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Fantastic Shopping Excursion to SoNo Marketplace in Fairfield County, CT
Ugh. Here I was trying to think of a fantastic spring day trip to take with my nearly ten year old and where does she ask to go? THE MALL!!!!. The birthplace of bad spending habits and teenage attitudes. Bastion of bad taste and fast food. Anywhere, I said to my teeny bopper, anywhere but the mall.
Naturally, the more I argued against it, the more my pre-teen daughter wanted that trip to the mall. Fast forward several arguments and a battle of wills, and we found a brilliant – brilliant!- alternative … South Norwalk’s SoNo Marketplace.
This new, dare I say hip, market is a converted old warehouse in South Norwalk, and its more than 40 vendors offer gourmet food, gifts, clothing, art and toys. The vendors are largely located in stalls throughout the space, and there are great indoor and outdoor spaces for dining and relaxing.
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So yesterday, l took my ten-year old and one of her besties to SoNo Marketplace. They went armed with their wallets and a $10 spending limit, whilst I went armed with a book and my reusable coffee mug. Once we got there, I grabbed a coffee at the Flat White Coffee Company and sat down at one the marketplace's big tables. Big tables, by the way, that have chalkboard paint on the walls nearby so that little kids, who don't care for sitting for more than 30 seconds, can doodle while their parents enjoy some coffee. Brilliant! I read, enjoyed my coffee and a chocolate delicacy from Chocopolgie, while the ten year olds browsed and shopped. I gave the girls the run of the place – its just big enough so that they enjoyed some freedom, and just small enough that I could keep an unobtrusive eye on them without being right next to them (because apparently that would be embarrassing).
After a great deal of deliberation, the girls bought scarves, and I found a pair of earrings. They each got a slice of pizza, and after one more visit to Chocopologie, we headed home. The trip was a complete success for all of us, and we are all looking forward to our next visit.
The marketplace is new, and will be hosting more and more events as they grow. They have the CT Chili Classic scheduled for April 14th, and live music events weekly. Advanced tickets for the Chili Classic are $25/adult, and $10/children (under 16). The marketplace also hosts lots of family friendly events (they had a St. Patrick's Day celebration and and Easter Scramble in weeks past), and their outdoor space is set up for some great local produce in the warmer months.
So for now, the mall has been avoided, and we've found a great new marketplace…cause for celebration in my book!
SoNo Marketplace, 314 Wilson Avenue (Rte 136), South Norwalk, CT, 06854, 203.838.0719
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