Close To Home, A World Away
23
www.blockislandinfo.com
A SHOPPER'S
HEAVEN
There's something
for everyone
THE BLOCK ISLAND SHOPPING BuG bit me
early. as a young girl summering here, I took the
money I earned working at my parents' take-out and
ran down the street to the candy store with my eye on
securing a roll of candy
dots. I have to acknowl-
edge that I still hold a
soft spot for these little
pieces of sugar.
Today, though, my
shopping horizons
have expanded, and the
roughly 50 Island shops
offering everything
from T-shirts to jewelry
quench my thirst. one
of the facets of life I love
here is the absence of
chain stores with their generic product lines and idle
sales clerks.
On Block Island, shop owners take great pains to
hand-select their products and offer one-of-a-kind
gifts and novelties. They take great pride in their stores
and more often than not, you will find that the clerk
behind the register is actually the owner. The major-
ity of these "mom-and-pop" stores went into busi-
ness years ago and have spent those years perfecting
everything from their display cases to their prices. our
honey and jam makers continually improve their of-
ferings, and new-style flip-flops arrive every year.
My new candy these days, though, are Vera Bradley
handbags and Block Island-themed gifts for friends
on the mainland. each year during the christmas
Stroll in November, I find bargain prices on presents
for my family and friends. I love the feeling of know-
ing that I'm giving a present that will stand out and
also won't break the bank. Besides the bargains there
are no lines at the checkout, you don't need to find
parking, and the shop owners give free hot cider to
warm you up. It's a totally stress-free
shopping experience.
during the rest of the year I love be-
ing able to walk the historic downtown
area without the need of a car or taxi.
The shops are just steps away from the
ferry docks in old Harbor, putting them
within easy reach of visitors as well as
residents like me. The variety of goods
that can be found in this small area is
amazing, and I can always find the perfect gift.
As a visitor to Block Island, the best way to enjoy
shopping is as a complement to the Island's other
wonders. The shops can provide the needed gear
for your hike on the Greenway trails or your dive to
shipwrecks off the coast. Need sunglasses or a fishing
pole? Want to rent a surfboard or kayak? Forget your
bathing suit or board shorts? not a problem. The
shops here have everything you might need to help
fulfill the perfect vacation.
and before you leave, stop by one of the candy
stores to indulge yourself. you may even see me pick-
ing up some candy dots.
Jessica K. Willi
Executive Director
Block Island Tourism Council
As a visitor to Block
Island, the best way to
enjoy shopping is as
a complement to the
Island's other wonders.
The shops can provide
the needed gear for your
hike on the Greenway
trails or your dive to
shipwrecks off the coast.
Photos by Celeste Sloman