Missing essential clothing, books, and jewelry from your closet? A short walk into downtown Carlisle will solve all your problems. Carlisle has a plethora of shops with unique items you do not want to miss out on. Here are five stores that are perfect for quenching any retail therapy needs.
Sanctuary Boutique, located on W. High Street, has a variety of items, from handbags to athletic wear, where you will certainly find clothing or bags you need. Run and owned by Judith McCarren, Sanctuary Boutique opened in 2019. She makes sure to provide clothing that suits a wide range of ages. With the formal season coming up, McCarren notes that they are always stocked with short and long dresses. Not only that, but the boutique also has sale items up to 30% off and seasonal discounts are offered as well. While the clothing is moderately expensive, with items ranging from $40-$90 dollars, McCarren assures it is quality material.
On September 28, the boutique will be hosting a fourth anniversary celebration with live music, cupcakes, and great sales. The boutique is currently hiring interns as well, specifically looking for social media managers and website designers.
Next, we have The Clothes Vine which was established in September 1998 and is located on W. High Street. This mother–daughter operated boutique is sure to have plenty of items you might want or need. Owner Naomi Bobb likes to keep the clothing prices reasonably low, perfect for college students on a budget. They are currently offering a summer sale with clothing up to 40% off. With the changing seasons, new fall and winter items are hitting the shelves. Bobb also sells a variety of jewelry, hygiene products, and little presents sure to satisfy anyone.
Bobb is also looking to hire students for a Saturday afternoon shift at $15/hour.
Taking a detour from clothing, Whistlestop Bookshop is an essential store to keep in mind. Jeff Wood owns and runs the bookstore that opened in 1998, which is also located on W High Street. He shelves a collection of different works from horror to documentary, non-fiction to fiction, as well as children’s and teenage novels. Wood is also able to order most of the textbooks that Dickinson students might need. If you don’t need any books, Whistlestop also sells puzzles, postcards, puppets, maps, and school supplies. Be sure to also say hi to the store’s cat, Mulan!
The next store is one you do not want to miss out on. Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb, located on N Hanover Street, has a multitude of different gifts, vintage clothing, and antique items. The owners, Sarah Taby and Dave Bender, opened the shop in April 2008 with a desire to provide authentic vintage clothing to the townspeople of Carlisle. While the vintage items are more expensive, each item is unique and has a placard for when the item was made. If you’re looking to sell your clothing, they will evaluate and buy your things outright.
Miss Ruth’s Time Bomb makes sure to run great deals and provide coupons a couple of times a year. They also occasionally host “yard sales” where items range from $1-$20. Holidays like Halloween or Ice Fest are also a great time to stop by Time Bomb, as new sales might pop up. Be sure to check out their massive pin and crazy sock collections as well.
Last but not least is C Love Thrift, located on N Hanover Street. Established in 2019, and run and owned by Mary Carlton and George Kretzing, C Love Thrift has an assortment of clothing, jewelry, shoes, and other household items. They have a huge selection of jeans which include all sizes. Their current sale is 75% off select items and Dickinson students get an additional 10% off. On Thursdays, green tags are 10% off as well. If you’re interested in selling clothing here, make an appointment to drop off your clothes, they will evaluate and price them and you will get 40% of the earnings. The $5 dollar drop-off fee is also waived for Dickinson students. Be sure to stop by and shop sustainably!