A must do on any vacation on Martha’s Vineyard is a stroll down picturesque Main Street in Edgartown. It epitomizes a text book New England village Main Street that could have graced a Norman Rockwell print. Everything is pristine and immaculately manicured, not unlike my good self. For this reason it is hardly surprising that Edgartown Main Street is a stock TV background shot for a village Main Street (it even appears at in every episode of “American Housewife” as a stunt double for Westport, CT).
The Main Street and neighborhood are also home to some great Martha’s Vineyard shopping opportunities. There is a mix here of locally owned boutique stores, off-island stores and the few chain stores that have slipped onto the island.
Some of the must visit locally owned stores include:
– Bespoke jewelry from Claudia’s and CB Stark;
– Clothes and accessories from Mikel Hunter , Slate, Nell, Katydid, Shirt Tales, Backwater Trading Company and The Great Put-On;
– Art from Eisenhauer Gallery, Old Sculpin Gallery and North Water Gallery;
– Wine from Vintage MV Wine & Spirits and Rosewater Market;
– Everyday gifts from Rainy Day
High street chain stores that you can find in Edgartown include Charleston Shoe Company, Lilly Pulitzer, Ethos Concept, Vineyard Vines, LuLu Lemon and J. McLaughlin
In between stores if you need a shot of caffeine, step into Espresso Love or Behind The Bookstore; for a quick bite try Rosewater Market, Taco MV or 19 Raw for some awesome oysters; and for lunch with a view head to the Atlantic Restaurant or Seafood Shanty or a cocktail at Behind The View at the Harbor View Hotel
If you time your visit with “Mother’s Day Weekend” or the “Christmas Stroll” you’ll also find that all the stores will be offering discounts to help ease any spending guilt!
Parking is always a challenge in Edgartown especially in July & August so be patient in your search or alternatively maybe consider leaving the car and using the buses that run every 20 minutes from the other towns.
Happy shopping,
Simon