Shopping in Hartford

Retail outlet selling cameras, cellular service thru US Cellular, satillite television and ADT security systems.

Bergmann's has matched customers with quality appliances, electronics, mattresses, and furniture for more than 40 years. The shop carries major brands, such as Maytag, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Serta, LG, and Sony, and their expert staff and encyclopedic robot are always on hand to expound on each item's features. In addition to its knowledgeable salespeople, Bergmann's employs technicians with factory training to professionally install and repair appliances.

As a local grower of all its products, Mayfield Nursery Inc. runs more than 80 greenhouses yielding a total of about 750,000 plants every year, including more than 1,200 varieties of perennials and herbs. Like bratwurst, plants marked with a Green Select Perennials label thrive in Midwestern climates. Vibrant and diverse, perennials range from velvety red pomegranates to delicate white snowdrops.In addition to a huge array of perennials, the nursery stocks herbs, vegetables, trees, and shrubs alongside stone bird baths, pottery, garden accessories, and gifts. Upon request, staff members offer delivery services, consult with clients, dispense helpful growing and planting tips and can even plant a container of lush blooms for you.

At more than 1,000 Mattress Firm locations around the country, shoppers sink into plush mattresses, recline on firm beds, and belly-flop onto pillow tops. Knowledgeable staffers can help customers create an ideal bedtime environment by dispensing advice based on sleep preferences and illuminating the difference between the many kinds of mattresses. And to the delight of their customers, much of Mattress Firm's bedding wears the label of a premium brand, such as Sealy, Serta, Simmons Beautyrest, or Stearns & Foster.

The Exclusive Company—a Wisconsin-bred music-and-movie retailer—has given the gift of song since 1956, earning a Best of Milwaukee award from Shepherd Express readers in 2011. Passionate staffers guide visitors toward sprawling collections of rock and jazz and bins brimming with DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, and loose 8mm slides from Kenny G's summer vacation. In addition to peddling new vinyl releases such as El Camino by the Black Keys and Revolver by T-Pain, the shop functions as a trading post, helping to find loving homes for preowned films and music. All used discs are carefully buffed into shape before meeting their new owners, and each comes backed by a money-back guarantee, which promises store credit if a preowned item exhibits biting tendencies. Most used CDs, DVDs, and vinyl cost less than $20.

After studying genetics at UW–Madison’s College of Agriculture, Gwen Condon opened a garden and landscaping center in the hopes of making local exteriors more beautiful and fashionable. Gwen began traveling to shows in Germany, England, and Italy in search of gifts and garden accessories. Her shop quickly grew into an inspirational garden, where customers wander paths lined with seasonal plants, from spring flowers to fall mums to winter killer tomatoes. The knowledgeable staff makes sure to clearly label each plant with lighting and water requirements.

Additionally, customers can show photography of their yards to Garden Gate Nursery staff to get tips on plants, shrubs, or trees that would thrive there. The garden tamers’ most popular service is what they call the “Please Come Stand in My Yard” consultation, a house call in which they scope yards and inspect any problem areas before sharing their ideas and recommendations.