You are probably familiar with Yankee Candles and their stories in malls and gift shops, but are you familiar with their flagship store in South Deerfield, MA where you can easily whittle away an entire day? The flagship has so much more than candles. There are a food, gifts, activities, and often special events. South Deerfield is easily accessible off Route 91 in Western Massachusetts (anyone that is not a Mass. resident would consider it central Mass. but technically it is western).
First, you will be astonished by the size, but the outside size is just a hint of all that is packed inside. The store looks massive from the outside, but when you go inside, there is even more than you might have expected. There are surprises in every nook and cranny. The flagship store includes a full service restaurant, Chandler’s; a booth that sells gourmet popcorn; and even a candy bar. If you go in good weather, you can even bring a lunch and eat at one of their outdoor picnic tables. Maybe, you will be lucky like during our last visit and arrive during a food festival when many extra vendors and independent booths are there for you to taste and buy even more food.
During our last visit, we did not actually go for the shopping but for the activities. Our children enjoyed making a paraffin hand mold, pouring their own jar candle made out of wax beads, and dipping candles. These activities have extra charges but provide an activity for the kids to do and give them something to take home too.
Of course, my favorite thing to do at Yankee Candle is to shop, but as I mentioned, they don’t just sell candles. At the flagship store, every room has its own theme. Gifts span from Christmas ornaments to home decorating items; from kid’s toys to kitchen utensils; from Pandora to Vera Bradley. Your eyes won’t know where to rest. I am particularly fond of the room with train. The kids love the castle room. And of course, if you are there for the candles, they have every shape, size, and smell, and every candle accessory possible. You may want to plan to bring your larger vehicle that day so that you have plenty of room to pack all your purchases. If you get really tuckered out from all they have to offer, you may want to consider grabbing a cocoa or coffee and watching some entertainment in the center court.
At the end of the day, you will know that Yankee Candle has a lot more to offer than candles. And surely when you leave, you’ll be ready to plan another visit.
Note: They do also have a flagship store in Williamsburg, VA, but I have never been there so I can’t report on how great that location is. However, if Deerfield is any indication of what Williamsburg might be, you might want to check it out.
For more information, check out Yankee Candle’s website .
