Shopping in Canton

Declared a 2011 finalist for the area's Best Mattress Store by readers of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Mattress Outlet has culled an extensive arsenal of mattresses from top-brand manufacturers for more than 30 years. At eight locally owned locations throughout the Tennessee Valley, its knowledgeable staffers navigate showrooms that brim with cushy memory-foam slumbering surfaces from brands such as Serta and Tempur-Pedic. The staff procures the store's inventory from top manufacturers, who have partnered with Mattress Outlet for years, working to keep the prices affordable and to ensure no under-the-bed monsters are damaged during travel.

At Play It Again Sports, knowledgeable equipment masters outfit athletes of all sports with new and used gear from major-league brands such as Nike, Callaway Golf, and Adidas. An ever-rotating inventory keeps lockers stocked with spare balls, dressers filled with run-ready shorts, and secret laboratories populated with gleaming treadmills. Proud recipients of the Gold Standard Store award, amiable staffers stand ready to answer questions or assist with fittings, ensuring that each athlete leaves with the appropriate helmet, bat, or free-weight set. The shop also doles out cash or credit for trade-in gear, completing the ethereal circle of sports.

Thousands of plants populate the cheery purple farmhouse and grounds at Randy’s Perennials & Water Gardens, where resident garden masters greet customer questions with horticultural knowledge derived from two decades in business. Display ponds and gardens spark landscaping inspiration, and staffers answer any gardening questions thrown their way and provide advice on purchasing from the selection of water-gardening accessories. A selection of vegetables such as tomatoes and peppers are tasty and vibrant, while rosemary, thyme, and lavender herbs cheerfully sprout in front or back yards.

The staff at Blush Kennesaw love talking clothes with their customers. Whether it's face-to-face in their cozy shop, or through their Facebook page, they leap at the chance to share the latest dresses and tops with other fashionistas. And with an ever-changing stock of colorful sundresses, trendy knit tops, comfortable shorts, and glimmering accessories, coupled with a penchant for 1920s sports trivia, they always have something exciting to chat about.

Fleet Feet Sports helps promote an active, healthy community by outfitting people of all fitness levels with the proper apparel and footwear. At three different locations, the staff maintains a one-on-one connection with customers, particularly during the Fit Process—an extensive, multistep fitting formula that incorporates multiple measurements and a gait analysis so shoes, socks, and inserts jive comfortably with every foot. To ensure clients are swift enough to compete in marathons or outrun even the fastest repo man, Fleet Feet Sports also offers marathon training and free workouts every Thursday at its Sandy Springs store.