Shopping in Fort Pierce

Shoe Spa founder Beth Weingarten was tired of achy feet. Her experience with shoe shopping was always the same—either she found a comfortable pair of shoes that weren't stylish, or she found a fashionable pair that hurt her feet and didn’t fit well. Finally fed up with the tug-of-war of painting wedges onto wool socks to look the part, Beth set out to open her own shoe boutique to showcase footwear that was comfortable, designer made, and chic.

Shoe Spa embodies Beth's mission of seeking out, stocking, and selling fashionable shoes, boots, clogs, and sandals, all designed to cradle feet, pad heels, and support arches. The Shoe Spa carries a range of styles from designer brands such as Anyi Lu, Thierry Rabotin, Salpy.

With two locations, an accommodating staff of floral designers and artists, and more than 30 years in the business, Crafts & Stuff has carved out a respected place in the Palm Beach arts-and-crafts community. Art and craft supplies range from Prismacolor markers to jewelry-making kits, and share shelf space with an array of wedding accouterments. Nearlyweds can rent custom floral pieces and artists can bring in their glitter and macaroni masterpieces to be immortalized by custom framers who ply their trade on site.

Though Florida spans nearly 60,000 square miles, Jane Thompson manages to fit most of it onto 10 acres. Throughout her plant nursery, Thompson—who claims certification from and affiliation with such agrarian societies as the Florida Association of Native Nurseries—and her team tend to more than 60 native species that range from beach-dune sunflowers to coffee trees. By specializing in these native species, Indian Trails' growers supply property owners with plants that readily adapt to Florida's climate so that they thrive with little to no irrigation. Thompson also helps homeowners plan their landscapes through onsite demonstration plantings or design consultations, in which she offers essentials such as plant selection, construction of retaining walls, and transition of plants from the nursery to preschool.

At each of Advanced Vision Care's five locations, a team of optometric physicians examines peepers of all age brackets for signs of aberration or disease. They then furnish patients with prescriptions that can be formed into contact lenses or slung into stylish frames from the likes of Prada, Lacoste, and BCBG. The staff also performs Lasik consultations, in which they determine candidacy, recommend a Lasik doctor, and provide a series of post-op checks. Most locations house a multilingual team, who can answer questions or reflect on metaphysical quandaries in English, Spanish, or Hebrew.

At Concepts in Bloom, experienced florists create fragrant, colorful compositions using live flowers and hand deliver these gifts up and down the Treasure Coast from Stuart to Vero Beach. Like a child playing Tree No. 1 in the school play, the florists convey emotions through the medium of plants. They intertwine tulips, nestle delicate orchids inside bowls, and plant deep crimson roses into crystalline vases. The arrangements adhere to any occasion, from beribboned corsages for prom to flower-filled cornucopias for Thanksgiving. In addition to dazzling loved ones with vases and centerpieces, Concepts in Bloom treats sweethearts and friends to gift baskets laden with fruit, gourmet food, and skincare products.

Inside Learning Express Toys, children of all ages can find a host of entertaining and educational toys designed by brands such as Lego and Scientific Explorer. Seven days a week, staff members share their enthusiastic attitudes as they help children and parents peruse dolls and accessories, brain-stimulating word games, or science kits that fuel interactive learning. The store frequently holds special events for festive occasions, such as Father's Day and Lego Day, hosting such costumed characters as Santa Claus and welcoming royal delegates from the King of Legoland.