Kansas Stores and Shopping

At Brown’s Shoe Fit Company, Mark and his staff preside over a flock of shoes, sandals, and sneakers so expansive it ensures that any pair of feet can find a new home. Their inventory includes designs from renowned brands such as Børn, Clarks, and New Balance, all of which improve on traditional American footwear by being extra durable and constructed with 90% less apple-pie filling. They also stock popular kicks such as Crocs and UGGs, reflecting an adaptability to changing fashion trends that has enabled their store to thrive for more than a quarter of a century.

MVP Sports Magazine gives readers a waxy-paged window into the world of the young athletes and high-school programs that define the sports landscape in Topeka and Shawnee County. The quarterly publication covers the notable sports teams from nine area high schools—including Topeka High School, Topeka West High School, and Washburn Rural High School—along with area athletes competing in nonsanctioned sports, such as motocross, rodeo, and contacting extraterrestrials by Morse code flashed with a pocket mirror. Though MVP Sports Magazine publishes past issues online, an active subscription gives readers access to colorful, photograph-laden issues they can proudly display on their coffee table or tool bench.

The friendly and energetic photographers at CL!X Portrait Studios welcome families, seniors, and tikes into their studio, where upbeat photo shoots yield visually fetching portraits. During shoots, photographers delegate full creative power to the clients, who can direct their own shoots by bringing in pets, props, and any outfit they desire, while the photographer makes suggestions and exchanges ideas with the client. CL!X’s generous lenses let any number of subjects bunch into the frame, so golfers may pose solo or with their caddy’s extended family for the same charge.

At 4,500 independently owned and operated stores spread across the nation, Ace Hardware carries the tools and tips homeowners need to complete plumbing projects, electrical work, or aesthetic alterations to gardens or backyards. Celebrating 88 years in existence, the stores stock well-organized aisles with brand-name products from Craftsman, DeWalt, and Scotts perfect for simple afternoon projects or extensive overhauls to the fleet of antique rickshaws in the garage.