The Book Barn is a Connecticut institution with three locations in Niantic. The main location on West Main Street is an incredible old barn with smaller off-shoot locations on the main property where you can find old, out-of-print treasures amongst the bookstacks. If you have old books at home that you don't need or want to trade in, The Book Barn will gladly purchase your books for cash or store credit. Hot beverages and snacks are served (for free!) every day of the week. Plenty of bibliophile felines prowl the property, so be prepared to share a book or a snack with them as well. The shop is open daily, except for Thanksgiving and Christmas.
This lovely vineyard is located in the southeastern corner of the state, as part of Connecticut's Wine Trail. Stonington Vineyards is close to the picturesque village of Mystic, so for the parents this is a great getaway and experience if in the area. There are free, 25-minute tours of the vineyards every day at 2p as well as tastings of their red and white wines. The gift shop sells every variety of their special wines, not to mention handmade gift baskets with goodies for all occasions.
The Bleu Squid at Olde Mistick Village is a great place to stop for a bite to eat while in the Mystic area. If you are looking for something casual, comforting and delicious, this is the perfect place to pick up a grilled cheese, quiche, cupcakes, artisanal cheeses or pates. The most popular menu items are the Lobster Grilled Cheese and Bleu and Bacon Grilled Cheese. For the little ones, there are children's grilled cheese and peanut butter and jelly sandwiches. This bakery and cafe is perfect for lunch after a morning at the nearby Mystic Aquarium.
Olde Mistick Village is located just off Interstate 95, a short distance from the Mystic Aquarium. This outdoor complex is home to over 40 lovely shops and restaurants that are set in a charming old-world setting of bricked lanes, flower beds and ponds. Visit the family-run R.A. Georgetti Jewelry store, Toy Soldier for toys, La Bottega Italian for imports, Munson's Chocolates, and Bestemors Scandinavian store. Once you’re done shopping, catch a movie at the Olde Mistick Village Art Cinemas with a schedule of Hollywood hits and independent features.
Book Trader Etc is a place selling gently-used books, DVDs and more. This store's humble prices and neat layout have earned it a strong patronage. Their collection of over 30,000 second-hand books, spanning a diverse array of genres from true crime to manga, cookbooks, romance, non-fiction, etc is impressive. With a assortment of hardcovers, paperbacks, and new inventory from publishers, there is enough to satisfy the bibliophile in you. The store also accepts book in good condition from previous owners. Don't hesitate to ask if you're looking for a particular book; the staff are helpful and knowledgeable and willing to assist.
With beauty stores, retail outlets to pizza places and more, Groton Square Shopping Center is truly any shopper's paradise. This shopping center has plenty of options for families as well as groups of friends. Anchored by well-known national brands like Walmart, Payless ShoeSource, and Kohl’s, Groton Square is your one stop shop, and is just a short drive from Downtown Mystic.
The little city of New London finally has its own natural and organic foods store. Fiddleheads is a local cooperative that features products from some of the region's finest producers of meat, wine, cheese, baked goods and much more. There are lots of events at this little supermarket, like farmer's markets, product tastings and family events year round.
Aticc is not your typical t-shirt store: it's much more than that! All of the items sold at Aticc are made by local designers, many of which are one-of-a-kind designs made from organic or recycled materials. Find everything from t-shirts and jeans to 1980s-style ruffled blouses and skirts.
A family owned company, Thames River Greenery is a popular florist in the city of New London. They stock flowers of all kinds and for all occasions and offer delivery throughout the city. Some of the services they specialize in include floral arrangements for weddings and other special events. Apart from fresh and exotic flowers, Thames River Greenery, also deals in various sorts of arrangements like dried floral, silk, traditional and modern arrangements.
Looking for a frame that will perfectly complement and preserve your delicate piece d'art? Studio 33 Art Gallery & Picture Framing is the best option, it offers variety of frames in different shapes and sizes. And, if you want to venture beyond the usual ones, Studio 33 has custom-designed frames too. Apart from that, it also has a lovely collection of jewelry and historic postcards. Every week, Studio 33 hosts special exhibition of local artists and each of the art show is well-attended. For more details, call ahead.
Design 2 Consign is a trendy boutique specializing in pre-owned designer fashion for women. Browse the Waterford store for unique finds from designers like Tory Burch, Perlina, Dansko, Judith Ripka, Dooney & Bourke, and Coach. Fashionistas looking for trendy, quality accessories and clothing will find plenty to interest them here. The curated collection is constantly updated with new stock so there's always something new to capture your modish heart.
With beauty stores, retail outlets to pizza places and more, Groton Square Shopping Center is truly any shopper's paradise. This shopping center has plenty of options for families as well as groups of friends. Anchored by well-known national brands like Walmart, Payless ShoeSource, and Kohl’s, Groton Square is your one stop shop, and is just a short drive from Downtown Mystic.