The best shops and cafés on Church Street Marketplace include Crow Bookshop and Phoenix Books for reading, Outdoor Gear Exchange for new and consigned outdoor gear, a cluster of vintage clothing shops, and cafés like Kru Coffee and Artemus Café, all along a four-block pedestrian mall in downtown Burlington. Spinner Place, at 25 Winooski Falls Way in downtown Winooski, sits about two miles away, so the marketplace is a short bus ride or drive from home.
Spinner Place offers fully furnished apartments with all utilities and Wi-Fi included, just one block from Winooski’s roundabout of coffee shops and restaurants. With two- through eight-bedroom layouts and roommate matching available, it’s easy to find a setup that fits your plans for the year.
Spinner Place Guide to Church Street Marketplace
Church Street Marketplace covers the four blocks of Church Street between Main and Pearl Streets, and it’s closed to cars, so the whole stretch is built for walking and browsing. Founded in 1981 and listed as a National Register Historic District, it’s home to more than 100 businesses, from local bookshops and boutiques to national retailers and pop-up food vendors. The sections below cover the spots most worth a stop for UVM, Champlain College, and CCV students.
Where Can You Get Coffee on Church Street Marketplace?
Church Street has enough coffee options to fuel a full afternoon of shopping or a long study session. Three stand out for students.
Kru Coffee Anchors the Top Block
Kru Coffee, at 2 Church Street, sits at the top of the marketplace near Pearl Street and is open daily from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. All of its coffee is Fair Trade, Direct Trade, or Rainforest Alliance Certified, and the beans are roasted in-house at Kru’s home base in Saratoga Springs, New York. The large, artsy interior has plenty of seating arrangements, which makes it one of the easier spots on the street to settle in with a laptop.
Artemus Café Pairs Espresso With a Mini Art Museum
Artemus Café, at 104 Church Street on the second block of the marketplace, is one of Church Street’s newest additions. It serves Brio Coffeeworks drip coffee, espresso drinks, flavored lattes, matcha, and chai, and it doubles as the home of the Burlington Art Mini Museum, where local art, pottery, and prints are for sale. Indoor tables are limited in the narrow space, but outdoor patio seating opens things up in warmer months.
Burlington Bagel Bakery Covers Breakfast on the Go
Burlington Bagel Bakery, at 93 Church Street, is the go-to for a quick breakfast or brunch before a day of shopping. Its takeout counter and outdoor seating make it easy to grab something and keep moving.
Just off the marketplace, Dobra Tea at 125 South Winooski Avenue is another option for students who’d rather sip tea than coffee.
Which Bookstores Are on Church Street?
Church Street has two independent bookstores within a few blocks of each other, and each fills a different role. Between them, you can find everything from assigned reading to a new favorite author.
Crow Bookshop Is Built for Budget Book Shopping
Crow Bookshop, at 14 Church Street, has been a Church Street fixture since 1995. It carries new, used, and remainder titles across subjects from classics and graphic novels to sci-fi and psychology, with creaky hardwood floors and tall ladders that give it a classic bookshop feel. A few things make it especially student-friendly:
- New adult hardcovers are discounted 20% off the cover price, so even current releases cost less than list.
- Most used and remainder titles sell for about half the cover price or less, which adds up quickly over a semester.
- Quality used books can be traded in for store credit during designated book-trading times, giving old reads a second life.
Phoenix Books Covers New Releases
Phoenix Books, at 89 Church Street, is a locally owned independent bookstore built on principles of social responsibility, community, and sustainability. It’s the place to go for new releases and a broad selection of current titles, with the attentive service of a smaller shop.
Between discounted used books at Crow and new titles at Phoenix, there’s little reason to pay full price online for your next read.
Where Can You Find Vintage and Secondhand Clothing on Church Street?
Church Street has a surprisingly deep bench of vintage and secondhand clothing shops, most of them locally owned. If you’re building a wardrobe on a student budget, here’s where to start:
- Underground Closet (21 Church Street): A locally owned secondhand shop carrying clothing for a wide range of styles.
- Fear and Cloathing (32 Church Street): A newer locally owned shop mixing vintage clothing with accessories, jewelry, and shoes.
- Public Vintage (34 Church Street): A locally owned vintage boutique focused on clothing, shoes, and accessories.
- HunnyMusturd Shop (113 Church Street, second floor): A locally owned upstairs shop offering vintage clothing, jewelry, and accessories that’s easy to miss if you’re not looking up.
For newer styles, national retailers like Urban Outfitters, Lululemon, Brandy Melville, and Free People are all on the marketplace too, so you can mix thrifted finds with new staples in a single trip.
Where Can Students Buy Outdoor Gear Downtown?
Vermont winters and weekend hikes call for real gear, and Church Street has one of the best outdoor shops in the region right in the middle of it.
Outdoor Gear Exchange, at 37 Church Street, carries an extensive selection of new and used gear for skiing, snowboarding, climbing, biking, camping, and paddling, along with ski and bike service and rentals. The real deals are in the downstairs consignment area, where secondhand jackets, boots, and equipment sell for well below retail. Dogs are welcome, too, if you want to bring a four-legged shopping companion.
For warm layers, The Vermont Flannel Company at 72 Church Street carries flannel shirts, lounge pants, and blankets made from organic cotton and handcrafted in the USA since 1991. Between consignment finds and cold-weather staples, gearing up for a Vermont winter doesn’t have to blow your budget.
Where Can You Grab a Sweet Treat or Quick Bite on Church Street?
No trip down Church Street is complete without a snack break. The marketplace has a mix of Vermont-born favorites and late-afternoon pick-me-ups.
|
Spot |
Address |
What It’s Known For |
|
65 Church Street |
Vermont-made chocolates and treats, with dine-in and outdoor seating |
|
|
36 Church Street |
The Vermont-born ice cream brand, with vegan and gluten-free options |
|
|
84 Church Street |
Warm cookies and sweets |
|
|
38 Church Street |
A newer specialty candy shop |
|
|
16 Church Street |
Soups, sandwiches, burgers, and a back patio in summer |
During warmer months, pop-up vendors like A-Maize-ing Kettlekorn, Church Street Cheesesteaks, and South End Sliders set up along the marketplace, adding even more options for a quick bite between stops.
How Do You Get From Winooski to Church Street Marketplace?
Getting from Spinner Place to Church Street is simple, whether you take the bus or drive. Here’s the easiest way to make the trip without a car:
- Walk to a nearby Green Mountain Transit (GMT) stop. Spinner Place sits close to GMT bus service in downtown Winooski.
- Ride to the Downtown Transit Center. GMT buses from Winooski connect to the Downtown Transit Center on St. Paul Street in Burlington.
- Walk one block to Church Street. The marketplace is just a short walk from the transit center.
A single GMT fare is $2.00, with a $4.00 daily cap, so a round trip never costs more than one day’s cap. Full-time UVM students, faculty, and staff ride GMT fare-free through the Ride Ready by GMT app. If you’d rather drive, parking is available in the Marketplace Garage and the Downtown Garage, and street parking can be paid through the ParkMobile app.
Church Street Is an Easy Trip From Spinner Place
Between discounted books at Crow, consignment finds at Outdoor Gear Exchange, a lineup of vintage shops, and cafés like Kru Coffee and Artemus Café, Church Street Marketplace packs a full day of shopping and sipping into four walkable blocks. And with GMT buses connecting Winooski to downtown Burlington, it’s an easy trip from home any day of the week.
When you get back, Spinner Place has everything you need to unwind or catch up on coursework, including a fitness center, a fifth-floor study lounge, a sixth-floor community lounge, free on-site laundry, and covered parking. Every apartment comes fully furnished with all utilities and Wi-Fi included.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best cafés on Church Street Marketplace?
Kru Coffee at 2 Church Street, Artemus Café at 104 Church Street, and Burlington Bagel Bakery at 93 Church Street are three of the most popular spots for coffee and breakfast on the marketplace. Dobra Tea, just off Church Street on South Winooski Avenue, is a good option for tea drinkers.
What kinds of stores are on Church Street in Burlington?
Church Street Marketplace is home to more than 100 businesses, including independent bookstores, vintage clothing shops, outdoor gear retailers, jewelry stores, and national brands like Urban Outfitters and Lululemon.
Are there thrift or vintage stores on Church Street?
Yes. Underground Closet, Fear and Cloathing, Public Vintage, and HunnyMusturd Shop all sell vintage or secondhand clothing, and Outdoor Gear Exchange has a consignment section for used outdoor gear.
How far is Church Street Marketplace from Spinner Place?
Spinner Place, at 25 Winooski Falls Way in Winooski, is about two miles from Church Street Marketplace, an easy trip by GMT bus or car.
Can UVM students ride the bus to Church Street for free?
Yes. Full-time UVM students ride Green Mountain Transit fare-free through the Ride Ready by GMT app. Other riders pay $2.00 per trip, with a $4.00 daily cap.
Where can you park near Church Street Marketplace?
Parking is available in the Marketplace Garage and the Downtown Garage, and metered street parking can be paid through the ParkMobile app.
