Mom-and-pop stores survive Easthampton’s transition from struggling mill town to arts and dining destination
While this small city is now home to a number of breweries, cafes, tattoo shops and an artsy atmosphere, what has kept Easthampton grounded through its change and growth over the past two decades are a stable of mom-and-pop stores that meet practical, everyday needs.You can get sushi and poke bowls on Cottage Street now, or eat at a restaurant owned by a chef who’s been nominated in the James Beard Foundation’s restaurant awards four years in a row. But it’s still a city where residents and visitors can get a haircut, go grocery shopping, run an errand at a hardware store or buy a new appliance — all without leaving downtown.