Norm's Foam & Fabric Center, Los Angeles

The nearly single-minded focus of Norm’s Foam and Fabrics makes for a positively anachronistic shopping experience, a throwback to a time when consumers repaired items rather than just threw them away. For anyone who wants to repair or rejuvenate an old couch or chair, Norm’s on Motor Avenue is the first stop. The industrial-style shelves here are filled, floor to ceiling, with foam of differing thicknesses and firmness, with the owners more than willing to allow patrons to test each style to determine which is right for the project. From there, the foam is cut to order, guaranteeing a perfect fit, and for the bargain hunters, Norm’s also sells unused odds and ends of foam at steep discounts.