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Ten Boston Stores to Shop on a New England Vacation

By Susan Stapleton
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By Susan Stapleton

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

It's no secret that we're pretty proud of our world-class shopping here in Las Vegas. People vacation here for the shopping. While it can seem like the be-all-end-all of stateside bricks and mortar, we'd like to shed a little light on some other cities. After all, what are you supposed to do on a weekend out of town—not shop?

Racked Boston editor Susie Kostaras has generously provided a list of ten stores that will give us a run for our money, in more than one sense. Pop into Louis for luxury exclusives, sneak behind a secret Snapple door at Bodega to find a world of streetwear, and finish your weekend with a Sunday browse of the SoWa Vintage Market. We're certain you'll head home with something you couldn't find in Las Vegas. All ten stores are in handy map form after the jump.


· All Weekend Shopping Trips [Racked Vegas]

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1. Harvard Book Store

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1256 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-1515
(617) 661-1515
Visit Website
Block out a chunk of time when you visit this landmark indie bookseller, founded in 1932, which contrary to its name has no affiliation with Harvard University. Readers can pore over the latest bestselling titles or poke around an extensive selection of used books—and then maybe stay for one of the many author lectures in a packed event series schedule. A history of innovation includes eco-friendly bike delivery in the area and a book-making robot to aid in self publishing.

2. Louis

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60 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 262-6100
(617) 262-6100
Visit Website
Nearly a century old and having inhabited a historic Back Bay building for the latter part of the twentieth century, the fine retailer moved itself to the waterfront several seasons ago. Since then, fashion lovers have adored this department store for high end threads from the likes of Proenza Schouler and Jason Wu, intoxicating Diptyque candles, snacks at Sam's, and new hairdos at Salon Mario Russo.

3. Ball And Buck

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144 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 262-1776
(617) 262-1776
Visit Website
Guys love this camo-clad habitat for Americana-inspired threads, kicks, and accessories, usually part of limited edition collabs and all of which are made in the USA. With a commitment to domestic jobs, the team also keeps customers looking fresh at the in-store barbershop.

4. The Tannery

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711 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 267-5500
(617) 267-5500
Visit Website
The Tannery has been a Greater Boston mainstay for decades, and the Boylston Street flagship is just the spot to ogle a variety of footwear from Frye, ritzy outdoor apparel from Canada Goose, and upscale fashion on each store level, our favorite of which is obviously Curated by The Tannery for designers like rag & bone, Kimberly Ovitz, and Helmut Lang.

5. The Frye Company

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284 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 247-3793
(617) 247-3793
Visit Website
Frye has all the makings of a Newbury Street legend: Massachusetts roots (the company was founded here 150 years ago), a revamped historic space, 9000 hand-hung harness rings on the ceiling, and 800 styles to carry the leather-obsessed through each season. It's worth a look.

6. Bodega

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6 Clearway Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 421-1550
(617) 421-1550
Visit Website
The secret Snapple entrance is a rite of passage to many streetwear enthusiasts far and wide—no surprise given its close proximity to the universities. Since the secret is already out, we won't keep mum on the killer selection of all the sneaker favorites, jackets from Schott and Dr. Romanelli, Super and even vintage Cazal eyewear. And if you want a snack, the literal bodega is open too.

7. Follain

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53 Dartmouth Street
Boston, MA 02116
(857) 284-7078
(857) 284-7078
Visit Website
This newcomer has caught nationwide attention for its blend of American-made, all natural beauty inventory. Pick up some regionally sourced castile soap, Gwyneth Paltrow-approved skincare, beeswax lip balm, and chemical-free cosmetics—owner Tara Foley will happily walk you through each product.

8. Bobby from Boston

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19 Thayer Place
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 423-9299
(617) 423-9299
People claim this is the best men's vintage shopping around, and a small women's selection is available too. Amazing bags, preppy wears of yesteryear, and a totally cool ambiance are the attraction here.

9. SoWa Vintage and SoWa Open Markets

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460 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
(800) 403-8305
(800) 403-8305
Visit Website
For the past decade, Bostonians have been strolling SoWa's markets on Sundays in search of clever trinkets, unusual decor, locally crafted items, and a cluster of vintage and antique vendors. Indoors you'll find the year-round Vintage Market, with May through October adding on an outdoor farmer's market, food and fashion truck gatherings, and tent upon tent of distinctive buys. Come fall, artisans prep for the notorious Holiday Market.

10. Patch NYC

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46 Waltham Street
Boston, MA 02118
(917) 292-2640
(917) 292-2640
Visit Website
Given their worldwide fame as artists and collaborators with Target and Anthropologie, we dig that the creative pair behind this design dynasty still calls a little South End courtyard home. The headquarters and shop are a warm setting for striking jewelry and home goods, many of which are private label and all of which are keepers.
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1. Harvard Book Store

1256 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138
Block out a chunk of time when you visit this landmark indie bookseller, founded in 1932, which contrary to its name has no affiliation with Harvard University. Readers can pore over the latest bestselling titles or poke around an extensive selection of used books—and then maybe stay for one of the many author lectures in a packed event series schedule. A history of innovation includes eco-friendly bike delivery in the area and a book-making robot to aid in self publishing.
1256 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02138
(617) 661-1515
Visit Website

2. Louis

60 Northern Avenue, Boston, MA 02110
Nearly a century old and having inhabited a historic Back Bay building for the latter part of the twentieth century, the fine retailer moved itself to the waterfront several seasons ago. Since then, fashion lovers have adored this department store for high end threads from the likes of Proenza Schouler and Jason Wu, intoxicating Diptyque candles, snacks at Sam's, and new hairdos at Salon Mario Russo.
60 Northern Avenue
Boston, MA 02110
(617) 262-6100
Visit Website

3. Ball And Buck

144 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02116
Guys love this camo-clad habitat for Americana-inspired threads, kicks, and accessories, usually part of limited edition collabs and all of which are made in the USA. With a commitment to domestic jobs, the team also keeps customers looking fresh at the in-store barbershop.
144 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 262-1776
Visit Website

4. The Tannery

711 Boylston Street, Boston, MA 02116
The Tannery has been a Greater Boston mainstay for decades, and the Boylston Street flagship is just the spot to ogle a variety of footwear from Frye, ritzy outdoor apparel from Canada Goose, and upscale fashion on each store level, our favorite of which is obviously Curated by The Tannery for designers like rag & bone, Kimberly Ovitz, and Helmut Lang.
711 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02116
(617) 267-5500
Visit Website

5. The Frye Company

284 Newbury Street, Boston, MA 02115
Frye has all the makings of a Newbury Street legend: Massachusetts roots (the company was founded here 150 years ago), a revamped historic space, 9000 hand-hung harness rings on the ceiling, and 800 styles to carry the leather-obsessed through each season. It's worth a look.
284 Newbury Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 247-3793
Visit Website

6. Bodega

6 Clearway Street, Boston, MA 02115
The secret Snapple entrance is a rite of passage to many streetwear enthusiasts far and wide—no surprise given its close proximity to the universities. Since the secret is already out, we won't keep mum on the killer selection of all the sneaker favorites, jackets from Schott and Dr. Romanelli, Super and even vintage Cazal eyewear. And if you want a snack, the literal bodega is open too.
6 Clearway Street
Boston, MA 02115
(617) 421-1550
Visit Website

7. Follain

53 Dartmouth Street, Boston, MA 02116
This newcomer has caught nationwide attention for its blend of American-made, all natural beauty inventory. Pick up some regionally sourced castile soap, Gwyneth Paltrow-approved skincare, beeswax lip balm, and chemical-free cosmetics—owner Tara Foley will happily walk you through each product.
53 Dartmouth Street
Boston, MA 02116
(857) 284-7078
Visit Website

8. Bobby from Boston

19 Thayer Place, Boston, MA 02118
People claim this is the best men's vintage shopping around, and a small women's selection is available too. Amazing bags, preppy wears of yesteryear, and a totally cool ambiance are the attraction here.
19 Thayer Place
Boston, MA 02118
(617) 423-9299

9. SoWa Vintage and SoWa Open Markets

460 Harrison Avenue, Boston, MA 02118
For the past decade, Bostonians have been strolling SoWa's markets on Sundays in search of clever trinkets, unusual decor, locally crafted items, and a cluster of vintage and antique vendors. Indoors you'll find the year-round Vintage Market, with May through October adding on an outdoor farmer's market, food and fashion truck gatherings, and tent upon tent of distinctive buys. Come fall, artisans prep for the notorious Holiday Market.
460 Harrison Avenue
Boston, MA 02118
(800) 403-8305
Visit Website

10. Patch NYC

46 Waltham Street, Boston, MA 02118
Given their worldwide fame as artists and collaborators with Target and Anthropologie, we dig that the creative pair behind this design dynasty still calls a little South End courtyard home. The headquarters and shop are a warm setting for striking jewelry and home goods, many of which are private label and all of which are keepers.
46 Waltham Street
Boston, MA 02118
(917) 292-2640
Visit Website