Shopping in Hilliard

For more than a quarter century, the fashion accessories, stationery, and jewelry at Franny's Gift Gallery have brightened birthdays, holidays, and weddings with notes and keepsakes from brands such as Hallmark, Vera Bradley, and Precious Moments. Colorful beads of Italian Murano glass and amber glisten upon silver chains and earrings, and Dickens' Village figurines and landscapes miniaturize the quaint, old-fashioned Christmas cheer and rapidly shifting class conflicts of Victorian England.

Mattress Mart's slumber experts stock their stores with locally made and major-brand sleep surfaces—such as Serta and Englander—in twin, full, queen, and king sizes. Customers can rest their backs on the firm billows of a Posture Cushion twin set or support larger-scale lumbar regions with a soft, flippable Crazy Quilt king-size set. Mattress Mart also curates the Pure Rest line, which boasts a stamp of approval from the Ohio State Chiropractic Association for its top-notch support second only to sleeping on a pile of loving aunts.

The staff at New Balance isn't concerned with simply selling shoes—their mission is to pair customers with the footwear that will carry them comfortably through life’s arduous steps. Understanding that an ill-fitting pair of athletic shoes can cause pain to joints and potentially damage knees, hips, and the back, associates measure the length and width of each client's foot and conduct a gait analysis to chart the trajectory of their stride when walking normally or running through ball pits. The data are collected to help the staff match clients with their ideal shoe, keeping them running longer and looking good while doing so.

Owner Jared Cavileer and his crew roll a cherry-red Leader 722TS outside the shop, lean it against a brick pillar, and snap a picture. The keepsake signals the end of another bike restoration, but serves as a tangible memento for another job well done. Technicians repeat this process every day at Revolution Cycles, where their bike tune-ups help to keep two-wheelers from being ridden by the Grim Reaper. Their shop's exposed-brick walls backdrop a selection of stylish parts and accessories, including Gorilla frames, Soma Major Taylor track bars, and Brooks saddles and cycling bags.

Mad River Outfitters, in business for almost 20 years, outfits anglers with gear, classic clothing, and products by Orvis, Filson, Barbour, and other leading brands. The shop features flies that replicate natural food sources, as well as personalized advice that each customer needs to become successful anglers in Ohio waters and beyond. In addition to helping customers select proper equipment, Mad River Outfitters hosts classes for beginners and expert anglers alike with topics including Knots & Leaders, Fly Casting, and Specialty Fly Tying—always with instructors who can provide specialized advice, such as how to outsmart the wily trophy fish.