6 Shopping in Madison That You Shouldn't Miss

Located in the shoreline town of Madison, Connecticut, RJ Julia Booksellers has always been a place of inspiration, information, and excitement. RJ Julia opened 30 years ago as an independent bookstore whose mission was, and is, to be a place where words matter, where writer meets reader, where the ambiance and selection and merchandising of books creates an atmosphere that is welcoming and presents the opportunity for discovery. Ultimately we are fiercely committed to putting the right book in the right hand. We are extremely proud of having won several major awards nationally, statewide and locally, including in part: Publishers Weekly Bookseller of the Year, Lucile Pannell award for bookselling excellence, Connecticut Magazine Best Bookstore, Connecticut Retailers Award for Community Commitment, the Advocate's Best Bookstore and the New Haven Business Small Business Award.

The Audubon Shop is the original birding store in Connecticut, having opened in 1986. Owned and operated by Janet and Jerry Connolly, we are located in an historic home on the Post Road in Madison, a town situated on Long Island Sound. A stone's throw east of us is Hammonassett State Park, one of the best birding sites in the state and one of the most significant breeding and migratory bird stopover areas on the Atlantic Coast. The Connollys are avid birders, leading weekly local field trips as well as trips far a-field including: Costa Rica, Belize, Panama, Venezuela, Ecuador, Peru, Trinidad, Tobago, and Africa. The Audubon Shop is widely known by birders throughout the state and the country as the place for optical equipment, international travel and field guides, and expert advice. Jerry has given optics talks for CT Audubon, CT Ornithological Association, The Linnaean Society of NY, and numerous nature centers and bird clubs. Since moving into our new "digs" in 2002, with twice the square footage, we have been able to expand our lines of international travel guides, maps and field guides, bird feeders, seed, artwork, and nature gifts.

Anna Mia's, in lovely downtown Madison, features fabulous shoes for women and children. Anna Mia's also carries gorgeous accessories and gifts, including bags, scarves and sleepwear. A visit to this beautiful store is a must if you are near the Connecticut shoreline!

Wall Street Gallery of Madison, Connecticut was founded by Jim Reinhart in 1974. We have a small gallery that is located inside our shop to display various artists.Come in any time! We love to consult with our customers about how they would like their art framed. "Imagination costs no more," so come in and view some of our custom handcrafted frames!