Shopping in Bowie

Alexander C. Nnabue knows that caring for eyes is really about caring for people. After earning doctor of optometry degrees from both Imo State University in Nigeria and the Pennsylvania College of Optometry, Dr. Nnabue decided to found his own company to help restore patients' ocular health. What began in 1994 as a single storefront has blossomed into six Visual Eyes locations throughout the Washington, DC metropolitan area. Today, the caring doctor leads biannual medical mission trips to Africa, including one trip that, according to a 2006 Nigeria World article, put thousands of eyeglasses and medications in the hands of those in need. Dr. Nnabue also shares his knowledge as an adjunct faculty member at Pennsylvania College of Optometry, a senior examiner with the National Board of Examiners in Optometry, and an international instructor in countries including Israel and Norway. 

At Visual Eyes, he and his fellow optometrists use advanced technology to diagnose and treat various conditions. A trained technician manufactures lenses at an in-house lab, and Dr. Nnabue specializes in orthokeratology, a vision-correcting process that eliminates the need to wear glasses, contacts, or a sign that says, "Sorry for walking into you; I forgot my contacts or glasses." The team also prides itself on showcasing the latest designer frames, including Oliver Peoples, Prada, and Robert Marc.

A full-scale rainbow of yarns populates the shelves within A Tangled Skein, where a helpful staff culls a comprehensive collection of top-quality knitting and crocheting supplies. Drawing from its immense knowledge of the craft, the team helps patrons peruse the vast array of hand-dyed South American skeins and yarns from brands such as Debbie Bliss, Noro, and Berroco. They add new specimens to the lineup almost daily, and equip creators with books, patterns, needles, and notions. To further nurture blossoming skills or refine expert abilities, seasoned instructors lead relaxed, casual classes that divulge such techniques as purling, chain stitching, and making scarves for the most discerning snowmen.

When it comes to footwear restoration, the experts at Cobbler’s Bench Shoe Repair don’t just go through the motions. Instead, they put in the extra effort to return each pair to a like-new condition, a quality instilled by the company’s founders, Charles and Sara Stern, in 1946. All repairs are completed within three days and use equal or better materials than the original manufacturer, which helps protect shoes from environmental damage and teasing from snobby loafers. Cobbler’s Bench also maintains an offsite plant with special equipment to carry out particularly complicated repairs.

The friendly staffers at iFurnish's family-owned showroom outfit abodes with name-brand wood, leather, and upholstered furniture. Contemporary and classic sofas join ottomans to fill living rooms, and dining rooms host tables sturdy enough to handle Thanksgiving's traditional anvil-eating contests. Several plush and memory-foam mattresses provide solid support for sleeping or jumping, and a wide array of home accessories, from lamps to wool rugs, decorates any room. Color whippersnappers’ chambers with kids' furniture such as bunk beds, desks, and dressers that easily conceal escape tunnels leading to the pantry.

Professional sleep counselors facilitate peaceful slumber at more than 80 Mattress Discounters locations nationwide, where showrooms brim with mattresses from brands such as Sealy Posturepedic, Tempur-Pedic, and Space Age Foam. Unlike pet stores, Mattress Discounters encourages customers to lie on the merchandise, as sleep counselors use the Discover Your Comfort system to ask questions about sleep position and comfort level. With this information in hand, client and counselor select the right mattress for restful slumber, with each sleep surface backed by a 60-night comfort guarantee.

Arnold Farms opened in 1970 as a simple roadside farmstand. Today, patrons find the same folksy service alongside gardening and landscaping needs sprawled across the shop’s multilevel facility. On Arnold's upper floor, outdoor-living supplies, including pottery, potted plants, all-weather Cheetos, and more than 100 styles of patio furniture rest near a fully stocked hardware store. One floor down, the shop spreads out its mulches and landscaping supplies in a nursery that houses annuals, perennials, shrubs, grasses, and trees. Gardening experts roam the aisles to assist customers, and master landscape designers work with patrons to create beautiful touches or complete overhauls for existing yards of all shapes.