Shopping in Murfreesboro

Owner, buyer, and stylist Elizabeth Allen loves fashion, and she’s not alone. The popularity of her Murfreesboro boutique spurred a new location in Gulch. At both shops, Elizabeth and her team of stylists select and share seasonal fashions from brands such as French Connection, Frye Company, and Whitney Eve. Though the shelves and hangers are replete with printed dresses and vintage Chanel accessories, the boutique’s Denim Bar serves both women and men.

Firefly Essentials delivers moisturizing products straight to your home; these products battle the itchy, red, and uncomfortable skin brought on by dry air and wintry weather. More than 25 varieties of handmade soaps are available—including bar blends ($4.75 per bar) such as coconut breeze, lemongrass, and cucumbery melon—that transform the body into a tasty treat for nocturnal, closet-dwelling trolls. Goat-milk-based body lotion will ensure sleek skin by wicking away spilled nacho cheese, while beeswax lip balms formulated with cocoa butter, sweet almond oil, jojoba oil, and tea-tree oil will soothe the mouth pillows after a season of chappage. Otherwise, opt for one of Firefly's quick gift sets, like a four-pack of natural soaps tied in raffia cord ($19.50).

Louis Priddy’s love of pounding the pavement led him to found Running Factory II—the previous incarnation of Front Runner Athletics—in 1982. Over the next 15 years, the business blossomed until Louis changed its name and built a new 4,000-square-foot location to accommodate its expanded inventory of shoes and athletic apparel.

In 2001, Louis passed the reins to avid runner Chad Varga, who has carried on Priddy’s legacy by ensuring that his customers’ shoes not only fit on their feet but also accommodate runners’ individual arches and manner of jogging. To achieve this, Chad and his staff conduct free comprehensive gait analyses, guiding guests—who are often referred by local orthopedists and podiatrists—toward shoes that match their foot shapes and habits of running on the sidewalk, on a track, or on hot coals. The store’s wide range of men’s and women’s shoes from the likes of ASICS, Adidas, Mizuno, and New Balance help the experts find the ideal pair.

From stocking pink booties to supporting the pink ribbon cause, breast cancer, with a portion of their proceeds, the Thrift Warriors staff tends to a wide range of needs with low-cost resale apparel and merchandise. The selection at any given time might include Banana Republic jeans, Abercrombie T-shirts, sofas and loveseats, kitchen utensils, and a robot from the future that can tell you where the best sales will be in the year 2356.

At Mid Tenn Motorcycle Education Center, nationally certified instructors impart the secrets to safe and street-legal riding. Through their basic courses, students step in on Friday and leave on Sunday with the comprehensive knowledge and skills to bypass the written and driving portions of the state licensing test. The instructors spread tutelage across 5 classroom hours and 10 hours of on-cycle instruction. More advanced students can dip into six-hour experienced-rider courses to practice precision handling, advanced braking, and dodging squirrels. The school also hosts women-only classes that teach terminology and skills free of testosterone-induced wheelie popping.

Santa Richard Bonnington first stepped into the shoes and red suit of the holiday celebrity in a 2003 production of Miracle on 34th Street. Since then, it's been Santa all the way: he's appeared as Santa at corporate children's parties, accompanied gift donations to charities, and added holiday cheer to nursing homes. He's been the full-time mall-Santa for two different malls, is the official Santa of the local Toys-4-Tots program, and holds a degree in Santa Claus certification.