Shopping in Norwood

Peter H. Reynolds, co-owner of The Blue Bunny Books and Toys, knows his books—he’s even a published author, with his illustrations adorning popular children’s titles such as the Judy Moody series and several Judy Blume novels. That love of the printed word is reflected in his family’s store, filled with an array of books for children and grownups. In addition to literature, customers can peruse a selection of DVDs and children's diversions such as albums, sticker books, craft kits, lunchboxes, and puppets that can be trained to bark on command. The Blue Bunny also hosts special events, such as workshops, preschool story hours, and book signings from celebrities such as Diary of a Wimpy Kid author Jeff Kinney.

For 42 years, adventurers and outdoor athletes have emerged from Country Ski & Sport armored in quality apparel and equipped with sturdy vessels, poised to conquer mountains, rivers, and bike paths. The Stenson family—which founded the sportsman’s haven in 1970—shares the clientele’s passion for outdoor excursions, and staff three facilities with a team of knowledgeable employees boasting more than 225 collective years of industry experience. The friendly staff draws upon outdoor know-how to match customers with pairs of skis, snowboards, kayaks, or bikes that suit their needs and size. Adventure-appropriate apparel from North Face or Under Armour keeps bodies warm while they’re slaloming down slopes or luging to work. To help customers prepare for the sporting seasons, technicians also repair and tune up skis, snowboards, and bicycles, and offer seasonal leasing options for snow equipment.

Furniture from more than 15 national and international sources fills Northeast Furniture Direct, a store that sells home furnishings at factory-direct prices. Shoppers can peruse memory-foam mattresses, leather sofas, formal dining sets, and more, all still wrapped in their factory packaging and bearing their manufacturers' full warranties. Each week, the store announces its public business hours; patrons can also visit during scheduled one-on-one appointments.

The dedicated team members at Boston Ski + Tennis prepare patrons for the slopes or courts with equipment, tune-ups, and apparel. Since 1977, the staff have carefully selected their inventory by testing various brands on frosty and fast surfaces. Ski jackets and snow pants from Obermeyer, Marmot, and Sessions line the store's shelves, along with tennis shoes and rackets that can be used as snowshoes when walking home from mountaintop matches. The staff also apply wax to ski bottoms to help them glide over snowy runs and regrip or restring tennis rackets to make them feel new and powerful.

By answering any and all questions about their erotic wares, the staffers at Amazing Intimate Essentials have helped promote safe and sensual trysts for more than 40 years. Their selection of massage oils, lubricants, and adult toys—which occupies stores spread throughout the Northeast and Texas—contains goods from such established brands as We-Vibe, Jimmyjane, and K-Y. They staff female-friendly merchandise, as well as products that help couples create more sparks in the bedroom than a master metalworker soldering a "do not disturb" sign to the door. The staff stresses openness and acceptance in regards to romantic endeavors, an attitude that also fuels their unwavering support of the LGBT community.

Since 1988, Carolyn McCoy's car-trunk stationery business has unfolded into a flourishing shop vending stationery, gifts, and printed ephemera. McCoy's passion announces itself in the form of resplendent displays of notepads, precious writing implements, and custom printed gifts popping with patterns. In-house printing facilitates smooth event planning, and a monogram decal machine tattoos cell-phone cases and totes with names or notes for physics exams.