Shopping in Glen Allen

Play It Again Sports overhauls lockers with high-quality gear and rescues gently used athletic equipment from untimely retirement. Products from brands such as Nike, Adidas, and Wilson make up an all-star lineup across each store's shelves, which are replenished daily with goods for a wide selection of sports that ranges from baseball and football to snowboarding and lacrosse. Treadmills and exercise bikes equip bodies with muscular suits of armor, and pintsize and adolescent equipment arms youngsters with protective padding until they eat enough bologna to grow muscles of their own. To ensure its stock remains robust, Play It Again Sports encourages athletes to collect their lightly used gear—including bicycles—and bring it into a local store to either sell or trade.

Feathernesters' proprietors, Marc Goswick and Tony Turner, scour their local farmers' market for fresh produce and eggs they transform into elegant spreads that have earned praise from RVANews. Marc, an avid gardener and cook, draws on homegrown recipes handed down from his mother and grandmother to craft the tasty creations found in Feathernesters' bakery. Among these creations, the signature buttermilk pie reigns supreme, earning a mention in Richmond magazine for the care Marc takes when making each pie fresh by hand every morning.

During afternoon tea, fingers emerge from their bowling-ball hiding places to pluck sandwiches and fresh scones from a two-tiered tea tray as loose-leaf tea blends steep in personal pots, peppering the air with floral aromas. Brunch in the tearoom plays host to a smorgasbord of all-you-can-eat goodies, including baked Virginia apples with cinnamon and brown sugar, seasonal fruit, and Southern cheese grits. After meals, patrons can peruse Feathernesters’ 5,000-square-foot shop laden with vintage jewelry, handmade folk art, and hand-painted furniture arranged in displays designed by Tony. Marc and Tony also welcome parties to the tearoom, with events for all occasions from bridal and baby showers to tea parties for children aged 5–10 and child-sized cornhusk dolls.

Recently recognized by Richmond Bride magazine for its elegant bridal section, It’s Chic Again! Upscale Consignment is owned by 25-year retail veteran Debbie Ooi, who handpicks the shop’s inventory of designer clothing, shoes, handbags, and accessories. Names such as Chanel, Michael Kors, and Jimmy Choo make frequent appearances in the spacious store, rubbing elbows and shoulder pads with labels from Coach, bebe, and Ann Taylor. Each item is typically marked at 50–60 percent off its retail price, and the staff carefully inspects and interrogates each item to make sure no knockoffs or fakes weasel their way inside.

Because style has no size limits, the inventory typically includes plus-size items as well as smaller choices starting at size 0. Local artisans keep the shop stocked with one-of-a-kind jewelry that can fit all shapes and tastes, and high-end consignment jewelry may include precious metals snuggling in the trademark turquoise bags of Tiffany & Co. or antique mood rings that change from black to white.

The trio of eye specialists at Riverfront Optical employs its more than 75 years of collective experience to help bring the world into focus for its patients. The professionals help clients select trendy or classic frames that flatter face shapes from brands such as Lindberg, Coach, and Calvin Klein. Within flexon and titanium frames, progressive and premium thin lenses enhance vision, and antireflective coatings keep conversational partners from inadvertently practicing Oscar acceptance speeches. Owner and optician Ray Guin also designs contacts for hard-to-fit patients, such as those with astigmatism and keratoconus.

Shoppers walking down West Main Street's long stretch of businesses are apt to notice one that stands out—a brilliant-pink storefront warmly lit by evenly spaced overhead lights. Along with its colorful façade, Pieces Boutique and Consignment catches the gaze of passersby with large, arced colonial windows showcasing stylish looks for both men and women. The boutique's offerings are a neatly organized medley of new and previously owned fashions from both revered and up-and-coming fashion designers. Pieces supports these local artists by selling their work in-store right alongside Nicole Miller's dresses, Ralph Lauren’s polos, and Alexander McQueen’s radioactive pocket protectors. The shop's highly selective employees make sure to populate Pieces' environmentally conscious bamboo display racks with an ambitious mix of beach, Southern, and city styles.

Fountain Bookstore's well-read staff curates a selection of national bestsellers and regional works, many of which have been autographed by their scribes. Adults, teens, and children can discover new reads by consulting staff recommendations or by channeling the ghosts of writers of old with pocket Ouija boards. In addition to the store's wide selection of tomes, events such as author readings or Young Adult Saturdays congregate book lovers for communal festivities. Dogs are welcome to trot into the bookstore alongside their owners, and complimentary curbside delivery service allows patrons and canines to retrieve previously ordered books without stepping out of the car.