Shopping in Bell Gardens

With everything from Hello Kitty bags and Lakers gear to cardboard movie-star cutouts and mylar balloons, no one can accuse Aahs!! gift shops of not having variety. The eight locations equip party hosts of all kinds, including parents looking for Toy Story and Disney Princess favors and maids of honor seeking scandalous accessories for bachelorette bashes. The stores’ battalion of T-shirts features images of superheroes and bands, and their array of movie merchandise pays homage to both recent releases and classics such as Star Wars,—the first film to document white dwarfs snubbing shooting stars. Aahs!! even helps customers celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, Valentine’s Day, or Halloween with rotating holiday decor.

The approach of Halloween also heralds the opening of Aahs!!’s fleet of Halloween-specific stores located throughout southern California. In addition to two Halloween Clubs that stay open all year, about a dozen temporary locations assemble thousands of costumes, wigs, masks, and props for trick-or-treaters and partygoers.

More than 3,000 styles of shoes from cobblers such as Nike, Jordan, Converse, Skechers, adidas, and Puma reside at WSS Footwear. A 58-store southern California footwear chain, WSS allows customers to browse their extensive shoe selection online and find a store nearby. New styles, such as Nike Running shoes, arrive daily alongside classic Vans Authentics, which come in sizes to accommodate the feet of both adults and future adults. Women's fashion shoes ready feet for prom, weddings, or walks in the park, and WSS also offers trendy clothing and accessories such as hats, backpacks, and sports balls.

My Mobile AT&T introduces patrons to the latest products and services available through its namesake company's Internet and cell phone divisions. The shop's 14 locations carry the newest models of popular smart phone lines, such as iPhone, Samsung Galaxy, and Blackberry, as well as accessories including cases, chargers, and screen protectors. Customers seeking a speedy Internet connection for their homes or underground lairs may learn more about AT&T's feature-laden U-verse High Speed Internet service at the shop, where they can also sign up for it on the spot.

A Southwest-based company for more than a century, Frazee Paint and its team of manufacturers are well acquainted with the unique climactic conditions of the region. Always pulling from the latest technology, their technicians design each of their paint and coating products to withstand dry heat, sparse rainfall, and showers of chewing tobacco from passing cowboys. Their quality paints, wall-coverings, wood-care products, and painter's tools stock the shelves of more than 125 retail locations throughout California, Arizona, and Nevada, as well as international dealers in Mexico, China, and Guam.

The florists at Boulevard Florist Wholesale Market outfit patrons with tropical flowers, hanging baskets, and floral equipment to beautify their dwellings. Their boston ferns and caladium plants impress visitors with their fecund green leaves, and purple chrysanthemums or roses add color to kitchens not already covered in tomato sauce. The staffers also deliver blooms, and impart their green-thumbing knowledge during floral-design classes held across two weekend days or 90 minutes.

Feet are in good hands at The Runners Forum. The entire staff is composed of specially trained athletes who hold degrees in wellness-related fields such as exercise physiology and nutrition. When it comes to footwear, the team strives for a perfect fit, assessing customers' gaits in-store and testing out different styles and brands before settling on a shoe. Shelves display the latest wares from renowned footwear brands including Asics, Mizuno, and Adidas, as well as Runners Forum–brand apparel and running accessories. In addition to running gear, the shop also offers swimwear and bike maintenance, repair, and fittings.