Shopping in Rockford

In 1952, after years of experience in the nursery industry, Urban Reckamp planted the first seeds of his own horticultural business, Harvard Nursery. Twenty years later, the next generation of Reckamps, Tim and Pam, took over, letting the nursery's success grow through word of mouth, an established reputation in the community, and a stockpile of magic beans. Bringing a bachelor's in horticulture and an education background in design, the third generation, Kevin and Nina Reckamp, sprouted their roots as the new management of the nursery in 2010.

Today, with 60 years of experience under its belt, the nursery offers visitors a plethora of greenery. Its retail garden center blooms with locally grown verdant saplings and effulgent perennials guaranteed to appease the pickiest of garden gnomes. In addition to onsite dealings, its experienced crew can also travel to nearby locations to perform landscape design, enhancement, and maintenance.

For more than two decades, American Mattress has promoted peaceful slumber in bedchambers throughout the Midwest with their vast selection of mattresses, headboards, and linens. The sleep experts strive to stay abreast of the latest bedding technology: their Serta mattresses are made with gel foam that supports curves, and Tempur-Pedic mattresses repel allergens, mites, and poltergeists looking to spoon. This devotion to a good night’s sleep has helped them earn the title of Best Mattress Store from suburban Chicago’s Daily Herald five years in a row. Additionally, American Mattress doubles down on each of its beds with a 30-day comfort guarantee and a 60-day best-price guarantee.

The industrial-chic boutique specializes in denim and stocks more than 20 brands of men's and women's jeans in a variety of cuts and styles. Women can find jeans from Miss Sixty ($119–$149), Rich & Skinny ($140–$160), Diesel ($200–$220), and many more. Men can choose from Nudie ($170–$249), Diesel ($170–$180), True Religion ($215–$240), and more. If you prefer to only clothe the top half of your body, Untitled stocks an array of guys' and gals' tees, which average around $25, and button-ups that run about $50–$80. It also carries skirts and dresses from brands such as Fred Perry, Stussy, WeSc, and Fornarina.

LorEnn's Hallmark boasts six locations peppered around the Chicagoland area, each brimming with a broad assortment of cards and gifts designed by Hallmark's talented team of artists. Shelves filled with the brand’s signature greeting cards help thoughtful shoppers find just the right words or cartoon thought bubble to express feelings of love, congratulations, or sympathy, with creative designs for all manner of occasions. Colorful gift bags await to conceal Precious Moments figurines, ornaments, books, and decorative housewares, and albums and picture frames help preserve and protect photographs or other memorable keepsakes from the ravages of time and indoor rainstorms.

Established in December of 2000, The Framers Edge safeguards artwork, photographs, and keepsakes with quality framing materials in a range of styles and designs. Paintings rest behind polished glass, photos reside within metallic frames, and 3-D objects such as athletic jerseys and slightly used surgical gloves maintain their luster inside shadowboxes. Custom framing projects also include conservation framing, as well as canvas stretching and transfers.

Helping customers improve their vision is the main concern of the optometrists and eye-care professionals at Eye Boutique, who provide preventive screenings and help choosing from their more than 1,800 frames at each location. In each shop, licensed doctors of optometry scan eyes with comprehensive exams before diagnosing issues or prescribing high-definition Zeiss lenses and contact lenses from Optix and Acuvue. Designer frames from Guess, Nike, and Kenneth Cole house lenses fashionably, and Teflon protective layers help guard lenses from scratches and reduce glare. Sunglasses from brands such as Ray-Ban and Coach also protect eyes from harmful UV rays, creating an accessory that is both stylish and useful, like a diamond with a job.