Shopping in the Monadnock Region: Independent Shops and Makers

The Monadnock Region rewards shoppers who like to know where things come from. Its downtowns are small, its farms sell directly to the public, and several of its best-known shops exist to support local makers. This guide covers six independent places for shopping in the Monadnock Region, NH, from Keene's Main Street to Peterborough and Temple, with tips for turning them into a spring day trip.

About the region

The Monadnock Region is in southwestern New Hampshire. It takes its name from Mount Monadnock, a 3,165-foot isolated peak that dominates the landscape. The region has no formal borders, but it is generally considered to include all of Cheshire County and the western part of Hillsborough County. Mount Monadnock itself is in Jaffrey. It is nearly 1,000 feet higher than any other peak within 30 miles and rises about 2,000 feet above the surrounding land, and it has long been cited as one of the most frequently climbed mountains in the world. Ralph Waldo Emerson and Henry David Thoreau both wrote about it.

Keene is the region's hub. It is the county seat and the only city in Cheshire County, with 23,047 residents at the 2020 census, and it is home to Keene State College and Antioch University New England. From 1991 to 2014 it hosted the state's annual pumpkin festival, which several times set a world record for the most jack-o'-lanterns on display. That history says something about the city's downtown: Main Street is built for crowds on foot, which makes it an easy place to shop without moving the car. Peterborough, to the east, is a town of 6,418 people. Its main village sits on the Contoocook River where U.S. Route 202 meets Route 101. It is 38 miles west of Manchester and 72 miles northwest of Boston.

Hannah Grimes Marketplace, Keene

Hannah Grimes Marketplace on Main Street in Keene is a retail store that sells only local products. It opened in 1997, first in a temporary space because of construction delays, and moved to its permanent home at 42 Main Street in 1998. Today it has more than 300 members, and it describes itself as a hub for locally made goods. The store is part of the Hannah Grimes Center, a nonprofit that supports local businesses through workshops, coaching and an incubator program.

The name comes from an 18th-century woman. The center's founder moved in 1991 into a Roxbury farmhouse once owned by Hannah Grimes, who was born in 1776 and lived a self-sufficient life making and trading goods locally. That story of local trade shaped the marketplace. For visitors, it is the easiest single stop for gifts made in the region.

Monadnock Food Co-op, Keene

The Monadnock Food Co-op is a community-owned grocery in Keene. It features local producers, with a "Meet the Locals" section on its site profiling suppliers such as bakeries and farms. It also runs a hot bar for breakfast, lunch and dinner. The co-op reports $8.7 million in local sales and $136,000 in patronage refunds for the past year, which gives a sense of how much of its business stays in the region. It is a good place to put together a picnic before a hike or to pick up regional foods to take home.

Archway Farm, Keene

Archway Farm raises pastured meats and sells them from a self-serve farm store that runs on the honor system. Personal checks, Venmo and cash are accepted. The farm's pigs are Animal Welfare Approved by A Greener World, a label focused on animal welfare, pasture-based farming and sustainability. Archway is also a whole-animal butcher. It offers individual cuts, custom-cut pork, beef and lamb, roaster pigs, and farm shares. The farm sends a weekly newsletter on what is in the store, which is worth checking before you drive out.

Steele's Stationers, Peterborough

Steele's Stationers calls itself Peterborough's original stationery store. It is in a historic 1800s building downtown and carries fine stationery, office supplies, greeting cards, picture frames and albums, party supplies, art supplies, newspapers and magazines, gifts for all ages and premium cigars. The shop describes itself as more than a store, a community meeting place, and it still offers curbside pickup for orders placed by phone or email. It is the kind of downtown shop where browsing is the point.

Ava Marie Chocolates, Peterborough

Ava Marie Chocolates makes gourmet chocolates in Peterborough, with a shop on Wilton Road. The range includes turtles, caramels, chocolate cremes, truffles, bark and chocolate bars, along with seasonal flavors and holiday collections. In May, its Mother's Day selection is a natural fit for the calendar. Its chocolates are made on shared equipment with peanuts, tree nuts, milk, eggs, wheat and soy, so check before buying for anyone with allergies.

Ben's Sugar Shack, Temple

Ben's Sugar Shack in Temple sells award-winning, 100 percent pure New England maple products. Beyond syrup, the range includes flavored syrups, maple candy, maple cream and sugar, gift baskets and sugaring equipment. It also runs the Maple Station Market, a deli on Webster Highway in Temple where you can order ahead for pickup. Ben's ships orders worldwide and offers tours. Temple is a town of 1,382 people and home to Temple Mountain State Reservation, the former Temple Mountain Ski Area.

Planning a shopping day

• Start in Keene. Park once and walk Main Street to Hannah Grimes, then drive to the co-op for lunch from the hot bar.
• Add a farm stop. Bring a cooler if you plan to buy meat at Archway Farm, and bring cash or a check for the honor-system store.
• Head east to Peterborough. Browse Steele's downtown, then stop at Ava Marie for chocolates.
• Finish in Temple. Pick up maple syrup or a deli order at Ben's on the way home.
• Check hours first. Small shops and farm stores change hours by season, so confirm on each business's website.

Shopping and spring outdoors

May is a good time to pair shopping with the outdoors. The region has four state parks, four recreational rail trails, and lakes with public swimming beaches. Pisgah State Park alone covers 13,300 acres of forest with seven protected ponds popular for fishing, and six trails used for hiking and mountain biking. If you plan to climb Mount Monadnock, start early, carry water and layers, and save the shopping for the afternoon, when your legs will be glad of a slower pace. A morning walk followed by an afternoon in town is an easy way to see both sides of the region.

Frequently asked questions

Where can I buy locally made gifts in Keene?

Hannah Grimes Marketplace on Main Street sells only local products and has more than 300 members.

Are there farm stores in the Monadnock Region?

Yes. Archway Farm in Keene has a self-serve farm store for its pastured meats that runs on the honor system.

Where can I buy maple syrup in the Monadnock Region?

Ben's Sugar Shack in Temple sells pure maple syrup and maple products, and it ships orders.

What towns are in the Monadnock Region?

It is generally considered to include all of Cheshire County, including Keene and Jaffrey, and the western part of Hillsborough County, including Peterborough and Temple.

Sources

• Monadnock Region, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monadnock_Region
• Mount Monadnock, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mount_Monadnock
• Keene, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Keene,_New_Hampshire
• Peterborough, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Peterborough,_New_Hampshire
• Temple, New Hampshire, Wikipedia: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Temple,_New_Hampshire
• Hannah Grimes Marketplace and center history: https://hannahgrimes.com/hannah-grimes-marketplace/ and https://hannahgrimes.com/history/
• Monadnock Food Co-op: https://monadnockfood.coop/
• Archway Farm: https://www.archway.farm/
• Steele's Stationers: https://steelesstationers.com/
• Ava Marie Chocolates: https://avamariechocolates.com/
• Ben's Sugar Shack and Maple Station Market: https://www.bensmaplesyrup.com and https://bensmaplesyrup.com/pages/the-maple-station-market