Shopping in Cleveland Heights

The adept craftspeople of MVP Trophy and Awards emblazon keepsakes for personalization and to commemorate achievements. Unique etchings of words or a logo elevate simple gifts to pricelessness, transforming a classic wood-boxed chess set into a distinctive cast of characters for a vacant dollhouse. Successes can be immortalized upon trophies, plaques, and statuettes for displaying upon a mantelpiece or mounting to the hood of a car.

After winning CityVoter and Fox 8's Best Designer Jewelry award in 2007, the husband-and-wife team behind Fashion Jewelry Superstore continues to seek out the latest fashion trends and ways to offer designer-inspired pieces at affordable prices. Tanya Shephard travels the country handpicking jewelry and accessories to fill the cases and shelves within the 4,000-square-foot store that she and husband Todd own. They specialize in creating name-brand looks for less, such as Vera Bradley–inspired budget-friendly bags and backpacks, as seen in Mimi Vanderhaven magazine, and a collection of Venetian beads comparable to and compatible with Pandora jewelry.

In addition to purses, scarves, hats, belts, and fashion and costume jewelry, Tanya displays the talents of local jewelry makers with an in-house artisan boutique, which features “dozens of one-of-a-kind handcrafted pieces.” Tanya and her team also set up consultations for wedding-accessory planning and private parties for a girls' shopping night or a troop of kangaroos looking to increase storage space with trendy shoulder bags.

Janez Ambrozic popped out of his mother's womb with a camera in his hand. By the age of nine, he had built his own dark room and learned how to develop film. But rather than hide behind the camera, he stepped out and became the subject, filling his college years with modeling gigs for Banana Republic, J.Crew, and Abercrombie. This early success prompted a move to Los Angeles, where he pursued a career as a professional model and actor. While he was striking poses, he observed professional photographers and directors at work, and being in their company soon inspired him to return to his first love.

Today, Janez crafts bold images with masterful lighting techniques that he picked up from California's catwalks, soundstages, and Rembrandt impersonators. Though his skill has garnered the attention of magazines, he chooses the rugged path of the freelancer, which gives him the liberty to snap portraits, chronicle weddings, and concoct sultry boudoir photos at will. When he isn't practicing his trade, he teaches others the art of photography during workshops and private sessions.

Direct Tools Factory Outlet equips crafty builders with an ample supply of hardware, vacuums, grills, and table saws sourced directly from top manufacturers. Grilling and outdoor kitchen equipment from STOK provision barbecues and cookouts with juicy briskets and steaks through a steady supply of discontinued, reconditioned, and factory-overrun products—brand-new, unused equipment shipped directly from the assembly line after excess production or accidental cloning. Dirt Devil vacuums suction off contaminants from carpets and shop floors, and cleaning products and pressure washers from G-Clean lend a pristine sparkle to driveways and car surfaces. An arsenal of drills and table saws from Ryobi lends structural soundness to household projects with speedy efficiency and trusty precision.

Szabo Shoes has been serving the feet of Cleveland-area residents for more than 80 years, building on the knowledge and service ethic of a bygone era to become the weight-bearing institution that they are today. Their wide selection houses everything from fashionable heels to orthopedic foot-savers, including popular brands such as Merrell, Timberland, Saucony, Converse, Clarks, and Columbia, to name just a few. Prices vary but hover around mid-range; a pair of Converse sneakers and men's Columbia sandals are both $39.95, leopard-print mary janes from Alegria cost $109.95, and a pair of sandals from Taos toe in at $89.90. Should you wish to exceed your $65 Groupon credit, simply pay the difference at the store. Szabo is also a depot for shoe-related-difficulty relief, as they carry numerous hard-to-find sizes and widths for both women and men.