Overview

Restaurants

Fine Arts

Shopping

Markets

Enjoy fresh and local goods at these markets:

  • Third Sunday Market: This is an indoor and outdoor market at the Interstate Center, open 8am–4pm on the third Sunday of each month, May through October. Antiques and handcrafts. You can definitely spend several hours here, so bring your comfortable shoes!
  • Downtown Bloomington Farmer’s Market: Open 7:30am–11:30am on Saturdays, May through October. Locally grown produce, arts and crafts, live music, baked goods, and kids’ activities – all held around the McLean County History Museum.

Downtown Bloomington Shops

Looking for something unique? Make sure you visit these shops:

  • Gridley Antiques: The premier antique shop in the area. The store has been open since 1993 and has continued to enlarge. It now consists of three storefronts with 16 rooms. Jim and Andy are very knowledgeable and great to work with. Only open on Fridays and Saturdays throughout the year and on third Sundays May through October. Make sure to schedule a stop at this store!
  • Pars Rug Warehouse: Locally owned and operated by Hossein Nateghpour since 1994. If you are in the market for a rug or just interested in more information on this ancient art, stop in for a visit. Hossein is a wonderful educator and would love to help you find the perfect rug to fit your home, taste, and budget. Open Tuesday through Saturday.
  • Old House Society Salvage Warehouse: The warehouse offers education with their own library and a list of experienced contractors and suppliers who are willing to help you with your old house project. They also have been able to go into homes that are up for demolition to take out anything that can be salvaged and reused. Therefore, the warehouse has a collection of unique, hard-to-find restoration items from wood flooring to old hardware.
  • Gingerbread House Toys: A locally owned and operated toy store off Washington Street, with an array of options for your littlest adventurers that help them learn and grow through educational play. 
  • Downtown Bloomington Shops: The Downtown Bloomington Association has a list of all the stores and events in the downtown Spend a relaxing day browsing through the shops.

Uptown Normal Shops

You’ll find specialty items at these stores:

  • The Garlic Press: In business for 35 years, this store has grown multiple times, and has a wide variety of products. This one-of-a-kind store has distinctive high quality products, from local handmade cards to FLAX clothing to fine chocolates and coffee.
  • Apricot Lane Boutique: As a mother/daughter team, Renee and Jena have created a store with a fun atmosphere filled with a mix of styles and designs that moms and daughters will love to wear. They pride themselves on their top-notch customer service. So, don’t hesitate to ask for some suggestions for a whole new look.
  • Uptown Normal Shops: This site has a listing of all stores and events happening in the uptown Normal area. Enjoy your day perusing the streets and shops.
  • Man and woman sitting at a small cafe table on a sidewalk outside a row of downtown buildings
  • Close up exterior view of Asahel Gridley Antiques store window painted in dark teal and muted purple

Adventure