1. The Essex Saybrook Antiques Village
City: Old Saybrook, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 388-0689
Address: 954 Middlesex Tpke.
Description: With its blue whale sign, the Antiques Village calls you in to this nice selection of booths filled by different dealers. There are paintings, antique toys, swords and knives, jewelry, furniture, and more. Dig around. You’ll find a rare book for $20 or a set of antique whiskey glasses to bring out for company. They have a selection of old Connecticut postcards, oriental rugs, fishing rods, and saddles—something for every interest. Down Route 154 South is the similarly named Old Saybrook Antiques Center, which has many fine pieces but caters to a wealthier clientele. North are a number of other antiques shops within a few hundred yards. Just over the border in Essex is Valley Farm Antiques, a standout among them, with trestle tables and decorative architectural pieces of all sorts.
2. Old Saybrook Farmers’ Market
City: Old Saybrook, CT
Category: Shopping
Address: 210 Main St.
Description: For the past decade and more, the Old Saybrook Farmer’s Market has been one of the most consistent and lauded in the state. Open from late June to the end of Oct, usually Wed and Sat, the market is held on the property of William Childress. There are usually about 30 vendors, all strictly Connecticut products. You’ll get meat from Stonington, pottery from Madison, and berries from Norwich, along with fresh-baked bread, kettle corn made on-site, and a variety of handcrafted items for sale. There is usually live music or other demonstrations, anything from martial arts to craft skills.
3. North Cove Outfitters
City: Old Saybrook, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 388-6585
Address: 75 Main St.
Insider Pick:
Description: Since 1988 North Cove has been serving the shoreline’s outdoor needs. They have equipment for camping, fishing, hiking, paddle sports, and shooting sports, along with footwear and some wonderful vintage canoes. There’s a substantial book section with guides to all the outdoor activities in Connecticut. Owners Norm Cavallaro and Ed Carney are dedicated to having the best outdoor store in Connecticut, and they often win the title. This store may not be as large as the new Cabela’s outside Hartford, but it has a heart, and is still bigger and more comprehensive than every other outdoor store in the state. North Cove also runs classes for sports like fly fishing and kayaking. Stop next door for a bite of lunch and coffee at Coffe Toscana before heading out onto the trails or the water.
4. Fromage Fine Foods And Coffees
City: Old Saybrook, CT
Category: Shopping
Telephone: (860) 388-5750
Address: 873 Boston Post Rd.
Description: For the last two decades, Christine Chesanek has run this charming store with the largest selection of cheese on the shoreline. Along with over 100 cheeses, Fromage Fine Foods has coffees, pastas, olive oils, jams, salamis, sausages, spices, wild game pâtés, caviar, cookies, and fresh breads from the Copper Beech Inn’s bakery. You can get a fresh-brewed cup of gourmet coffee to drink as you browse the shop. This gourmet shop used to be located in a much smaller store, and the new counter is as big as the entire old store. That’s good news for you, because Christine can fit in a lot more cheese.