Gotta shop? New Bern, NC has two things going for it shopping-wise. (Three, if you count the fact that this is a casual-dressing spot.) First, its historic district, and second, its ever expanding central shopping area. In spite of the lousy national economy, we keep on truckin'.

The New Bern historic downtown/ waterfront district is the area most seen and raved about by the by tourists--and the locals, Charming doesn't begin to describe it. Accessible, yes. Inviting? Of course! But the last century ambience of New Bern's picturesque downtown is preserved and enhanced today by a  partnership between the historical preservation society and active business development and fraternal groups, the most visible of whom is Swiss Bear. 

There are no empty store fronts on the main street in New Bern--except for the ones being restored.  The small three or four block area is alive with specialty boutiques, designer clothing stores, service industry stores, restaurants, coffee and dessert emporiums...not to mention the outstanding arts and crafts shops that are booming. Our Civic Theater is being restored, as are many of the venerable old buildings. The  Riverside Convention Center is on the waterfront skyline.  It is open for business and gorgeous to boot!  Across from the Center are a group of chic boutiques with the latest style must-haves.    

Speaking of "must-haves", pick up the new "Visual Guide to New Bern History", a unique family-oriented book that has the main historical events enumerated and explained, with a handy map showing exactly where in town or the surrounding areas that the event took place.  Tryon Palace Gift Shop has it, as does Carolina Creations and Bern Bear Gifts. The Palace has memorable historical gift choices as well as souvenirs for the kids...in the historical genre.                 

Mitchell Hardware, on Craven St., the original and the best--actually, crammed with 19th century charm.  Around the corner past our best souvenir store, Bern Bear Gifts; peek into Branch's for up-scale office furniture.  Continue on and go into the "don't miss" Carolina Creations on Pollock St.  The best arts store of it's kind in North Carolina!  Go on to Middle Street past the Pepsi Store (they do have free samples) and browse the packed shelves in the The Four C's-- a great spot for camping and outdoor gear.  Middle St. is a wonderful place to look, eat, buy and breathe-in old Southern charm and 21st Century energy. 

Head out US 17-S for most of the heavy-duty shopping action. You'll find Berne Square, one of the older shopping centers, recently updated and having some basics' shopping choices including: Radio Shack, Dollar General; and Big Lots, Furniture Distributors, Realo Drugs and a big medical center. 

Across 17S is the Wal Mart Plaza with Books a Million, Super Wal-Mart, Pet Smart, CiCi's Pizza, Burlington Shoes etc.  Lowe's is next block. CVS, Food Lion, and lots more in this strip. Carolina Pottery and Staples just across. Gold's Gym (is that a shopping spot...for a new body?)  Target has the next block, SOS (= stop-oh-stop! ) Starbucks in here.

On the corner of Glenburnie and US 43 is the Harris Teeter strip, this state-of-the-art grocery is worth a visit, if only for sampling! Inside is a tiny Starbucks.  Pier One is there, Wild Bird World and numerous small boutique stores. Across the road is Rite-Aid. 

Out on Hwy 17 South is the renowned Ann Lynn's-- where New Bern business women and hostesses buy their clothes, and Pinecone Perrennials our "fav" plant shopping; check out Floors Unlimited and Mill Outlet Village Fabrics.

Over the  spectacular bridge on US70 East is the predicted explosion of new restaurants- Bojangles, KFC, Gina's Pizza, Carolina Grill, Ruby Tuesday, Andy's.   Taberna, and Carolina Colours are located here, and it's a short hop to Cherry Point and only 45 minutes to the ocean beaches. Small mom- and-pop shopping choices right now, but lots of them.

The new by-pass is open from US 17S to US 43, a much welcomed limited access highway. New things are being planned to take advantage of it.

Neuse Boulevard is another large commercial corridor with Craven Regional Medical Center--the largest hospital in eastern NC, and beaucoup medical facilities, movie theaters, furniture stores, lots of fast food restaurants, (they're everywhere); Walgreen's not to mention old New Bern's favorite Famous Restaurant, muffler shops, lighting store, Social Security, banks......etc.

Trent Road is another shopping option. It runs parallel with US 17-S and Neuse Blvd. It's the old New Bern road, a gentle drive through strips with movie theater, computer stores, hardware, bakeries, popular Books in Time used books and lots of office complexes. Venezia's  is a haberdashery for men, on Trent Road's shopping strip;  they will make a suit for you. Several other upscale boutiques in their strip.  Pia's is a tiny new restaurant on Trent and the Ace Hardware with it's outstanding plant shop, is a treat for the eye.  At the end of Glenburnie where it meets Trent Rd. is the Village Shopping Center, go to the Village Butcher and snack your way to gourmet heaven. In summer try a slice of their tomato pie and some of the best salads around. Village Travel- great gals with great travel ideas; also in the Center is Carolina Bagel, best bagel/sandwich place in town now-- Merle Norman, dentists, gift shops.  

We are 35 minutes from several heavy duty malls in Jacksonville NC. We are 40 minutes from Greenville with unlimited shopping. And for super-luxury shopping, we are only 2 hours from famous Crabtree Valley Mall and the other fancy malls in Raleigh and the Research Triangle Park area.  Wilmington's luxury shopping is an hour and a half south, as is Wilmington's golf courses and restaurants--certainly worth a visit.

Beaucoup medical facilities are available, the multi-million dollar out-patient surgery center on McCarthy Blvd. is open.  Lots more medical buildings going up around them.....one could honestly call them commercial ... and on 70E it just keeps going and going and going.........and now 70W seems to be gathering momentum.

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES

                        From our customers; we get suggestions.

Contractors just keep building those strip malls, a new attractive one is on Trent Road near the corner of Simmons... what we need actually, is a cafeteria in the new under-utilized mall or somewhere-there's not one in New Bern; a big movie theater complex; some heavy-duty shopping out 70E, and some family indoor activity centers for cool weather, and some nice all-year-round places where the singles crowd can meet. Developers should ask Bob Bartram, CENTURY 21 Action Associates at (252) 636-7313 about commercially viable development properties.