Best of 417 2008—Shopping

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To find out how to contact each and every one of these winners, check out our Best of 417 Resource Guide

Best Customer Service
Town & County
Did you know Town & County celebrated its 50th anniversary in October? That kind of staying power can be traced back to one source: customer service. Town & County is filled with long-term salespeople.
Runners-up: Staxx Apparel, Grove Spa

Best Antiques
STD Flea Markets
It is perhaps an “only-in-Springfield” name for a flea market. Although STD’s three locations aren’t antique shops proper, you can find some decent furniture and other items. Indeed, that’s what it’s all about… the fun and the challenge of The Find.
Runners-up: George and Joanne’s, Spring Creek Tea Room

Best Children’s Clothing Store
Jellybeans
One thing is certain: Jellybeans has hyper-cute kids’ clothes. Parents, did you know there’s even a “Baby on the Way” registry?
Runners-up: Kids Court, m•b•tweens

Best Boutique Cookies
Harem & Co.
We’re partial to the fresh-baked ones that the Harem sets out from time to time. The aroma fills the entire sales floor!
Runners-up: Ella Weiss Wedding Designs, The Thicket
EDITORS’ PICK

Best Furniture Store
Wheeler’s
Why is Wheeler’s voted best? A big selection with many brands—at three locations—that allows people many possible décor looks for their house, from high-end Martha Stewart to a Tuscan, French country or transitional/modern look. Many more lines can be ordered.
Runners-up: Brashear’s, Phorm

Best HomeDécor Store
James Decor
James Décor’s strength: It’s huge. Also, rather than random showrooming, the staff has put together completely decorated rooms to put furniture in context (which, at James Décor, is usually a traditional look). It’s the little things.
Runners-up: The Thicket, Pastiche

Best Gift Store
Countryside Cottage
Countryside Cottage trades in all things charming. Find high-end brands of candles (Yankee or Root), beautiful jewelry, home décor items and other un-abashedly girly treats.
Runners-up: Trenique, The Thicket

Best Home Gifts Under $50
Boomland Square
Well-known lines include Department 56, Boyds Bears, and Daddy Long Legs. We like the home décor items best.
EDITORS’ PICK

Best Hidden Girly-Gift Shop
Café Roswitha
This tea room, now located in the space formerly occupied by La Differance, has The Plant Boutique in the front of the café selling charming gift items. We laughed when we saw a denim hat with an acronym-logo for Sassy Ladies Under Tremendous Stress.
EDITORS’ PICK

Best Craft Classes
The Feathered Nest
This Ozark boutique offers a variety of lessons for those looking to spruce up their home. During the Christmas season an all-day decorating class was so popular that it had to expand from one class to three, each of which filled the 50-person capacity.
EDITORS’ PICK

Best Outdoor Indie Shop
Ozark Adventures
The store juxtaposes a superstore selection of outdoors goods with small-town service. Find a kayak by Perception, McGuyver-esque Gerber multi-lock tools or even things you wish you had for a simple camp-out, like poly egg-carrying containers.
EDITORS’ PICK

Best Men’s Fashions
Town & County
The local marketplace has some serious contenders in the guys’ duds category. Yet 50-year-old Town & County dominates the market for grown-up men’s clothes. Owner Bob Lowe’s easygoing style fits perfectly for successful guys who want to look nice but not pretentious. This is 417-land, after all. Pretention is on a flight back to Massachusetts even as we speak.
Runners-up: Staxx Apparel, 2 Doors Down

Best Women’s Fashions
Staxx Apparel
The boutiques seeking to clothe 417-land women are working hard in a crowded market. Staxx Apparel has currently captured the attention of local women with a city aesthetic of youthful, avant-garde fashions that appeal to all women.
Runners-up: Town & County, Panache

Best Women’s Accessories
Staxx Apparel
A great place for finding the hot accessory of the moment, Staxx has an array trendy pieces ready to complete your outfit. Look for Staxx rings (a coincidental sharing of name), Dogeared necklaces and great clutches.
Runners-up: Town & County, Panache

Best Trendy Fashion Boutique
Staxx Apparel
Staxx unveiled its new revamped interior this year and trend-conscious 417-landers rely on to carry the contemporary fashions they crave. If you’re not wanting to trek downtown, don’t fear, you can now shopstaxx.com.
Runners-up: Panache, So You Boutique