Shopping in Oak Ridge

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.

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.

The whole family is welcome at Premiere Eyecare, where optometrist Dr. Brent Fry and staff not only treat eyes but share "a few jokes" in the process. Their services include preventive and family care as well as infection and disorder management. They also prep patients for donning a pair of the boutique's glasses by administering prescription exams. Dr. Fry continually attends professional seminars to make sure he stays abreast of the latest developments in his field. The office’s website features educational resources and can take requests for appointments as well as confirm and change them.

The riders and technicians at Harper's Bike Shop love bicycles, and their love for riding is matched only by the joy they get from helping other cyclists. For 50 years, Harper’s has outfitted riders for the pathways, streets, and mountain trails around Knoxville. The crew helps riders find bikes to suit their riding needs, and perform custom bicycle-fitting services to ensure a great match. In addition, the crew repairs and rebuilds ailing cycles with a complete list of services that includes adjusting brakes, truing wheels, cleaning drivetrains, overhauling suspensions, and kicking some sense into tires.