The best of Spain in America and other Williamsburg, VA Shopping Tips

Name of Shop: La Tienda

La Tienda ("the store" for those from Roxboro) is located in Toano just south of I-64 and north of the Rt. 60 and 30 intersection in an office park. Despite explicit directions, you really have to be on your toes to get there without being lost. What makes La Tienda unique is that it is the only store that specialises solely in Spanish products in this part of Virginia. Sometimes, they leave the shop unattended. There is a sign requesting customers to ring the bell for service.

What To Buy: They offer all manner of food including Spanish hams, and all the fixins for paella, sweets, wines, sherries, and other Spanish delicacies. There is also cookware which includes paella pans of different sizes, plates, and even bath products. I couldn't find any saffron or any other spices in the store. As expensive as saffron is, I bet they keep it under lock and key. It is a great place to shop if you love Spanish cuisine like I do. There is probably more in their online store than there is in here.

What To Pay: Because all of the things are imported from Spain, you are going to pay more for items sold here.

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Phone: (757) 566-9606
Address: 3601 LaGrange Pkwy., Toano, VA 23168
Directions: FROM I-64: Use exit 227 towards Toano; Turn onto Route 30 SOUTH; Continue a mile or so; Turn LEFT into Stonehouse Commerce Park; Take your second LEFT and pull into our parking lot; Enter the right hand door where the sign is posted
Website: www.latienda.com

Name of Shop: Williamsburg Outlet Mall

Williamsburg Outlet Mall is a collection of 31 stores all under one roof that sell overstocked product of various clothing and accessory companies at between 20-70% off the original retail price. There are many outlet malls in the area, but this is the only enclosed outlet mall for many miles and kilometers. My favourite places to shop at this mall are not the clothing outlets, but Crafters Market and Always a Holiday are perfect for buying cheap but meaningful whatnots.

What To Buy: Cosmetics, clothing for all shapes and sizes, shoes, jewelry, toys, and health food are for sale here. There is also a Hershey's Ice Cream Parlor to treat yourself and well-behaved kids whom you take shopping.

What To Pay: Discounts are commonplace here. Many folks travel for hundreds of miles and kilometers for this kind of bargain. Sadly, outlet malls like these prosper at the expense of well-established local institutions such as Basketville and the Candle Factory.

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Phone: (757) 565-3378
Directions: I-64, Exit 234, Lightfoot / Route 199, Exit Route 60 West.

Name of Shop: Prime Outlets

Prime Outlets is a shopping centre of about 80 outlet stores. An outlet store helps a company unload its surplus product at a reduced price. Among the more prominent tenants of this shopping centre: Nike, Oshkosh B'Gosh, L.L. Bean, Samsonite and Corningware. There are many more. All those clothing stores are nice. I mean, what's wrong with overstocked clothes at a serious discount? However, I like to stuff my face. The Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory is one of my favourite places, but I also enjoy Le Gourmet Chef. Not only does the Gourmet Chef offer kitchen supplies, but they also offer a wide range of foods and sauces, many of which are put out by Food Network personalities such as Emeril Lagasse, Ina Garten, and Paula Deen. I picked up a couple of sauces by Paula Deen. There were free samples of several brands of sauces for pretzels and corn chips. I was most keen on the olive oil based dipping sauces for bread. Stopping here was like an appetiser before lunch.

What To Buy: Women's, men's, children's and family apparel; health & beauty; shoes; luggage / handbags; home furnishings; housewares; accessories; specialty; and food.

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What To Pay: Everything is sold at discount.

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Address: 5715 Richmond Road, Williamsburg, VA 23188
Website: www.primeoutlets.com

Name of Shop: Greenhow Store

John Greenhow was the Sam Walton of his day. On his ship, he regularly cruised the waters between the James River and Philadelphia carrying peas, pork, lard, and butter northward. The return journey brought earthenware, flour, bread, bar iron, chocolate, coffee, iron skillets, saddletrees, soap, and furniture such as chairs, tables, and chests of drawers. Greenhow operated a second store in Richmond.

What To Buy: Today, you can find wrought iron, willow baskets, fine imported porcelain, floorcloths, fabrics, cooper's items, tinware, craftsmen's tools, and other good similar to those sold by Mr. Greenhow in the 18th century.


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Theme: Gifts

Name of Shop: M. Dubois Grocery

M. Dubois is the grocery store along Colonial Williamsburg's main drag, Duke of Gloucester Street. It is a lot smaller than your Wal-Mart, Corte Ingles, or Carrefour because they had no refrigeration in those days and many fruits and vegetables (like pineapple) we regard as commonplace were rare back in the 18th Century.

What To Buy: Such traditional Southern favourites as smoked hams, peanuts, preserves, wine, ales, root beers, and candies are sold in this reconstructed store on the site where Monsieur Dubois operated a grocery in the 18th Century. All my friends have stopped in here. J.D. bought some Chownings Tavern Ale here. If you can't carry it with you, they do mail order.


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Theme: Food and Drink
Directions: Facing the Capitol, as you walk down Duke of Gloucester Street, M. Dubois is about 3/4 of the way down on the left.

Name of Shop: Millinery

Along Williamsburg's Duke of Gloucester Street are many shops of the period including the Millinery.

What To Buy: The millinery is a hat shop that sells plenty of period tricornered hats. These are mass-produced and worn by the little nippers here the way they do at Disneyland. When J.D. and I visited here some years back, we figured we would have some fun and model them.


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Name of Shop: Williamsburg Marketplace

Located in the visitor's centre, the folks at Colonial Williamsburg don't waste any time pawning off all manner of gifts, particularly those with the Colonial Williamsburg logo. Just as some folks cheerfully pay $2 from a drink from vending machines all across the historical area, they think nothing of buying these campy gifts.

What To Buy: Everything from bookmarks, collector's spoons, coffee mugs, Christmas ornaments and other stuff too numerous for allocated VT space is sold here.

What To Pay: Given the fact that Colonial Williamsburg has the rights to their logo, anything with it is sold at confiscatory prices here and in shops all over the historic area.

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Theme: Gifts
Address: 100 Visitors Center Drive, Williamsburg, VA 23185

Name of Shop: Williamsburg Pottery Factory

The Williamsburg Pottery is no longer one shop specialising in pottery. I used to hate going here as a kid. They still have that, but there is also a collection of outlet stores. Companies like Black & Decker (tools) and Easy Spirit (shoes) rent space here to unload surplus product at discount prices.

What To Buy: Pottery, shoes, specialty and gourmet food products plus a lot more.

What To Pay: Many things are sold at discount, especially in the outlet stores.

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Website: http://www.williamsburgpottery.com

Name of Shop: Merchants Square

Merchants Square is a collection of 40 shops and eateries just off the limits of Colonial Williamsburg. The architecture of the shops blends in nicely with the colonial setting.

What To Buy: All manner of souvenirs and whatnots, not to mention places to eat.

What To Pay: The prices vary, but souvenirs and tourist needs such as film are marked up.

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Directions: At the end of Duke of Gloucester Street, abutting Colonial Williamsburg
Website: http://www.merchantssquare.org

Name of Shop: The College Shop

The College Shop is located in Merchant's Square between Colonial Williamsburg and the campus of the College of William & Mary.

What To Buy: The sign on the front says souvenirs, gifts, jewelry and apparel. Specifically, Mark and I bought a calendar, a t-shirt, a recipe book, and some shot glasses (used by bars to measure alcohol).

What To Pay: The prices were a tad on the high side.

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Theme: Gifts
Phone: (757) 229-2082
Address: 424 Duke of Gloucester St., Williamsburg, VA 23185
Directions: In Merchants Square within short walking distance of Colonial Williamsburg and the College of William and Mary.
Website: http://www.collegeshopwilliamsburg.com