Shopping in Peoria

Individual measurements. Custom-cut fabric. Hand stitching. This is what it takes for the conscientious staff of Brother’s Tailors & Clothing Co. to craft just one custom-made suit to its exacting standards. They involve customers in every facet of their apparel’s design. The tailors’ hundreds of styles and fabrics, which come together for either a suit or one of Brother’s custom-made shirts for men or women, enable clients to customize their ensemble with great thoroughness. The shop also carries ready-made garments from well-respected designers such as Jack Victor, S. Cohen, Agave Denim, and Mezlan. Of course, since the shop houses a stable of skilled tailors, each of these off-the-rack pieces can be made to fit to virtual perfection with the help of alteration services. Brother’s Tailors can shorten suit sleeves and skirt hems, adjust oversize waists, and add zippers and pockets to sleeves so that they can achieve their dreams of becoming pants for a kitchen table’s legs.

After working as a celebrity stylist for more than 20 years in London, Jane McCann left her life in the U.K. to raise her two children in Arizona. But McCann didn't retire her style expertise for long. After a year of selling handbags and accessories from home and receiving an enthusiastic response, she quickly found a business partner in an unlikely place—her children's school playground.

Mayva Kern, a native New Yorker, was also flying solo as a handbags and accessories entrepreneur until her chance meeting with McCann in 2009. On the playground, the two women discovered that their business philosophies synced up, and they quickly decided to strike up a partnership and form Just Jane Boutique. Here, they stock the latest handbags from name-brand designers such as Melie Bianco, Betsey Johnson, and Steve Madden, all of which the duo handpick for stylish design, affordable price, and ability to safely transport goldfish. The boutique also carries fashionable accessories, such as purse organizers, key finders, and purse hooks.

With brands such as New Balance, Patagonia, and Brooks parading across its shelves, Tortoise and Hare Sports equips customers with the gear they need to pursue healthy, active lifestyles. The shop’s team uncorks a wealth of knowledge to help each individual find the right fit, including a five-point footwear analysis that tailors shoe selections to a person’s gait, form, and measurements. The store’s weekly calendar is also filled with free services, such running clinics that demonstrate how to minimize injuries, maximize performance, and keep overworked toes from forming a union and going on strike. Training programs for marathon runners, free yoga sessions, and group runs are also available.

In 2006, ABT Remodeling Material Showroom expanded to include a showroom that spotlights cabinets, flooring, lighting, and plumbing products crafted by more than 50 manufacturers. Their cabinet selection is anchored by Diamond, which includes a variety of innovative storage options in an assortment of designer finishes. DIYers consult with ABT's knowledgeable staff, trading measurements and ideas for custom materials and advice. A broad range of eco-friendly products includes high-efficiency bulbs and items that contribute to a home's LEED certification. Professional design services are available to help customers personalize their dwellings.

Each of Designer Art Direct's framers has at least 20 years of experience working with everything from Picassos to family portraits. The staff enhance their skills with thousands of frames and mats from heavyweight manufacturers such as Larson-Juhl. The seasoned framers won't balk at most two- and even three-dimensional subjects, and are happy to frame up valuables including sports memorabilia, photographs, and topographical Rubik's cube cheat sheets. The staff works with clients to make sure each piece of artwork finds a new frame home that meets its artistic and preservational needs. Customers can add extra security to valuable pieces by choosing conservation glass and museum mountings, or transform prints into original-looking art by asking for an acrylic texturing process that the staffers do by hand. Since all framing services are performed onsite, customers can expect a turnaround of a few days or opt for same-day service for an extra fee.

A stark contrast to the surrounding arid scenery, Elgin Nursery and Tree Farm’s lush 35-acre grounds yield verdant trees and plants sure to thrive under the searing desert sun. Since 1986, the expansive gardening center has supplied metro-area green thumbs with native, desert-adapted, Mediterranean, and tropical plants, and trees that sprout legal tender despite parents' contradictory opinions. Its staff is comprised of a group of knowledgeable horticulturalists, some of whom are bilingual, as well as two ISA Certified Arborists, who share their expertise on the proper diagnoses for sick plants, solutions for irrigation issues, and other planting advice, The center's packets of seeds and all manners of gardening tools, planters, and charming yard art also vie for the attention and lasting affection of strolling visitors.

Far more than a purveyor of organic matter, Elgin Nursery and Tree Farm also expands its patron’s grey matter with free gardening workshops on topics such as vegetable gardening, pruning, and landscape irrigation. They also offer delivery and planting services in the Phoenix-metro area for an additional fee. The neighborhood arbor hub supports seniors, military members, and frequent visitors with additional discounts, in addition to guaranteeing all plants for one-year after the date of purchase.