There are two main shopping areas in Ithaca. One is located southwest of downtown, featuring many large supermarkets, malls, and restaurants. The other is in Lansing (Triphammer Road), north of Cornell campus, which is slightly smaller but near many large residential neighborhoods.

Shopping Locations

  • Trader Joe’s: A new grocery store opened in April 2021, mostly selling organic products. It never offers discounts or promotions but frequently launches new private-label items with good quality. Excellent service—returns are accepted with no questions asked if you’re unhappy with a product.
  • Wegmans: A large grocery store open until midnight with the widest selection of food in Ithaca. Features a salad bar and Asian hot food section. There’s a pharmacy inside. Prices are relatively high, but products are usually very fresh.
  • Walmart: The largest chain retailer in the U.S. You can find nearly all daily necessities here. Online orders can also be picked up at the store.
  • Ren’s Market: Currently the largest Chinese supermarket in Ithaca. Offers a wide range of vegetables and seafood, mainly focusing on Chinese products.
  • Win Li Supermarket: A more traditional Chinese grocery run by a friendly couple. The selection is smaller than Ren’s Market, but they sell special items like frozen sweet rice balls (Tang Yuan). The owner is chatty and kind—she sometimes gifts homegrown chives. Do check product expiration dates.
  • Lowe’s: Sells furniture, tools, and home improvement materials.
  • T.J.Maxx: Clothing store offering off-season brand names and cosmetics at discounted prices.
  • Staples: Office supplies and stationery chain store.
  • Barnes & Noble: The Ithaca version of Eslite Bookstore in Taiwan; a bookstore that also sells music, toys, and board games.
  • PetSmart: A pet supply store for cats, dogs, birds, hamsters, reptiles, and more.
  • The Home Depot: Another store for tools, hardware, and home improvement.
  • Dollar Tree: The U.S. version of a $1 discount store, similar to Japan’s Daiso.
  • REI Co-op: Outdoor gear retailer that opened in June 2024, offering hiking, camping, and skiing gear, along with a Re/Supply section for used equipment. Online orders with free in-store pickup.
  • HomeGoods: Discount home decor and furnishing chain opening in Tops Plaza in 2025, offering affordable bedding, kitchenware, lighting, and decor at prices 20–50% below department stores.
  • Ithaca Mall: A major shopping mall with stores like Best Buy (electronics), Target (general goods), Michaels (arts & crafts), Dick’s (sports & outdoors), clothing stores (e.g., Old Navy), shoe stores (e.g., DSW), hair salons, and more.
  • TOPS: A grocery store open until midnight, with a gas station. Prices are high, and product freshness can vary. Complaints about spoiled fruit are often ignored.
  • Ithaca Tofu: Run by a Korean couple. Offers Korean, Japanese, Taiwanese, and Chinese groceries and kitchen tools. The focus is on Korean ingredients. Staff are friendly and helpful.
  • BJ’s: A membership-based wholesale store next to Ithaca Mall. Great for buying in bulk.
  • Triphammer Marketplace: A plaza with various specialty shops, including Instant Replay Sports for second-hand sports gear like snowboards.
  • Cayuga Mall: Another mall in this area, featuring stores like JOANN Fabrics and Crafts.
  • P&C Fresh: Located in East Hill Plaza (southeast of campus), open 24/7, selling groceries and daily goods.
  • Ithaca Farmers Market: Local farmers’ market offering fresh produce, handmade goods, and global street food. The main location is by Cayuga Lake’s southern tip (Steamboat Landing), open on weekends. From June to August, there’s a Thursday evening market. From May to October, smaller pop-up markets operate weekly at Dewitt Park (near the Commons) and East Hill Plaza.
  • GreenStar: Local organic and health food co-op with several locations. The largest is on Cascadilla St. Staff are friendly, and the store features many local organic products. Prices are high.
  • Ithaca Organics: A farmer-run CSA (community-supported agriculture). Subscribe to weekly produce deliveries and pick up at designated locations (e.g., Farmers Market). Seasonal only.
  • Green Castle Asian Market: A small Asian grocery with locations in Collegetown and Triphammer Marketplace, selling snacks, sauces, and ramen.
  • Aldi: A German budget grocery chain known for its private-label items. Likely the cheapest supermarket. There are two locations: one in Ithaca and another in Lansing.
  • Costco: A familiar U.S. wholesale store for Taiwanese students. The closest location is in Syracuse, about 70 minutes by car. Student membership: $60/year.

Shopping Centers

  • Mitsuwa Marketplace: Located in Jersey, NJ, it’s the top Japanese supermarket on the East Coast. Offers a wide selection of Japanese goods and premium groceries such as Berkshire pork and authentic wagyu beef. Great for those who dislike the typical flavor of American pork. The plaza also features a Daiso, a Japanese bookstore, and a Santouka Ramen shop.
  • H Mart: The go-to chain for Korean groceries. The nearest location is in New Jersey. Occasionally carries premium Korean imports like Shine Muscat grapes. There may also be a Bonchon Korean fried chicken nearby—highly recommended.
  • 99 Ranch: An Asian supermarket chain founded by a Taiwanese owner. Arguably the best place on the East Coast for Taiwanese products. The nearest location to Ithaca is in Hackensack, NJ.
  • Waterloo Premium Outlets: The closest outlet mall, 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 near New York City (~186 miles), it’s considered the largest outlet mall on the East Coast, with a wide selection of luxury and mid-range brands. A good stopover if you’re driving to NYC.
  • The Mall at Short Hills: The largest luxury shopping mall in the greater NYC area, housing multiple department stores and brands like Chanel, Hermes, Rolex, LV, Gucci, and Prada.

Additional Shopping Information

  • Amazon: Students can register for Amazon Student Prime with a school email address. Includes a 6-month free trial with two-day shipping. After the trial, it costs $59/year or $6.49/month.
  • Newegg: Specializes in electronics, hardware, and computer components.
  • Free & For Sale (Facebook): A Cornell student Facebook group for buying and selling secondhand goods.
  • Cornell Buying and Selling: Another active Facebook group for secondhand trades among Cornell students.
  • Craigslist Ithaca: Classified listings where you can find secondhand and hard-to-find items.
  • CTSA Facebook Group: Secondhand items occasionally posted in this Cornell Taiwanese student group.
  • Yamibuy: An online store offering Asian snacks, noodles, and groceries.
  • FreshGoGo: Asian grocery delivery service. Orders can be picked up every Saturday at designated campus parking lots.
  • Triphammer ReUse Center: A nonprofit thrift store with secondhand clothes, furniture, kitchenware, and miscellaneous items. Good finds go fast—check back often!
  • Ithaca ReUse Center: Operated by the same organization as Triphammer ReUse. Offers a wide variety of gently used goods.
  • The Salvation Army of Ithaca: Offers affordable secondhand clothing, shoes, and furniture.
  • Mimi’s Attic: Curated secondhand furniture and home décor. Stylish interior and high-quality merchandise.
  • Plato’s Closet: A resale store focused on branded secondhand fashion.
  • Instant Replay Sports: Specializes in secondhand sports gear—great for ski or snowboard equipment.
  • Goodwill of the Finger Lakes: Opened April 2025 at 723 South Meadow St. Accepts donations of clothes, books, and small electronics. Proceeds support job training programs.
  • ReUse MegaCenter: A large-scale reuse facility at 2255 N Triphammer Rd. Open daily 10 am–6 pm (no donations on Thursdays). Offers furniture, clothing, appliances, and building materials.

Delivery Services and Pharmacies

  • Grubhub: Cornell students can register using their school email and link Big Red Bucks (BRBs). Some campus dining locations are supported.
  • DoorDash: Delivers food, drinks, and groceries across Ithaca and Cornell. DashPass membership available for $9.99/month with free delivery.
  • Uber Eats: Includes chains like Chipotle and Moe’s. Uber One membership offers reduced service fees.
  • HungryPanda: A popular app for ordering Chinese, Korean, and other Asian cuisines. Available in multiple college towns with a Chinese-language interface.
  • Fantuan: A delivery service widely used in Chinese-speaking communities. Offers restaurant delivery and grocery shopping.
  • CVS Pharmacy: Locations in Commons and East Hill Plaza. Offers prescriptions, OTC meds, supplements, beauty products, and household items.
  • Walgreens: Located on South Meadow St. Offers medication, personal care products, and vaccination services.
  • Kinney Drugs: Local chain near Triphammer Marketplace. Sells medicine, cosmetics, and hygiene products.
  • Rite Aid: Once common near campus; now only one branch remains near South Meadow Plaza.
  • Wegmans Pharmacy: Located inside Wegmans supermarket. Offers prescriptions, cold and flu meds, travel health services, and vaccines. Online refills and appointment scheduling available.
  • GreenStar Wellness: Sells natural and organic supplements, herbal remedies, and wellness products.
Edit this page

Last updated 25 May 2025, 19:13 -0400 . history