Chill There are no department stores in Randolph Vermont. Nor are there any huge chain stores or huge supermarkets. There isn’t even a Catholic Church, though there are several churches of different denominations.
Instead, Randolph, Vermont, situated right smack in the heart of Vermont in Orange County, has a variety of neat, fun, cleverly designed, busy shops, even a bowling alley and a golf club, a pizza place, or two, a bakery and a spectacular ice cream window front right in the heart of town, a few air B&Bs to choose from, and that friendly jewelry store Red Door Jewelers on the corner with its spectacular jewelry inside.
And if whatever you’re looking to visit isn’t close enough, there’s always Rusty, the only cab driver- Jack of all Trades in town….so long as you don’t need him on Sundays … it’s his sole day-off. So six days a week, he’s a God-send.
There are also stores for everyone’s taste, where you can spend hours and days just looking, shopping, or getting ideas. That Sweet Scoops Ice Cream shop makes a sensational creamy, rich and delicious ice cream with some of the state’s famous maple syrup, then there’s the award winning Saap Thai restaurant high on the hill for those who prefer that type of dining to the comfort, delight, solidly basic and delicious meals of either The Forge where Clinton always takes the time to welcome you and make you feel at home or Seasoned Skillet where Nora would be happy to sign the terrific cookbook of farm fresh recipes and Nick will reserve your favorite table.
There are also great smaller places where friends gather and welcome strangers, like the Oak and Iron, the Wee Bird for bagels, the Wit & Grit with their indoor and outdoor tables, and a few more.
The Market Café recently closed, but already someone new is coming in and opening soon. Close by is yet another brand-new gift shop where the owner and all those in the shop have an array of gift ideas, together with stones, décor, jewelry, and amulets for those who like following the stars and the zodiac. Across the river past the ice skating turned summer playground area is that Royal Towne Gifts where former Marine Lena helps long time owner Renee Scott keeps every counter, shelf and drawer filled with the neat gifts, souvenirs, and so many hand-crafted items.
Yes, Cannabis is legal in Vermont, and Randolph does have a great shop for those in want or need, the Polestar Cannabis Dispensary, located in the center of town, tucked next to a large parking lot and not far from the weekly newspaper, The White River Herald with a great local editor Tim Calbro who manages to keep the news in print paper alive, well and full of news for Randolph and the adjacent dozen or so small towns.
What’s different about Polestar Cannabis is that the owner makes it clear it’s a cannabis dispensary … No fancy names, like The Weed, the Leaf or names like that, simply Cannabis. It’s got an inviting exterior, no crowds, the state-mandated vestibule and an interior that includes all varieties of cannabis, including recent Mother’s Day specials, neatly wrapped and attractive chocolate candies and more.
Both signs and alert workers ensure guests are over 21, there are no children or pets allowed, and plenty of information in the vestibule giving rules, regulations, and the Vermont cannabis Control Board folders that will tell you everything from buds and dabs to smokeable flowers and edibles, and warnings and advice because, the state says, “Cannabis is not for everyone.”
But for my taste, the absolute best shop in town, a shop where it’s easy to spend more than a few hours sitting comfortably in chairs inside or out, and simply whiling away time to relax, learn, and enjoy is Speaking Volumes.
More of those Vermont-Friendly folks make Speaking Volumes rather special. a store that calls itself an Ephemera, or a collection of the minor transient items that were not originally meant to be kept for life. That includes newspapers, ticket stubs, menus, posters postcard, sheet music even greeting cards and tickets. The owner if this treasure trove is Norbert Ender. And not only does he love all his ephemera but also the thousands and thousands of books he delights in keeping orderly, neat and inviting. He even has shelves on the porch to lure you in to look further, or simply to pick up a favorite or so at no charge to take home and enjoy.
Norbert makes no bones about the fact he loves his books, loves keeping them in order, and encourages everyone to stay as long as they’d like looking at everything. He’s also quick to note that book lovers must also take care of books, with signs on the shelves begging lookers in how to take the book off the shelf and how to care for it to ensure good health for its binding and pages. Books are arranged by language, by subject, and overflowing in several rooms of books of all sizes for all ages. Even so, Norbert invites visitors to also visit the second floor for even more upstairs shopping, records, stereo and art.
Three days of relaxation, great food, inexpensive shopping and wonderful memories later, I was back at Amtrak’s Randolph station for the eight hour ride through lush country in six states, counting a wee bit of New Hampshire, before deboarding, walking across the platform at Newark’s Penn Station and only minutes later, boarding New Jersey Transit and the final trip to Middletown and home.
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