Shopping in Oconomowoc

The family-owned Garden Mart took root almost 20 years ago in Pewaukee before transplanting to Mukwonago in the spring of 2006. Inside the nursery, countless plants stretch toward the sky, including deciduous Japanese oshio beni maple and Weeping Norway spruce saplings that harbor ambitions of one day blotting out the sun. An ample garden nurtures annual and perennial flowers such as rabbit-resistant lamb's ear, drought-resistant honeysuckle, and daffodils. The Garden Mart also pays close attention to indoor and outdoor fauna, with accessories and fish to fill koi ponds, as well as a complete stock of pet items such as cat litter, pet shampoos and conditioners, and holistic Canine Caviar pet food.

Authenticity is key at E-Collectique Runway Boutique, where every previously owned dress, necklace, and satin pump is marked with a verified designer or vintage label. Pristine white walls surround high-fashion women’s wares that range from items from current lines to vintage pieces that date back more than a century. Shoppers can peruse clothing and accessories from couture designers such as Balenciaga, Chanel, and Gucci, as well as ready-to-wear styles from makers such as American Apparel and Ralph Lauren.

Surplus G-Clean, Ryobi, and Stok tools and merchandise find worthy homes at Direct Tools Factory Outlet stores. Direct Tools aggregates hammers, cleaners, grills, and nozzles from suppliers and offers them to customers at a price below their standard retail tags, usually as a result of manufacturer overproduction. Each item is unopened in its original packaging, and Stok grilling products retain their 2- or 10-year warranties.

Owner Anna Zuckerman's late husband opened Sydney b. A Children's Boutique to make a mark on the world with "Sydney", their daughter's name, on it. Today, Anna and her staff keep the boutique stocked with hard-to-find, high-quality children's clothes from brands such as Zutano and Deux par Deux. They travel to New York, Atlanta, Chicago, and elsewhere to keep the shop filled with dresses, tutus, and charm bracelets, and there are plenty of toys, outfits for boys, and baby gifts as well. The team has a rule of thumb that customers shouldn't be able to find anything in the shop at a big-box store—they exclusively seek out unique finds that are well worth the expense.

As customers admire rows of Primigi shoes or Hello Kitty–themed goodies, tykes can watch kid-friendly shows or assemble puzzles. The staff also offers ear piercing to help little ladies pair their couture finds with a pair of pearls or their grandmother's heirloom gauges.

This newly remodeled boutique is paradise for lovers of casual yet stylish garb, housing brands such as Alternative, Big Star, and Silver Jeans. Though most of the men’s, women’s, and kids’ clothing fuses informality with a subtle hint of punk-rock grit, other items play it safe with colors and styles to suit every taste. The shop even boasts its own signature line of novelty T-shirts emblazoned with slogans that are as playful and risqué as a tattooed kitten.

In 1958, Guy Day and Dale Williams founded their mattress store with a focus on high-quality products and excellent customer service. After 10 years, the partners unveiled their line of handcrafted, personalized mattress sets under the name Verlo, a combination of their wives' names—Verna and Lois. After more than 40 years, the company has perfected its craft, manufacturing customized mattresses and selling them directly through their show rooms. The stock ranges from plush pillowtops to firm sets, both capable of supporting healthy sleeping patterns and cutthroat pillow fights for years to come.