Marshalls, TJ Maxx, and Bed Bath & Beyond

Confession: 99.9% of the time I do not miss living in suburbia, but every once in a while, for a minute or two, my hometown looks pretty good — and not only because I miss my family and friends who still live there. Why? Well, its easy proximity to my favorite fall activities tops the list. But second on that list: the fact that all the stores you might need for inexpensive apartment stuff are just a quick car ride away. Soon after I moved here, I discovered the next best thing: the Marshalls/TJ Maxx/Bed Bath & Beyond complex on 6^th Avenue at 19th Street in Manhattan.

You laugh, but for this suburban-raised girl, it’s a blessing. When I moved into my apartment and finally bought a queen bed, I needed new sheet sets. Marshalls had just what I wanted, along with a small rug and some bathroom rugs. I even got a pillow for my couch. With both Marshalls and TJ Maxx in the same building (basically the same store in my mind), if one store doesn’t have what you’re looking for, the other probably will. And if what they have isn’t quite right, Bed Bath & Beyond certainly has it – maybe for a little more money, but that’s why you try there last.

Are there other places all over the city where you could pick up this kind of stuff? Sure! Target comes to mind, and other places that are more NYC and less like what you’d find at a mall. But last week it was really comforting to pop into Marshalls and pick up some new towels, then run into Bed Bath & Beyond and get a towel rack for the bathroom. One more step toward a full-fledged adult apartment. Now, if a Joann Fabrics would open around here, for all my potential crafting needs, life would be perfect – especially since Wegmans is already on its way.

What stores and places do you miss most from the place where you grew up, and where do you go in NYC when you need to buy stuff for your apartment?