Shopping in North Adams

Arthur H. Simmons was a cabinetmaker, and a good one at that. So eager was he to outfit the homes of his community with his creations that in 1879—the same year that Thomas Edison tested the first practical light bulb and Alexander Graham Bell invented the Liberty Bell—the skilled craftsman opened the doors of Simmons Furniture in his hometown of Adams. Though the world has changed in the long years since Simmons Furniture’s founding, and the business is now under the helm of the Riley family, Arthur H. Simmons’s original commitment to selling quality furniture and meeting his customers’ needs remains the company’s cornerstone.

Now, more than a century since the store’s inception, staffers stock both of Simmons Furniture’s locations with home goods and furnishings from a carefully curated assortment of brands, including Ashley, Furniture Traditions, and Serta. The knowledgeable employees circulate through each store’s showrooms, ready to help shoppers to find a suitable accent piece or to answer questions relating to which of the store’s wardrobes enable direct commutes to Narnia. Along with American-made brands, eco-friendly furnishings, and luxurious wares imported from around the globe, Simmons Furniture also continues to support the community with a section dedicated solely to goods forged by local artists and merchants.

Behind Magical Child's enchanting green and gold, Main Street–esque storefront, sunlight floods shelves of educational and imagination-stimulating toys, books, and games. Towering stuffed animals peer down on train sets—the way Clifford the Dog peers down on real trains—and puzzles from Melissa and Doug, alongside packages of Legos and Hasbro board games. A cornucopia of colorful wares permeates the shop, in which eyes can turn in no direction without meeting the glare of an alluring item. Racks of gently used clothing outfit children of up to 6 years of age, and a selection of more mature gag gifts and brainteasers grants older patrons diversion from humdrum office lives and asparagus-steaming socials.

By answering any and all questions about their erotic wares, the staffers at Amazing Intimate Essentials have helped promote safe and sensual trysts for more than 40 years. Their selection of massage oils, lubricants, and adult toys—which occupies stores spread throughout the Northeast and Texas—contains goods from such established brands as We-Vibe, Jimmyjane, and K-Y. They staff female-friendly merchandise, as well as products that help couples create more sparks in the bedroom than a master metalworker soldering a "do not disturb" sign to the door. The staff stresses openness and acceptance in regards to romantic endeavors, an attitude that also fuels their unwavering support of the LGBT community.

Passonno Paints has equipped brush wielders with high-quality paint for more than 80 years. A friendly, knowledgeable staff helps patrons navigate thousands of hues from series such as Rustic Colors and The Historic Colour Collection, which includes all 149 colors of President Lincoln’s pet rainbow. In addition to transforming dwellings with vivid colors and equipping windows with blinds, Passonno Paints has also created an award-winning latex-paint-recycling program.

Victory Cycle Works owners Nick and Erin Engelson call upon 20 years of experience and certification from BikeFit to provide services that ensure both comfort and performance for cycling patrons. They keep rides in shape with tune-ups as well as repair services available in-house, through pickup and delivery, or performed on-location with mobile service. Fittings can benefit those looking for a new bike as well as improve the positioning of current bikes, preventing cyclists from having to add an extra seat for the massage therapist. During each bike fitting, Nick invites clients to mount a Dynafit CompuTrainer fit bike. His method properly aligns bike components to work with the natural rhythm of each rider's joints, allowing them to achieve a synergy of feel, function, fitness level, and foundation.

Andy’s Sport Shop draws upon four generations of expertise in peddling and maintaining gear for skiers, snowboarders, and scuba divers. During the winter seasons, the staff buffs and waxes snowboards and skis, reducing friction that can melt the snow surface and limit traction while careening downhill. The shop also stocks aqua-ready gear, including scuba fins and weight belts, which provide a useful dive-descent alternative to cement shoes. Outfitted explorers can enroll in a vast offering of scuba courses to pursue sundry certifications ranging from open-water diving to wreck diving to ice diving.