Massachusetts Street — universally called "Mass Street" — is the spine of downtown Lawrence, a well-preserved commercial strip that runs from the Kansas River south toward the University of Kansas campus. Independent shops, bookstores, cafes, bars, and live music venues occupy the Victorian and Edwardian storefronts, and the street stays lively on weekends with a mix of students, locals, and visitors.
It's a genuinely good street for wandering. The Raven Bookstore at 6 East 7th Street is a beloved independent shop with strong local history and fiction sections. Several record shops cling on. At night the bar scene picks up significantly — Lawrence has a live music reputation that outstrips its size, with venues like the Granada Theater regularly hosting national touring acts.