Good Buy The campus bookstore has all the textbooks and college hoodies you’ll need. But if you’re looking for new jeans or a tapestry for your dorm room, it’s time to head down the hill toward town. We’ve highlighted a few of our favorite locally owned stores below, categorized by typical college-related consumer needs. You’ll find more options in the Shop Here directory on page 86.
A sampling of what’s in store downtown By Carolyn Fox
File: Matthew Thorsen
When you need a kick-ass Halloween costume: Old Gold 180 Main St., Burlington, 864-7786 Stepping into this vintage outpost on Main Street feels like teleporting directly to Manhattan’s East Village. Since 1973, the mom-andpop shop has stocked the best in wacky used and consignment wear — picture wigs and go-go boots in every hue imaginable. There’s never a shortage of hot pants, 1950s prom wear, fedoras or feathered headdresses, either. Every fall, the cavernous back room transforms into a mecca for Halloween costumes. Whether you want to go as Sasquatch or a saucy version of any Disney character, Old Gold has got you covered — and the überfriendly staff, well-versed in the history of fashion, are happy to help style your look. A bit of advice: Shop early. No one wants to get stuck wearing a Santa suit on All Hallow’s Eve.
Also try: The Clothing Line, Downtown Threads
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When you’re sick of staring at white walls: The ReSTORE
When you’d like to buy some incense — or maybe a pipe: The Bern Gallery
266 Pine St., Burlington, 658-4143, restorevt.org
135 Main St., Burlington, 865-0994, berngallery.com
Dorm room livin’ ain’t easy. The bathrooms are communal, the carpets are nasty and the walls are a boring shade of white. Luckily, all it takes are a few great accessories to transform a blah living space into one that’s, like, totally bodacious. Enter the ReSTORE, trading in used and refurbished furniture, electronics and décor. Not only does this place cater to a college student’s meager budget, it saves perfectly usable household goods from the landfill. If you can get past the dust bunnies, you’ll find a big supply of mirrors, paintings, curtains and photo frames to spruce up your lackluster walls. Or go big: Loft your bed and buy a cheap used couch to put underneath. Soon your room will be the dorm’s raddest hangout.
The Bern Gallery isn’t your average smoke shop. It’s not your average art gallery, either. In the warmer months, you’ll see visitors chilling at the outdoor hookah bar. Inside, you’ll find counterculture drawings and paintings, local T-shirts, and some of the most amazing glassblown pipes — aka “functional” art — on the East Coast. It ranges from tiny bowls to a tricked-out Star Wars-inspired bong with a $9000 price tag. From September 17 to 22, check out the annual Pipe Classic, which draws pipe artists from all over the world to make molten marvels in the on-site glassblowing booth. If you can take the heat, schedule a lesson.
Also try: Homeport, Anjou & the Little Pear
Also try: Northern Lights, Full Tank