Carlino's
We would pretty much shop anywhere that houses something called a "brie bar." But add the ocean of olive oils (not to mention the mountains of olives), the deli, the handmade pastas and ricotta cheesecakes and sausages and a lasagna menu as long as your arm, and Carlino's is a lock. 128 West Market Street, West Chester, PA 19382, carlinosmarket.com.
Montgomery Gardening
Sure, they have 26 acres full of lush plants to browse, but it's their landscaping and lawn maintenance of velvety, well-mulched yards on the Main Line and in the northern 'burbs that set this lawn company apart. They also do prompt and thorough snow removal. 3501 County Line Road, Chalfont, PA 18914, montgomerygardening.com.
Miller's Twist
Miller's Twist has picked up where perennial BOP winner Fisher's has left off at Reading Terminal. The big, buttery, brown, salty soft pretzels fresh dough is made, rolled and baked daily, on-site provide perfect carb-y sustenance for a long day shopping the market's stalls. Reading Terminal Market, 12th and Arch Streets, Philadelphia, PA 19138, millerstwist.com.
Vintage
We wanted this subterranean shop to stay our own little tucked-away secret. But then it moved its digs aboveground, dashing our hopes that we could keep the huge explosion of vintage clothes (and baubles and bags and housewares) to ourselves. 63 West State Street, Doylestown, PA 18901, Vintage-doylestown.com.
3rd Street Hardware
3rd Street Hardware. Photograph by Jared Gruenwald 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.