Downtown Amherst is so close to the college that I can go into town at least once every week, if not multiple times, especially since I walk through town to get to the Jones Library, where I volunteer with the Poetry Club. One of Downtown’s most fantastic features is that most stores and restaurants are small, locally owned businesses. Getting to explore Downtown Amherst has been a great experience during my first year at Amherst, and I already have developed favorites.
One of my favorite stores by far is Amythest, a crystal store with a wide selection of trinkets and jewelry at a reasonable price. This was the first store that my orientation leader brought me and a few of my friends during a lunch break during our orientation. At this store, I’ve purchased a few rings, ear cuffs, and a necklace that I wear often to complement my outfits, and my friends who also own jewelry from the store wear them often as well.
Another store I visit is Mass Vintage, usually during their $5 Sunday morning sales where they have tons of vintage clothing on sale outside their store for only $5. From the sale, I’ve gotten a rainjacket that matches my friend’s, and this rainjacket has become a quick favorite of mine as it has kept me dry on rainy days. Although I’ve only been there two times, Amherst Books is also a really cool store. They offer a wide catalog of books, including books that are required for courses at Amherst and other colleges in the five-college consortium.
Amherst has a great selection of cafés and boba stores for students to study at. During my off-season weekends, my friends and I usually go to Black Sheep and listen to live music while studying and enjoying a brunch sandwich and warm drink. The atmosphere is very cozy, and the location is closer to Amherst than most other restaurants in the downtown area, so it’s become a fast favorite. I also enjoy Share Coffee, a café with a great selection of drinks. The environment of this café tends to be noisier because the café is always busy, especially in the morning. However, their hot chocolate is fantastic, and the dining area, both indoors and outdoors, has comfortable seating.
There are also tons of great restaurants in Downtown Amherst, some of which often provide catering for student events. Formosa, a Chinese restaurant, was the first restaurant I ate at when I arrived at Amherst before my orientation started, and it is, by far, my favorite Chinese restaurant in the area. Though that isn’t a common opinion, I personally love Formosa because they make Chinese dishes that taste just like the ones made by my favorite local Chinese restaurant back in the Bay Area. I also love going to IYA Sushi. Though it’s located at the far end of the downtown area, the restaurant has great food offered at a reasonable price and an easy way to split the check for friends who go to eat there together.
I’m excited to continue exploring stores in the area outside of Downtown Amherst and continue visiting my favorite places in the Downtown area during the rest of my time at Amherst!