Three Kentucky cities noted for main street Christmas shopping

Published 12:02 pm Tuesday, December 10, 2024

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Over the past few decades, the expansion of online shopping and large malls on the outskirts of towns led to a significant decline in popularity of the traditional main street. But dotted around the country are hidden gem main streets that have retained their unique character and charm, beloved by locals and those visiting from out of town.

Present.com carried out a survey of 3,000 respondents to uncover the best main streets for Christmas shopping in America, places where you can find everything from boutique stores and artisan shops to historic storefronts.

While no Kentucky cities made the top ten in the poll, three of them do appear in the full list of the best 150 downtown shopping areas.

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#71 Main Street, Midway

Midway’s Main Street has beautiful local shops and holiday cheer, offering a quaint Christmas shopping experience in a small-town setting.

#114 Main Street, Danville

Danville’s Main Street offers a relaxed holiday shopping experience, with charming shops and seasonal decor perfect for finding unique gifts.

#128 North Third Street, Bardstown

Bardstown’s North Third Street captures the spirit of Christmas with historic charm, unique boutiques, and holiday lights that make shopping magical.

The survey found that over a third of respondents (36 percent) value unique and locally-made gifts, indicating people prefer one-of-a-kind finds that carry a personal touch. Festive decorations and holiday atmosphere (34 percent) came in a close second. Friendly, personalized customer service was also important at 12 percent. Historic charm and scenic ambiance (14 percent) was also a key factor. Convenient parking and accessibility (four percent) rounded out the list.

When it comes to specific types of stores, nearly a third (30 percent) rated boutique clothing and fashion stores the highest. Artisan and handmade gift shops (22 percent) and vintage and antique shops (20 percent) also scored highly for their unique offerings. Bookstores and specialty gift shops (16 percent) and local food and wine shops (12 percent) completed the list.

“Main streets are the heart and soul of communities, especially during the holiday season,” said Sanjit Sandhu of Present.com. “Our survey highlights the many charming and unique main streets across the country, all of which offer a memorable shopping experience for the holidays that simply can’t be replicated. These main streets remind us to support local businesses as we make holiday memories that last a lifetime.”