Arizona Stores and Shopping

In 1975, Jay Kogan's parents opened up a store that was literally a hall of frames—just a small store stacked with thousands of frames. At the time, they had no idea that that tiny corridor would expand to 12 locations throughout the greater Phoenix area, all still run by the Kogan family. Today, their shops have more than 4,500 custom frame options along with mats of all colors and textures, as well as seven glazing choices and expert assembly. They can answer framing questions and frame everything from documents and artwork to posters and small 3-D objects such as sports memorabilia and very still grandmothers.

When they custom-produce frames, the family cuts their mats exactly, miters frame corners precisely, and installs flawless glass. Or, since the stores' walls are lined with ready-made frames, customers can walk in and find what they're looking for quickly. Since installing framed art is an art unto itself, they also offer hanging services with an eye for placement and ability to install in difficult spaces.

Piece by Piece Wear's style-bearing racks adorn fashion followers with select European- and domestic-clothing lines, premium denim, and a mix of designer handbags, jewelry, and accessories. Augment shirt-only wardrobes with figure-flattering Anoname jeans ($82+), which swathe limbs in short- and long-pants form. Top halves liven up with Rebel Yell tees, California-loving graphic T-shirts that celebrate the Golden State by screaming disciplinary lessons at wayward youth ($65+). Splendid tees further embellish torsos with tanks, V-necks and half-sleeve shirts ($48+) and shapely Parisian Cop Copine tops catch the eye with elegant accents ($119+).

Since 1977, Davey Jones Fireworks Superstore has made the night sky sparkle for festive celebrations of independence, freedom, and minor explosions. Customers can peruse a huge selection that includes smoke devices, sparklers and hand fountains for backyard displays.

Visitors to Pandora's Purse can find authentic handbags crafted by Coach, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, and other designers for at least 40% less than their market cost. That's because the shop's buyers seek out bags that have been previously used as floor samples, were returned by their original buyers, or have slight imperfections. They guarantee the authenticity of each designer handbag with a double-your-money-back guarantee.

Halloween Costume Warehouse outfits revelers in spooky, adorable, or sassy duds for men, women, kids, and infants. The selection of thrilling threads ($9.99–$129.99) varies from location to location, but recent offerings for tots have included the baby cuddly lion ($14.99 on sale), a plush lion jumpsuit that can help babies rule over animal crackers. Young trick-or-treat warriors can bravely battle terrifying doorsteps in the guise of Captain America complete with a shiny blue jumpsuit and mask ($19.99), or they can charm ghouls in a frilly red Elmo dress ($24.99). A wide selection of adult attire runs the gamut from alluring burlesque ensembles to hair-raising costumes of high-school trigonometry teachers.

Lighting Unlimited is the proverbial light at the end of the tunnel for its clientele, with each of its four locations beaming with endless design possibilities born of a 5,000-strong stock of light bulbs and ballasts. A hefty catalog puts shoppers in easy reach of 50,000 more such accessories from more than 30 manufacturers, including Philips, Westinghouse, and Sylvania. Tasked with wrangling the multitude of fixtures, the staff of certified lighting specialists helps shoppers pinpoint specific bulbs and design lighting layouts for landscapes using underwater, directional, and putting-green fixtures. Complementing the luminescent selection, they feature an array of parts and accessories, including light sockets, colored gel sheets, and flashlights that have the power to make or break a shadow puppet's career with the flick of a switch.:m]]