The Massachusetts Shopping Guide and Blog

The meeting place for well-known and hidden gem shopping places in the Bay State!

The West Concord 5 & 10, West Concord, MA (photo by Eric H.)

The Massachusetts shopping scene is alive and well and will only grow with the rampant (and sometimes obnoxious) development in many parts of the state.

That's good news for the shopping aficionado as there's more choices than ever. In Foxboro, for example, the Kraft Brothers are building a mall near Gillette Stadiumthat will be geared towards men (a huge Bass Outlets opened in Nov. 2007), while in Burlington, an L.L. Bean and other adjoining high quality shops have provided yet another opportunity for shopping in retail-crazy Burlington, MA.

We keep our shopping simple, since the vast options can be overwhelming. We like to shop local to support local business, but also appreciate the oversized, animated look of the big shopping malls. Here are some of our favorites:

The Burlington Mall -- It's hard to believe there were once cows roaming this now highly-developed area in the late 1960s. The Burlington Mall has always had a warmspot in the heart of west suburban Boston shoppers who recognized this complex as one of the first of its kind in the area -- you know, the kind with a roof over its head. Stores have come and gone (Jordan Marsh, Musicland, Kennedy's clothing, Herman's Sporting Goods, and the putrid Hot Shoppe Cafeteria, to name a few). Now, the Burlington Mall is bigger and better than ever (155 stores and a 775-seat food court) with an additional second floor, a cleaner looking design and all the stores and restaurants you could ever want -- including Macy's, Sears, Lord and Taylor, Bose, Apple Computer, Build-A-Bear, The Rainforest Cafe, Cheesecake Factory, Legal Sea Foods, and many other great stores. The Burlington Mall, 75 Middlesex Turnpike, Burlington, MA 01803. Tel. (781) 272-8667

A new shopping place in Mansfield, MA -- Mansfield Crossing seemed to pop out of nowhere, taking over former farm land that was not exactly a distant memory. This outdoor 400,000 square ft. shopping complex with a pond, wrought iron benches and, or course, top-of-the-line stores now seems poised as a major Massachusetts shopping attraction. After all, how can you go wrong with L.L. Bean (it opened Nov. 16, 2007), Coldwater Creek, Kohl's, Chico's, Ann Taylor Loft, Best Buy, Sports Authority, Borders Books, Linens 'n Things and Michael's (arts and crafts) to name a few?. For dining, a Bertucci's is on the way, as well as T.G.I. Friday's. There's a Papa Gino's for pizza lovers. Mansfield Crossing is definitely a work in progress (check its Web Site to get the current store status), but there's currently enough attractions --especially L.L. Bean -- to make for a great holiday shopping experience. Mansfield Crossing, I-95 to exit 6, I-495 South. Take exit 12, 140 North. Take your first left onto School Street. The entrance is the second driveway on the left.

Quaint shopping -- The Old Country Store and Emporium, West Mansfield Village, MA What's a true country store doing in a place like southeastern Massachusetts? Usually found in places like Vermont, the Old Country Store and Emporium in quiet West Mansfield Village has all the bells and whistles that we have come to love in an authentic country store. There are home goods and furnishings, penny candle, Vermont cheddar cheese, homemade fudge, toys, locally made furniture and just about everything else under the sun. Of course, The Old Country Store and Emporium is located within charming, old wooden buildings with the smell of candles and potpourri adding familiar but unidentifiable aromas to this traditional, old-fashioned country store.

Big mall shopping -- Emerald Square Mall, North Attleboro, MA The Emerald Square Mall in North Attleboro (near the Rhode Island border) offers three levels of 155 familiar shops in a modern, clean and efficient setting accented with a stunning and massive solar ceiling. Other stores include Abercrombie & Fitch, American Eagle Outfitters, Hollister, Ann Taylor Loft, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Charlotte Russe, and Bath & Body Works. There's a food court, seemingly dominated by Asian restaurants and a beautiful carousel for the kids to ride. Sears, J.C. Penny and Macy's serve as the anchors while other well-known stores seem to be larger and better updated than their counterparts at the other local malls. Emerald Square Mall, 999 South Washington Street, North Attleboro, MA 02760

Shopping for books, chain store -- Barnes and Noble Burlington, MA This is the king of all local Barnes and Nobles, a sprawling two-story building with an open floor plan and seemingly more books than all the combined Barnes and Nobles in Massachusetts. The look is clean, the help seems to be the cream of the crop, and the variety of books staggering. If you don't like this Barnes and Noble, then you probably don't like books. Located about 25 minutes west of Boston. Barnes and Noble, 98 Middlesex Tpke, Burlington, MA Tel. (781) 273-3871

Shopping for books, local - New England Mobile Book Fair, Newton Highlands, MA This long-time warehouse-like business a few miles west of Boston is the anti-Barnes and Noble. It isn't pretty here with drab concrete floors and shelves going seemingly to the ceiling. It's hard to find your subject here, since there are so many obstructions and twists and turns, but the bottom line is that you're likely to find you book here. Plus, there's something meaningful about supporting a local business that has always been helpful to the customer (for more than 50 years) and refuses to become trendy or precious. The prices are great, too: 20 percent off paperbacks and hardcovers everyday and 30 percent off NY Times bestsellers in hardcover. If Barnes and Noble is the Heather Locklear of books, then the New England Mobile Book Fair is the Rodney Dangerfield. We always liked Rodney! 

New England Book Mobile Fair in Newton Highlands, MA
82-84 Needham St., Newton Highlands, MA. Tel. (617) 964-7440

Shopping for candles -- Yankee Candle Company, South Deerfield, MA . Founder Mike Kittredge started his Yankee Candle business in 1969 in his parent's basement. Now Yankee Candle Factory's flagship store in South Deerfield (northwest Massachusetts just east of the Berkshires) is the size of some shopping malls and offers an incredible mix of shopping, entertainment and dining. More than 160 candle varieties, 16,000 square feet of home furnishings, a candle making museum, foods from fudge to gourmet dinners (and Chandler's Restaurant), a car museum, a Bavarian Christmas Village with themed holiday shops and a 25-foot Christmas tree are just a few of the attractions that make the Yankee Candle Company so much more than a candle shop. For someone who doesn't like candles, I found the Yankee Candle Factory to be a great shopping attraction. Yankee Candle Company, Deerfield Flagship Store 25 Greenfield Rd., South Deerfield, MA. Tel. 877-636-7707

Local toy shopping -- The Toy Shop of Concord, Concord, MA This old-fashioned, lively toy shop in the western suburban Boston town of Concord is like the toy stores of yesterday. With not a trace of corporate super store elements (like cheap products and lousy trends), this colorful toy store has been around for 62 years and focuses on only well-made toys that have a timeless quality -- or a potentially timeless quality, if it is a new product. The Toy Shop features toys to stimulate a child's thinking or imagination, so the experience will not only excite children, but their parents, as well. The Toy Shop of Concord, 4 Walden St.,, Concord MA (978) 369-2553

Furniture shopping, local -- R. Smith, Gardner, MA The outside of the building looks like it's falling apart, but inside you'll find some of the best made locally and nationally made furniture in a no-frills, but helpful setting. Gardner is a proud north central Massachusetts city know for furniture making and stores, and R. Smith stands right up there as one of the best representatives of that local tradition. The deals are great, with 30-50 percent off retail value from some of the best know manufacturers, although we really loved finding locally-made furniture made with craftsmanship and pride. R. Smith will even build furniture, made to your specifications. We especially appreciate the sales people at R. Smith who are not your run--of-the-mill, slick but empty "I've got to make a commission right now or I'll be fired right now" types. It's almost as if your family has gone into the furniture business and is helping you out, not selling. This is the ultimate furniture outlet, plain in appearance but extraordinary in what they sell. R. Smith Furniture, 289 So. Main Street at Victoria St. | Rte 2, Exit 23 |Gardner, MA | Tel. 978.632.3461

Furniture shopping, chain store -- Cardi's, South Attleboro, MA Cardi's is a gargantuan complex featuring two floors of furniture -- including a a Thomasville Store a bakery operated by Johnson and Wales University, and a furniture design school. Although stylish and modern, Cardi's in South Attleboro is still personable with the high profile owners present at the store at any given time and some knowledgeable, professional employees. A second generation family-run business with roots going back to 1928, the Cardi Brothers are a household name locally, appearing frequently on television and radio commercials. In addition to South Attleboro (near the Rhode Island border), Cardi's furniture stores are also located in Swansea, MA, West Warwick, RI and a clearance center in Fall River, MA. Cardi's Furniture Super stores, (RT. 1A) 999 Newport Ave., South Attleboro, MA., Tel.: (508) 915-5600

City shopping -- The Shops at Prudential, Boston, MA The seventy five stores at the Shops at Prudential may be smaller in number than the suburban malls, but is more than made up for by the quality of shops and the urban flair that only a city could offer. Anchored by Saks Fifth Avenue and Lord and Taylor, The Shops at Prudential Center is beautifully designed (a welcome change from the outdoor shopping days here), has more than 60,000 visitors daily, and has great dining options including Pizzeria Regina, Boston Chowda, Legal Sea Foods, and Ben and Jerry's. Other stores include Barnes & Noble, Lacoste, and Sephora. You can really feel the pulse of the city when shopping at the Shops at Prudential, making it a very different experience than shopping in suburbia. The Shops at Prudential, 800 Boylston St., Boston, MA

Outlet Stores -- The Wrentham Premium Outlets, Wrentham, MA The Wrentham Outlet Stores --close to the Rhode Island border -- seems to be getting larger by the day, currently with more than 170 stores including Jones New York, Nautica , Skechers, Sony, Swarovski, Timberland, and Tommy Hilfiger. It's all outdoors, which can be a little rough during inclement weather, but, on the other hand, there's no stopping a shopper in search of a good bargain. The Wrentham Outlets is pleasantly landscaped and features restaurants on the perimeter like the Cracker Barrel and Uno's. Wrentham Premium Outlets: One Premium Outlets Boulevard, Wrentham, MA. Tel. (508) 384-0600

Men's Clothing -- Milton's, Chestnut Hill, MA Milton's at Chestnut Hill has been in business a long time, offers name brands at low prices, keeps their inventory full, and has an experienced, career-oriented staff that treats you like a real person. As other men's stores comes and go, it's becoming more clear that Miltons is the place that I prefer to shop for that great suit or sweater. You always leave feeling satisfied at this men's clothing landmark, just outside of Boston. Milton's, 174 Boylston St., Chestnut Hill, MA. Tel. (617) 969-4547

Women's Clothing -- Kohls, various locations Ok, it's not a New England-based business, but how can you knock the brand names at low prices -- sometimes 60 to 70 percent off at the tight time of year? Ask many women where they shop around here and the answer will frequently be Kohl's. Why be a phony and say something otherwise that isn't true?

Children's clothing, Brenner's Children Shop, Norwood, MA This is the old-fashioned husband-and-wife owned kind of store that you thought was gone forever. The personable service and the small but packed to the gills store are a perfect place for the family to support local business and buy quality clothing at good prices. Located in the southwest Boston suburban town of Norwood. Brenner's Children Shop, 694 Washington St, Norwood, MA. Tel. (781) 762-2276

Outdoor store -- Maynard Outdoor Store, Maynard, MA If the high profile, elitist-type outdoor stores leave you cold, then we heartily recommend the Maynard Outdoor Store in the western Boston suburb of Maynard. It's old-fashioned, to say the least, with red and white tile floors, and original tin ceilings. In the back, there is a stretch of red patterned linoleum that every kitchen seemed to have in the 1970s. Clothing, shoes, sneakers, jackets for all seasons, hiking boots, baseball gloves, winter gear are just a few of the types of merchandise found at this charming old store where many of the faithful employees have worked for years. These employees really take care of the customer, making the shopping experience a pleasurable one. Now, where can you find that type of experience in the cookie cutter stores? Maynard Outdoor Store, 24 Nason St., Maynard, Mass. Tel (978) 897-2133

Five and dime store -- West Concord Five and Dime Store, West Concord, MA Looking much the way it did in the 1950s, this classic five and dime store features that appealing classic "old" building smell, narrow isles and loads of merchandise identifiable by hand-labeled bins. Whether its yarn, socks, board games, batteries, etc. -- you're sure to eventually find it at these store from another era. Concord Five & Ten Inc. 106 Commonwealth Ave., Concord, MA 01742

Cameras and Electronics -- Cameras Inc., Arlington, MA Starting out as a small storefront in 1956 run by a wonderful local Armenian family, Camera Inc. has blossomed into a first-class camera and electronics store. It's still small enough to lend a personable touch where everyone seems to know each other, but it's big enough to offer a great variety of quality cameras and electronics. It's really the best of both worlds -- a local store that has the buying power to offer the best brand names at great prices and yet retain its local feel. Cameras Inc, 860 Massachusetts Ave, Arlington,MA Tel. 781-648-8111

Local general department store -- Lord's, Medfield, MA Sort of like a neat, organized Woolworth's, Lord's Department Store has a terrific toy section, cards and stationery, housewares, Medfield clothing and get this... a true, authentic luncheonette called Mary Anne's. It's a great place to sit on a stool at the counter, order a burger or bacon and eggs and feel like you're back in the 1950s. Lord's has been in business over 60 years, a testimony to the power of local business run properly. Lord's Department Store, 446 Main St, Medfield, MA Tel. (508) 359-2361

Related shopping articles:

Providence Place, Providence, RI

Wrentham Premium Outlets, Wrentham, MA

Maynard Outdoor Store, Maynard, MA

Kittery Trading Post, Kittery, ME

The best holiday shopping in New England