I think this place has potential but a lot of people don't really know about it. It's a cool hangout spot with food options, shops, and a workout spot. Tucked away upstairs is Newbury Comics and a few other stores. Downstairs is where Subway is plus other food. It's retro feeling inside like you're back in the 90s hanging out which I kinda love??? They did replace Ben and Jerry's with a new spot that looked good. But it's also quiet inside and I wish more people came here. Maybe with a little more renovations or new businesses inside would draw a crowd, a little facelift if you will. read more

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Weird weird. I used to work at a clothing store in the garage in the 80's - it sold kinda new wave clothing and was pretty hot at the time. I wanted to visit the garage and see what was going on inside. Really it was sad, except for Newbury comics, which has stood the test of time, this place is a ghost town. sad read more

Near Harvard Square with some food vendors and stores along with a mini arcade for students and kids to indulge and hang out. read more

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One of the stranger, more unique (but not necessarily in a good way...) part of Harvard Square. My main reasons to visit the Garage were: - Starbucks: good place to study, conveniently located to my dorm - Felipe's: great, late night Mexican food but I wouldn't really consider it part of the Garage since I would always enter directly from the street... - Hootenany: funny costume items! - Newberry Comics: good joke gifts - Ben & Jerry's: would come for free cone day once/year or to ask them to donate ice cream for an event My main reasons NOT to visit the Garage were: - often smells pretty gross inside - don't like the sound of needles form the tattoo parlor! - really unpleasant service at the Vietnamese restaurant read more

A happy little nook nestled in the heart of in Harvard Sq. This place is super nostalgic for me because my friends and I would hang out here after school during our high school days. I'm not even friends with half of those girls anymore, but the Garage has stayed the same. I've had countless tattoos and piercings done at Chameleon and brought a ton of uncensored stuff I didn't need from Newbury Comics. There's also a Ben & Jerry's, Starbucks and a few other eateries inside. It's a kinda cool setup and never really seems too crowded. Only downside is parking can be a bih. Other notes: Metered parking outside Nice hangout spot Close to everything in Harvard Sq. Shares a wall with Tasty Burger Hip and trendy Down the street from Insomnia Cookies read more

Are you STUCK in the square and need to kill time. Stop by the garage for: Tatoos (for all the peeps who want ink) Newbury Comics (for anyone who wants CDs, bumper stickers, clothes, etc) The Hempest (cute clothes made from hemp, don't know if you can smoke em) Hootenannny (a cute flirty emo store) A Spa that seems legit, though I've never ventured in. (I'll try it someday) Crazy Dough's Pizza (Pizza and they have PBR...good for hipsters)! Ben and Jerry's (ice cream, anyone)?? Le's (Vietnamese grub) Felipes's (Mexican grub) Starbucks (you obviously know what they sell, overpriced coffee and all the accoutrements) Flat Patties (burgers that will give you a bigger waistline, but are ok) New England Soup Factory (soup, soup, and more soup) Life is Good (is it? you be the judge, my mom has their pj pants). Just go, if you are reading this, you have time to kill. Or, you just are bored, either way, GO! read more

There is nothing here I want, and yet I want to die on the ramp. The garage is old and dirty, and takes me wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy back. IT's not about the stores here (they're generally not worth it in my NTLBFHO), it's about the vibe of the building. It's so chill and awesome, and that little body jewelry place in the middle. So random, and yet so perfect. I heart the garage. even the nasty-ass bathrooms. Who am I kidding, ESPECIALLY the nasty-ass bathrooms. read more

*Grits teeth and cringes* Well - it could use a little spiffing up. The Garage is one of those shopping spots you should investigate while visiting good ol' Haaahhhhvahd Squay'ahhh, but it's kind of deteriorated a bit. Some cool shops (certainly hipster-friendly) - Hootenanny, the Hempest, the Jewelry Gallery, Newbury Comics. Opportunities to purchase natural clothing, awesome accessories, even vegan shoes (Toms....I love it). Even a piercing/tattoo gallery (Chameleon), which is the only shop I visit when I'm considering a piercing. Some great nom - Crazy Dough Pizza (gourmet slices), Ben & Jerry's (frappe, please!), Le's (Vietnamese food), Via Vai, and meh...Subway. ....Cons: not what I would call "mom-n-pop savvy"; it's dark, filled with young people rushing around, loud, and yeah....a little dirty. The basement restroom is among the filthiest I have ever seen in a public facility (and I've heard of some pretty seedy business taking place down there). Grime and graffiti and the stench of unwashed urine covered tile (...need I say it?: don't . sit. down). Great-and-kind-of-weird place for neat gifts and piercings....not exactly the glistening gem of Cambridge. read more

The garage is located in the square, it is a 3 floor "mini mall" if you will that has a great location. I have seen stores inside come and go, however they have Newbury comics which seems to be the staple. I have been going here for years, even before i lived in Mass, the garage is a great place to meet up with people who aren't familiar with the area and also offers a music store, food, clothing shops and a variety of other stores you may or may not need as fluff shopping. The stores in the garage have a nice variety and the restaurants are varied as well. the smell during lunch and dinner is awesome, so go there hungry, I'm sure you ll find something you will enjoy. I like that there is always something to choose from and if that freaks you out, you can go for subway or just eat ice cream at Ben and Jerry's. The layout is kind of odd and if the escalator is broken prepare yourself for a steep walk up that ramp. I've had to do it, while it was raining outside, in flip flops all i can say is i survived and thanks to the help of strangers that probably were wondering what i was on not to be able to walk up a ramp with wet flip flops, of course then at the top was told there is a staircase. *face palm* The only complaint i will give about this location is their gross bathrooms. I'm sure it must be hard to keep up since as far as i know they have the only public bathrooms in the area. This means everyone, tourists, squatter punks, homeless, townies and the so on are using it. graffiti everywhere, which i find amusing to look out while waiting on line for a stall that most likely is peed on, no toilet paper and just gross. However all these years later, i still go here for there shops and food. it's a fun spot to take friends and family and hopefully this odd "mini mall" will remain open, perhaps an update on their bathrooms would be nice or better signage. However exploring "the garage" is half the fun. support some local and not so local business and it's a good place to hang out if your figuring out what else there is to do in the square while it's raining. read more

The Garage - Vacancy! Wonder what will come here. - Shopping Centers Near Me - Cambridge, Massachusetts

Ive a lot of memories of The Garage. Its changed a bit over the years, but not enough to make it any less fun. Its not like its on the top of my list of places to bring people when we fly in from LA (Well, maybe if Cafe A was still there), but its a good spot to duck into for a burrito, or to cruise through Newbs. The hoot is good, but better if you know what you need (although you never know what you'll find) and the D&D shop is always a riot anyway you cut it. read more

One star for the quality of over heard conversations at the weird anime store. and, One Star for the fact that no one else has ever been in the public bathroom other than me while I used it. If I could, a half star for the strangest mall layout I have ever seen, read more

Eh, I use to love this place when I was a kid. But now I realize how pretentious it is. Every store is over priced. The young people who shop there are D bags. Tokyo kid and Newbs are okay, other than that don't waste your time here. Can't say much about the food selection I haven't eaten here in years. read more

The Garage is one of those places that often confuses newcomers, but the name is fitting as it is a parking garage converted into a shopping center. A nice change sight since it tends to go the other way. Harvard Square has seen a lot of change over the years, and so has the Garage. Thankfully, it is one of the places where I can comfortably say the more it changes the more it stays the same.Newbury Comics, Chameleon, and Man from Atlantis (now Tokyo Kid) are Garage staples, and the growing eateries add to the linger factor. Even Crazy Dough replaced another pizzeria. Pandemonium may be gone, but the careful balance of geek and hip stays. For the hipster, for the geek, for the punk and for the hippy, there's a little something for everyone. It's stores hosted anime before anyone knew what anime was, carried independent comics and CDs before it was trendy, and still carries psychedelic stock, incense and Grateful Dead paraphernalia. After 20 years, the Garage is still one of my favorite haunts in Cambridge. read more

John L. Loved your comment about the Max from SBTB. Totally accurate and spot on. I stumbled into the Garage on accident while in Cambridge and fell in love with Newb comics. Haven't tried the food yet, the Newb employees said "go to Pinochios"... I did.... it was great. read more

Hipster central in Harvard Square. I came here about a year ago to get my nose pierced at Chameleon. Not exactly my scene but I get why people like it read more

I have no idea what The Garage once was, as I'm a relative newcomer to this area and began shopping there only 4 or 5 years ago. When I worked at The Coop, The Garage provided me with a nice place to grab a quick bite. My personal favorite is Le's Vietnamese food, where you can get tasty noodles (pho) on the cheap and very quickly. Recently they took out what I *think* was the Chowda place and put in a Subway - yuck. But, across the way on the first floor is a relatively decent "fast food" Indian place. I think it's a chain, but what can ya' do. There's a Ben & Jerry's in this same little hallway. You can't go wrong with ice cream. Also down there is a Starbucks, and this weird European-looking clothing store called Desigual that I'm scared to go into for fear of sticker shock. If you go up the ramp, on your right you'll find Hootenanny's which is the clothing segment of Newbury Comics. They sell a bunch of pseudo-alternative brands and the kids working there have a lot of tats and piercings. I find good sales here quite often, or stop by if I feel like dropping some cash for something colorful. On the top floor is a Newbury Comics, a tattoo and piercing place, a store that sells stuff made out of Hemp, a glorified jewelery kiosk, and Tokyo kid (Manga, action figures, etc). In the basement is a good burrito place called Felipes. Go to The Garage and rake in some Harvard Square goodness - people watching, funky smells, overpriced garb - you won't regret it. read more

yay i like the garage, which isnt really one, is it? so they have all sorts of off the beated track stuff, anime shop, video game store, the best pro audio store in the tri state area (guess which are the 3 states!)nag champa resource, hootenannies, burger joints, ben and jerry's, *$'s and a bunch of other stuff too. i dont go to harvard square often no morez, but if i do, i usually stop in here for a quick peak and maybe a long peruse. read more

This used to be the hangout spot back in high school at Rindge. They have Ben & Jerry's and a few other food places (avoid Crazy Dough's), as well as a few shops. The layout is weird but it works. I recommend the jewelry place upstairs for piercings, however I have never been pierced there because they are always busy. read more

The Garage is a very weird, unique place. It has everything from tattoo parlors to Newburry Comics, Ben & Jerry's and a few other stores and food places. I love the fact that they transformed an old garage into this mini-mall but overall the atmosphere is just weird as hell. Not that it's bad or anything but when you walk in you can just smell the Vietnamese food mixed with incense from the upper floor and the ice-cream from Ben&Jerry's... It's just so weird. I don't really shop there although I do grab food there often since I work right next door. If I'm not working the only reasons I usually end up there is for the Newburry Comics store upstairs or because I'm trying to get out of the rain or grab a quick ice-cream.. That's really all there is to it. read more

The Garage is an interesting place. The Newbury Comics has a decent video game selection and is quite large; the food isn't too bad, and there's a Ben & Jerry's. At the same time though, this place is kind of like what I'd expect "The Max" from Saved by the Bell to look like if Bayside High met the 21st Century. I don't know if it's the other kitschy stores, or the anime store, or what it is, but I feel old every time I come into this mall, whether for the Newbury Comics or whatnot. The layout is good for wheelchair accessibility on all floors, but it feels kind of weird, particularly when going downstairs. read more

A good meet up place with funky little stores and food places inside. Newbury Comics is always fun to browse thru, take some sticker pictures, the japanese/anime store... some ice cream, pho... etc.. etc... read more

Sooo disappointed! I go to Boston for the weekend 3 or 4 times a year, and have always enjoyed going to the Garage. One of my favorite places for many years. No more :( It seems that over the last 2 or 3 years all the good stuff is being replaced with crap. Independent chowder place? Nope! It's a Subway now. Delicious Mexican food? Haha...not anymore. It's a Starbucks. Hootenanny (where I got 90% of my wardrobe) is closed, the beloved Proletariat is gone (replaced by the very "meh" Kulturez), Newbury Comics and Tokyo Kid have been revamped into generic bland stores that have gotten rid of their most interesting merchandise. I hate to say this, as this place used to be a lot of fun and well worth the 2+ hour drive for years, but it no longer worth the trip. read more

Decent place to go for lunch if working the square. Has the Boston Chowda company..great lobster bisque and other soups, a burger place, Ben & Jerrys, Pho Posteur. The stores definitely cater to the teenage "alternative" crowd...not very exciting for those of us well past puberty. read more

This place was a lot more exciting for me when I was in middle school. It's fun the first few times. But it gets old

I went to eat in the food court today and it was a disgusting mess. All of the tables were dirty, one even had water dripping from it onto the floor. The other tables had either ice cream stuck all over the surface or old napkins and cups left by previous customers. I had to go eat somewhere else. I think it's funny that they have a 30 minute time limit when they don't even care enough to clean the tables so that customers can sit at them. read more

I can't comment on most of the establishments in this place (although I have used the restroom at Starbuck's, which was very clean). While waiting for a friend I escaped the cold by walking through Hootenanny, which is kind of cool. Everything was overpriced, but I'm seriously considering buying a sweatshop-free t-shirt to represent my neighborhood. For example, "defend Brighton," "save Somerville," etc. read more

Everyone has memories about the Garage, just ask for the stories... But it houses some worthwhile restaurants and stores. Starbucks has the best free bathroom in the area. It seems that 90% of the city's smokers congregate around the main entrance, but that's only a 2 second inconvenience. read more

My aunt works across the street from the garage, at the Harvard Library. Nifty little place I must say. The tat needles were a tad bit annoying, but hey, I wont say anything. read more

great little place to hide from rain or snow in Harvard Square. Good eateries, and cute shops, even if they are a bit specific in what they sell. read more

Half of me loves the garage and the other hates everything it represents. Yes the place is festered with punk kids/anime kids/ and anything else anti-american eagle. But then again....the place is very anti-american eagle? The Vietnamese place is great, I recommend the rice pudding (just trust me). There is a cool place to find clothes (first store on the ramp) but you have to dig through the fishnets, punk gear, and terribly trashy shoes. read more

A hipster haven in the middle of Harvard Square. I'm not really sure where all the teenagers come from, but this is where they end up. Some combination of vintage clothing and pizza must be the recipe for teen spirit. read more

I really got a kick out of the Garage during my adventure in Harvard Square today. The Garage is an interesting little mall with a really weird ramp that wraps around in a way that makes it unique. I was surprised to see a decent quality and selection in the food and shopping. The Garage was very clean and definitely a place I will show my friends. read more

Really funky building in Harvard Square. Has the best piercing and tattoo place that I've found in the Boston area- not sure of the name, but its on the second floor in the back. There are some cool little stores with funky accessories in here. Also, ice cream and Starbucks. There's also a few clothing stores where you could either find regular clothes or great Halloween costumes. read more

Chutney's is good and Subway can come in clutch. It seems as though there should be something more in there, but Le's and Newbury Comics fills the void a bit. If I had ink Chameleon seems to be the place. Overall It's A-OK. lol read more

What an oddity! When i first started my job in Harvard Sq. people told me to go to the garage. I was a little mystified as I don't drive to Harvard Sq. but I went to see why I should. It is a sort of shopping mall! How weird but whatever. The shops keep me entertained, i have gotten quite a few CDs at newbury St Comics. Pretty good people watching too. the burger joint isn't bad either. read more

I love the Newbury Comics here, they always have a big selection of used DVD's.

Went to the hempest, the woman behind the counter was really nice. They have some excellent hand blow glass pipes that range in prices from 30 and up, ill pay 30 bucks for a glass bowl not to feel like a sketchy person at some smoke shop. all in all a good time. read more

I love the way that this place is set up.... I remember when I was younger wondering what the hell that place was. Now that I am older of course it is like a staple in Harvard Sq now and whenever I go to Harvard sq its like everyone congregates around this area. the shops that they have in there are cool. It has it's own feel to it that is completely different from anywhere that I've ever browsed around in. I think that is what attracts people to The Garage. If you haven't checked it out I def would read more

I have been going to The Garage for years when I was a kid skateboarding in Harvard Sq it was the place to hang! Newbury Comics, Crazy Doughs the small Jewlery shop and Ben and Jerry's. Like Stephen D. lots of great memories there. My only complaint is it should be larger. read more

Worst Customer Service EVER!!! They made me wait while they discused who would serve me and everyone else in line. I guess I was their between shifts and nobody wanted to serve the ever growing line. I'm not going back to that location again. read more