SHOPPING
& ANTIQUES
Today's Downtown
Gloucester's downtown is home to many unique shops, galleries and antique
shops. It is also the heart of our city with the Gloucester Lyceum
and Sawyer Free Library, City Hall and the Post Office all being located in the
area.
With the advent of the "mall", downtowns across the country went through
many changes. Gloucester, in recent years, has made major improvements
to the Main Street area and this has encouraged many local businesses to
invest. New stores, condos and apartments have sprung up
throughout the area making it a lovely area to work, shop and
live.
Visitors
to Gloucester wishing to shop can find a variety of items from
historic photos and art, giftware, clothing, souvenirs, fine
jewelry, kitchen items, glass beads, shoes, vintage clothing
and accessories, new books, used books, toys and childrens' gifts
to formal gowns, cameras, socks, pocketbooks, used records
and discs, home decorating accessories, antiques and collectibles.
You can go to the bank, have a facial, enjoy a massage,
have lunch, go to the bakery, have a cup of expresso, view an
art show and have dinner all in our downtown area.
Brick sidewalks, old fashioned street lights, window boxes and
containers of planted flowers all make it a great spot to include
as part of your visit.
Directions:
Visiting
Gloucester's downtown is easy. Take Rte. 128
North to Exit 14. At the end of the ramp, go right onto
Rte. 133. Follow this to the harbor. If you have
questions about Gloucester, you can take a right into Stage Fort
Park to visit our Gloucester Welcoming Center, opened the end
of May through October. Otherwise, go left over the drawbridge
and follow Stacy Boulevard into the downtown. There are
parking lots along Rogers Street. Main Street is one block
up on your left, running parallel to Rogers.
If
coming by train, the MBTA depot is located on Railroad Avenue. Upon
exiting the train, take a left along Railroad Ave. Cross
over to the right side of the street as it has a sidewalk. At
the end of Railroad Ave. cross over Prospect Street and turn
left. Take the second right, Dale Avenue. This will
take you past the Post Office, the library and City Hall into
our historic district, Middle Street. Middle Street
runs parallel to Main Street and Rogers Street.
Public
restrooms are located in the downtown at the following locations: City
Hall, Sawyer Free Library, Police Station, Senior Center, Fitz
Hugh Land House, Chamber of Commerce, Gloucester House and
the Visitor Welcoming Center at Stage Fort Park.
