Shopping in Pennsauken

In the words of the late Dr. Daniel Messinger, whose daughter and granddaughter now helm Philadelphia Eyeglass Labs, “We’ve been doing this for 100 years—we must be doing something right.” Overseen by the fourth and fifth generation of family that founded the company in 1888, the sense of history carries over into its opticians’ daily practice—they’ve been seeing many of their clients for decades, and bestow fast emergency services upon them whenever a client damages a lens or tries to stretch their frames to fit a family portrait inside. The personalized attention heaped upon each customer shines through in the services provided, which include technicians that grind and surface all lenses on-site in the flagship location’s lab, often fitting them into frames for next-day pick-up.

The Mattress Factory's knowledgeable, non-commissioned staff guide customers to high-quality memory-foam and natural-latex mattresses from brands such as Tempur-Pedic, Sealy, and Stearns & Foster. Customers can shop at ease in an atmosphere that's free of sales pressure, price haggling, and the complex conversion of U.S. currency into the steel ingots accepted by mattress-making dwarves. The Mattress Factory will also set up your new mattress and remove your old one for free.

At Your Eyes Center, Dr. Milla Batushansky keeps a watchful eye on patients' visual acuity and helps combat ocular diseases. During examinations, she seeks to educate patients about eye health, from how to alleviate dry eyes to why laser beams burst forth from their retinas when they're angry. Dr. Batushansky specializes in pediatric optometry, contact lenses, and management of ocular diseases, but the breadth and depth of her services cover LASIK and corneal refractive therapy. After comprehensive eye exams, patients can explore a selection of hundreds of frames that add an air of sophistication to wardrobes and librarian conferences.

In 1933, the founders of Keswick Cycle opened their doors with a common goal in mind: to make each visitor feel like a part of the family. Almost 80 years later, a staff of avid cyclists and triathletes maintains the same friendly vibe at all three locations, meanwhile stocking an assortment of bikes and accessories. Bicycles from Cannondale, Specialized, Electra, and other big brands conquer myriad terrains, from roads and triathlon courses to mountain trails mucky with discarded cooking oil. Tires, apparel, and other accessories round out the inventory, situated around the shop's central hub, the services department. Here, factory-trained mechanics tune up or overhaul any type of bike or shopping carts masquerading as bikes. These same experts fit athletes for competition at the triathlon studio and, in their spare time, lend a hand to local charities.

Inside this immaculate Victorian Italianate building in Rittenhouse Square, optometrist Alissa Coyne conducts eye examinations alongside a dedicated staff of opticians and eyewear experts. Two show rooms display a selection of more than 2,500 frames by fashionable brands such as Salt. Optics or Oliver Peoples. Lens types range from standard plastic to Transitions-brand options that change tint when going from indoors to outdoors, and prescription and nonprescription sunglasses shield pupils from the sun's harmful rays and annoying habit of never wearing clothes.

Susan Botwick Murphy, the self-taught crafter behind Viv Pickle, wasn't always in the handbag business. She was once the VP of marketing for a communications firm with a knack for sewing her own accessories. It took a seemingly unfortunate turn of events––a layoff from her corporate job—to transform her into the enterprising purse maven she is today. With her eye for design and her background in business, she's been able to run a successful custom handbag studio that churns out wares for customers across the globe.

She and her seamstresses put together baguettes, buckets, clutches, and totes using a palette of more than 150 fabrics, and a variety of handle and lining materials. A rainbow of patterned prints catches the eye, and waterproof nylons repel leaky lunches and spilled vials of plutonium.