Shopping in Knoxville

More than 20 local artisans gather to display their handmade wares at Knoxville Soap, Candle, & Gifts. Their all-natural, bar- or ball-shaped soaps are fully biodegradable and made in Tennessee. Handmade candles give off sweet scents such as cupcake, brownie, and chocolate cake, recreating the smells of a baker's warm kitchen or nightly bath in leftover batter. Upon request, staffers can wrap these and other gifts—such as earrings, necklaces, and scarves—in complimentary wrapping paper any day of the year.

With a wide assortment of closeout mattresses by trusted brands such as Sealy, Serta, and Simmons, Mr. Mattress is a go-to destination for shoppers. There's a design to suit every preference from firm and pillow-top to latex and many more. Patrons can also find memory-foam mattresses built with bamboo fibers to dissipate heat and keep bodies comfortable throughout the night.

Under the leadership of owner JoAnn England—a longtime Halls resident, mother of two, and booster for locally owned businesses—Sofas & More’s independent mom-and-pop operation has enlivened the homes of its customers since 1995. As customers peruse the fleet of La-Z-Boy recliners or sofas from Klaussner, friendly staff members guide them through home-decor decisions with a friendly, low-pressure demeanor, unhindered by the need to disassemble their towering couch forts. In addition to equipping living rooms with comfortable sitting spaces and high-end entertainment centers, the spacious showroom fills in dining rooms with designer table sets of solid hardwood and bedrooms with mattresses from Serta and Tempur-Pedic.

Every day, people bring clothes into Planet Xchange, and every day, they turn away almost 1,000 garments, approving an average of only 200 garments a day to ensure their inventory remains fresh and stylish. They carry fashions for men and women, from brands such as Nike, Hollister, and The North Face. Their racks drip with premium denims, tops, pants, and outwear, as well as fashionable accessories and bags from brands such as Michael Kors.

For more than 30 years, MurMaid Mattress has culled an extensive arsenal of mattresses from both top-brand manufacturers and from its own, onsite factory. The shop has garnered the title of Best Mattress Store from readers of the Chattanooga Times Free Press multiple times. At seven locations throughout the Tennessee Valley, its staffers navigate sprawling showrooms that brim with memory-foam mattresses and adjustable beds from brands such as Serta and Tempur-Pedic. It procures its inventory directly from such manufacturers, working to keep its prices affordable and to ensure no under-the-bed monsters were damaged during travel. The store's immense stash of products also includes MurMaid Mattress’s own creations, assembled at an onsite factory affixed to the Cleveland location. Staffers produce custom, made-to-order mattresses from materials used by national brands.

Declared a 2011 finalist for the area's Best Mattress Store by readers of the Chattanooga Times Free Press, Mattress Outlet has culled an extensive arsenal of mattresses from top-brand manufacturers for more than 30 years. At eight locally owned locations throughout the Tennessee Valley, its knowledgeable staffers navigate showrooms that brim with cushy memory-foam slumbering surfaces from brands such as Serta and Tempur-Pedic. The staff procures the store's inventory from top manufacturers, who have partnered with Mattress Outlet for years, working to keep the prices affordable and to ensure no under-the-bed monsters are damaged during travel.