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The Downtown New Bern map
(at the front of this book) shows the four free public parking lots in
historic downtown. New Bern imposes a two-hour parking limit, and public
employees are always on the move checking for time-limit violators. |
New
Bern offers many shopping opportunities, from large department stores to
specialty shops and boutiques. Scattered among the streets in New Bern's
Historic Downtown, you'll discover a distinctive selection of shops that
make anyone's must-shop list. For a pleasant meander, stroll along
Middle, Pollock, Hancock, Craven and South Front streets. We've
highlighted a few of the shops you'll find along the way and a few
others around New Bern. These shops are certainly not the totality of
the New Bern shopping experience, but they'll whet your spending
appetite. Because shops can — and do — change their hours to accommodate
the needs of their customers, and because many have seasonal hours, you
should call ahead to check what days and hours they are open. Antiques
shops are featured at the end of this chapter. And don't forget to also
check out our listing of art galleries in the
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Downtown
New Bern
Fraser's Wine, Cheese, Chocolate and
More
Fraser's is an extraordinary shop that
features, much as its name implies, wine, cheese, chocolate and
more, including specialty foods and imported and domestic beer. Also
available are whimsical yet classy wine accessories, home decor
items and Fraser's Fantasy Bags. Snap Dragon Way Cool
Toys How long has it
been since you truly had fun shopping? Try Snapdragon Way Cool Toys for an
inviting selection of baby items, crafts, games, dolls, science kits,
outdoor products and a variety of neat stuff. Snapdragon has Melissa and
Doug, Corolle (dolls), Playmobil, puppets and far too many nifty and
inspiring things to list here. You just have to visit the nooks and crannies
full of bright colors, jumbles of toys and fun. Every corner you turn
reveals something exciting. Snap Dragon is open Monday through Thursday from
10 AM until 5 PM, Friday 10 AM until 8 PM, Saturday 10 AM until 5 PM and
Sunday noon until 4 PM. Art of the Wild Art of the Wild is a magical mix of local
and imported art objects. The artwork is predominantly birds and animals
in the wild, sculpted and carved in wood, marble resin, water buffalo
horns, driftwood and tree roots. You'll find the carvings of the late
Jeth Lindsey as well as the work of his sons, Arden and Vol, and other
local artists. Art of the Wild sells framed and unframed prints, jewelry
and decorative wall objects. Middle Street Landing At Middle Street Landing you enter an
explosion of color into the world of Vera Bradley handbags and
accessories. Then you are enveloped in the fragrant world of
Crabtree & Evelyn, Camille Beckman, The Thymes, Archipelago and Lady
Primrose. You will also discover the fine sterling and gold jewelry
of Pandora and the Swarovski crystal jewelry of Emily Ray. Surprises
abound at Middle Street Landing with the reversible coats of Mycra
Pac, and the Christmas ornaments of Old World and Christopher Radko.
There are also gift baskets for all occasions. The sales staff
offers exceptional customer service. Treasures on the Trent Treasures on the Trent specializes in
gifts for the hard-to-please. You'll always find something unique,
whether you are looking for a goodie for the golf enthusiast, a
distinctive present to celebrate a wedding or housewarming, or a
special gift for the new baby in the family. Decorative glass,
leather jewelry cases, fine jewelry and sterling silver, artwork and
more are but a few of the items you'll enjoy browsing through with a
stop at Treasures on the Trent. A bridal and gift registry service
is available. It's open Monday through Saturday. |
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The Four C's - Coastal Casual Clothing Company 252 Middle St., New Bern (252) 636-3285 |
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Open seven days a week, Four C's is
an adventure in itself. You'll find a mix of gifts and sportswear
for men and women, plus camping gear, travel accessories and
equestrian supplies. The shop carries a nice variety of active wear
made by Columbia, Woolrich, North Face and other well-known brands.
For your feet, choose trendy sandals by Keen and Naot, clogs by
Dansko, plus athletic shoes and hiking boots. Besides all this, you
can buy hats, books, toys and jewelry — great gifts for all ages.
Four C's even throws in the gift wrapping for free. The Birthplace of Pepsi Cola Come see where this popular soft
drink got its start and enjoy an ice-cold Pepsi at the reproduction
of pharmacist Caleb Bradham's soda fountain. Bradham invented what
was first known as "Brad's Drink" in 1898. A gift shop offers a
plethora of Pepsi merchandise, everything from bags, books and bears
to shirts, toy trucks and limited-edition collectibles. The shop is
open every day. Bear Essentials Pamper yourself at Bear Essentials,
which offers an attractive and useful array of organic and natural
personal-care products, including soaps, lotions, cosmetics, balms
and more. This Insider was particularly drawn to apricot soap that
includes honey in every bar — it not only smells good but makes skin
feel silky smooth. Located in downtown's Kress Building, Bear
Essentials also features a selection of cute baby clothing made from
all-natural cotton and a line of women's clothing made from hemp.
Custom gift baskets also can be created from your selections. It's
open Monday through Saturday. Fun Essentials Those looking for unusual items to
make a one-of-a-kind statement are never disappointed at Fun
Essentials, a short stroll from the waterfront in downtown New
Bern's Kress Building. Shoppers will enjoy the great selection of
jewelry, handbags and everything needed — from "FUNctional to
FUNkadelic" — to entertain in style. Fun Essentials features a wide
variety of distinctive and humorous items to decorate the home, and
it's a great place to find just the right gift with the right dose
of attitude. It's open Monday through Saturday. Rosemary St. Clair Originals Rosemary St. Clair Originals, which
offers a truly unique shopping experience, has moved to a new
location —"The Red House" next door to the Museum Store at Tryon
Palace. Rosemary creates hand-painted, appliquéd, quilted and
embroidered clothing for regular and plus-size figures. Many of
these Art-to-Wear clothing items and purses are one-of-a kind
collectibles. Rosemary also features hand-painted T-shirts,
patchwork vests and quilted jackets, along with a wonderful line of
costume and handmade jewelry. Gift certificates and free gift
wrapping are available, and layaways and special orders are always
welcome. Tryon Palace Museum Store/Craft and
Garden Shop Tryon Palace has two shops, one
featuring New Bern and Colonial memorabilia and gift items, and the
other devoted to garden things and local crafts. The Museum Shop, on
the corner of Pollock and Eden streets, facing Eden, carries
distinctive jewelry; fine home-decor items in glass, paper,
porcelain, silver and other materials; books on the history of New
Bern, Craven County, North Carolina, the South and decorative arts;
and much more. The Garden Shop features a selection of heirloom
plants, crafts, books and tasty sauces and jellies. Both shops offer
a wonderful selection of souvenirs for children. If you are not
buying a general admission ticket to tour Tryon Palace and its
gardens, you'll need to pick up a pass at the Visitors Center or the
Museum Shop in order to get to the Garden Shop because it is located
inside the gate on palace grounds. Both shops are open daily. |
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Carolina Creations
317-A Pollock St., New Bern (252) 633-4369 |
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Carolina Creations is an art, craft and
gift gallery par excellence. Many potters, glass blowers, woodworkers
and jewelers are represented, and the result is a broad selection of
practical and decorative art for the home, including works by resident
potter Michael Francoeur and others. Stop and see the local art —
Carolina Creations features a unique collection of original art, prints
and note cards by local artists, as well beautiful paintings and
delightful pen-and-ink drawings by resident artist Janet Francoeur. Free
gift wrapping, layaway plans and a bridal registry are offered. Branch's For more than 50 years, Branch's has
offered New Bernians a unique shopping experience. A
third-generation, family-owned business, Branch's now focuses on
providing quality furniture for the home and office, accessories,
prints, mirrors, lamps and more in over 200 product lines. Branch's
features fine gift items such as Howard Miller clocks; Gibson photo
albums, scrapbooks, address and guest books; Michael Healy doorbell
covers and door knockers; and Yankee candles. Mitchell Hardware - Since 1898 This is a place you have to experience
first-hand. The window display is like a historic showing of farm and garden
equipment. Step inside to find an eclectic offering of traditional hardware
items in a turn-of-the-century setting. Mitchell's carries a complete line
of hardware, garden and yard equipment, practical gifts, cast-iron and
enamelware and garden seeds. There is also a large country store section
with everything from country hams to crockery and pottery. But Mitchell's,
which has been in business for more than 100 years, is an honest-to-gosh,
no-nonsense hardware store that opens at 6:30 AM Monday through Saturday.
It's the place Insiders depend on to get those difficult-to-find items they
remember from Grandma's kitchen and Grandpa's tool shed. Farmer's Market This terrific market, housed in a
large, airy building, is the place to go for fresh vegetables and
fruits, flowers and crafts and free-range meats. On any given
weekend, you also might find jams, jellies, pickles, preserves and
vinegars, along with home-baked cakes, breads and pastries. The
market runs year round; from March through December it's open on
Saturdays from 7 AM to 1 PM; from January to March, it is open from
8 AM to noon. A word to the wise: Go early when the market first
opens, before all the good stuff is gone. Entertainment and
demonstrations are also featured on selected weekends. The Galley Store Located in historic downtown New Bern
on the waterfront, The Galley Store is convenient whether you’re
traveling by land or by river. Stop in for a “Special of the Day”
complete meal or just grab a restaurant-quality sandwich. Try the
Weekly Meal Planner and forget about the stress of shopping and
cooking. The Galley Store accepts grocery and provisioning orders by
phone or on-line as an added convenience for boaters and downtown
residents. The Galley offers name-brand, choice-cut steaks, meat,
fruit, vegetables, basic groceries and home supplies, along with
local baked goods and seafood, coffee, wine and beer. Visitors can
find a wide variety of North Carolina products from peanuts to ham,
whether they’re planning a party, an extended stay or a gift basket
to take home from vacation. Stop by and fuel up at The Galley’s BP
fuel station (including on-road diesel) or pull up to the dock
fueling stations. In addition to food, beverage and fuel, The Galley
also sells hunting and fishing licenses, tackle and bait for those
eager to enjoy the great outdoors. There are plenty of places at The
Galley to just sit or stroll along the beautiful waterfront of New
Bern and soon there will be a dock restaurant, bar and lounge with
the best river views found in the area.
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Continue to Around New Bern |