Wardrobe Clinic
Ron Wilch, designer by trade, is a fit genius: Everything that goes into his two-year-old tailor shop—bridesmaids’ dresses, old suits, new suits, slacks, sundresses, you name it—looks custom by the time it comes out. Fast turnaround times, too. By appointment only. 1500 Walnut Street, Suite 408, Philadelphia, PA 19102, wardrobeclinic.com.
Winterfell Dessert
While the rest of the city is rolling ice-cream roses with paint scrapers, Winterfell went with a Game of Thrones-themed Taiwanese shaved ice shop. For the uninitiated: Shaved Thai ice is what happens when ice cream and cotton candy fool around together. 32 South 40th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19104, facebook.com/winterfelldessert.
Saté Kampar
This BYOB has an adorably illustrated (kopitiam) menu that’s true to the street-side coffee shops in Malaysia; rare imported brews—hot or cold—are mixed with condensed milk, citrus and more to create all sorts of tasty concoctions. So join us while we yawn at all the cappuccinos in Philly. 1837 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148, facebook.com/SateKampar.
Wellington Square Bookshop
Wedged in a generic shopping center, Wellington ticks off all our literary essentials: a coffee bar; squishy wingbacks; sympatico shopkeeps; used, new and rare books. (A signed first edition isn't out of the question.) It also hosts book clubs and regular writing workshops. 549 Wellington Square, Exton, PA 19341, wellingtonsquarebooks.com.
3rd Street Hardware
It’s as hip as an art gallery and as cool as a record store, but this year-and-a-half-old shop still has all the Dremel tools, rat traps, HVAC filters, trash bins, tub caulk, etc., that a homeowner could ever need. 153 North 3rd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, .
A Minor Tune Up
Twenty years ago, Chris Cromer was a music education major at the University of Delaware with dreams of opening his own brass repair shop. These days, he performs tune-ups for horn players who tour with the likes of Justin Timberlake. 1704 North Scott Street, Wilmington, DE 19806, aminortuneup.com.
The Ivy Inn
When the pretzel shop next door to Bill Kelly’s 64-year-old Ivy Inn went belly-up, the shuffleboard enthusiast decided to open a 1,000-square-foot annex devoted to the game, complete with three regulation-size tables. It makes for quite a scene, especially on weekends. 37 Brookline Boulevard, Havertown, PA 19083, ivyinn.org.
Boyds Philadelphia
Boyds is a boys’ club no more! With a $10 million renovation very much under way, Rittenhouse’s tony temple of fashion now caters to the ladies more than ever, with a first floor dedicated entirely to separates and dresses and a revamped women’s shoe section on the mezzanine. 1818 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103, boydsphila.com.
Downerss
Think of Rivka Yank’s dreamy Fishtown shop as a cooler, more authentic version of Urban Outfitters, with a well-priced mix of bohemian (healing mists, beaded necklaces), artsy (reconstructed denim, locally made jewelry) and trendy (bodysuits, swingy off-the-shoulder dresses). 2026 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, downerss.com.
Gorshin Trading Post & Supplies
This two-year-old shop is a venerable retail anchor for Haddonfield's sleepy main street, with a mix of gear and goods he'll love from brands like Filson, Topo Designs, Dubarry and Shinola. Want something out of the box? Starting this fall, Mitch will lead trips to outdoorsy spots like Steamboat, Colorado. 125 Kings Highway East, Haddonfield, NJ 08033, gorshin.com.
Catch and Release Merchants
Picking through the retro finds at this charming shop is what we imagine peeking through June Cleaver's and Carol Brady's kitchen windows would be like: peach lusterware, Depression-glass shakers, a mid-century pink Waring blender, and even an antique Philco fridge (that works). 1832 Frankford Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, catchandreleasemerchants.com.
Stock
Both pho newbies and pho addicts find common ground at this shop, which uses Lancaster chicken, thin-sliced grass-fed beef and never any MSG. But its the handmade noodles and namesake stocks that have been known to turn those newbies into converts. 308 East Girard Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19125, stock-philly.squarespace.com.
Philadelphia Runner
Buying a pair of shoes at Philadelphia Runner is like getting initiated into a secret club: Suddenly, you're at the nexus of the Philly running scene with a group of running fanatics who meet at the store's three local outposts for weekly fun runs, community events, races and more. And they couldn't be happier to welcome you into the fold. Locations in Center City, West Philly, and Glen Mills., philadelphiarunner.com.
Dtown Tech
This shop will fix all your portable gadgets (phones, tablets, laptops) with that elusive tech-pro ease, offering services from virus removal to damaged-part replacement. The straight-talking staff does its best to always get your machine and your normal heart rate back to you in 24 hours. 17 East Oakland Avenue, Doylestown, PA 18901, dtowntech.com.
School of Vintage
We are so glad this LBI shop survived Sandy, because losing its cache of impeccably edited vintage (sorbet-hued tulle gowns, full-skirted 50s dresses, many accessories) would be losing a very stylish side of history. 1509 Long Beach Boulevard, Surf City, NJ 08008, schoolofvintage.com.