- Poll to identify America’s top 150 main streets for Christmas shopping.
- AZ’s representatives were: Main St, Bisbee; Whiskey Row, Prescott and Main St, Jerome.
In the past few decades, the expansion of online shopping and large malls on the outskirts of towns has led to a significant decline in popularity of the traditional main street. However, dotted around the country are hidden gem main streets that have retained their unique character and charm, beloved by locals and those visiting from out of town. Present.com carried out a survey of 3,000 respondents to uncover the best main streets for Christmas shopping in America – places where you can find everything from boutique stores and artisan shops to historic storefronts.
The top 10 were as follows:
#1 Main Street, Aurora, New York
Top of the list was Main Street in Aurora, New York state. Locals described it as a ‘quaint escape brimming with historic charm and holiday spirit’ – think the kind of street you might find in one of the scenes of It’s a Wonderful Life. Nestled in the Finger Lakes region, its boutique shops and artisan stores are the perfect places to find those unique, one-of-a-kind Christmas gifts. During the festive season, it sparkles with twinkling lights, while lampposts are clad in wreaths, which makes for a truly magical destination for holiday shoppers.
#2 Main Street, Cooperstown, New York
The second most popular nationally was Main Street, Cooperstown, also in the state of New York. While Cooperstown is famous for its baseball heritage – it’s home to the National Baseball Hall of Fame – its Main Street transforms into a veritable winter wonderland during the holidays. Storefronts are decorated with artificial (or sometimes real) snow, candlelight glows softly through windows, and the whole thing has a very Dickensian feel.
#3 Main Street, New Hope, Pennsylvania
At number 3 is Main Street, New Hope, in Pennsylvania. This place is a vibrant hub of creativity and holiday spirit. Here you’ll find eclectic art galleries, quirky boutiques, and artisan shops – which makes it a treasure trove for unique Christmas finds.
#4 Main Street, Mystic, Connecticut
The Main Street in Mystic, Connecticut, really captures the spirit of New England Christmas. Here you’ll find a range of specialty shops, bookstores, local eateries and eclectic boutiques which actually make gift-hunting a joy, rather than a chore. Once you’ve finished shopping, you can stroll by Mystic River and check out its iconic drawbridge.
#5 Ocean Avenue, Carmel-by-the-Sea, California
Number 5 on the list adds a bit of sunshine to the festive season: it’s Ocean Avenue in Carmel-by-the-Sea in California. Already quite the upscale town, its main street features European-inspired architecture and elegant boutiques, making a must-visit for luxury Christmas shopping sprees.
#6 Genesee Street, Skaneateles, New York
Genesee Street in Skaneateles is quite Dickensian, as every year the town actually hosts a Dickens-themed Christmas celebration, complete with carolers and costumed characters. Set against the backdrop of Skaneateles Lake, the street’s mix of charming boutiques and stores radiates festive cheer.
#7 Broad Street, Nevada City, California
Broad Street in Nevada City, California, makes you feel as if you’ve stepped back in time, thanks to the city’s gold rush-era architecture and Victorian Christmas celebrations. Occasional carolers and twinkling lights add to the festive atmosphere.
#8 Main Street, Lake Placid, New York
The Main Street, Lake Placid placed in 8th overall. As well as the ideal place to shop, Lake Placid – which hosted the Winter Olympics in 1980 – also boasts breathtaking mountain views. Along Main Street you’ll find an array of local boutiques, outdoor gear shops, and charming coffee shops where you can enjoy the festive decor and snow-dusted scenery while finding gifts to suit every taste.
#9 Main Street, Tarrytown, New York
Another New York State entry, Tarrytown’s historic Main Street simply oozes small-town charm, but with a sophisticated side. Here you’ll find unique shops, antique stores, and gourmet markets, ideal for more thoughtful gifts. Additionally, breathtaking views of the Hudson River further add to the overall experience.
#10 Park Avenue, Winter Park, Florida
Rounding up the top 10 is Park Avenue in Winter Park, Florida. The tree-lined streets feature many beautiful independent stores, and outdoor coffee shops so you can sit and soak up the sunshine in between purchases.
Three Arizona main streets were included among the nation’s top 150 for Christmas shopping:
#68 Main Street, Bisbee
Bisbee’s historic Main Street exudes eclectic charm, with holiday lights, unique art galleries, and vintage shops that create a one-of-a-kind Christmas shopping experience in this hillside town.
#85 Whiskey Row, Prescott
Prescott’s Whiskey Row turns into a holiday hub, with unique shops, festive decor, and historic charm that make Christmas shopping special.
#130 Main Street, Jerome
Jerome’s artistic community shines during the holidays, with Main Street shops offering creative, handcrafted gifts in a scenic, historic setting decorated with festive lights.
Infographic showing America’s top 150 main streets for Christmas shopping
The survey also revealed interesting insights into what makes small-town main streets so special during the holiday season: over a third of us (36%) value unique and locally-made gifts, indicating that people prefer one-of-a-kind finds that carry a personal touch. Festive decorations and holiday atmosphere (34%) came in a close second. Friendly, personalized customer service was also important (12%), which goes to show that people appreciate when store workers take the time to listen and give advice. Historic charm and scenic ambiance (14%) was also a key factor. Finally, but perhaps most importantly, convenient parking and accessibility (4%) rounded out the list.
When it comes to specific types of stores, these were the ones that made the cut: nearly a third (30%) rated boutique clothing and fashion stores the highest – after all, who doesn’t want to receive a nice woolen scarf, a cozy sweater, or a lovely dress? Artisan and handmade gift shops (22%) and vintage and antique shops (20%) also scored highly for their unique offerings – here you’ll find one-off items you can’t find anywhere else. Bookstores and specialty gift shops (16%) and local food and wine shops (12%) completed the list; after all, you can’t go wrong with buying your loved ones a book by an author they love, or the current bestseller, and as for food and wine – not many people are going to be disappointed when they unwrap those!
Present.com’s survey also found that certain elements add to the overall holiday shopping experience on main streets. Light displays and festive decorations (46%) were the clear favorite, demonstrating their power to create a magical environment. Winter markets and seasonal pop-ups (22%) were also popular, offering shoppers something different that they wouldn’t get at any other time of year. Other appreciated elements included warm indoor spaces to relax in, (14%), horse-drawn carriage rides (10%), and street musicians or carolers performing holiday music (8%).
The survey also explored how far shoppers are willing to travel. The most common answer (40%) was up to one hour, which shows a willingness to seek out new finds beyond the local options. Less than 30 minutes (19%) and 1–2 hours (19%) followed closely. For highly-dedicated holiday enthusiasts, 12% were willing to travel 4+ hours and 10% were willing to travel 2–4 hours. And when asked to describe the ideal main street for holiday shopping in one word, the overwhelming majority chose ‘festive’ (66%), followed by ‘cozy’ (10%), ‘quaint’ (10%), ‘vibrant’ (8%), and ‘elegant’ (6%).
“Main streets are the heart and soul of communities, especially during the holiday season,” said Sanjit Sandhu of Present.com. “Our survey highlights the many charming and unique main streets across the country, all of which offer a memorable shopping experience for the holidays that simply can’t be replicated. These main streets remind us to support local businesses as we make holiday memories that last a lifetime.”
