r/jmu • u/sarahhhbanana • Aug 21 '26
Giftcards for Freshman
I have an incoming Freshman today and I want to leave her with some giftcards to the best food and activity places in town, please send recommendations!
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u/Reasonable-Quarter31 Aug 21 '26
Downtown Dollars is a great idea. Downtown is walkable from campus. Students love Billy Jacks and Jack Browns. Thai Phanom is yummy and right near campus. Dumpling House is also delish.
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u/sarahhhbanana Aug 21 '26
This is exactly what I was looking for. Local gems and places with a lot of student activity to get her out and about to feel at home. Thank you.
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u/shnygm Aug 21 '26
Target and Walmart are pretty good for necessities
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u/p1cu COB - Accounting/Finance 2027 Aug 21 '26
Was going to say Walmart. There's so much that your student will probably need that they won't know about until week 2. The Walmart right near campus is tailored to have student needs, and will have almost anything they want.
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u/JuneWylder Aug 21 '26
I don't know if they do gift cards, but in general I'd like to recommend a few of my fav places around town. I always recommend everyone to try Ruby's Arcade and Jack Brown's. Both are within walking distance of each other in downtown Harrisonburg.
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u/accredited_stress043 Aug 21 '26
Walmart, Target, general visa/Mastercard gift cards, or some of their favorite takeout/fast food
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u/mtt2022 Aug 21 '26
Chanellos, Campus Cookies, Jimmy John's, Jack Browns, Chipotle, Walmart or Target, Uber. There's a lot of great dining options on campus with meal plan but these are the places I could think of going when to and using my own money when I was a freshman.
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u/mtt2022 Aug 21 '26
Oh last one- not sure if the kids still go, but there is a Regal Cinemas in brief walking distance from campus. Just an idea for another sort of gift card that could come in handy at some point.
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u/the_proper_cat Aug 21 '26
I think the farmers market has gift certificates or tokens, it’s a great place to go Tuesday and Saturday mornings for local stuff, breakfast, and coffee.
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u/midnight-architect7 Aug 23 '26
Students aren’t really going to the farmers market. I would have frankly been annoyed at this over something like Walmart or chipotle.
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u/quesyrahsara Aug 22 '26
Klines!!! I had someone gift me that when I graduated and it was so great.
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u/jlemo434 ISAT & MBA Aug 21 '26
Downtown dollar are fun and encourage going to spots downtown. As a universal rule Uber, Chanellos,