Shopping in Central

The professionals at Pineapple Gallery specialize in conservation framing and only use acid-free materials when framing prized family photos and valuable artwork. For added protection, the framers finish jobs with museum-quality glass. Patrons also can look for new wall decorations in Pineapple Gallery’s collection of paintings and prints from various artists.

Though Fifteen22 Boutique is housed in a historic homestead from the mid-18th century, its antique exterior belies its selection of contemporary designer apparel. Fluorescent lighting spills through floor-to-ceiling windows over the city’s Lower Garden District, where browsers are hard-pressed to find another women’s boutique that caters to the high-end sensibilities of modern professionals and party prowlers alike. Earning plaudits from both the fashion writers at Women's Wear Daily and the curators at InTheNOLA.com's "The Native's Guide to Shopping", the shop connects clients with pieces from leading brands including BCBG, MaxAzria, Ladakh, DL1961 Premium Denim, Blaque Label, and Blank NYC. This commitment to accessible style has also earned the shop recognition from the region's fashion elite; pieces from the boutique recently stalked the runway at New Orleans Fashion Week.

Founded by passionate fly fishermen, Uptown Angler's virtual and real shelves brim with a huge variety of tackle, rods, and essential accessories for fly fishing excursions. With rods from Sage, Orvis, and Winston and hundreds of flies, fishermen can customize their lure of choice. The shop also carries sunscreen, instructional books and DVDs, and boat accessories. The knowledgeable staff leads lessons on proper fly-fishing techniques including terminology, roll casting, and rigging without accidentally flying away.

The staff at Alltmont's Fine Custom Framing works with clients to devise unique combinations of frames and archival materials to protect photos, paintings, portraits, and memorabilia. Under the direction of expert framer Jeff Alltmont, Alltmont's Fine Custom Framing encloses wall hangings of all types in elegant, expertly crafted edgings. Within a large, bright workshop and retail space, customers peruse thousands of frame samples that adorn the walls in a single-file parade of right angles, displaying all available custom-frame colors, styles, and sizes. The friendly craftspersons at Alltmont's Fine Custom Framing obligingly advise customers in the process of designing the frame that gives their picture the snazziest hug, including custom mirrors, cork, and chalkboards. Each piece of Alltmont's handiwork is specially fitted to the specific treasure it houses, whether priceless works of art, pride-inducing diplomas and awards, or prized Vincent van Gogh Super Bowl jerseys.

United Apparel Liquidators' fashion-savvy buying team compiles an immense stash of brand-new clothing and accessories from acclaimed designers, slicing 70–90% off their original retail price before featuring them on the boutiques' shelves. The stores—which have garnered press from fashion magazines such as Lucky and InStyle over their 30-year history—brim with men's and women's attire, shoes, and jewelry from prominent high-end labels such as Alexander McQueen, Chanel, and Marc Jacobs. Staffers aim to keep the vast collection current and up to date, harnessing their knowledge of the fashion scene to scope out threads from emerging designers and time-traveling thrift-store owners.

Opened in 1982 by avid runners Mike Andrews and George Owen, Southern Runner not only stocks top-notch athletic apparel and footwear by brands including Asics, Moving Comfort, and New Balance, but also acts as a community center for those who love to run. Though Andrews and Owen still helm this runner’s haven, today they have additional support from a hodgepodge of life-long and late-in-life runners and walkers, including college athlete Kevin Fitzgerald, track coach and founder of Run, Chicks, Run Kristin Depp, and ultra-marathoner Tim Philips. When not helping fellow athletes find their perfect shoe with in-store foot evaluations, the crew leads weekly running groups, helps schools and coaches outfit their teams, and chases down bank robbers on foot.