#StayLocalMA (#StayLocal2021) is an innovative and collaborative regional approach to explore, dine, and shop locally. Creative Collective created The Stay Local MA Campaign to support your favorite small businesses throughout the community – both in-store and online and keep your money local.
“Small businesses are the lifeblood of most communities and on the North Shore that couldn’t be more true,” said John Andrews (he/him), President and Founder of Creative Collective.
As one of the most beautiful destinations not just in Massachusetts but New England as well, Cape Ann has so much to offer. Composed of Gloucester, Essex, Manchester-by-the-Sea, Rockport, Rowley, and Ipswich, Cape Ann is a trendy destination for New England coastal culture, great seafood, boutique shopping, fun excursions, and more.
Here is our #StayLocal guide to the best of Cape Ann.
Visitors are spoiled for choice when it comes to shopping in Cape Ann. Each of the cities within its borders are filled to bursting with unique shopping opportunities from local makers and small business owners.
- The Brass Monkey – 85 Main St, Gloucester: Unique gifts, one-of-a-kind treasures, antique and vintage items
- Dogtown Book Shop – 132 Main St, Gloucester: Books, stationery, and gifts
- The Pewter Shop – 16 Bearskin Neck, Rockport: Locally made jewelry and home goods.
- One Ocean One Love Shop – 6 Bearskin Neck, Rockport: A hand printed surf inspired clothing brand offering one of a kind products
- Manchester by the Book – 27 Union St, Manchester-by-the-Sea: Local Bookstore
- Nostos Boutique – 21 S Main St, Ipswich: A small, well-loved, and carefully curated shop filled with the best of trading cards, board games, party games, and more.
- Forget Me Not Shop – 28 Market St, Ipswich: Consignment shop
- Cellar Door Ipswich – 1 N Main St, Ipswich: Culinary wine shop, olive oil bar, and craft beer
- Labor in Vain – 39 South Main St. Ipswich: Fine goods and gifts
- Twice a Lady – 15 Lexington Ave., Gloucester: Women’s consignment shop that carries new and gently used clothing sized 0 to 3X
Cape Ann is a foodie destination! And it’s not all just seafood. There’s something for every palate on this culinary-centric peninsula.
Breweries:
- 1634 Meadery – 3 Short St, Ipswich: Artisan style honey-wine maker
- Ipswich Ale Brewery – 2 Soffron Ln: Brewery with onsite restaurant serving its beers on tap & a menu of pub dishes & New American eats.
- True North Ale Company – 116 County Rd: Beer lovers sip craft suds from 20 taps on the patio or at tables overlooking the production floor
- Great Marsh Brewing Company -– 99 Main St Essex: Taproom and restaurant
Cafés, Bakeries and Quick Bites
- Castaways Vintage Café – 65 Main St, Gloucester: Tropical surf cafe offering killa coffee, beautiful açaí bowls, juices & smoothies
- Zumi’s – 40 Market St, Ipswich: Warm cafe with a fair-trade focus featuring coffee, pastries, local art & ice cream
- Heart and Soul Café – 0 Central St, Ipswich: Café and eatery
- Little Wolf Coffee – 125a High St, Ipswich: Specialty coffee roaster and café
Dine-In
- Grove Rowley – 101 Main St, Rowley: relaxed dining experience focusing on fresh, local ingredients and featuring a full bar
- Sea Level Newburyport – 1 Market Square: Curated selection of New England’s finest & freshest seafood
- Seaport Grille – 6 Rowe Square, Gloucester: Airy waterfront eatery offers a wide menu of surf ’n’ turf, plus pizza, burgers & signature drinks
- Causeway Restaurant – 78 Essex Ave, Gloucester: Snug, marine-themed standby with jumbo portions of seafood, plus meat entrees & hearty pastas
- Lobsta Land Restaurant – 84 Causeway St, Gloucester: Seasonal mainstay showcasing local seafood with inventive dishes such as lobster bouillabaisse
- Feather & Wedge – 5 Main St, Rockport: A menu of dishes & cocktails with an international focus in a contemporary setting with natural light
- The Grog Restaurant – 13 Middle St, Newburyport: Homey, 2-story pub with 32 beers on tap, an extensive menu of comfort food & live local music
- Michael’s Harborside – 1 Tournament Wharf, Newburyport: Easygoing riverfront spot for steak, seafood & cocktails also features 3 outdoor decks & live music
Cape Ann is home to many arts and cultural institutions, hotels, and experiences. Here are some of our favorites:
- MAGMA – 11 Pleasant St Suite 64: A center for movement practices where people of all ages can discover, develop, and create in a broad curriculum of movement styles
- Cynthia August Images Photography – 2 Central St STE 17, Ipswich: Portrait photographer specializing in business headshots, personal branding & team portraits
- Briar Barn Inn – 101 Main St, Rowley: a distinctive farmhouse experience, with a 30 guest rooms inn, a restaurant, and spa in a country setting just north of Boston
- Rocky Neck Art Colony – 6 Wonson St, Gloucester: Longtime, eclectic arts quarter with galleries, boutiques & restaurants in colorful old houses.
- Cape Ann Museum – 27 Pleasant St, Gloucester: showcase of the art and cultural history of maritime New England
- Rockport Music -Shalin Liu Performance Center – 37 Main St, Rockport : Designed to showcase chamber music, this modern 330-seat venue also hosts jazz, pop & folk concerts.
- Windhover Performing Arts Center – 257R Granite St, Rockport: A performing arts center with studio spaces, dormitories and beautiful outdoor stage
- Gloucester Stage – 267 E Main St, Gloucester: Performing arts theater
- The Crane Estate – 290 Argilla Rd, Ipswich: Historic event venue and estate
- Wolf Hollow – 114 Essex Rd, Ipswich: Wolf reservation and rehabilitation center
- Beauport Gloucester – 55 Commercial St, Gloucester: Offers both city view and ocean view rooms with plush bedding, luxurious bathrooms and a selection of modern amenities
Are you a Cape Ann-based small business who would like to be included in this list? Send us a message at info@creativecollectivema.com with the subject line “#StayLocal2021 in Cape Ann”
Creative Collective’s #NonprofitNovember to highlight nonprofits, foundations, and community organizations North of Boston
This November, Creative Collective is launching #NonprofitNovember, a social media campaign geared towards bringing awareness to local nonprofits and encouraging the public to support. Nonprofit and community organizations foster civic engagement, leadership, and growth for cities, and the role they occupy as cultural touchstones and educational hubs in North Shore communities is difficult to miss.
