This is a cute boutique in Essex Village that offers a lot of nice options for 30+ year old ladies…read more I ventured in late one Saturday afternoon with one of my girlfriends and found they were having a great New Years sale on cashmere, winter accessories and a variety of other clothes. I found two great Foxcroft button down shirts, perfect for work, on sale for $37! The owner was very friendly and we got to talking about where I was visiting from, West Hartford, and she happened to have grown up there. She also shared a lot about the cute new spring items she had just ordered from her recent purchasing trip to New York. I look forward to seeing the cute styles she described on my next day trip down to Essex!

Fans of Stonewear in Essex need to know that the shop is now called One N Main (seems there was…read moreanother Stonewear in Colorado and they made a fuss). Well, we're liking the new name. We never thought "Stonewear" suited this gem of a shop, stocked with some of our favorite labels like Velvet tees, 360 Cashmere, the original French striped boatnecks by St. James, Yoga Jeans, a strong selection of bags and, particularly indispensable on unpredictable summer nights, these one-size-fits-all whisper weight cashmere ponchos that are just the ticket to throw over a summery shift

Excellent service and tremendous help; James is a…read morefirst-class merchant; I opened him up for the clothing line I sold him. I was charmed by the town and very impressed by the store. James and his wife are excellent merchants. A+ taste and attention to detail, enjoy your time with J Alden, a bright spot in Essex Ct. Eric Epstein

This store is at the center of Essex. The owners select great clothing and accessories and they are…read moreso personable and helpful. They genuinely are interested in their customers and they are very active in the welfare of the village.

I was surprised to discover how much I liked the clothes at Haystacks. My wife tried on several…read moredresses and the accessories that went with them. It's a smallish store but they use the space well and it's very upbeat, friendly and tasteful. Prices are in line with the rest of the street. You can find some deals but the normal pricing is within reach for most people. The selections really are fantastic. Whoever does the buying has a great eye and pretty much any shape or size or taste will find something here. I'm coming back for holiday shopping for sure!

This boutique is outstanding!!! Wendy will find the most…read morestunning clothes perfect for your body, age, look... Designers like Michael Stars, THML, 3 Dot... I spent 3 hours there... A MUST VISIT

I generally like Riggio's selection of plants and garden gear. We are longtime customers. I was…read moreblindsided however in early August when I was reconciling my bank statements to my debit purchase receipts. Neither of Reggio's charges matched the register receipts that I was given. Both were several dollars more but were not identical charges. So this week I finally went in to ask about the discrepancies and they showed me this dinky ( 3x4") notice in a small plastic stand on the counter saying that the store/nursery prices as of June 1 were "cash prices" and use of a CC or debit would result in a % up-charge. I up until recently owned a small business and I also did occasionally discount for cash but my prices were my prices and a discount was a discount from the marked price, no surprises at checkout. I will likely not continue to patronize Riggios because our purchases tend to aggregate to larger sums and we don't carry that kind of cash. It's also hard to keep a running total in my head when there is a service charge due at the counter. Not ideal folks. Just be aware of this.

indifferent customer service bordering on rude. Blank stare when asking for help. Finally, a…read moredisinterested woman got what I wanted.

**Review is for sandals/flip flops only.** I love my very…read morecute Eliza B flip flops/sandals, which are handmade in Essex, CT - yes, they truly are handmade in the USA! Main points: 1) Style: Classic and timeless... You usually find Eliza B's in small shops in resort areas or you can call the company or buy online. Online offers myriad choices, such as buying their designs or creating your own. Choices include flat or wedge flip flops with striped ribbons or motifs like crabs, whales or anchors. You can buy monogramed sandals, seersucker or gingham, or all-leather sandals in many colors. The belts are so so pretty too! (Look at their website.) 2) Value: LeatherMan/Eliza B makes quality products and fully stands behind them. My Eliza B's are still pretty and comfy after 3 or 4 years of heavy use when I lived in Carolina, but then, they are NOT made of plastic, nylon and cheap rubber! I last ordered in spring of last year and paid $48 plus shipping. 3) Size: the sandals run SMALL so you often need to size up one full size. Yet I'm a size 7.5 and wear a size 8 in Eliza Bs. Sooo, try on a pair at a store that sells them or measure your foot and call the company for sizing help. One thing: the sandal straps grip the sides of your feet - they're not loose at all - and they won't fly off your feet at a pool or get wedged under a gas pedal. 4) Customer service: I didn't give this company 5 stars because of "phone attitude." We've given them plenty of business over many years, but some of the employees are abrupt, unfriendly and rude. That's unfortunate because most customers are loyal. (Also, the shipping is a few dollars too high, $9 or 10) That aside, you place an order and often wait a few weeks to receive it, which seems reasonable considering you're receiving a handmade product. Go USA!!

Only a brief comment. I just received a belt from Austin Jeffers and it's perfect!…read more You can read more about their products on blogs like The Daily Prep and forums like Styleforum.

This is a zen garden where you can sip tea, find a perfect gift and connect with your neighbors…read more A gem My raspberry iced tea sipped outdoors as a torrential rain storm nourished the meticulously manicured garden and made the creative displays all around me sparkle with dew, was a delight.

To start the woman who owns The Herbery is charming and is a wonderful gardener with a collection…read moreof over 100 types of teas. It's a very quirky place and has its own kind of charm. They do NOT have a restroom so you have to drive a mile either way if you have to use it. If it was an emergency she said you can go out to the bushes. Yes. This was said. This may be important if you're drinking a lot of tea. If you just want a cup of tea they will serve it in a to go paper cup. They use plastic silverware and paper plates. But if you can spent more on a pot of tea then you can get the nice china. So I ordered the pot of tea for more money because the my mother was having a different tea. So I only had 1 cup of tea and a big pot that I didn't want. I was told that they usually serve "Starbucks" style where you go to the counter and they give you a cup of tea to go ( even if the whole point is not to go to Starbucks but have lovely afternoon with my mother) The only way you get served is if you get the pot of tea. The treats ( cookies and such- no scones in this day) are individually wrapped in ziplock bags) Again if you don't mind a different type of afternoon tea experience and you are just there maybe for the atmosphere and don't need a restroom ( sorry I keep bringing that up but I still can't believe it) then you can indulge in these teas and the company of the lovely owner. It just not our cup of tea.

This is a BBQ'ers dream. The selection is great and very high end. It is expensive but most of…read morethe stock is american made and the highest quality. The staff is actually knowledgeable about what they are selling and can provide information beyond the single page sales brochure. It might be the best grill & outdoor cooking store in Connecticut and certainly a destination for a road trip.

Swanky's Cookout Supply is an absolute gem!! My husband wanted a new grill for his birthday and a…read morefriend recommended that we skip online shopping and sub-par box store offerings and go directly to Swanky's- it's across from the Witch Hazel factory in Essex-well worth the short ride!!! The shop is family owned and operated- and it is just lovely. They offer a variety of propane and natural gas grills, as well as pellet smokers and fire pits. There is something in every price range. Additionally, they offer beautiful and high quality outdoor furnishings, serving platters, grilling utensils, spices, sauces and rustic decor. Mason was there to help- never hover. He asked all the right questions and helped us to make an informed decision regarding our purchase. I will definitely be going back for my birthday!!! Thanks for a great experience- stay Swanky!!!