Imaginary Valley

What do people want downtown?

There are a lot of empty shops in downtown Northampton. When asked to pick any business to open up, this is what people suggested. Below are the unique ideas submitted, as well as a few interesting stats, along with quotes from thoughtful submissions.

For a fun interactive view, visit this site on a larger screen. :)

show all quotes stats service residential retail arts entertainment food

I think we have a great opportunity with the generous community herein the valley to have a creative solution downtown for growing our sense of community by having a place, whether art space or cafe based to include the homeless to give them jobs for a day even just cleaning or setting up a space for an event, etc.
Anything other than food.
There are so many empty storefronts in town these days, which really begs the question of how do we get people to shop in town as opposed to online or in Hadley.
How do we encourage new, small, independent businesses in a town where rent is soaring even as Main Street empties?
I'd love to see a small comedy theater with stand up, sketch and improv at night and classes for all ages during the day!
Food
Submissions:

8%
Want Ramen
Food
Submissions:

2%
Want Ethiopian Food
Food Submissions:

11%
Want Another Location of a restaurant that already exists elsewhere in western Mass
All
Submissions:

20%
Submitted an Idea
Suggested in Our Graphics
Blacksmith shop
Electric car parking garage with charging stations
Kid-
friendly barber
Swim club with warm therapy pool
STEM based exploratorium
Laundromat bookstore with free wifi
$20 day spa
Low-cost residential housing
Pet supply store and adoption center
Video rental store
Hardware store
Pop-up market
Indoor farmer’s market
Bookstore cafe
Consignment shop
Affordable clothing stores
Unique shoe store
Grocery store w/local produce that pays a living wage
Sophisticated, high-end cannabis dispensary
Fabric & craft store
DIY home goods store
“Stuff” library that rents or loans tools
Affordable kids’ stuff store
Fish market
General store
Plus size clothing shop
Foreign language library and bookstore
Trader Joe’s
Musical instrument store
Something like Woolworths
Artsy t-shirt shop
Sportsman Shop for hunting and fishing gear
Tropical fish shop
Dress shop for professional women
Kid- friendly shoe store
Store devoted to Danish Modern design
Affordable male clothing store
Plant store (both exotic and practical)
Lush cosmetics
Urban co-op
Day care facility for low income families
Western MA recovery community space
LGBT resource center
Homeless shelter
Community mental health center
Republican Party community outreach center
Career development business and career training center
A paint your own pottery place
Artist Workshop
Maker Space
Art Gallery
Affordable performance art space for local artists
Community drop in space
Weaving Studio
Northampton Community Television downtown
Music venue / practice space
Mass MoCA satellite space
Calvin Coolidge museum
Photography studio for artists to use
Comic book museum
Indy movie theatre
Gay bar for dancing
Game cafe & bar
Ping-pong, pinball and pool (all ages) with snacks!
Parent cafe / playspace
Movie theatre offering dinner and drinks
Improv theatre
Arcade downtown
Creative space for teens
Romantic, fun entertainment spot for 50 somethings
Hookah bar
Cabaret nightclub
Private karaoke rooms
Indoor water park
Weed cafe
Indoor playspace for kids
Dance club
Bar with live music
Indoor park with plants and wi-fi
Body positive strip club for men & women
Cat cafe
Ramen shop
Jewish deli
Wine and cheese place with live music
Second location of Alvah Stone
Second location of Coco
Outdoor “Taste of Northampton”
Tandem bagels downtown
Second location of Florence Pie Bar
Donut Dip
Piano bar
Salad place
Carnivore cafe
REAL Mexican food restaurant
Hot pot restaurant
Ethiopian restaurant
Local BBQ
Gluten-free bakery
Gelataria
Flatbread Company
Grilled cheese restaurant
German restaurant
Locavore restaurant
Karma Kitchen
Internet cafe
PHO
Wings over Northampton
Pie factory with lunch options
Arepas
Hotcakes
Pupusa shop
Cookie dough parlor
Coney Islands Hot Dogs #2
China Wok Express Downtown
100% Vegan restaurant
COOP tap room for local breweries and vineyards
Brinner (breakfast for dinner)
Pizza shop
Au bon pain
Portuguese restaurant
Bar and restaurant like Hope & Olive: lively full bar and good food
Authentic healthy Japanese home cooking
A healthy brunch spot
Wine bar
Vermont Country Deli
Hunan Gourmet downtown
an upscale seafood restaurant
Gourmet hot dog place
Ice cream shop
South Indian
Chinese bakery
Naked bakery
24 hour diner
Jamaican meat pie to-go
West Indian food
Korean BBQ
Paleo restaurant
Gourmet vegetarian restaurant
More street and deck cafes
Cocktail bar
Hispanic or Puerto Rican restaurant
Reopen Kathy’s Diner
Fried seafood
Munchkin Factory
Food Cart Park