3870 Best Places to Shop in USA

Elaina Garcia is Catalina's celebrity mermaid. After rescuing a drowning diver near Catalina's coast, she soon appeared on Inside Edition, People Magazine and The Drew Barrymore Show. As a certified PADI diver, she took the next step to become a PADI-certified mermaid. Her store in Avalon has a photo studio for guests to don a colorful mermaid tail and shell bra for a keepsake photoshoot. Mermaids can also have photos taken at scenic rocky seascapes, or on a sandy beach. Elaina also offers professional mermaid instructor courses and professional mermaid swim classes for ages six and up. Her mission emphasizes water safety and drowning prevention. Her gift shop sells jewelry and other mermaid-related items.

The partylike Saturday edition of the city's most upscale and expensive farmers' market places baked goods, gourmet cheeses, smoked fish, and fancy pots of jam alongside organic basil, specialty mushrooms, heirloom tomatoes, and juicy-ripe locally grown fruit. Smaller markets also take place on Tuesday and Thursday year-round, rain or shine—and the many passionate San Francisco home cooks who frequent them will come even in a rainstorm.

Hollywood vintage hunters and collectors love this hip open-air market. You're likely to find recycled rock T-shirts or some vinyl to complete your collection, in addition to antique furniture and quirky arts and crafts. This popular market is open from 9 am to 5 pm every Sunday—rain or shine—at Fairfax High School's parking lot and admission is $6 at entrance.

The spirit of Moe Moskowitz—the creative, cantankerous late proprietor—lives on in this world-famous house full of new and used books. Since it first opened in 1959, students and professors have flocked here to browse the large selection of literary and cultural criticism, art titles, and literature in foreign languages.

This is an excellent stop for unique art-related and San Francisco–themed souvenirs. Posters, calendars, books, artist monographs, jewelry and children's art sets are just some of the notable categories on sale.

The heart of the community since 1942, the barn has a bounty of local gifts and produce, plus an art gallery, yoga studio, and Toby's Coffee Bar for espresso drinks and pastries (note that the coffee bar is cash only). See and hear what's happening locally, catch a live band or literary event, and explore the garden. The internationally renowned all-local, all-organic Point Reyes Farmers' Market is held here on Saturdays during the growing season (even King Charles and Queen Camilla visited it in 2005).

This eight-level shopping center is home to luxury retailers like Gucci, Louis Vuitton, and Salvatore Ferragamo but also offers plenty of outposts for more affordable brands including Aldo, Coach, and Steve Madden. Don't miss the bevy of great dining options like Eggslut and Yardbird Table & Bar. 

Visit one of the last independent bookstores with a Hollywood pedigree to discover books about film, music, art, and photography.

This huge selection of Western-style boots is great for urban cowboys and cowgirls. You can find materials ranging from calfskin to alligator, and most boots are handmade in Mexico and Texas. Custom sizing is available for a guaranteed perfect fit.

This flagship streetwear store on Fairfax Avenue for avant-garde clothing and accessories is by American rapper, songwriter, and record producer, Tyler, the Creator. Whether you're shopping for hats, sweatshirts, t-shirts, socks, or even custom skateboard decks, this store has exclusive collections.

Fans of the NYC-based modern interior designer enjoy visiting this West Coast flagship store. Mid-century and country-club styles get retooled in playful pottery, cheeky pillows, graphic textiles, and whimsical accessories.

This wineshop has an ardent cult following around town. The friendly staffers are always helpful, many of the wines are directly purchased by the company itself (which often means better wines and better prices) and weekly events (Thursday through Saturday) allow customers to taste some of the wines before purchasing. A wide range of regions and varietals are represented here, so it's hard to say that there is a particular specialty other than simply great wines. Whether shoppers are looking for a prestigious Bordeaux or an under $20 Chardonnay, it's pretty much guaranteed they'll be excited by their purchase.

Since 1955, this bookstore has been the heart of Menlo Park. The store has many mainstream books, yet also maintains the independent, intellectual side that made it popular with the Beat Generation and activists (even the Grateful Dead's Jerry Garcia would play his guitar here). Author talks are a big draw at what continues to be one of the Bay Area’s definitive local bookstores.

Credited with taking American appreciation of old-world wines to a higher level when it opened in 1972, this small shop is a great place to peruse as you educate your palate. The friendly salespeople will happily direct you to the latest French and Italian vintages, varietals, blends, and bargains. This is the rare wineshop in the United States that also imports its own wines.

Avalon's favorite candy store (since 1941) still has the iconic salt water taffy–pulling machine in the front window. Besides selling Lloyd's Famous Salt Water Taffy, they sell fresh bakery items, gourmet candy apples, fudge, coffee, frozen drinks, and ice cream.

The ultimate place for Oakland swag started in 2000 as a public art project of local pride and has become a celebrated brand around the bay, with clothing and accessories for men, women, and kids. A portion of the proceeds from hip T-shirts and accessories supports grassroots nonprofits committed to bettering the local community. It's good-looking stuff for a good cause.

This Grand Lake stalwart deserves an enormous amount of credit for showcasing small-producer, low-intervention wines (what some like to call natural wines), and for making wine an approachable, hip subject. Whether you're enjoying a glass at the bar with some cheese or browsing the impressive selection of retail bottles, this is the local game-changer that made boutique wine as trendy as craft beer and cocktails.

You should be able to find what you need for your kitchen at Rooster Brother, the "store for cooks and those who love them." On the first level of a towering Victorian building aside the Union River, specialty foods, deli meats and cheese, baked goods, wines (including a nice selection of sherry and port), and house-roasted coffee (bagged or brewed to go—try a sample) are on offer. Upstairs is well-stocked with top-quality cooking items and pretty much everything for your table.

Crowds of fans seeking the freshest urban gear wait in line for new merchandise drops that include shoes, shirts, outerwear, hats, and backpacks. 

This three-story megamall offers the ultimate in South Florida retail therapy and houses many global top performers, including the most lucrative outposts of several U.S. chain stores, a supersize Nordstrom and Bloomingdale's, and 300 other shops, like a two-story flagship Louis Vuitton, Hermès, and Fendi, which together create one of the largest shopping malls in the United States. Recent additions include a Nike store (where you can customize your Nike gear), the massive Treats Food Hall, and the 93-foot Aventura Slide Tower, a huge spiraling landmark that's also a functioning, nine-story slide open to the public Monday through Saturday 11 am to 9 pm and Sunday 11 am to 8 pm. Consider it a one-stop, shop-'til-you-drop retail mecca for locals, out-of-towners, and—frequently—celebrities.

Created to provide an elegant and approachable atmosphere for fine and custom jewelry, this store is both beautiful and welcoming. Jeweler Chad Crawford, who himself has created a collection for The Met, showcases his own designs from his Andrew Hamilton Crawford line as well as pieces from the studios of jewelry artists from around the world. The store recently opened a second location at Plant Riverside District on West River Street, so you can take a peek inside regardless of which side of town you're on.

This year-round, open-air market with roots stretching back to the early 1970s is the soul of the Drag. The unreconstructed hippie ambience is at least as much of a draw as the actual merchandise crafted and sold by various local artisans. The wares include jewelry, leatherwork, candles, photographs, paintings, sculpture, textiles, and the inevitable tie-dyed T-shirts. Note that the market is firmly regulated by the city, and all vendors must be licensed by a commission. Days and hours of operation have been changed and scaled down since COVID; current status updates can be found on their website and social media pages.

Hip and fun, this shop stocks some of the island's coolest T-shirts, accessories, and apparel for women, men, and kids, featuring funky, retro Hawaii themes and designs. Bruno Mars famously wore a tank top from this eclectic shop on a Rolling Stone magazine cover in 2021. You may spend more time browsing—and buying—here than you might expect. A second location is nearby on Kuhio Avenue. Note that the store opens at 1 pm.

This well-established gallery showcases artwork that captures the beauty of Maine, including Dana Heacock's brightly colored giclèe prints, cards, and Abacus calendars. Well-executed, often entertaining home-decor items and delicate or statement pieces of jewelry also make excellent souvenirs of your visit to Boothbay Harbor.

Step into this emporium of eclectic home goods from around the world, and you might feel like you've found your fantasy-land nest. An astounding array of colorful rugs, antiques, textiles, furniture, and bedding, including sleek sofas and Balinese daybeds is spread over several floors. The ground level is a chic marketplace of antique stemware, ceramic tableware, fine jewelry, and wellness products. There are no less than three in-house restaurants from Jean-Georges Vongerichten, which are destinations in their own right. The selection of unique jewelry on the first floor is wonderful, if you're looking for a gift.

Chic elevated basics are ABLE’s hallmark, which they sell in their stylish flagship boutique. Popular around Nashville for their simple yet sophisticated leather bags, clothing, and jewelry, ABLE is also known for their commitment to employing women in need, both locally and worldwide, to create their goods.

The Arts & Crafts Cooperative, Inc., a collective of Berkeley artists and artisans, has been a stalwart gallery and store showcasing ceramics, textiles, paintings, photography, jewelry, and various media since 1957. Explore the amazing range of local talent in a well-lit historic space, and find truly one-of-a-kind gems to take home. The gallery also hosts special events featuring artists explaining their works.

Arguably the best place to buy fragrance in Manhattan, this lovely smelling boutique's super-knowledgeable staff help shoppers find the perfect scent. High-end (and predominantly European) brands like L'Artisan Parfumeur and Astier de Villatte are stocked, along with luxurious skin-care products, pricey candles, and room diffusers.

If Victoria's Secret is too tame for you, try this British-based lingerie shop, which has a naughty twist. Showpieces include corsets, lace sets with contrast-color trim, bottoms tied with satin ribbons, and some fetish-type leather ensembles. A great selection of stockings is complemented by the garter belts to secure them.

Merging the attentiveness of a spa with the old-world charm of a barbershop, this high-end men's salon caters to guys who prefer getting a hot-towel shave and a haircut while enjoying a whiskey. The front of the store is devoted to manly diversions, with shaving sets, contemporary and New Orleans–theme cuff links, pocket knives, wallets, bow ties (a specialty), grooming products for face and hair, and gifts.