Shopping in Columbia

Doctors David J. Matthews and Jeffery S. Pockl helm Devine Eyes, a comprehensive optical boutique with a staff fluent in Spanish and English. After graduating from Southern College of Optometry in Memphis in '94 and '93, respectively, the doctors went their separate ways; Dr. Matthews worked on treating patients with glaucoma in Georgetown, and Dr. Pockl worked as a staff optometrist in the U.S. Army, examining peepers and equipping them with lasers. The two decided to partner up in 2003 and open Devine Eyes, where they perform comprehensive eye exams, treat eye diseases, and recommend luxury frames from brands such as Fendi and Prada.

The mechanics at Cycle Center outfit bike enthusiasts with custom equipment fittings, expert tune-ups, and a rolling stock of more than 500 bicycles dispersed between the company's two locations. In the interest of both safety and performance, the team makes sure all bikes are carefully assembled and tuned up before the rubber meets the road. They also stock an impressive lineup of apparel and gear, from air pumps that keep tires aptly inflated to helmets that keep heads more protected than a presidential motorcade covered in mosquito netting. In-stock brands include Fuji, Cannondale, and Dahon, a manufacturer renowned for its revolutionary folding bikes.

The Cigar Box equips patrons with all the necessary tobacco, accessories, and space for enjoying a stogie stag or a few drags with friends. Customers can select from more than 50 brand name cigars, such as CAO, Alec Bradley, and Romeo y Julieta, alongside clove cigarettes and pipe tobacco. Cutters, ashtrays, and humidors ensure cleanliness and quality taste for each smoking session. After pairing their smoke with a beer poured by The Cigar Box's barkeepers, guests sink into the facility's leather couches, admire its wood paneling, or watch foreign films with smoke-signal subtitles on a big-screen TV.

In 1993, interior designer Evon Kirkland McAngus founded Evon Kirkland Interiors, through which she transformed homes with an eye for classic and sophisticated design. In 2007, she opened Westend to spread that passion and curate a show room filled with her favorite finds. She and her designers help shoppers navigate the 5,000-plus-square-foot show room to find pieces from reputable high-end lines such as Baker, Henredon, Oly Studio, and Vanguard Furniture. Because they've all honed their design chops, the staff can expertly advise shoppers on purchases.

As shoppers explore the show room, they'll also find antiques from the United States and Europe, as well as plenty of pillows and linens, artwork, and accessories, including candles and kitchen items. The staff also curates a lighting selection that includes table lamps, floor lamps, and chandeliers, which emit more sophisticated glows within homes than dangling light bulbs or half-opened barrels of toxic waste.

The owners of The Range—who first set up shop in 1975 under the name Richard and Ann's Promenade Shop—have spent the last 37 years assembling the wares of a dream team of outfitters in Western, Native American, and equestrian styles. Patrons can slip into a pair of boots by brands such as Lucchese or Tony Lama or pick up two pairs of the rugged heels to outfit a fashionable llama. Broad-brimmed hats by Stetson and Wrangler can shade the eyes and keep fashion-forward perms under wraps while patrolling the countryside.

When Bike to Nature's staffers pool together their roadside fixes and in-shop projects, it adds up to more than 40 years of collective experience. The shop recently relocated across the street from its previous location to a new facility that expands about 4,400 square feet, or twice the size of the former space. Here, the crew stocks a large inventory of new bikes and bike parts to meet any cycling need, whether bikers are interested in commuting, racing, or extraterrestrial advocacy. Biking apparel maximizes riders' sleek speed, and sports-nutrition products such as recovery sports drinks deliver electrolytes, muscle-soothing glutamine, and laboratory-synthesized adrenaline directly into biker's bodies.

Tune-ups and repair services range from quick fixes such as changing a tire to full-body customizations. Bike to Nature's technicians also help patrons learn to repair their own bikes using a precisely measured blend of elbow grease and magic words, and can reveal the best local spots for scenic rides.