{shortcode-dace48a46a829e54d771ab31bb21cd13ec59a09f} When I first came to Harvard, I was thrilled at the prospect of exploring the mystical Harvard Square. A whole urban sprawl filled with food, cafés, and more stores than you could ever need, all for Harvard students to plunder…where could you go wrong? As it turns out, now that I am no longer an overjoyed prefrosh, Harvard Square is not as exciting as it first seemed.

While we do have a lot around campus, stores and restaurants are pricey — with one truly atrocious example being our CVS, which is one of the most expensive CVS stores in the nation. There are impressively few places that actually fit the vibe of Harvard; where are we supposed to relieve our abundant stress through retail therapy and sweet treats?

To lift the Square out of its tourist-centric hole and transform it into a more college-oriented place, especially now that Anthropologie has closed, we’ve composed a list of locations that would make great additions to the Square.

A CHEAP Convenience Store

The Square desperately needs a cheap convenience store that is open 24/7 and has a variety of food options. Sometimes a quick snack between classes is necessary, but all of the current convenience stores expect you to pay an arm and a leg for a subpar option. With atrocious dining hall hours and an insufficient to-go meal service that everyone somehow thinks I write for — seriously, FlyBy needs to change its name — students are forced to go elsewhere for quick, on-the-go options. A store with more snacks and sweet treats than a person could (or maybe should) ever need would be a valuable addition to the Square.

A Versatile Department Store

I know what you’re thinking: why do we need another department store if we have Target in Central and Porter? Don’t we already have CVS? You just don’t see the vision. I’m not talking about a small, limited store or something that primarily sells groceries. What we need is a full-scale emporium within five minutes of campus. It is way too cold to venture far in the winter, and there are no stores that truly offer the needed versatility. Whether it be clothes, decor, fresh fruit, or beauty products, a department store would have it all, making it a desperately needed addition to campus.

Fast Food

Another insufficiency in the Square is traditional fast food. Don’t get me wrong, I love all of the healthy options around, but sometimes, I am unwilling to fork over $15-20 for a singular lettuce leaf topped with quinoa. After a late night out, our only options should not be Mexican food, pizza, or an overpriced tiny burger. We need another speedy choice – one that I may regret eating later. Plus, there is nowhere in the Square where I can get an ice-cold, refreshing Diet Coke (something I crave on the daily — dhall DC is subpar at best).

More Clothing Stores

The Square is also lacking in the clothing department. I mean, are you seriously expecting me to pay 300 bucks for a GAP sweater? I, personally, cannot claim to truly understand the impact a good clothing store would have on the Square (my wardrobe consists of the same five shirts and a single sweater on rotation). But multiple people I surveyed for this piece said another clothing store would be a perfect — and much needed — addition! Going shopping to the tune of house music worthy of a shameful Shazam? Who could pass that up?

A off-price department/clothing store

The last store we need to round out our new Square is another good department store, especially one that’s cheap. With this addition, we would simultaneously get the wonders of a department store, like cheap finds for any occasion/event, and a home goods store, making it a deal nobody can resist. Everyone’s interior design would be elevated, transforming the shoebox rooms of Wigg into spaces worthy of an Architectural Digest feature.

One thing I have come to love about Harvard Square is that it is ever-changing — for better or for worse. With Anthropologie sadly gone, who knows what will come to the Square next? One can only hope it will be oriented towards the students that make the Square so vibrant. It is Harvard Square after all. We need to cater to Harvard students. Maybe then, we could proudly claim that Harvard Square is ours and not a center for the thousands of tourists who we watch touch the foot.