Located just a short stroll from The Essex Resort and Spa  in Essex, The EE is part entertainment district and part social hub, housing over twenty independently owned businesses that showcase the best in local and national music, cinema, art, wellness, and dining, In fact, The EE was named “Best Retail Hub” in 2025 by a well-known New England magazine.

On warm mornings, The EE wakes gradually. Early visitors sip coffee at a sidewalk café, families arrive with strollers, cyclists stop in after morning rides, and friends settle into shaded tables to map out the day ahead.

There’s a rhythm to The EE that feels distinctly Vermont—welcoming, relaxed, and community-centered,” says Alexis Hayes, marketing director of the Essex Resort & Spa.

SHOP LOCALLY

By late morning, the walkways begin to fill with energy. Local boutiques, like Addie & Grace, which offers women’s clothing and accessories from well-known designers, and Nusantara, a global fashion wholesaler selling unique goods from Southeast Asia, open up for the day.

 

 Nusantara's flagship boutique specializes in curated clothing, handmade jewelry, home decor, and

unique antiques.

Part of The EE’s appeal is how intentionally local it feels. Many of the businesses are Vermont-owned. Arthound Gallery, for example, features curated Vermont product for the home, and Magic Mann, offers Vermont-grown cannabis, cannabis education, and resources for cannabis consumers.

“You come for one thing and end up discovering five more,” says Alexis.

FOOD AND DRINK CHOICES

Food and drink are central to The EE. Options range from Bramble , a farm-to-table restaurant showcasing the best from local farmers, butchers, and artisans to Leo & Co., a café offering juices and smoothies, baked goods, sandwiches, and salads.

 Bramble, a farm-to-table restaurant, showcasing the best from local farmers, butchers, and artisans.

 There’s also The Mad Taco, inspired by creative Latin cuisine, and The Oriental Wok, specializing in Hunan, Szechuan, and Cantonese cuisine. Salt and Bubbles Wine Bar and Market  focuses on ethically made wines, while Vermont Cider Lab serves up fresh-pressed hard cider crafted locally using local ingredients.

  Black Flannel Brewing operates forty taps, featuring ales, lagers, sour beers, and barrel-aged selections brewed on-site, in addition to crafting their own spirits and cocktails.

Black Flannel Brewing  has become one of the anchors of The EE. The brewery’s industrial-inspired taproom balances polished design with Vermont comfort—large communal tables, warm wood finishes, and an atmosphere that encourages people to stay awhile. Their rotating beer menu ranges from approachable lagers to hop-forward IPAs and creative seasonal releases.

The brewery’s distillery program allows visitors to sample craft cocktails made with house spirits, while bartenders mix refreshing summer drinks that pair perfectly with live music and warm evenings. Says Alexis, “A simple afternoon visit can easily turn into an entire evening out.”

 MUSIC AND EVENTS

What truly transforms The EE during the summer is the steady calendar of live events. Double E Music provides everything, from live music shows to lectures, lifestyle events, classes, and private parties.

Double E’s newest venue, the Double E Lounge, is a multifaceted performance space that accommodates up to 150 guests. It has a fully stocked bar, a kitchen, a professional stage and screen, and a professional hospitality team that’s there to make sure everything runs smoothly.

 Double E Music offers live music on the Old Stage,made from a lovingly restored 200-year-old barn.

Movie nights take on a new dimension at Double E’s 400-seat theater, which offers Vermont’s only large-format cinema screen. The theater can also be used to host large private or public parties and multimedia presentations, private screenings and concerts, recitals, and larger speaking events.

WELLNESS OPTIONS

The EE offers a holistic approach to wellness, providing a rejuvenating escape where relaxation takes center stage. Providers include Elements of Healing, a holistic health center, as well as an acupuncture center and school of massage, and Purple Salt, which specialized in a wide range of beauty and wellness services, from traditional spa treatments to treatments in their salt cave and detoxifying sessions in their infrared sauna.

Peace of Mind Pilates is a community-focused fitness studio offering classes in Pilates, Barre, yoga, cardio, and more, while Essential Elements, a holistic health and wellness practice founded by Leslie Chadwell, offers Chinese medical massage, essential oils, and nutritional counseling.

A NEW VT TRADITION

In many ways, The Essex Experience reflects what people increasingly want from summer destinations: authenticity, connection, and flexibility. Visitors can spend hours there without a strict plan, letting the day unfold naturally. For some, it’s a place to meet friends after work. For others, it’s a weekend family outing or a date-night destination. And for travelers discovering Vermont in 2026, it offers an easy entry point into the local culture.

The Essex Experience

21 Essex Way

Essex, VT

www.essexresort.com/essex-experience-vermont