This is such a cute general store! They have everything from ice cream to Christmas ornaments. They…read morehave a bakery section and lots of candy and food. Cute cards and trinkets. Fun spot to checkout or stop for a snack. Good place to get someone a gift too.

Is there anything more fun to do (in public) than visit a well-thought out general store? These…read moreare sorely missing in the cities but thank goodness for Western Massachusetts. A friend brought me here while I was visiting Northampton and what a treat! $80 later I left with a hand warming mug, a pair of earrings, a bracelet, a roast baster, and a delicious treat called a wrapple (an apple turnover on steroids). I left there with visions of a T-shirt that I will buy for my cat-loving friend entitled "Petting map" which showed all the reachable petting zones on a cat with hilarious captions like "yes, please" and "don't even think about it." Not verbatim but you get the idea. This outfit had all the qualities of the best general store--stocks everything you could ever want, something for everyone, with friendly and helpful staff.

I was really impressed with this store. I've been to several "country stores" over the years. This…read moreone might be in the top 3. A huge selection of product. Toys, housewares, apparels, seasonal decorations, books, candies, and so much more. There is quite a bit to look at. But the 4 stars comes from pricing. The best priced country gift shop I've ever seen. Very reasonable and you can actually shop. And it was actually nice to know that not everyone is here to rip off customers/tourists. I'd gladly stop back when I'm in the area.

Like the one I recently visited in Williamsburg, this "olde" time country store has a wide variety…read moreof items: tchochkes, kitchen gadgets, kids toys, candy, angels, rocks, candles, dip mixes, etc., but unlike the other store, this one's prices are reasonable, and the candle stink doesn't render you senseless as you cross the threshold.

One of the things that makes Northampton, well, Northampton, is Essentials. I started shopping at…read moreEssentials almost twenty years ago, and it's been a staple of my quirky life ever since. It's changed hands twice in my awareness, and just keeps getting better and better with age. This is a design-focused, design-heavy shop, and there are things I can pretty much only get AT Essentials; for instance, they've got a cut-to-custom-length ribbon bar, and some of that ribbon is vintage, and my absolute favorite is the hand-dyed silk. Also, they've got the best collection of Tintin and other European character favorites (like Barbapapa and Babar) this side of the pond. Oh, and the staff is wonderful. Knowledgable, friendly, thoughtful, and creative. Over the years, the cast of characters has changed, but it's always top-shelf. One giant boon: they've helped me put together a gift in no time, saving my bacon on numerous occasions! On a typical day, you can find stationery of all kinds, the indier the better; dishware; rubber stamps; intriguing books (think Chronicle); bath goods; bags of all shapes, sizes, and purposes; clothes and scarves; eight million things for kids, from blankies to onesies to stuffed alligators; jewelry; small home goods; special pens; DIY kits; custom furniture; large sheets of beautiful artisan paper; and a ton of things I'm forgetting. And one other thing about Essentials I am not forgetting, but which I saved for last, because it's my favorite. Essentials has an in-house design and print studio. And they also work with a select group of indie designers and printers who create everything from business cards to party invites. Here is where Colette, the current owner, really freaking shines, in my opinion. There was one thing I wanted when it came time to get married. One. Thing. That one thing was letterpress wedding invitations from Essentials. Colette took us from beautiful nebulous idea to flawlessly-executed product without ever breaking a sweat. I don't know if you've ever worked with people who are about to get married, but we are not always the most poised, cool-headed, or unflappable of people; Colette sat us down in the big comfy chairs and made sketches and phone calls, and really made our family feel like we were the only people in the entire world. Go see what I'm talking about - our invitation is probably still hanging in its golden-framed, green-paper-backed glory. Nearly four thousand miles away now, and I'm still bouncing in my chair as I look forward to my next trip to Essentials, whenever it may be.

I like this store and their merchandise. The prices are high, as the merchandise is of a high…read morequality. However their store policies are not up par with many upscale stores. We received a lovely gift of several girls garments, however we have a male child. The store manager, who did not have the courage to call us, rather made a sales associate do their work, informed us without a receipt we can not get a store credit. So wonderful Essentials, you made some money from this sale, but you lost a lot more revenue from this here shopper.

I totally heart this place! Very homey, welcoming attitude and really neat things at ridiculously…read morelow prices. I saw a beautiful raku(?) vase and figured it would be way out of my price range, but I couldn't resist carefully lifting it to have a look. It was under $50! I seriously was expecting the sticker to say something like $350, it was THAT gorgeous. They always have special pottery pieces here, and they have some fantastic jewelry. All right alongside a plastic sushi that will crawl across the table when you wind it up, tie-dyed infant onesies, and... chocolate-covered sesame seeds? Weird and great mix of stuff, and the people who work there will tell you the story behind each and every thing they have...who made it, where it came from, etc. Seems like they carry lots of things from emerging artists, which is something I love to support. I get how it got its name... it's impossible to leave there not feeling happy!

What an adorable store, with so many beautiful things to admire! We stumbled in here on a Saturday…read morenight when almost everything else on this street was closed (around 9:20 pm). We were so excited to find a store that was open and had such interesting items for sale. Tons of local art including pottery, paintings, jewelry, children's clothes, toys, art for your garden, etc. They have something for anyone in this store. I ended up finding and purchasing two small bags of seeds, in which a local woman had spent time gardening and developing unique versions of plants and then collected the seeds to sell. What?! So cool! Not only does the store have the most unique and beautiful items, the woman who owns the store could not be more friendly and sweet! If you're in the area, make sure to stop by this shop!

So gorgeous and affordable for the most uniques and stunning items for your home. I am so thrilled…read moreto be in the store every time I go there.

Cute collection of stores from artisan shops to whole food and restaurants. All under one roof.read more

My now-husband and I drove from Boston out to Northampton, MA to purchase our wedding rings at the…read moreDon Muller gallery. After being disappointed time and again by jewlers in Boston that were too busy to really care about us, meeting Don was a total dream come true. Not only was he having a trunk show of our favorite designer (Alex Sepkus), but he was also able to offer us some excellent suggestions for a "dorky" ring for my chemist husband. We walked out of the store feeling fully understood, appreciated, and completely excited about our purchases! They specialize in sophisticated-whimsy! This is the place to go if you want someone to really pay attention to your preferences and style.

This place is wonderful. Its a great place to find gifts or some new decor for your home. Also, it…read morecarries a wide array of fine jewelry that is designed by local artists. They also do custom pieces. A sure fire place to look for an engagement ring...

Beautiful store, great for gifts, unique clothing, perfect baby items, lovely and friendly staff.read more

I bought a dress for my granddaughter, and before purchasing it I asked the salesperson whether I…read morewould be able to return it. She told me yes, as long as it was returned by January 8. A few days later, I decided to return the dress because it was too expensive for a newborn. When I went back to the store, a different salesperson told me that the store only issues store credit. When I explained that the previous salesperson had not mentioned this, she pointed to a small pink slip stapled to my receipt that stated the store's refund policy. I asked to speak with the owner, who repeated that the policy was printed on the pink slip. I explained that the slip was given to me after I had already purchased the dress, which makes it irrelevant. The salesperson should have informed me of the return policy before completing the sale. I also pointed out that the standard expectation is to receive a refund, and that the store should clearly post its return policy--such as on the front window or at the register--so customers can see it before making a purchase. Failing to do so is a deceptive practice. The policy should be displayed prominently in the storefront to ensure fair and transparent business practices. I returned the dress and was issued a store credit. I am now disputing the charge with my credit card company. I've always supported small businesses, but I will no longer support The Blue Marble.

I had the chance to revisit Kestrel, and it's just as beautiful as I remember it, if not more. I…read morealso love that they let us bring our little pup into the store! Immediately when you walk in, you will feel a sense of warmth and good vibes come over you (greenery just does that for me). This is such a wonderful little store. Their focal point is obviously their plants and succulents-- they have a gorgeous selection of mini/succulent babies, air plants, vases and more. They still feel a little pricey compared to the ones I buy in Cleveland, but the store itself is so unique, that if I lived in Northampton, I'd probably purchase exclusively from here. Having visited Northampton a few times now, no trip would be complete without a stop to Kestrel. It's a great place to buy a gift or something special for yourself. They also have modern/dainty jewelry, baby gifts, and high-quality coffee table books. It seems as if they are constantly curating and adding to their collection of lovely items! The staff is always super friendly and helpful and always buzzing with customers. Love!

No greeting...treated like a nuisance when I commented on the lovely items in the shop. Rude and…read moresnooty! I will never give them my business.

Lots of beautiful decorations and accessories made by countries and cities of lower economic…read morestatus. Prices are higher given where they are sourcing it from but for a good cause. I recommend coming to check them out as it's perfect for gift giving!

We find the staff very helpful and well informed about the merchandise. They share what is new in…read morestock and what is on clearance. Great place to shop for fair trade items and know that you are supporting the artisans to make a living.

This is a destination in itself and definitely worth making the trip for, especially if you have…read morekids. There are so many activities that you can easily spend a few hours here. We visited during their "Christmas in July" event, so Santa was there, which the kids loved. There's a sand play area, a kids' toy section, a Christmas area, scents, fudge, ice cream, pizza, an animatronic show with seating, Build-A-Bear, ornaments, and flowers everywhere you look. There really is something for everyone. Just know that pretty much everything here is expensive. We usually treat it more as a place to walk around and enjoy the atmosphere rather than shop. Even without buying much, it's still a fun experience. The whole place has a fun, festive atmosphere and is easy to wander around. The only thing that surprised me was how many grouchy people we ran into. Come on people, you're surrounded by flowers, ice cream, and Christmas decorations in July. Crack a smile and enjoy yourselves. Overall, this is a wonderful place for families and one I'd happily come back to.

I will say, this is an experience that you should visit if you're in the area. Also a great place…read moreto buy gifts because they have everything and anything for all people. I would imagine this place would be HELL if you dropped a tab of acid because there are so many hidden rooms that are extremely detailed, such as the christmas area. There's animatronics (I'll leave it at that) in the, what feels like, food court area. It's very nostalgic to a mall, serving food, fudge, and drinks with a huge seating area. There's a build a bear, make your own candles, and even a sand area! It's a fun little trip and the outside garden area is very peaceful. The bricks on the floor include employees of 10+ years on them, which I thought was thoughtful.