Bowling Green State University is often said to be it’s own community, which may lead many students to forget about the city that lies only a few blocks away.

The city has a lot to offer and new things to discover for students. If your roommate is driving you crazy or you just need to get out of your room, walk down to Main Street and explore what downtown has to offer.

Finders

With what cashier Erica McClure said is an upbeat atmosphere, Finders Records is a great downtown destination.

Located at 128 N. Main Street, the record store offers customers new and used CDs, movies, mugs, pens, incense, vinyl accessories, records and more.

“There’s not very many record stores left,” said Erica McClure, a cashier at Finders. “We have a huge selection of vinyl.”

The record store will also special order records and other items for customers.

“It’s important to go buy music and CDs and records,” McClure said. “And not to download it, but to support local businesses.”

Finders is also on the CRU Card, which offers a dollar off in the store to students with the discount card.

“It’s a really unique store, there’s not that many around,” McClure said.

The store was founded in 1971. Store hours are Monday through Saturday, 9 to 9 and Sunday 11 to 5.

Grounds for Thought

A coffee shop, bookstore and roaster, Grounds for Thought offers “a lot of things,” said Kelly Wicks, who owns the store with his wife Laura.

Grounds has a selection of 175,000 books.

“It’s a place where students [and others] can relax, socialize, study, get work done and just hang out,” Wicks said.

Grounds for Thought hosts concerts, political debates and more. The coffee shop also has friendly employees, quality pastries and drinks, Wicks said.

Founded in 1989, the store expanded from seating for 12 people to seating for 100.

Wicks said the atmosphere is eclectic, relaxed. He wants people to leave happy and feeling like they had a good, enjoyable experience.

Grounds for Thought is open 6 a.m. to midnight every day and is located at 174 S. Main Street.

For Keeps

Since 1997, For Keeps gifts has been a store that provides an assortment of things, said owner Amy Craft Ahrens.

The gift shop is located at 144 S. Main Street and is a general gift store with items such as candles, garden gifts, Vera Bradley products and a lot of different things.

“I want people who come in to enjoy themselves, even if they don’t buy anything,” Ahrens said. “You don’t need anything here, but you browse and find that thing that needs to go home with you.”

Customers can sign up for an email list to receive coupons and specials. Ahrens said she wants people to have a good time in her store, to smile, laugh and enjoy themselves.

“I just want to keep providing a different shopping experience, a fun atmosphere,” Ahrens said.

On the Edge

As a tattoo parlor, they also offer piercings, body jewelry and a full line of clothing.

“It’s definitely not the normal, everyday downtown business,” said tattoo artist and manager, Joe Fris. “We have some of the best artists here.”

Located at 136 N. Main Street, Fris said the store has been there almost 12 years.

“The atmosphere is really relaxed,” Fris said. “Everyone is really easy to get along with.”

On the Edge is open seven days a week, from 11 to 10 Monday through Wednesday, 11 to 11 Thursday through Saturday and 12 to 8 on Sunday.

Fris said he wants people to leave with “the best tattoo they’ve ever had.”

Ben Franklin

Ben Franklin craft store has been located at 154 S. Main Street in Bowling Green since 1976 and owner Floyd Craft said they love to have students in the shop.

The store offers everything from custom framing, art, office supplies, ink cartridge refills, party supplies, toys, candy, and more.

“We do have a lot of nice things,” Craft said.

The staff is friendly and offers good service to customers, Craft said.

“We’ll point you in the right direction if you don’t know what you’re looking for,” Craft said.

He loves to say hello to his customers and tries to make sure at least one employee greets a customer during their visit at the store.

Art-a-Site

This art gallery and studio is primarily a venue for local artists, but also offers gifts and handmade works of art.

Everything inside is for sale and the exhibits rotate, said owner and director Becky Laabs.

The gift shop was founded three years ago and Laabs said she tries to keep the merchandise local and connected to the community.

A wide-variety of items are offered in the store, cards, accessories and jewelry. Laabs even provides chalk outside the shop for any passersby who want to draw on the sidewalk.

Pricing starts at 75 cents and goes up.

There is also a gallery space for one or two artists to rent out at a time to show their work.

In a few weeks, Laabs will also start teaching art classes in the back of the shop.

“I want it to be a warm, inviting atmosphere where folks can enjoy and appreciate the talents of others,” Laabs said.

Easy Street Cafe

Easy Street Cafe offers a menu with extensive options for burgers, signature dishes and several appetizers to choose from.

“I want customers to feel like they’ve come and had dinner with friends,” said bartender and server Amy Coup. She said the atmosphere is really friendly and easy going.

Easy Street accepts BG1 Card and BG Bucks as well as CRU Cards and has been open since 1987.

Something that draws college students is what the restaurant calls the Hall of Foam. It is a club that customers can become members of by drinking a bottle of every beer they sell, which is a selection of more than 100.

There is also a pub above the restaurant called Grumpy Dave’s which offers customers karaoke, live music, euchre tournaments and more.