Harrisonburg for teens

Whether they are outside, inside, on a screen or on a board, games can be played by all. There are many places that carry games, such as Gamestop, Best Buy and Redbox, but none offer an experience quite like Gamer’s Oasis.  Harrisonburg native Lauren Davis is the operations manager of Gamer’s Oasis. After working at Gamestop for a few years and noticing that many people would ask for games that were not offered...

Want to go bowling, play chess and try your hand at old school Tetris all at the same time? Ruby’s Arcade, found at 165 South Main Street, offers all of these things and much more. With such a wide variety of games and activities, Ruby’s seems like it has something for everyone. Marta Rampini, a James Madison University student and server at Ruby’s Arcade, agrees with many teens, saying there are not man...

Bluetique, located at 187 N. Main St., provides clothing for teens and college-aged girls. This shop was not always just in downtown Harrisonburg. Bluetique started as a chain in Kentucky with multiple locations. The other locations are now closed but the newest one, in Harrisonburg, remains. Owner Candice Shelton lives in Harrisonburg and started the shop six years ago in its current location....

Pulp Açaí Smoothie Bar and Shenandoah Bicycle Company, are connected together and owner operated. Both shops is located at 135 S Main St. and share the same type of vibe. As worker Glen Thomas said, “I think it’s a pretty welcoming atmosphere.” The bicycle shop was opened in 1999 by Thomas Jenkins and Tim Richardson. Both have been working full-time in the shop since then. The workers welcome you when y...

Whether you are looking for mountain bikes or road bikes, Rocktown Bicycles, named after Rockingham County and its rocky terrain, offers a lot of variety of bikes. While Rocktown isn’t exactly a place for teens to hang out, they have a youth mountain biking team, called Shenrock. This is a good way for kids to go outside and have fun. Since its opening in 2013, Rocktown hosts kids and adults of a...

Jenna Motley has been working at Benny’s Pizza, a pizza restaurant that sells one slice the size of two. Benny’s opened up on 64 S. Mason St, in 2014. Motley said that the place opened up here because the area was a college town that would attract many customers and that it was a safe and fun environment.  Motley later added that the restaurant is a good place not only for college students ...

Barista Elle Wood said that the prices of the shop draw teens to want to hang out at Shenandoah Joe. “Our prices are cheaper than Starbucks or even some of the other coffee shops,” she said. Wood said that she thinks this coffee shop is a great place for teens to hang out and has a very friendly atmosphere. “People can just come in here and hang out, there’s lots of seats. It doesn’t reall...

From soy lotion candles to a jack-in-the-box, Agora Market is a go-to for adventurous teenagers. Open for business for over two years at 165 S Main St. Suite 101, Agora Market serves as a storefront for eight independent businesses, including New Creation and Broad Porch Coffee. “It’s a fun place to be able to shop, especially in the summer,” said Christina Swecker, volunteer coordinator a...