Shopping in Tempe

When Les Blake founded his nursery in Phoenix's Moon Valley neighborhood, he adopted an approach that was unconventional at the time: after selling a tree or shrub, his staffers would also deliver and plant it at no extra charge. Today, Moon Valley Nursery Las Vegas's staffers hold to that mission—they plant any item in their collection, including more than 24 international types of evergreens, 24 species of palm trees, and 20 species of colorful desert trees. Staffers also oversee ranks of citrus trees such as mandarin, lemon, and grapefruit, and shrubs that make lawns explode in yellows, purples, and reds. Free landscaping consultations help customers launch front-yard makeovers, along with lawn pottery and fountains ranging from neoclassical to modern. Customers can feed new plantings with fertilizers such as house-blend Moon Juice, which uses organic enzymes and amino acids to stimulate the growth of plant cells while ensuring they never develop human emotions.

The Shoe Mill has specialized in snug European footwear for more than two decades, earning the title of Best Comfortable Shoes from the Phoenix New Times in 2010. The store is in historic downtown Tempe, tucked inside the Casa Loma building. More than 100 years old, the structure was once inhabited by a hotel, and before that, a saloon for unaccompanied Keds and miscreant loafers.

With its origins as primarily a Birkenstock store, The Shoe Mill has since grown to stock shoes and handbags in such high-end brands as Mephisto and Ecco. Israeli-made Naot shoes benefit from the wisdom of millennia of sandstorms and leather crafting to protect feet from the elements and clumsy camels, while Baggallini handbags are perfect for travel.

Visitors to Carried Away can find authentic handbags crafted by Coach, Michael Kors, Tory Burch, and other designers for at least 40% less than their market cost. That's because the shop's buyers seek out bags that have been previously used as floor samples, were returned by their original buyers, or have slight imperfections. They guarantee the authenticity of each designer handbag with a double-your-money-back guarantee.

BookMaze, a 5,000-square-foot, two-story used bookstore, boasts scores of shelves that support more than 100,000 books. Comfy chairs and couches spaced out among the stacks provide places of repose for readers browsing the independently owned shop's many genres and titles. After exploring book-filled nooks and shelves stuffed with fiction, nonfiction, graphic novels, and movies, guests can settle in with a cup of fine Costa Rican coffee at the Edge of the Maze Cafe to read or take advantage of the café's free WiFi. Visitors can show off their role-playing acumen or next-level strategies during Monday-night tabletop and board games, or reacquaint themselves with the barter system via trade-in bargains.

Bike Emporium’s able staff equips riders with bicycles and accessories from top brands and keeps gear running smoothly with repair and maintenance services. Walk-ins can ride out of the store atop new spinning spokes by Giant, Electra, or Haro, as well as recumbent bikes by Sun. When any make or model of bike requires maintenance, wounded wheels benefit from a full range of repair services, including flats fixed while the owner waits and tune-ups completed in 24 hours. Bike Emporium also rents out bicycles ($17/hour; $37/day) and points riders in the direction of the Greenbelt half a mile away, a nearby mountain bike trail, and a giant hamster wheel that affords riders spectacular views of the skyline.

Get the message off your chest and onto it with today’s Groupon. For $15, you’ll get $35 toward create-your-own design services at Brand X Custom T-Shirts, a personalized t-shirt company with endless font, shirt, and graphic customization. Prices start at around $20 for a shirt and design, and go up to $35 depending on the style of the shirt. Use your Groupon to pay for one shirt and part of another, or cover the cost of one of the highest-quality options.