Northampton's Main Street is frequently cited as one of the best small-city downtowns in America — a claim that is broadly justified. The street runs from the old Union Station building at the base of the hill up to the courthouse and Pulaski Park, lined with independent bookshops, record stores, cafes, restaurants, clothing boutiques, and a conspicuous absence of chains.
Broadside Books and Raven Used Books are the standout bookshops; Faces and Thornes Marketplace are the main gift and specialty shops. The street is particularly animated in the evening, when the restaurant trade picks up and the music venues open. The progressive civic culture of the town is evident in the storefronts — co-ops, nonprofit offices, and advocacy organisations sit alongside retail.