratory feast! Head back up to Main Street to enjoy a lavish dinner at one of Manchester’s preeminent culinary institutions. Those in the mood for classic traditional continental and New England food at its finest should look no further than Ye Olde Tavern.
Located in an historic 18th century building, Ye Olde Tavern offers an authentic old-world dining experience served in a warm and inviting setting.
For a satisfying entrée, try their “Traditional Pot Roast” or their vegan “Quinoa and Lentil Meatballs.”
Diners with a penchant for Asian- Fusion cuisine should book a reservation at Thai Basil, where a variety of Asian culinary traditions coalesce into a unified gourmet vision to create an inspired and eclectic menu. Their “Signature Half Crispy Duck” is blissfully savory, and the subtly spiced flavor of their “Massaman Curry with Tofu” is sure to delight even the most discerning of vegetarians. For toothsome American fare in a fun and casual setting, Union Underground never disappoints. While basking in the relaxed and jovial atmosphere of their basement dining room, be sure to sample some of their “Bar Room Bites”, including “Duck Rangoons”, “Fried Pickles”, and “German Pretzel Sticks.” As you pensively sip on your favorite relaxing beverage, reflect on your successful day of retail recreation. Don’t worry – your shopping adventure has only just begun!
For the full story, visit manchesterlifemagazine.com
