Harvard Square, Cambridge Shopping Guide

A map some of the coolest independent shops in Harvard Square, Cambridge.

Black Ink

Black Ink does a wonderful job of selling nothing in particular. Hello Kitty lunchboxes, rubber peanuts, squiggly sushi plates, banana-shaped doorstops and Korean composition books are among the...

Eye Q Optical

One million architects can't be wrong: fashionable glasses are the most important accessory you can own. Eye Q has nothing but fashionable frames along with the staff to help you find that...

Harvard Book Store

When you open a book store across the street from the most heralded institution in American academics, it better be one damn fine shop. Fortunately, Harvard Book Store lives up to its high...

J. Press

J. Press has been dressing Ivy League men since 1902 and from the look of things they haven't changed much in the past century or so. The clothing (mostly consisting of the store's own...

Museum of Useful Things

Imagine a world without coat hangers, dustpans, and bottle openers. Now, we're not sure what hell looks like but this would be a good place to start. The Museum of Useful Things pays homage...

Proletariat

It's pretty safe to say that when The Revolution comes it will not come from Harvard Square, but don't let that discourage you from visiting Proletariat anyway. The counter-culture...

The Globe Corner Bookstore

The travel bookshop is a thing of fantasy in America. You'll see them in England, or in movies set in England, but in America we prefer our bookstores generic and massive. If you happen to...

Black Ink

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Black Ink does a wonderful job of selling nothing in particular. Hello Kitty lunchboxes, rubber peanuts, squiggly sushi plates, banana-shaped doorstops and Korean composition books are among the random items that line the store's tall, narrow shelves. These aren't the types of things you can't live without, but they are the types of things that make life a little more fun.

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Address:
5 Brattle Street
Cambridge MA 02138

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-617-497-1221
Hours: Mon-Sat: 10-7 Sun: 12-6

Tags: good for gifts, home accessories, paper goods, toys

Eye Q Optical

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One million architects can't be wrong: fashionable glasses are the most important accessory you can own. Eye Q has nothing but fashionable frames along with the staff to help you find that perfect pair. Shopping at the store is a whirlwind experience: bet on having the first frame thrust your way within a minute of entering the store with the stream not stopping until both you and the...

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Address:
12 Eliot Street
Cambridge MA 02138

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-617-354-3303
Hours: Mon-Wed: 10-6 Thu: 10-7 Fri-Sat: 10-6 Sun: 12-4

Tags: eyewear

Harvard Book Store

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When you open a book store across the street from the most heralded institution in American academics, it better be one damn fine shop. Fortunately, Harvard Book Store lives up to its high expectations. The store's high shelves stock a massive selection of books, with an especially abundant non-fiction section. Furthermore, the store has succeeded in fostering a community of book lovers....

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Address:
1256 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge MA 02138

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-617-661-1515
Hours: Mon-Thu: 9-11 Fri-Sat: 9-12 Sun: 10-10

Tags: books, used books

J. Press

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J. Press has been dressing Ivy League men since 1902 and from the look of things they haven't changed much in the past century or so. The clothing (mostly consisting of the store's own collection) makes George Bush's garb looks risqué in comparison. Expect to see pastel cross-stitch sweaters, plaid ties, and thick cotton button-downs: styles so outdated that they have an...

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Address:
82 Mt. Auburn Street
Cambridge MA 02138

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-617-547-9886
Hours: Mon-Sat: 9-5 Sun: Closed

Tags: men's accessories, men's clothing

Museum of Useful Things

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Imagine a world without coat hangers, dustpans, and bottle openers. Now, we're not sure what hell looks like but this would be a good place to start. The Museum of Useful Things pays homage to those little objects that make our lives go round. Full of well-designed incarnations of coat hangers and napkin dispensers, tape measures and pencil holders the store is as quirky as it is...

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Address:
49b Brattle Street
Cambridge MA 02128

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-617-576-3322
Hours: Mon-Sat: 11-7 Sun: 12-6

Tags: home accessories, office

Proletariat

It's pretty safe to say that when The Revolution comes it will not come from Harvard Square, but don't let that discourage you from visiting Proletariat anyway. The counter-culture loving store has a closed fist on it's logo, a Soviet flag on the wall and cool clothing and accessories everywhere you look. The T-shirt selection (the hallmark by which all vintage stores must be...

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Address:
The Garage
81 Mount Auburn Street
Cambridge MA 02138

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-617-661-3865
Hours: Mon-Sat: 11-7 Sun: 12-5

Tags: graffiti, t-shirts, vintage clothing

The Globe Corner Bookstore

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The travel bookshop is a thing of fantasy in America. You'll see them in England, or in movies set in England, but in America we prefer our bookstores generic and massive. If you happen to be filming a movie, or, go figure, are interested in learning about places other than America then you need to visit The Globe Corner Bookstore. You'll find a warm, pleasant atmosphere in which...

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Address:
28 Church Street
Cambridge MA 02138

Site: Official Site Open Link in New Window
Phone: 1-617-497-6277
Hours: Mon-Sat: 9:30-9 Sun: 11-6

Tags: books, maps, travel
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