Antique shop
The Trading Post
460 West St., Amherst
(413) 256-6786
“People come in and just spend hours,” says Louise McGrath, daughter of owner Lawrence Pratt. “The store is made for browsing.” That’s partly because The Trading Post has always catered just as much to the casual shopper and sometime-collector as it does to high-end antique buffs. But it’s also because the Valley’s population of artists, creatives, and young people are so adept at finding uses — and re-uses — for items other might throw away, which may be anything from vintage jewelry to large cabinets to artwork, old photos, and estate merchandise that changes daily.
2nd: Whitney Hill Antiques & Auctions
102 Main St., Greenfield (413) 773-9848
3rd: Vintage Cellar
11 Bridge St., Northampton (413) 570-5593
Independent bookstore
Broadside Books
247 Main St., Northampton
(413) 586-4235 www.broadsidebooks.com
A mainstay on Northampton’s Main Street since 1974, Broadside carved out a leadership role in the city before “community engagement” was a buzzword. The bookshop’s legacy of launching, hosting, and promoting local authors remains strong, but the shop also has put some new initiatives in place. These include a local “Nonprofit of the Month” window display and, most recently, a children’s review program, in which young customers submit reviews of books they’ve read to be posted in the store.
2nd: Raven Used Books
4 Old South St., Northampton
(413) 584-9868 ravenusedbooks.com
3rd: World Eye Bookshop
156 Main St., Greenfield
(413) 772-2186 www.worldeyebookshop.com
Carpet & flooring store
Summerlin Floors
322 College St., Amherst
(413) 253-9022 www.summerlinfloors.com
Summerlin has been flooring customers for more than 30 years. They offer ceramic tiling, hardwood flooring, carpeting, marmoleum, as well as a unique collection of green products. Their service, they say, is what sets them apart from the rest.
2nd: National Floors
150 Northampton St., Easthampton
(413) 527-3740 www.nationalfloors.net
3rd: Hilltown Hardwood Flooring
Main Road, Colrain
(413) 522-5991 hilltownhardwoodflooring.com
Local appliance store
Manny’s TV & Appliances
7 S. Maple St., Hadley
(413) 585-8544 and various locations www.mannystv.com
Manny’s has been sticking to the company slogan since the TV and appliance retailer came on the scene in 1977: “We have to be better; we live here.” And be better, they be. Take for example the high-end demo and showroom in Wilbraham, a fine gallery of top-of-the-line products for the home. Another such gallery is being built in Manny’s Hadley store now. “We’re very local, all five of our stores are in Western Mass,” says store manager Monte Newman. “We treat everyone like they’re friends and neighbors because they are nine times out of 10.”
2nd: Besko Appliance
70 Cottage St., Easthampton
(413) 527-1919 www.beskosappliance.com
3rd: Salemi Appliance
112 Boston Rd., Springfield
(413) 739-7904 www.salemiappliance.com
Local computer store
Yes Computers
196 Pleasant St., Northampton
(413) 585-0007 www.yescomputers.com
Say “yes” to Yes Computers. Yes to awesome customer service. Yes to cutting-edge technology. Yes to a staff that knows how you can use this technology in your day-to-day life. And a big Yes to the store’s Apple repair services — especially their data recovery skills when a computer or phone is corrupted. “Data recovery is very satisfying,” says owner Mark Wineburg. “Someone comes in with their computer and they’ve lost all their family photos or something. Being able to give them that back feels great.”
2nd: Green Earth Computers
20A Crafts Ave., Northampton
(413) 282-8324 www.greenearthcomputers.us
3rd: LeftClick
150 Main St. (Thornes Marketplace), Northampton 15 Cowles Ln., Amherst (877) 289-9820 www.left-click.us
Local furniture store
Fly By Night
21 State St., Northampton
(413) 586-1464 www.flybynight.com
What began with a VW bus and a sidewalk vending permit on the streets of Amherst blossomed into the high-quality furniture store we know and love today — Fly By Night in downtown Northampton. Fly By Night hails as the leading futon retailer in the region as well as Northampton’s largest furniture store. For unique pieces to furnish and decorate your home, you’ve got to give it a try.
2nd: Andy’s & the Oak Shoppe
352 Deerfield St. (Rtes. 5 & 10), Greenfield
(413) 773-3139 andysoak.com
3rd: Danco Modern
10 West St., West Hatfield
(413) 247-5681 dancomodern.com
Local mattress store
Yankee Mattress Factory
104 Damon Rd., Northampton (413) 584-5858 314 Springfield St., Agawam (413) 786-0999 www.yankeemattressfactory.com
In a time when it seems like everything is manufactured outside the USA, Yankee Mattress Factory makes and sells their products right here in Western Mass. The makers use high-quality, domestic materials listed on their website. “People know exactly what’s in our mattresses; I think a lot of our customers respect us for that,” says general manager Nick Noblit. The company is currently crafting the best mattresses they’ve ever made, Noblit says, made possible by their tireless pursuit of better materials. “The big boys can’t spin on a dime like that,” says long-time employee Tom Parnell.
2nd: Fly By Night
21 State St., Northampton
(413) 586-1464 www.flybynight.com
3rd: Sleepy’s
Various locations
www.sleepys.com
Florist
Forget Me Not Florist
One Round House Plaza, Northampton (413) 584-6800 150 Main St. (Thornes Marketplace), Northampton
(413) 584-6801 www.forgetmenotfloristnoho.com
Even one flower can make a big difference, says owner Rebecca Fitzgerald. “We have a lot of great clients that come in once a week just to buy a few stems of flowers. It’s really nice to get them when you’re not expecting them.” Of course, everyone wants something different. The shop sold tie-dye roses on Valentine’s Day — “People went crazy over them” — but Fitzgerald orders all manner of unique products throughout the year, including herbs and vegetables. “We don’t have pre-made arrangements in the cooler, because we make everything custom,” she says. “It’s not an afterthought — it’s a gift with a personal touch.” The company donates all of its week-old flowers to the Northampton Survival Center.
2nd: Nuttelman’s Florist
135 Woodlawn Ave, Northampton
(413) 584-2272 www.nuttelmansflorist.net
3rd: Florence Village Flower & Gift Shop
5 N. Maple St., Northampton
(413) 584-9595
Garden center/nursery
Hadley Garden Center
285 Russell St. (Rte. 9), Hadley
(413) 584-1423 www.hadleygardencenter.com
For over 50 years, the Hadley Garden Center has been a go-to place for Valley growers and gardeners. Their selection, knowledge, and service keep customers coming and calling in with questions. This spring, the store has raised garden beds, including fabric ones for condos and apartments — like potato bags with a flap door that allow growers to check on the little tubers.
2nd: Sixteen Acres Garden Center
1359 Wilbraham Rd., Springfield
(413) 783-5883 www.16acresgardencenter.com
3rd: Andrew’s Greenhouse
1178 South East St., Amherst
(413) 253-2937 www.andrewsgreenhouse.com
Place for gift baskets
Atkins Farms Country Market
1150 West St., Amherst (413) 253-9528 113 Cowls Rd., North Amherst (413) 230-3226 www.atkinsfarms.com
Atkins Farms has been in business on its South Amherst corner since 1962. Its roots may be in the produce business, but these days you’ll find all sorts of items in the store, from local farm products to high-end speciality foods on the shelves and in the deli and bakery. The store’s cider donuts are often cited as the gold standard for cider donuts.
2nd: State Street Fruit Store, Deli, Wines & Spirits
51 State St., Northampton
(413) 584-2301 www.statestreetfruit.com
3rd: Frigo’s Foods
159 Shaker Rd., East Longmeadow (413) 525-9400 90 William St., Springfield (413) 732-5428 frigofoods.com
Place for fair trade products
Ten Thousand Villages
82 Main St., Northampton
(413) 582-9338 www.northampton.tenthousandvillages.com
Ten Thousand Villages has been doing fair trade long before it was cool — like 60 years ago. The longtime Northampton staple sells artisanal crafts from around the globe at fair trade prices that help sustain the artists. The store often has jewlery, scarves, art, ceramics, watches, and glassware you can’t find anywhere else without getting on an airplane. Ten Thousand Villages is an interesting and ethical shopping experience.
2nd: River Valley Co-op
330 N. King St., Northampton
(413) 584-2665 www.rivervalleymarket.coop
3rd: Whole Foods Market
327 Russell St. (Rte. 9), Hadley
(413) 586-9932 www.wholefoodsmarket.com
Consignment shop
Urban Exchange
233 Main St., Northampton
(413) 585-8729 urbanexchangenoho.com
Urban Exchange is a specialized consignment shop, says owner Silvia Naumburger — it’s not a brand-name consignment store, but more focused on selling high-quality second-hand clothing. By providing customers with individual attention and offering clear and consistent policies on selling, the store maintains an impeccable reputation in the local clothing community.
2nd: Cinderelli’s Consignment Boutique
480 Newton St., South Hadley
(413) 530-0311
3rd: New 2 You Family Boutique
283 Amherst Rd., Sunderland (413) 665-3222
Musical instrument shop
Downtown Sounds
21 Pleasant St., Northampton
(413) 586-0998 www.downtownsounds.com
This year Downtown Sounds is celebrating its 40th year in business. Owner Joe Blumenthal says the business has changed significantly since he first opened his store. The internet has taken a big bite out of his musical accessories sales, but musicians still want to come in to feel and play instruments before they purchase them. Blumenthal says he’s kept the store going by spreading his love of music to the community. Right now, that means teaching a lot of ukulele classes. The ukulele is a fun instrument that’s easy to play and pretty popular right now with adults who are interested in making music, but were perhaps too intimidated to try before. “When you’re holding a uke,” says Blumenthal, “you’re just happy.”
2nd: Gerry’s Music Shop
80 Lamb St. (Rte. 116), South Hadley
(413) 534-7402 www.gerrys-music.com
3rd: Luthier’s Co-op
108 Cottage St., Easthampton
(413) 527-6627 www.luthiers-coop.com
Pet supply store
Dave’s Soda & Pet City
151 Springfield St., Agawam
(413) 786-3339 and various locations www.davessodaandpetcity.com
Dave’s Soda & Pet City started 40 years ago with owner Dave Ratner selling soda out of his trunk outside a gas station along Route 9 in Hadley. Then, in an effort to meet women, he got a puppy, which, he added, “works great.” While out purchasing food for his dog, Ratner was disappointed by the meager selection and thought there was room in the pet market for growth. And the rest, they say, is history. Ratner started his business just ahead of the pet craze America is happily frolicking in. Americans will to spend $62 billion on their pets this year, according to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association. “Who would have ever known that pets would become more important — and rightfully so, of course — than your children, wives, husbands, and in-laws,” Ratner jokes. “The one thing, they’re not more important than is grandchildren.” A new feature at a few of Dave’s stores is a pet washing area. For about $13 people can show up with a muddy pup and use the store’s soaps, water, towels, and what-not to clean up the pooch.
2nd: Petco
458 Russell St. (Rte. 9), Hadley (413) 256-6636 and various locations www.petco.com
3rd: A.W. Brown’s
144 Shaker Rd., East Longmeadow
(413) 525-2115 www.awbrown.com
Picture framing
Big Red Frame
43 Main St., Easthampton
(413) 529-9265 www.bigredframe.com
The Big Red Frame is more than a frame shop, it’s an artist community, says owner Jean-Pierre Pasche. With more than 25 years of experience — in Switzerland and since 2001 here in the US — Pasche’s talents continue to grow as he works with the “dynamic” artists in the community.
2nd: Hope & Feathers Framing & Gallery
319 Main St., Amherst
(413) 835-0197 www.hopeandfeathersframing.com
3rd: Michael’s
325 Russell St. (Rte. 9), Hadley (413) 582-0784 1081 Riverdale St., West Springfield (413) 732-7221
www.michaels.com
Place for used CDs/records/DVDs
Turn It Up!
5 Pleasant St., Northampton
(413) 582-1885 and various locations www.turnitup.com
There’s not a lot new when you sell music and movies that were made 40 to 50 years ago, says owner Patrick Pezzati, except the fans. At Turn It Up! Pezzati sees a lot of regulars, but he’s always psyched to see young Zappa fans come in looking for some deep cuts. “They don’t like the ethereal MP3, they want the solid experience — the album, the liner notes, the art work, physical objects,” Pezzati says.
2nd: Platterpus Records
28 Cottage St., Easthampton
(413) 203-5305
3rd: Mystery Train Records
178A N. Pleasant St., Amherst
(413) 253-4776
Vape or smokeless tobacco shop
The Enthusiast
271 Federal St., Greenfield
(413) 325-8524 theenthusiastonline.com
With just over a year under their handmade glass belt, The Enthusiast may be green but has all of the expertise and know-how of an older shop. Staffers operate at the cutting edge of the smoking and vaping industry — with local glass products and dreamy vape flavors, they offer the best of both cloud-filled worlds. And with a new location in Rutland, Vermont, The Enthusiast is building their brand northward. “We have that personal investment,” says manager Alex Abrams. “It’s kind of a dream to be talking to people about this stuff everyday.”
2nd: Jim Buddy’s Vape Shop
1271 Memorial Dr., Chicopee (413) 331-3913 jimbuddys.com
3rd: Voltage Vape Shop
114 State St., Springfield (567) 694-8273 voltagevape.com
Adult novelty store
Oh My Sensuality Shop
122 Main St., Northampton
(413) 584-9669 www.ohmysensuality.com
It’s easy to get excited about lubes, harnesses, toys, and other sex toys in the comfort of your own home, but in public talking about the things may feel a little embarrassing. That’s not so at Oh My! where having a judgemental attitude about sex and desire is the only taboo. A knowledgeable staff is on-hand to help.
2nd: Adam & Eve
18 Main St., Greenfield (413) 774-9800 www.adamevegreenfield.com
3rd: Bookends
44 Enfield St., Enfield (860) 745-3988 www.bookendsct.com
