An undeniably great asset to this University is its location. Monmouth is located near surrounding areas that include quaint, quiet towns such as Red Bank and Shrewsbury, beachfront property that includes the popular Pier Village, and Eatontown, which features the Monmouth Mall. Any MU student can’t help but admit that the University is definitely not one of those schools that is “in the middle of nowhere.” This is a dream come true for any shopaholic, especially in trendy, unique boutiques.
If you are looking for some Saturday afternoon shopping ideas, the town of Red Bank is a great place to start. Only about six miles from campus, some describe Red Bank as a smaller, Jersey version of New York City. To hang out with friends or grab a quick bite, Starbucks, Smoothie King and Surf Taco are just a few popular spots that make up Broad Street. After you’ve had your mid-afternoon pick-me-up, make sure to wander into fabulous boutiques such as Dor L’ Dor, CoCo Pari, and Urban Outfitters for unique styles.
While in the area, you must pay a visit to the Alex & Ani store, home of the ever so popular bangle bracelets. With countless styles of bracelets, necklaces and other distinctive pieces, you can’t go wrong.
The Grove at Shrewsbury is an upscale outdoor shopping center, home to stores such as MAC cosmetics, Bebe, fashion and active wear; Francesca’s accessories and fashion, and LuLulemon, a very fun and adorable active wear store.
Sophomore marketing major, Brittany Lamb expresses her love for the chic shopping center. “I love the Grove, everything from how close it is to campus, to the wide array of stores it has,” she said.
Lamb adds, “I love that it is outdoors, so on a beautiful fall day I can shop for anything from makeup, to clothing, and The Grove has awesome food options as well.”
The Grove features stores and boutiques that may be found in large cities such as Manhattan and may not necessarily be found in your typical mall.
The Monmouth Mall is a very popular spot where one can find a sea of University students. Conveniently close to the University, the Monmouth Mall serves as a great place for students to shop, have lunch at the food court, or just kill some time in between classes. Stores in the mall include Forever 21, H&M, Express, as well as department stores such as Lord & Taylor and Boscov’s.
The sun is shining; it is a beautiful temperature, and a perfect day for a drive to the beach for some sun and shopping. Probably the closest of all the shopping areas around campus is Pier Village.
Pier Village is a shopping and dining area right on the beach which attracts numerous amounts of people, even in the off season. At Pier Village, take the opportunity to go inside trendy fashion and accessory boutiques such as Molly & Zoey, Nirvana, Shoe Inn, Koi Boutique, and Aloha Grove. The atmosphere and vibe at Pier Village is wonderful to get some fresh air and shopping in. Keeping with the beach vibes, continue your travels to Asbury Park.
Communication professor Dr. Jennifer Shamrock has a few suggestions for shopping in the area. “I would encourage students to visit Cookman Avenue. There are great restaurants like Toast, or Speakeasy. There are also boutiques such as Foolish Ginger that carry décor and accessories, and art galleries like Gallery 13,” she said.
Another Asbury Park resident, communication professor Dr. Marina Vujnovic also encourages students to check out a few of her favorite spots in the area. “There is a great little shop called My Sister’s Closet in downtown Asbury Park where you can find the cutest dresses, purses, accessories and shoes. I also love America’s Cup for great coffee and Twisted Tree for great vegan/vegetarian food,” she said.
Whether it be at Red Bank, Shrewsbury, Pier Village, or the Monmouth Mall, it is obvious that the University has an extensive list of places to shop. With stores that offer everything from clothes and shoes to accessories and makeup, you’re sure to find the place for you. Plus, all of these locations offer various eateries to satisfy your post-shopping hunger cravings. If you’re looking for a fun weekend activity with friends, or if you’re just in the mood for some retail therapy, you can shop until you drop at any of these nearby shopping locations.
PHOTO TAKEN from new.pitchengine.com
