Manchester, NH, is Cool – and Getting Cooler
Learn about the movers and shakers and trendy places that are making Manchester the great community it is today.
Manchester, NH, is a city that’s known for innovation. In the 1800s, it served as a bustling textile manufacturing community along the Merrimack River, even housing what was once the world’s largest textile mill complex. Changing with the times, some of the city’s mill buildings have been repurposed to house tech companies and startups over the years. And more recently, they have become hubs for biomanufacturing and biofabrication industries.
“It’s a very innovative community, and we have always been known to reinvent ourselves and continue to modernize,” says Jodie Nazaka, director of the Manchester Economic Development Office.
People have taken notice of Manchester and its drive to move forward, and in the last five years, several companies have relocated to the area.
A haven for millennials and Gen Z, Manchester is more affordable than nearby Boston, offers a flourishing arts, food, craft beer and cocktail scene, and is home to innovators, creatives and artists. Simply put, Manchester has always been cool, but it’s getting even cooler.
Read on to learn more about the city’s movers and shakers and the trendy places that make it the great community it is today.
Cool People in Manchester, NH
Manchester boasts several art galleries, the historic Palace Theatre and the well-known Currier Museum of Art, so it’s no wonder the city is chock-full of some pretty cool people, especially in creative fields.
One in particular is photographer Karen Jerzyk, who is known for producing surreal and haunting images.
“Manchester is inspiring because it’s always been an evolving city,” says Jerzyk, who was born and raised in the city. “I’ve started to see more diversity in the people who choose to live here, and I love and embrace it. The more cultures we have living together, the more vibrant the community gets.”
When not traveling the world taking photos, you can find Jerzyk in her studio working on sets and characters, or out and about in Manchester taking lonely astronaut photos.
Digital artist Brendan McCormick is another notable local. He takes inspiration from his ’90s and early 2000s childhood and creates whimsical and dark-humored prints and stickers. You can find McCormick (and his work) at various pop-up markets and stores around the city.
Another cool creative is former comedian Nick Lavallee. Lavallee started Wicked Joyful, a pop culture shop slinging colorful shirts and hilarious pop culture action figures. Wicked Joyful will soon be joining the likes of Harpoon Brewery in the new mixed-use Queen City Center.
Other cool individuals who are positively impacting the community and its arts scene are Warren O’Reilly, director of the Manchester International Film Festival, which was held for the second time in August 2023, and Corinne Benfield, director of community and corporate partnerships at the Currier Museum of Art. She recently received a 40 Under Forty recognition for her dedication to bringing art to the community.
Cool Places in Manchester, NH
In addition to the cool people who call Manchester home, the city is home to some pretty cool places, from cocktail bars to fitness studios and everything in between.
In recent years, the city’s craft cocktail scene has exploded. For tasty bites and must-try drinks, head to Industry East and 815 Cocktails & Provisions.
Nazaka says what sets these places apart is not only their delicious cocktails, but that they create environments where people just want to come and hang out.
For a beer, check out To Share Brewing Co. Started by husband-and-wife duo Aaron and Jennifer Share, the brewery serves unique craft brews, like Yoshimi, a Japanese-style rice lager. Plus, it boasts a seriously impressive vinyl collection, so feel free to make a request!
In addition to these venues, more trendy hangouts, restaurants and shops are popping up all over Manchester, in part because the state is so tax-friendly, but also because the community is highly supportive of its small-business community.
“We love the small-business community we’ve become a part of in Manchester,” Jennifer Share says. “It is incredibly supportive.”
One of Manchester’s newest businesses is Manchester Distillery, which was also founded by a husband-and-wife team, Liz and Jeremy Hitchcock. The distillery features a tasting room with an outdoor patio area and produces artisanal gin and vodka.
For locally sourced, globally inspired tapas and cocktails, The Birch on Elm is a must visit restaurant. And, since every cool city needs a good pub, try Shoppers Pub + Eatery. It’s the perfect place to catch the game and chow down on a burger.
“Manchester has always been known as a foodie destination,” Nazaka says. “We have always been known for having really unique dining options.”
Outside of food and drink establishments, Manchester’s Terracotta Room is a pretty cool spot downtown that’s worth exploring. Not only does it sell a variety of plants, but it is touted as one of the best places to find a sustainably sourced local gift for any occasion.
Also worth checking out is downtown’s Barre Life, a community-driven barre, yoga and fitness studio that was voted the Best Yoga, Pilates and Fitness Center in the Best of the 603 in 2021, 2022 and 2023.
This article was sponsored by the Manchester Economic Development Office.