Fall is finally upon us, which always gets me in the mood to go out and find some places to shop. 

This is my first year in Bowling Green, which has given me an entirely new town to explore. Of course, there’s Target, TJ Maxx and Barnes and Noble, which are great, don’t get me wrong. However, on my autumnal adventures, I’m searching to shop smaller. 

Below, I’ve compiled some of my favorite underrated beauties of Bowling Green.

Hard Copies

What it sells: Vinyl Records, CDs

Hard Copies was the first place I found here in BG that gave me the cozy vibe I was searching for. Nothing screams aesthetic quite like flipping through vinyl and CDs while bundled up in a warm sweater. My love for Pinterest-perfect moments aside, Hard Copies is an all-around incredible place to visit. 

Located in Greenwood Mall, this store has a host of different vinyl and CDs spanning multiple genres. It also hosts listening parties for new albums, which is advertised on its Instagram. The people who work there are all so friendly and excited to talk about music or any of their upcoming events. 

One of the best things about the store, however? The prices. Collecting any type of physical music is an expensive hobby, and I’ve seen records marked up for prices that make me nauseous. At Hard Copies, they sell their vinyl and CDs at reasonable prices that can let you come in again and again to check out what’s new. In addition to that, WKU students get a discount on their purchases. 

From the welcoming environment, friendly employees, to the unbeatable prices, Hard Copies is a place sure to make even the newest vinyl enthusiast feel right at home.

St. Teresa Thrift Store

What they sell: Donated clothes and homeware

I love shopping, but as I get older, I’m becoming more aware of the impact the clothes I buy have on the environment. I have turned to thrifting more and more, as being able to repurpose someone’s old clothes and get more use out of them makes me feel so much better. 

When searching for great places to find some thrifting, I was introduced to St. Teresa Thrift Store, located in Fairview Plaza Shopping Center. 

The inside of the store is clean and all the clothes are organized in neat rows. Every time I have gone in, I’ve found at least one thing I couldn’t leave without. I’ve gotten a chic leopard print bodysuit and an adorable pair of Mary Janes for a Halloween costume. In addition to clothes, they offer a variety of housewares.

If you’re searching for a new place to thrift with some of the cutest items, St. Teresa is the place for you. 

Just Love Coffee Cafe

What they sell: Artisanal coffee, breakfast and lunch

A long day of shopping is not complete without stopping for coffee and food.

Just Love is located on Scottsville Road. When I stepped inside the building, my eyes were immediately drawn to the art lining the walls. That, and that the line to order was out the door. I knew immediately whatever I was waiting for was going to be good.

The menu was expansive, with all sorts of different meals and types of coffee. I got a chocolate chip waffle and a latte, and both were heavenly. My waffle was stuffed with chocolate chips and came drizzled in sticky sweet syrup. My latte was delicious and gave me all the energy I needed to complete my day of shopping. The line to the door had been telling the truth– my meal was wonderful.

If you’re searching for a delicious bite to eat on a cool Sunday morning, I would point you immediately in the direction of this joyful cafe.

Replay Toys

What they sell: Collectible figurines, vintage toys, action figures

Deep in my heart, I am a nerd. One of the hardest parts about leaving my hometown was realizing that I’d also have to be leaving my local “nerd store” behind. When I moved to Bowling Green and found Replay Toys, all that sadness was gone. 

Replay Toys recently opened their new location in Greenwood Mall. It offers such a wide variety of things to browse and has sections full of items related to Star Wars, Power Rangers, and Star Trek. When I went in, they had an entire horror section dedicated to the upcoming spooky holiday. 

Browsing the anime figures was another favorite of mine; I was practically planning my upcoming purchases as I looked. Yet another area of the store was dedicated to vintage toys. I saw some things I’d longed to play with when I was a child. 

If you’re ever wanting to see some of the coolest nerd-related things, wander over to Replay Toys.

Vette City Vintage

What they sell: Vintage clothes

Vette City Vintage is located in Downtown Bowling Green and let me just say, the vibes of this place are immaculate. The minute I walked in and took in the racks of clothes set against the brick wall, next to the TV playing old music videos, I had only one thought:

“Dang, this place is cool.”

Cool is the best word to describe Vette City Vintage. This store has a supply of mainly mens clothes, but when I visited, the owner shared with me that he hopes to expand the women’s collection. The owner is such a friendly and personable character, chatting with every customer that enters the store as if they were an old friend. 

Vette City Vintage frequently restocks, posted on its Instagram stories almost every day.

Even if I weren’t to be shopping, I could see myself sitting at the sofa in the window, hanging with friends and soaking in the good energy. 

Commentary Writer Emma Hardesty can be reached at [email protected].