Downtown Chatham, a Beautiful Slice of Coastal Americana

All 15 towns on Cape Cod offer some of the most picturesque eye-candy Mother Nature has to offer. But, it’s hard to beat Chatham’s slice of Americana and the scrumptious serenity this seaside village serves up.  We begin our tour at one of Kinlin Grover’s current luxury listings on Seaview Street in Chatham where a short walk in any direction will bring you to the beautiful ocean or the friendly bustle of downtown shopping.

Historically, like many parts of Cape Cod, Chatham at one time all but rolled up the sidewalks during the winter as most Main Street businesses closed from the end of fall to Memorial Day weekend. Not anymore. Chatham has become a year-round community.

“Chatham offers the best ‘walking downtown’ on Cape Cod,” says Joe McIsaac, owner of Chatham Children’s Shop on Main Street. “Nearly all of the shops are locally owned and offer a bit of everything under the sun.”

Foodies can begin their day at Chatham Cookware on Main Street where the coffee is always hot, the pastries & muffins are many and gourmet sandwiches like the Sandpiper stuffed with ham, brie and honey mustard abound.

Judy Fellows and her family have been making the annual pilgrimage here at the elbow of Cape Cod from their home in Bucks County, PA since 1999.

“It would be easier for us to go to the Jersey Shore, but there’s simply nothing that compares to the beauty and warmth of Cape Cod,” says Fellows. “The beaches are gorgeous, the atmosphere is friendly where you can relax or do as much as you want.”

Or EAT as much as you want. Restaurants in downtown Chatham range from the semi-formal Wild Goose Tavern at the Wayside Inn where Chatham Mussels and Smoked Blue Fish highlight the menu to the world famous Impudent Oyster and its savory Cod Amandine to The Squire where the selection of craft beer is as varied as the collection of out of state license plates plastered on the walls. The pub’s affable owner Richard Costello recently won a national Ernest Hemingway look-a-like contest.

To experience the real Hemingway, stop in a few doors down at the Yellow Umbrella, an independent bookshop open year-old offering both classics and the latest best-sellers.

Planning a night in? If so, you’ll want to stock up at Chatham Wine & Provisions. With its enormous selection of wine and beer, pastas, preserves, oils, cheese, and “grown up juice bar”, connoisseurs can conduct their own private wine tasting. Pets are also welcome.

“Chatham is very dog-friendly. We really like our four-legged buddies,” says store manager Jeff Gledhill while reaching for a box of high-end “Buddy Biscuits” dog treats the store doles out to pooch-walking customers.

Planning a night out? Grab a blanket and lawn chair and stroll over to the band stand at Kate Gould Park where the Chatham Town Band has been entertaining crowds since 1931.

New to town or should we say “new again” is the Chatham Orpheum Theater. The original theater opened in 1916 and served the community for 72 years before it closed. It re-opened a couple years ago as a state of the art cinema complete with a boutique gourmet restaurant. The Orpheum screens all the latest blockbusters but also runs small acclaimed films from today and yesteryear.

Of course, it’s the only place on Cape Cod to see the classic JAWS on the big screen every summer.

The Chatham art scene is also thriving. Struna Galleries is one of several art galleries that line Main Street, alongside the very walkable quarter-mile stretch of independently-owned boutiques, shops, restaurants, town offices, and museums that comprise the center of town.

You can also master the art of shopping at the area’s finest clothiers such as Puritan Clothing and Pentimento, a boutique decorated in soft hues that specializes in women’s clothing.

“We provide individualized attention,” says Pentimento owner Suzy Nickerson. “We want our customers to feel special. That’s how we feel about everyone who comes to Chatham for a short stay or for a lifetime. We want you to feel special.”