Shopping in Leon Valley

"Funky" isn't a word typically associated with hardware stores, but that's exactly how Amy and David Doyle describe Sunset Ridge Home & Hardware. Upon opening the place in 1995, the pair envisioned a one-stop hardware and home-improvement haven that shook off the sawdust and embraced the unconventional in ways that didn't include slapping googly eyes on every two-by-four. That's why the San Antonio Express-News' $hopGirl can cite a unique selection of Curly Girl wall hangings, hooded towels, and Texas cookbooks beside traditional tools and housewares sourced from Ace Hardware. An epic spread of Benjamin Moore paints and Breville kitchen products create an ocular feast for fixer-uppers as handcrafted soaps and fragrant candles ignite olfactory senses. Seasoned staffers roam the aisles, touting talents that include knife sharpening, key cutting, and lamp repair in addition to several other services.

When 16-year-old Roger Soler crossed the finish line first at the Peruvian National Junior Championship, his victory marked the beginning of a love affair with running. At age 18, he set a Peruvian record in the 1500-meter and eventually brought his talents to the U.S., where he competed in the 5000-meter race at the 1984 Los Angeles Summer Olympics. Through it all, Roger nurtured a genuine fondness for running that blossomed into a full-fledged passion when he opened the first Soler's Sports more than two decades ago.

Today, Soler's Sports boasts four locations staffed by athletes with real-life experience in biking and running and was awarded a spot on Running Insight's Top 50 Running Stores of 2011. Staffers tend to customers on an individual basis, guaranteeing sneakers to accommodate gaits and bikes to fit bodies based on detailed analyses. Once employees have profiled the perfect shoe or bike, they help patrons find them, searching through the store’s stock, which includes brands such as Ridley Bikes, Vibram FiveFingers, Vitalsox, and Spibelt. Patrons can test-drive new kicks and wheels at the store's group runs and rides.

Like archeologists unearthing buried treasures, the stylists of Montage Vintage hunt for fashionable attire from yesteryear and offer it to a new generation in search of fun styles. Dresses, shirts, and pants are lovingly salvaged and restored to their former glory through dyeing, spot treating, tailoring, and embellishing. Jewelry shattered by neglect, time, or falling into a molten lava cake is reformed into new pieces, incorporating leather, natural stones, and other materials. The staff has a passion for bringing past fashions to today's streets, but only items that pass a delicate series of checks make it to the Montage shelves, and only after being professionally cleaned with the garment's care tag guidelines.

After more than 30 years in the gem and jewelry industry, Jimmy Green decided to channel his experience and passion for the trade into opening his own store. He curates a knowledgeable staff to help him sell jewelry from designers such as A. Jaffe, Mémoire, Roberto Coin, Gabriel & Co., and Jenny Perl. He and his crew welcome shoppers into a Venetian-inspired jewelry salon whose handmade Italian bricks, barreled copper ceilings, and Venetian plaster walls wait behind double cast-iron Cantera doors. There, white and yellow diamonds up to 10 karats and bigger shine alongside period pieces in Victorian, Edwardian, retro, and art-deco styles.

In addition to repairing watches and jewelry pieces of any size, the master craftsmen can outfit custom wares with colored gemstones including emeralds, rubies, and jade. Shoppers can also find handmade designer knives from William Henry. Jimmy’s mission is to make shoppers feel warmly welcomed, whether they’re seeking out a budget-friendly piece or looking to spend pocketfuls of chocolate coins before they melt.

After a military career spent treating soldiers and veterans in far-flung locales ranging from Kosovo to stateside Veterans Affairs hospitals, Dr. Joseph R. Rogalinski returned to his adopted home of Texas to tackle a new challenge: a civilian optometry practice. Joined by Dr. Elizabeth Nguyen, he now dedicates his workday to improving eyesight with services ranging from comprehensive eye exams to laser surgery co-management and emergency eyecare treatments. His practice also houses an eyewear emporium with more than 1,000 eyeglass frames in as many different styles. Brands include Coach, Fendi, and Harley Davidson; each of their three separate locations features different designers and different passwords for obtaining the “good” sunglasses.

Bless Your Heart Giftique's twin locations bustle with vibrant, colorful goods that celebrate beauty and femininity. Paisley purses mingle with socially conscious Toms shoes and fashionable duds and accessories from brands including Miss Me jeans, Yellow Box, and Vera Bradley. Jewelry and artwork crafted from local artisans share space with embroidered cowboys boots and handmade lassos to steal the show at the next rodeo. After whirlwind shop-a-thons, visitors can relax on the porch of the Bracken Village location, which resides in a restored 100-year-old red barn that's witnessed more history than a time-traveling archaeologist.