Princeton Area Information

The Arts Council of Princeton (102 Witherspoon Street, 609-924-8777) offers virtual and in-person art classes and workshops for children, teenagers, and adults.

Princeton Garden Theatre (160 Nassau Street, 609-683-4656) is closed but is offering online productions. Other cinemas include: AMC MarketFair 10 (Route 1, Princeton, 609-520-8700), and Hillsborough Cinemas (111 Raider Road, Hillsborough, 908-874-8181).

The Historical Society of Princeton, a 20-minute walk through the IAS woods or along Mercer Street. The society often features Einstein exhibits.

Witherspoon-Jackson Historical and Cultural Society is dedicated to the research, preservation, understanding, appreciation and celebration of the rich and proud history of African-Americans in Princeton.

McCarter Theatre is offering virtual events and classes. Check out McCarter@Home.

WHWH (1350 AM) and WKXW (101.5 FM) are local radio stations that report Princeton Regional School closings. In inclement weather, schools may be closed earlier than the customary dismissal time or may not open at all if road conditions are hazardous. WPRB (91 FM) is the student-operated station of Princeton University. National Public Radio (NPR) is on WHYY (91 FM) in Philadelphia. The Classical Network, WWFM (89.1 FM), is a service of Mercer County Community College.

Bookstores in Princeton include Labyrinth Books (122 Nassau Street, 609-497-1600), within walking distance of the Institute, and Barnes & Noble (Princeton MarketFair, Route 1, 609-897-9250). Labyrinth is open and also offers curbside pickup.

The Kiosk at Palmer Square sells magazines, newspapers, and maps. Princeton’s free weekly newspaper, Town Topics, is delivered on Wednesday afternoons to the Laundry Room. Other area papers available by subscription include: The Princeton Packet, published on Tuesdays and Fridays, The Times of Trenton, and The New York Times. The Kiosk is open.

Open and allowing for curbside pickup, Princeton Public Library (65 Witherspoon Street, 609-924-9529) offers a wide variety of books, audiobooks, periodicals, music CDs, and DVDs. A library card may be obtained through an online form or by requesting an application at the circulation desk. 

Princeton Adult School offers virtual non-credit courses open to adult residents of Princeton and neighboring communities.

Princeton University’s Community Auditing Program (CAP) enables members of the community, high school graduates ages 18 and above, to virtually audit University lectures on a non-credit basis for $200 per course unless otherwise noted. Auditors must live in New Jersey or be within a 50 mile radius of Princeton University. On average, 150-175 classes are available each semester for auditing. No credit or certification is given for CAP classes. However, certified teachers currently working in New Jersey and Au Pairs may obtain written verification for classes they have audited.

The Princeton YWCA (59 Paul Robeson Place, 609-497-2100) and Princeton Family YMCA (59 Paul Robeson Place, 609-497-9622) are membership organizations serving the greater Princeton area. Both organizations are open. Please see their websites for further information.

Coffee shops, restaurants and many shops are located in Palmer Square and along Nassau and Witherspoon Streets. Please check the website to see shop and restaurant hours.

- D’Angelo Italian Market (35 Spring Street, 609-921-0404) sells Italian specialty groceries and produce, including pastas, prepared foods, freshly-made pizzas and salads, and pastries. 

- Instacart is a food delivery service.

- McCaffrey’s (Princeton Shopping Center, 609-683-1600) is open seven days a week and has a full range of grocery items and prepared foods. The Institute Shuttle includes a stop at the Princeton Shopping Center. 

- Nassau Street Seafood and Produce Company (256 Nassau Street, 609-921-0620) sells fresh seafood, fresh fruit and vegetables, and prepared foods.

- ShopRite (Mercer Mall, 609-275-8555) is open seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. until midnight. It is a full service food store with a pharmacy and floral department. The Institute Shuttle includes a stop at this location.

- Wawa (152 Alexander Street, 609-921-3677), open 24 hours, is a convenience store located near the Princeton train station. Wawa sells coffee, drinks, sandwiches and salads, basic groceries, and telephone debit cards. It is equipped with an automatic teller machine (ATM). 

- Wegmans (Nassau Park Boulevard, 609-919-9300) is open seven days a week from 6:00 a.m. until midnight and has a full range of grocery items, prepared foods, and pharmacy. A wine and spirits shop is located adjacent to Wegmans. The Institute Shuttle includes a stop at Wegmans. 

- Whole Earth Center (360 Nassau Street, 609-924-7429) offers a full line of organically grown fruits and vegetables.

- Whole Foods Market (Windsor Green Shopping Center, 609-799-2919) is a supermarket that also offers cooking classes and other family activities. The Institute Shuttle includes a stop at the Market.

Princeton is well-known for its ice cream shops, which include The Bent Spoon (35 Palmer Square, 609-924-2368), Halo Pub (9 Hulfish Street, 609-921-1710), and Thomas Sweet (183 Nassau Street, 609-683-8720). 

In New Jersey, wine and liquor stores may be open seven days a week. There are several in Princeton’s main business district, including The Corkscrew Wine Shop (49 Hulfish Street, 609-430-1200), and Varsity Liquors (234 Nassau Street, 609-924-0836).

- CVS (172 Nassau Street, 609-683-1337) is a source for both non-prescription and prescription drugs.

- Princeton University Pharmacy (36 University Place, 609-924-4545) has next day delivery Monday through Friday.

Sante Pharmacy (200 Nassau Street, 609-921-8822) offers "curated" nutritional supplements, vitamins, natural skincare products, homeopathic formulas.

- Walgreen's (Princeton Shopping Center 609-924-6125) has a pharmacy and also sells personal care products, groceries, cards and magazines, and other household items.

PetSmart (Nassau Park Pavilion, 609-520-9200) sells pet food and supplies and offers grooming services. Princeton Animal Hospital (726 Alexander Road, 609-520-2000) operates seven days a week and offers pet wellness services, dental care, and boarding services. 

Retailers at Nassau Park Pavilion (100 Nassau Park Boulevard) include: Best Buy, Dick’s Sporting Goods, Home Depot, Home Goods, Target, and Wegmans. The Institute Shuttle stops here.

Princeton’s business district begins at Palmer Square, located off of Nassau Street between Chambers and Witherspoon Streets. Many retail and dining establishments are located along the Square, and the Institute Shuttle makes several daily stops here.

MarketFair (3535 Route 1) is an indoor mall that has shops and restaurants. 

Princeton Shopping Center (301 North Harrison Street) is an outdoor mall with many shops, restaurants and McCaffrey's Supermarket. Princeton-Nassau Pediatrics is also located in the Center. Concord Pet and Food Supplies is also in the center.  

Windsor Green Shopping Center (Route 1) includes Marshalls, Whole Foods, and Sidney Albert Salon & Spa. The Institute Shuttle stops here.

Quaker Bridge Mall (Route 1 and Quakerbridge Road) is the area’s indoor mall. The Institute shuttle stops here.

Trader Joe's, 3528 Brunswick Pike, Princeton, NJ 08540, 609-897-0581, is located in The Square at Windsor Green. Lowe's home improvement store is also located in this shopping center. The IAS shuttle stops here.

Local resources for purchasing new bicycles and helmets include Jay’s Cycles (249 Nassau Street, 609-924-7233) and Kopp’s Cycle (38 Spring Street, 609-924-1052). Bike Exchange, located in Trenton, NJ, sells refurbished bicycles with proceeds benefitting the Boys and Girls Clubs of Trenton. New Jersey state law requires individuals under the age of 14 to wear a helmet while riding a bicycle. 

There are several local hotels offering services at various prices: Nassau Inn (10 Palmer Square), Hyatt Place Princeton (3565 US Route 1, 800-230-4134), Hyatt Regency Princeton (102 Carnegie Center, 609-987-2584), Marriott Residence Inn (3563 US Route 1, 609-799-0550), Red Roof Inn (3203 Brunswick Pike, 609-896-3388), and The Westin (201 Village Boulevard, 888-627-7036).