<p>How is the local atmosphere near campus? Are there any cute little restaurants or is it mainly fast food chains? Is the town of Elon charming?</p>
<p>Thanks in advance for your input.</p>
<p>Hi curious…the town of Elon right around the school is approx 3-4 locally owned sit- down restaurants…alongside a new frozen yogurt shop (local yogurt), a high end clothing store, and a few more coffee like shops… A new building just opened last fall houses the bookstore (two levels), the offices of the school publication, The Pendulum and a yet to be opened gourmet pizza store ( it may already be open, not sure) …</p>
<p>Others on CC may think differently, but, to me, it is very middle class suburban…the nearby town of Burlington reminds me of most suburbs…Target, Walmart, some chains ( actually some very good ones, like Mellow Mushroom, Red Bowl Asian, Mimi’s Cafe etc…)</p>
<p>My freshman daughter does not eat fast food (gluten free) sothat would not have worked for her…there are a couple of fast- food type places in the Moseley Center on campus, but that is really it in terms of chains you would have heard of…</p>
<p>The kids seems to love Acorn Coffee Shop for everything day and night; breakfast sandwiches,muffins, bagels, soups, paninis etc which is right off campus as well as the Fountain Market in Colonnades for salads, sandwiches etc…both of those take the meal plan combo meal option…</p>
<p>With the caveat that I haven’t been there since last March, near campus walking or bicycle distance there was really not much at all. A couple of places at one corner of campus. The yoghurt place Rodney mentioned was then eagerly being looked forward to to add some needed excitement. Beyond that and needing a car, there are two main roads of strip malls filled with every big box retailer and chain restaurant you can imagine. And if you’re not from the South, many you’ve never imagined. Who knew there were so many big restaurant chains in the US where biscuits were as central to the menu as burgers are for McDonalds? We also discovered (though some distance away) a nice Thai restaurant hidden in a strip mall and a classic family run North Carolina Barbeque place near the older section of Burlington that we wondered why no one on campus had mentioned to us</p>
<p>If your student has a car, that set up might concievably make for a nice, bye gone era Norman Rockwell-like, isolated small campus feeling with anything else needed not too far away.</p>
<p>Thank you both!</p>
<p>Don’t forget the new Tanger outlet mall that just opened fairly nearby. Planning to hit that when we visit in March!</p>