Shopping in Kenmore

Pulp Comics traces its origins to a heroic act of kindness.

In 2009, Paul Tappay donated part of his liver to his father, saving his dad's life and leaving him plenty of time to read comic books while convalescing in the hospital. Hungry for a new adventure, Paul drew up a business plan built around his love of comics, games, and pop culture. Months after the Tappay family's life-altering and lifesaving surgery, Pulp Comics began welcoming visitors not to a crowded, dimly lit lair, but to a sunny, roomy space full of new and vintage publications and droves of like-minded hobbyists.

A sense of positive, fun-loving nerddom pervades Pulp Comics' main room, where you'll find collectibles, racks of comic books, and a life-sized replica of Harrison Ford's character from Witness frozen in carbonite. Guests read gripping graphic novels in the front room's comfy leather sofas or retreat to the Back Cave, filled with more than 10,000 vintage back issues, old-school arcade games, and free WiFi.

Owner Crista Botticello was only 19 when she opened Ooo La La’s doors to the East Aurora community, but her fashion-forward tastes suggest an intimate acquaintance with trends in America and abroad. That unique sensibility is reflected in her boutique’s selection of casual apparel and formalwear, which includes dresses, jackets, jewelry, and handbags designed by emerging locals or renowned artisans from New York and Los Angeles. Nestled in an idyllic brick storefront, the spacious store often hosts special events, such as fashion shows that benefit local charities or show off the cummerbund’s underappreciated versatility.

Boa, rated one of the Best Places to Shop in Toronto by Toronto Life Magazine, is the fashionable brainchild of twin sisters Daphne and Ofra Nassani, geared toward chic-minded gals on a budget. Curating a collection of versatile day-to-night pieces, the sisters stock an inventory ranging from sparkling evening dresses to comfortable sweaters and bamboo leggings. In addition to keeping a close watch on the fashion world, the sisters pride themselves on being socially and environmentally conscious. They host in-store fundraisers and clothing drives to benefit Free-Them—a volunteer-run organization working to combat human trafficking—and make efforts to reduce their carbon footprint by sending their customers home with their new duds in paper bags, rather than plastic bags or in the hands of coal-powered personal bag-carrying robots.

Wicker Emporium’s product buyers scour lands near and far to find elegant home accents for their customers. The practice of travelling to different countries began more than 35 years ago, when the company’s heads joined the crew of a pirate ship to pay off a gambling debt. Today, in 20 stores across Atlantic Canada and Ontario, customers can still browse pillows, quilts, mirrors, outdoor accessories, and shelves imported from local manufacturers and international crafters.

When they were hairstylists, Lisa and David Robinson spent years listening to their clients complain about the difficulty of finding a lingerie shop whose bras came in a wide range of sizes and styles. Inspired, they decided to remedy this with their own boutique: My Top Drawer. The shop stocks bras in band sizes from 28 to 54 and cup sizes from A to M. Its professional fitters help customers find creations from brands such as Chantelle, Freya, PrimaDonna, and Goddess that are more comfortable than traditional corsets made from chainmail. If customers can’t find the right seamless, molded, pushup, or nursing style and fit in the store, the experts will custom order bras and mail them at no extra charge.

The shop’s wide range of supportive upperwear pairs with panties in thong, bikini, and brief cuts from Hanky Panky and Minerva. Additionally, customers can pick up both romantic lingerie and everyday sleepwear that keeps them warm when they go outside to count sheep in the pasture before nodding off. Spanx and Body Wrap shapewear smooth silhouettes, and the shop’s swimwear includes suits that accommodate full busts with larger cup sizes and supportive underwire.

With an enormous inventory of instruments, a dependable technician, and friendly instructors, The Guitar Factory is the kind of store that performers come to count on over the course of their musical evolution. Here, musicians can browse from simple-starter electric guitars from Ibanez to high-end acoustics from Martin. Keyboards, percussion, amps, basses, and other gear are also available. When wear and tear strikes, the shop’s in-house repairman, Charles J. Quagliana, can nurse instruments back to functionality. Charles has honed his handiwork by working for superstars such as Mary J. Blige, Prince, The Beach Boys, and the Mos Eisley Cantina band.

In the studio’s 10 air-conditioned lesson rooms, a team of teachers with more than 30 years’ experience teach guitar, drums, bass, keyboard, and other instruments. Joe Shanahan, who teaches bass, guitar, vocal, keyboards, and drums, was inducted into the Buffalo Music Hall of Fame with his band, Only Humen, and guitarist/singer/teacher Tommy Z has performed for the U.S. troops in Afghanistan and Iraq. Instructors tailor each lesson to student’s individual needs; with a current student pool ranging from ages 4 to 70, instructors are comfortable working with a wide range of skill sets.