Shopping - Nags Head
Shop Nags Head for a variety of treasures from handcrafted jewelry and surfboards to designer dresses and original Disney animation art.
Take home a souvenir T-shirt, seashell, lighthouse or hermit crab. Stock up on beach towels, boogie boards and other beach supplies.
Visit the antique mall at Central Square or shop outlet heaven at Tanger Outlet Mall. Specialty stores feature everything from Christmas wares and antique decoys to baby, boating, birding and angling essentials. You can find a variety of gifts in multi-room shops or nestled in restaurant, gallery or recreation hot spots. From fresh seafood catches at the market to oceans of swimsuit selections, Nags Head offers quality goods and services to enhance your daily, weekly or lifetime stay.
Remember that locals call Croatan Highway—aka U.S. Highway 158—The Bypass, and they refer to Virginia Dare Trail—aka N.C. Highway 12—as the Beach Road. Those simple names are just easier to remember!
Ace Hardware
- 2718 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-5644
- map
Most people know Ace as a traditional hardware store, a place to find tools, paint, hardware and lawn and garden supplies. But you may not know that they also sell deck furniture, cleaning supplies, kitchen items, bathroom accessories, beach goods, pet supplies, holiday decorations, fishing tackle, grills, gifts, home accessories, art supplies, Carhartt clothing and much more. Check it out.
Cavalier Surf Shop
- 4324 S. Virginia Dare Traill, The Beach Road, MP 13.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-7349
- map
One of the oldest surf shops on the Outer Banks, Cavalier is a family-run operation and is known for providing good customer service in sales and rentals. You can buy or rent hard or soft-top surfboards, bodyboards, skimboards and wetsuits. They have a full line of clothing for boys, men and women including beachwear, sportswear, swimwear and sandals. They also have a wide selection of sunglasses. Check out their cool Cavalier Surf Shop T-shirt designs. See Recreation for more information about the surfing lessons they offer.
Cloud Nine
- 3022 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP11.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-2992
- map
Colorful and creative, Cloud Nine is a happening stop these days for shoppers and artisans and has been for more than 20 years. Buy beads to create your own jewelry, or bring in a piece of beach glass or a found treasure and they’ll create it for you. The owner, Ginny, is a talented jewelry artist who shares her knowledge and provides lots of helpful info. Ask about their jewelry-making workshops. The shop has recently expanded to offer more beads, worktables and finished jewelry plus books and tools for the aspiring designer. Choose from a selection of gold and silver jewelry and other beaded delights, apparel, incense, body oils and around the world finds. They carry a great selection of local artwork, and Ginny can tell you a bit about each artist.
Cotton Gin
- 5151 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 14.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-2387
- map
Headquartered on mainland Currituck County, The Cotton Gin has been a coastal shopping tradition for more than 40 years. You’ll find resort fashions for women and men, jewelry, home accessories, collectibles, waterfowl carvings, books, cards, prints, even fine wine from the local Sanctuary Vineyards.This shop is perfect for finding special touches for your home or cottage, gifts or that little something for yourself.
Front Porch Café
- 2515 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10
- Nags Head
- (252) 480-6616
- map
The Front Porch Café in Nags Head has moved! They outgrew their old location and are now in the new Food Lion Plaza just a block north of the old location. They are still a traditional community coffeehouse with deliciously fresh roasted coffee, but the new store features additional seating and parking and a lounge/art space to relax and enjoy your coffee and the hand-painted mural by local artist Dawn Gray. They have live music on the new stage area, which doubles as a kids story time space during the summer, and of course some of the best artisan roasted coffee on the beach. They serve an array of specialty coffee drinks, teas and chai, and fresh pastries like croissants, muffins, cinnamon buns and turnovers are baked on site. A wide variety of whole bean coffees are for sale. This is a great place to hang out, and they’re open year round with free wireless internet access, extended summer evening hours and a community bulletin board with local news and events. The Front Porch has two other locations, one in Kill Devil Hills at MP 6 and the other in Manteo.
Hallmark Gold Crown
- 5000 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 14
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-7015
- map
Cards, gifts, gift wrap, stationery and photo albums are the “hallmark” of this venue. Need a wedding or baby gift? Look no further. You’ll find a large selection of Yankee Candles, Willow Tree figurines, Jim Shore’s Heartwood Creek and Webkinz. They also offers gifts and jewelry that can be engraved and on-site invitation printing with quick turnaround times. They carry wedding supplies, girlfriend gifts, monogram items, the Precious Moments birthday series, balloons and plush toys and a nice selection of Coastal gifts.
Jewelry by Gail
- 207 Driftwood Street
- Nags Head
Designing in platinum, gold and silver, Gail Kowalski is a local artist whose work with natural, fancy-colored diamonds and other precious gems has won her national recognition. She creates one-of-a-kind high-quality jewelry and also features a large selection of handpicked reasonably priced selections from the world over, including designers Alwand Vahan, David B. Mazza, René Escobar and Hidalgo. To see a work of astonishing beauty, stop in for a look at her amethyst chandelier.
Kitty Hawk Kites and Whalebone Water Sports
- 3933 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 12.5
- Nags Head
Kitty Hawk Kites offers equipment for all adventure needs, including hang gliding, kiteboarding and kayaking gear. They have souvenirs, including Wright Brothers merchandise, pirate gear and Outer Banks paraphernalia. There is also a great selection of fun toys, special gifts and all types of kites. Check out the on-site climbing wall and ask about hang gliding lessons, which are held across the street at Jockey’s Ridge. See Recreation for more information.
Kitty Hawk Sports
- 3933 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 12.5
- Nags Head
Ready for some action? Kitty Hawk Sports has everything you need to enjoy what the Outer Banks has to offer – from the wind to the waves to the sound. Kitty Hawk Sports’ retail store is located across from Jockey’s Ridge State Park, and you can find a huge selection of new and used kayaks, kayaking equipment, surfboards, Zap skim boards, wetsuits and other surfing equipment. You can also find one of the best selection of surf brands on the beach including Quiksilver, Billabong, Volcom, Roxy, Reef and The North Face. While you are there, look into booking a kayak eco tour or a surf lesson with one of their experienced guides and teachers.
Secret Spot Surf Shop
- 2815 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
Outfit yourself to surf, skate or sun. This shop is an old-time favorite offering custom-made Secret Spot surfboards as well as used boards, boogie boards and more. Check out the retro collection of surfboards on the ceiling. You also can rent a board or get a surf report, and lessons are available. The whole family can shop for summer apparel including bathing suits, shoes, shorts and Secret Spot T-shirts. They specialize in stuff for babies and kids, so if you have little ones, this is your place. Other cool findings include the selection of summer dresses for women and girls, the collection of tropical gifts and surf art and their killer selection of sunglasses.
The Cottage Shop
- 5000 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 14
- Nags Head
The Cottage Shop is the Outer Banks’ “home outfitters for seaside living.” The store features the latest in gifts for special occasions, weddings and holidays, decorative accessories, housewares and accent furniture to complement any home. The Cottage Shop also offers all-inclusive Cottage Packages designed to help homeowners outfit their beach homes or year-round residences. The packages encompass kitchen, bed, bath, decorative accessories, outdoor and recreational items. Kellogg Design Center, a sister company that’s located next door, can help you create a totally new kitchen or bath with all your lighting, flooring and cabinet needs.
TW’s Bait and Tackle
- 3022 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10.5
- Nags Head
TW’s Bait and Tackle has 7,500 square feet of sheer shopping pleasure for anglers, hunters and sports enthusiast alike. Check out their massive replicas of the NC state record blue marlin and world record yellowfin tuna that adorn the storefront. Inside, your mind will swim with the impressive selection of inshore, offshore, surf, fly and freshwater tackle including such manufactures as Daiwa, Shimano, G. Loomis, Black Bart Lures, Berkley Gulp, Yeti coolers and Bluewater lures to name a few. TW’s stocks some of the newest products the fishing industry has to offer. They also carry a full line of fun and functional clothing for the whole family including brands such as Columbia, Calcutta, Guy Harvey, Hook & Tackle, Pelagic, Salt Life and Costa Del Mar and WileyX sunglasses. Get your “Fish On” with their awesome selection of gifts, fish mounts, Tervis Tumblers and more. Don’t forget to check out their unique selection of custom T-shirt, sweat, hats and stickers. TW’s is one stop shopping for those who love to fish or just look like they do!
A-New-U
- 3022 S. Croatan Highway, Pirate’s Quay, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-6490
A-New-U is a full-service hair salon offering cuts, blowouts, roller sets, color, perms, etc. They also do unisex waxing.
Aeropostale
- 7100 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass MP 16
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-9380
Your teens and young adults will flock to this outlet. It’s filled with stylish clothes for that set.
Ann’s Beach Crafts
- 206 E. Driftwood Street
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-7459
There’s a little bit of everything here, with crafts and gifts including hand-painted mailboxes and flower pots, ceramics, handmade purses, glassware and sun catchers. Call for hours.
Antique Mall of Nags Head
- 2910 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 11
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-6363
Filling the whole middle section of the Central Square shopping area, this shop features 12 antiques dealers and is full of primitives, artwork, glasswear, antiques and collectibles, wicker, mixed-media art and some jewelry.
Austin Fish Company
- 3711 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 12.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-7412
Austin’s features a variety of seafood including crab meat, shrimp, oysters, clams, fish, scallops, crabs, live lobsters, lobster tails and snow crab legs. They’ll steam your shrimp and crabs for you, and they’ll also vacuum pack, freeze and ship your catch. This year Nags Head Produce built a new farm stand adjacent to Austin’s and is offering fresh, local, seasonal produce. While Austin’s was already worth the trip, this addition makes them an easy one-stop shopping destination for dinner!
Beach Braids
- 4104 S. Virginia Dare Trail, Beach Road, MP 13
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-6970
Get the ultimate vacation souvenir with a colorful hairwrap, some cornrows or a temporary tattoo. Beach Braids is the only Outer Banks shop offering natural henna tattoos in addition to black henna tattoos. Natural henna is a reddish-brown color instead of black. Beach Braids has a Mendhi artist on staff, and they also offer “Hollywood” tattoos with a wide range of designs. This store also sells custom, handmade jewelry. Beach Braids is professional and organized with skilled staff and a comfortable waiting area. Appointments or walk-ins are accepted, and large groups can easily be accommodated. This business is open in the spring and summer season only. They also have a studios in Duck and Corolla.
Beach Memories
- 2236 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-7277
Shop here for all your scrapbook supplies. Scrapbooking is a great way to archive your memories by displaying photos and memorabilia. Beach Memories has scrapbook pages for all occasions like weddings, birthdays and of course vacations. She also carries specialty items for attractions on the Outer Banks such as the lighthouses, aquarium, The Lost Colony, the Wright Brothers and more.
Beach Soul and Hairwraps
- 3933 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 12.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 449-9066
With some of the coolest temporary tattoos and hair wraps on the beach, as well as lots of fun activities for kids of all ages, Beach Soul is a great stop during your vacation. They have a fun make-your-own sand art box that the boys really get into, and don’t miss their fun color changing T-shirts and nail polish – just add sun! They also have local art such as windchimes, photography, ceramics, jewelry and paintings as well as tank tops, visors and more.
Beach Waves Too Salon by the Sea
- 7531 S Virginia Dare Trail, Nags Head/Manteo Causeway, Caribbean Corners
- Nags Head
- (252) 480-9992
Beach Waves Too is a full-service hair salon with a great view of the sound. Call for an appointment.
Bear Drugs
- 4711 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 14
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-1252
Bear Drugs is a locally owned compounding drugstore. The pharmacists are helpful, and they stock diabetic and home healthcare supplies.
Ben Franklin
- 2117 S. Croatan Highway, The Bypass, MP 10
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-7571
Ben Franklin is a great stop for beach items such as floats, towels, boogie boards, hats and sandals. You can pick up souvenirs and sundries and browse a host of attractive swimsuits and beach dresses for women. There also are swimsuits, shorts, T-shirts and pants for the whole family.
Brew Thru—Nags Head (2 locations)
- 3700 S. Virginia Dare Trail (Beach Road) and 2203 S. Croatan Highway (The Bypass), MP 10 & 13
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-5108 and (252) 480-2739
The original drive-through beverage store has been on the Outer Banks for more than 30 years and has become a tradition for visitors and locals alike. The Nags Head locations offer ice-cold beer, wine, soft drinks, snacks and much more. Almost bigger than their fun reputation are their world-famous T-shirts—they’ve sold so many (more than 3 million since 1977) that they now create annual editions that are considered collectibles. Check out Ebay if you think we’re kidding! Stop in and get your own! It’s the #1 selling souvenir on the beach.
Cahoon’s
- 7213 S. Virginia Dare Trail, The Beach Road, MP 16.5
- Nags Head
- (252) 441-5358
This vintage, family-owned grocery store offers fresh meats, a great selection of fine wines and a variety of groceries. They have gourmet cheeses and pates, homegrown vegetables, herbs, spices, sauces and marinades. And, while you’re here, pick up all the fishing tackle you need. They really have it all!
