Shopping in Farmers Branch

Five million square feet of resources spread out before shoppers and exhibitors alike at the Dallas Market Center, one of the world's largest venues for wholesale buying and selling. Everything from light fixtures and small electronics to children's clothing to garden accessories for the discerning gnome can be found within the vast red hall, which hosts a new market event each week. Consumers can keep their fingers on the fast-beating pulse of couture at the Dallas Fashion and Lifestyle Awards held on the Market Center's catwalk, or check out the blog for the latest news.

At Vada Spa, staff members devote their international training to beauty rituals that use natural and organic products from GM Collins and Pevonia Botanica. Two floors accommodate spacious mani-pedi bars, styling stations, and private, candle-lit treatment rooms that all swirl with activity until 9 p.m. every day. The owners of the Spa make sure that each service is administered by a true specialist––laser technicians only do laser procedures and aestheticians never hand over their facial duties to an assistant or nearby welder. "We're very particular about who we hire," one of the spa owners says. "It has to be someone who's experienced. We don't have anyone here who's just starting out or fresh out of school."

Since their mission is to be a one-stop destination for head-to-toe spa services, Vada's owners do their best to reserve hairstyling chairs and treatment rooms for walk-in customers. They also pride themselves on their expertise with the male aesthetic, offering a lineup of guy-specific spa services including back facials, shoulder waxing, and spare-tire rotations.

Advanced technology and high fashion meet in Habacker's Bespoke Eyewear, where designer frames by English Laundry, Callaway, Kawasaki, Swiss Flex, and many other brands cozy up to hard-to-find European frames such as Derapage. With a dedication to personalized customer service, staffers help clients select the right single-vision, progressive, or high-definition lenses. Opticians fit faces for a range of frames, from American-made brands such as Kala and Shuron to European lines such as Nowosad, by Polish designer Slav Nowosad. Customers can bring their glasses to the store for free adjustments and ultrasonic cleanings, which de-grime lenses while entertaining neighborhood dogs. Habacker's proudly serves as a donation site for Lions Clubs International’s Recycle for Sight program, which matches gently used spectacles with people in developing countries.

When she opened the first Redenta’s Garden location in 1992, Ruth Kinler made sure to hire only experienced gardeners. She believed then—and still does—that her employees should be as passionate about the ins and outs of gardening as they are about frolicking among the first buds of spring. Very little has changed in the ensuing two decades; the shop continues to specialize in 100% organic plants and delight area gardeners with its unique varietals. Among the fragrant aisles, one can expect to find rare annuals growing alongside native and water-wise plants, the latter celebrated for their disciplined sipping habits.

As organic gardeners themselves, the store’s staff educates customers on seasonal blooms and holds regular classes and events. Though class topics vary, they often include helpful instruction in areas such as organic vegetable gardening, cooking with herbs and vegetables, and safely removing one’s hand from a flytrap. Redenta’s Garden also assists homeowners with modern landscape design that aims for low-maintenance, eco-friendly solutions.: