Ithaca has two main shopping areas: one in the southwest section of downtown, where you’ll find many large supermarkets, shopping malls, and restaurants; and another in the northern area near Cornell, namely in Lansing (along Triphammer Road), which is smaller in scale but surrounded by many large residential complexes.

Shopping Locations

  • Trader Joe’s: A modern supermarket specializing in organic products that officially opened in April 2021. They never offer discounts or sales, but they frequently introduce new in-house brand items of high quality. The service is excellent – if you end up with items that are unsatisfactory or not fresh, you can simply return them without any hassle.
  • Wegmans: A large, fresh-food supermarket open until midnight, offering the widest range of local food products. The store includes a salad bar and a Chinese-style prepared foods section, so you can even have dinner before grocery shopping. It also has a pharmacy for over-the-counter medications. Although prices are on the higher side, the quality is usually very fresh.
  • Walmart: The nation’s largest retail chain, where you can buy nearly every daily necessity. You may also pick up online orders.
  • Ren’s Market: Currently Ithaca’s largest Chinese supermarket, offering a wide variety of vegetables and multiple types of seafood, though its inventory mainly features Chinese products.
  • Win Li Supermarket (Win Li Supermarket): A laid-back store run by a friendly owner and owner’s wife. It was once the most complete Chinese grocery store in the area, though its selection is now more limited compared to the newly opened Ren’s Market (but it still offers, for instance, Guilin-style soup dumplings). The owner’s wife is very chatty and kind; at times, she may even offer you some of her home-grown chives—but be sure to check the expiration dates.
  • Lowe’s: Specializes in furniture, hardware, and home improvement tools and supplies.
  • T.J. Maxx: A clothing and accessories store with plenty of discounted designer brands and cosmetics.
  • Staples: An office supplies and stationery store.
  • Barnes & Noble: Ithaca’s equivalent of a brick-and-mortar bookstore, a hub for books, music, toys, and board games.
  • PetSmart: A pet supply store that offers everything, from items for cats, dogs, birds, hamsters, and aquariums to reptile supplies.
  • The Home Depot: Specializes in home improvement products, including furniture, hardware, and construction tools.
  • Dollar Tree: A dollar store in Ithaca offering a variety of discount items.
  • Ithaca Mall: A large, multi-brand shopping center that includes stores like Best Buy (electronics), Target (department store), Michaels (craft supplies), Dick’s (outdoor and sports equipment), several clothing retailers (such as Old Navy), shoe stores (like DSW), hair salons, and more.
  • TOPS: A fresh-food supermarket open until midnight with an attached gas station. Prices tend to be high, and the produce is sometimes less than fresh; complaining to staff often doesn’t help.
  • Ithaca Tofu: Run by Korean owners, this market sells Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Chinese food products and kitchenware, with a strong focus on Korean ingredients. If you’re fond of Korean products, don’t miss this place! Prices are a bit higher compared to typical fresh markets. (Staff member Andy is a Korean-American who is very fluent in English and very friendly, and he will proactively ask if you need help or are looking for something.)
  • BJ’s: A membership-based warehouse club located next to the Ithaca Mall, very cost-effective for bulk purchases.
  • Triphammer Marketplace: A complex of various stores. Notable among them is Instant Replay Sports, a specialty store for sports equipment where you can also find second-hand skiing gear.
  • Cayuga Mall: Another shopping center in the area; noteworthy is JOANN Fabrics and Crafts, a fabric store.
  • P&C Fresh: Located at East Hill Plaza, southeast of campus, this 24-hour supermarket specializes in groceries and household supplies.
  • Ithaca Farmers Market: Organized by local farmers, the market offers fresh fruits and vegetables alongside handmade crafts and international foods. The main market is located at the southern lakeside of Cayuga Lake (Steamboat) and operates on weekends; during June to August, an evening market opens on Thursdays. Smaller market booths are also set up weekly between May and October at Dewitt Park (near Commons) and East Hill Plaza.
  • GreenStar: With several branches in Ithaca, the largest store is on Cascadilla Street. This organic health food store offers a wide range of locally-sourced organic products with very friendly staff; however, prices are quite high.
  • Ithaca Organics: A cooperative run by several farms, offering produce direct from the farm. You can subscribe online to receive a weekly box of fruits and vegetables, then pick it up at designated locations (for example, the Farmers Market); note that this is seasonal.
  • Green Castle Asian Market: With one location in Collegetown and another at Triphammer Marketplace, this small Asian grocery store offers items such as instant noodles, sauces, and snacks.
  • Aldi: A German supermarket that focuses on its own brand products at very low prices. There are two locations, one in Ithaca and another in Lansing.
  • Costco: A well-known U.S. warehouse club; the nearest location is in Syracuse, about a 70-minute drive. Student membership is available for $60 per year.

Shopping Malls

  • Mitsuwa Marketplace: Located in Jersey, NJ, this is the premier Japanese supermarket on the East Coast, where you can buy a wide range of Japanese products as well as high-quality fresh ingredients (such as Pangkasia black pork and authentic Japanese Wagyu beef). If you’re concerned about the taste of American pork, consider shopping here. Next door, there is also a popular outlet and a Japanese bookstore, plus the Japanese-brand “Santou Ramen” is available.
  • H Mart: The top choice for Korean products; the nearest store is in New Jersey. You may even find authentic, imported Korean musk grapes, and often Bonchon Korean Fried Chicken is available nearby.
  • 99 Ranch: An Asian supermarket started by a Taiwanese owner, reputed to carry the most Taiwanese products on the East Coast; the closest one is in Hackensack, NJ.
  • Waterloo Premium Outlets: The nearest large outlet shopping center, located in Waterloo (~53 miles away).
  • Destiny USA: The largest shopping center in New York State, located in Syracuse (~56 miles away).
  • Woodbury Premium Outlets: Located in the suburbs of New York City (~186 miles away), reputedly the largest outlet center on the East Coast, with a wide range of first- and second-tier brands; consider visiting on a trip through NYC.
  • Shorthill: The largest shopping center in the greater New York area, comprising several interconnected department stores. It hosts high-end brands such as Chanel, Hermes, Rolex, Louis Vuitton, Gucci, Prada, etc.

Other Shopping Information

  • Amazon: With your school email, you can sign up for Amazon Student Prime. The free trial lasts six months and includes two-day delivery service. After six months, the fee is $59 per year or $6.49 per month.
  • Newegg: An online retailer specializing in computer hardware, software, and electronics.
  • Free & For Sale: A Cornell Facebook community for second-hand item trading.
  • Cornell Buying and Selling: Another Cornell Facebook community for trading second-hand items.
  • Craigslist: A classified ads website where you might find second-hand or hard-to-find items.
* [CTSA Facebook Group](https://www.facebook.com/groups/2241567474/): Occasionally features information about second-hand clearances. * [Yamibuy](https://m.yamibuy.com/zht?invite_code=41869823&utm_source=internal_share&utm_campaign=invite_friends&platform=h5&source_page=user_invite&parent_id=3625136): An online store where you can buy Asian snacks and instant noodles. * [FreshGoGo](https://www.freshgogo.com/?language=en): A service where you can pick up fresh or frozen Asian foods on Saturdays at a campus parking lot.
  • Triphammer ReUse Center: A non-profit organization where you can find second-hand clothing, furniture, kitchenware, and various household items. If you’re willing to spend time hunting for treasures, the prices are very affordable! Good items often sell quickly due to high turnover, so consider visiting regularly.
  • Ithaca ReUse Center: Similar to the above.
  • The Salvation Army of Ithaca: Offers second-hand clothing, shoes, furniture, and more.
  • Mimi’s Attic: Specializes in second-hand home decor and furniture, and also offers some new items. The store is tastefully arranged, and the products are of high quality.
  • Plato’s Closet: Specializes in second-hand designer clothing.
  • Instant Replay Sports: A second-hand sports store where you can purchase items such as snowboards and snowshoes.
Edit this page

Last updated 26 Mar 2025, 19:39 -0400 . history