Shopping in Fort Myers

Cars line up at the drive-thru window, where instead of bags of burgers and fries, staffers hand over bundles of glossy personal photos. Inside Creative Photo & Digital Imaging, digital techs convert media such as VHS tapes, records, and reels to DVD and CD, while across the store, photo experts transfer snaps onto album prints, museum-grade canvas wraps, and gifts such as coffee mugs and puzzles. Heirloom family portraits, ravaged by rips and sun damage, doff their imperfections in the photo-restoration lab, and an onsite portrait studio captures clans as they update their sweater sets through the years. Creative Photo & Digital Imaging also hosts photography classes on subjects from how to take better pictures on camera phones to the intricacies of digital SLR cameras.

Silk Jungle's handcrafted silk floral arrangements and greenery have earned the textile nursery _Naples Daily News_’s Southwest Florida Choice award for best silk plants and flowers in 2008, 2009, and 2011. Bear—the shop's black labrador—roams around the silken forest, performing tricks for clients and helping them decide between calla lilies and poppies to complete their custom floral arrangements.

Understanding that each customer has their own sense of style and aesthetic, the knowledgeable framers at The Great Frame Up strive to meet various needs through a wide assortment of frames and the latest technology. With the ability to craft one-of-a-kind frames, the team can also help customers discover a new way of framing their family portraits, artwork, or sports memorabilia. By consulting clients on the style of their home or office, the experts put their know-how and creativity to work in crafting a distinct frame for each space. To further assist customers, the framing specialists offer an online list of tips and trends.

At Ruth Messmer Florist Inc., third-generation florists arrange fragrant roses, asiatic lilies, and vivid daisies into fragrant bouquets for any occasion. They can create classic arrangements with sleek, simple glass vases and decorative ribbons or enhance blooms with creative flourishes such as plush stuffed animals, balloons, or wicker baskets.

In addition to flowers, florists fill gift baskets with epicurean treats such as Ghirardelli chocolates, dried meats, fruit, and wheels of cheese jacked from Mighty Mouse’s Cadillac.

Cell phones, iPhones, and computers wiggle gleefully into Wireless Paradise's array of protective gear and functionality-enhancing accessories. Extended batteries keep devices from losing their juice, and a rainbow of protective cases allows phones to survive their spiritual journeys down flights of concrete stairs. Shoppers browse cable-festooned bouquets of electronics, which outfit iPads and other tablets with docks, screen protectors, and cases in an online shop and a brick-and-mortar location.

Stacks of neatly folded denim line Original Stitch Boutique’s custom-built white shelves, their tags bearing the insignia of coveted brands such as AG Jeans and Hudson. A cursory glance around the store reveals that the jeans are not the only items hand-selected from top designers; the boutique’s timeless apparel and accessories for men and women include selections from David Lerner, Ben Sherman, and other hot names based around the world.

Along with its rotating selection of runway-inspired looks—many of which adorn mannequins posing in window displays or working in the back office—the boutique carries handmade jewelry and vintage fashion pieces that invoke the elegant trends of past eras. Victorian-style armchairs call to mind the same age-old sophistication, politely holding purchases while customers peruse the racks of watches, bracelets, and button-down shirts.