Shopping in Baton Rouge

Catherine and Scott McKearn leave no corner of the world unsearched in their quest to discover artisan furniture builders. The couple frequents faraway destinations in India, Indonesia, China, and Morocco to unearth beautiful solid-wood furniture to import directly to their three shops. In order to save their customers money, they buy pieces wholesale and ship them in 40-foot containers, bypassing both middlemen and price-gun-wielding pirates. Their furniture ranges in style from industrial to French country, and the eclectic selection rotates every few weeks to accommodate new shipments.

David Art Center, in business for more than four decades, stocks a deluge of quality art supplies from name brands including Liquitex, Winsor & Newton, Daler-Rowney, and PrismaColor. Located just a few minutes from downtown New Orleans, the art-savvy staff also helps visitors to dress up artwork, photography, and two-dimensional dolls with a selection of more than 1,000 styles of moldings and mats, custom-cut glass, and dry-mounting materials.

For more than two decades, the professional framers at Cannon Framing & Artworks have converted photographs and works of art into tasteful wall displays with matting, protective glass, and frames in classic or contemporary styles. The staff helps clients choose colors that complement a painting’s blues and greens, simple mouldings that draw the eye toward the photos inside, or thick baroque frames that distract police inspectors from noticing stolen Mona Lisa_s. While waiting for the framer to take measurements, peruse the store’s gallery of paintings, posters, and sports memorabilia, many of which reflect owners Kay and John’s enthusiasm for for collegiate sports and pro football.

In 1910, Harry Offner opened his first hardware shop on South Rampart Street in downtown New Orleans, setting the foundation for a local network of three retail stores with more than 27,000 items in stock and 90,000 more available through catalogs or the Ace Hardware website. Like a treasured heirloom or the gene for double-jointed elbows, the business has passed through three generations as Harry's grandkids currently mind the store to help homeowners and handy folks find cleaning and painting supplies, lawn-care implements, housewares, and tools from well-known brands. The knowledgeable staff also assists shoppers with a variety of services, from cutting keys and threading pipes to minor household repair jobs performed by licensed and insured handymen.

French children’s books. Rare, local cookbooks. Novels set in the muggy air of Louisiana. All of these tomes line the blonde wood shelves at Blue Cypress Books, home to a trove of more than 12,000 new and high-quality secondhand books. Gathered by the owner and chief bookkeeper, the store’s selection runs the gamut from New York Times bestselling paperbacks to antiquarian sets kept in slipcase in order to guard against spilling coffee or liquid nitrogen on their leather covers. The resident gray-and-white tabby cat, Kitty Meow, lounges amid browsers as they peek at the affordable prices penciled on the inside pages of an extensive youth collection.

Something always seems to be happening at Blue Cypress, too. Children's book readings captivate little ones, and author signings let guests hobnob with professional wordsmiths. The shop also hosts performances of local music as well as monthly book-club meetings, during which locals share favorite recipes for broiling mystery novels.

Headed by two former LSU runners, Louisiana Running Company is both a source of high-quality running gear and a social hub in the running community. Patrons can peruse sweat-wicking apparel, watches designed to be worn in motion, and shoes by brands such as Brooks and Mizuno. A shoe-sizing process with video gait analysis ensures a supportive fit. In addition to supplying gear, the shop's staff organizes free running groups and updates customers with news on races throughout the state.