Shopping in Swampscott

At Art de Triumph, local artist Nancie King Mertz showcases her original paintings and pastels and outfits clients' masterpieces in custom frames. Much like the courtroom artist at Rod Blagojevich's trial, Mertz often draws inspiration from iconic Chicagoan figures, rendering portraits including The Bean (also known as Cloud Gate) and the Wrigley Building. The Chicago Convention & Tourism Bureau named Mertz the Artist of the Year from 2005 through 2007, acknowledging her expertise with watercolor, oil, and pastel. In addition to ready-wear wall art, Art de Triumph deals in custom frames, helping clients select and customize matting and framing for photos, posters, and other important memorabilia such as the CTA card used to travel to the studio.

Southern Art & Framing offers much more than its name implies—aside from custom-framing projects and ready-to-hang art, the store also boasts an eclectic gift shop stocked with goods made by local and national artisans. Shoppers can peruse a selection that includes everything from handbags and scented candles to barbecue tools and home decor designed for fans of popular college sports teams. Local artists also host onsite art classes, teaching skills such as impressionist painting and converting your boring sedan into an exciting police cruiser.

Dedicated to keeping residential and commercial outposts outfitted with handsome, well-made lighting, Shiplights stocks its shelves with lights and hardware that have been featured everywhere from the New York Yacht Club to aboard ships in the Royal Caribbean Cruises' fleet. The store specializes in nautical lighting whose classic design, sturdy construction, and miniature lighthouse keepers transform spaces into sleek, ship-like surrounds. A selection of custom finishes ranging from pewter to satin copper enable patrons to personalize their lighting, and a collection of nautical furniture adds an air of maritime refinement.

Bike Boom functions as a fountain of youth for cycles that pass its threshold. Its technicians take in used and vintage models for renovation, transforming them into street-safe vehicles for all types of terrain. They track their makeover efforts on the shop's blog, highlighting retro specimens such as an overhauled Shogun Easy Street from the mid- to late ’80s and a ’70s Schwinn Collegiate Cruiser. Visiting guests can peruse the menagerie of multi- and single-speed road bikes, mountain bikes, and city bikes, which are designed for everyday trips around the block or up the walls of skyscrapers. Riders with a specific vision can also commission a custom-built cycle.

The professional mechanics in the repair shop perform tune-ups and install new parts. Shelves of accessories and gear—including helmets, locks, lights, and handlebar tape—equip pedalers for their commutes, and the staff readily orders items that aren't in stock or easily harvested from the derailleur tree in the backyard.

Boston Gardener breathes greenery into even the smallest urban spaces with a stock of hydroponic and conventional gardening supplies to go along with its selection of herbs, vegetables, and flowers. Its online store showcases a vast repository of gardening gear, from water pumps and fluorescent lights to seed germinators and fertilizers. Demonstrating their commitment to community, the gardeners take on revitalization projects such as their Dudley Square endeavor, which transformed an abandoned alleyway into a vibrant garden that ousted nefarious gangs of weeds.

Though the horse-drawn vacuums of yesteryear have come and gone, North Shore Vacuum and Appliance retains its family-run ethos from when it first opened in 1934. Now helmed by fourth-generation salesman Wayne Simonelli, the shop carries vacuums from dozens of brands, such as Dyson, Eureka, and Panasonic, and the staff performs repairs on a slew of models as well. In an interview with the Daily Item, Simonelli said, "I know vacuums. I go to seminars, conventions. I probably repair 1,000 machines a year." This dedication has earned North Shore Vacuum and Appliance the distinction of Miele Diamond Dealer, with access to limited-edition models only made available to exemplary retailers and scientists still trying to build a time machine.