Poler Flagship Store
Outdoor stuff purveyor Poler's original store was great, if a little cramped. That's not a problem anymore. The new Poler Flagship Store is a spacious 3,000 sq ft space where you can grab, tug on, chew, and otherwise test out their tees, bags, tents, jackets, beanies, hoodies, hats, and other goods before you decide to buy. There's also a selection of collabs with the likes of Raen, Stance, and Nike SB, camp-friendly goods from Juniper Ridge, Pendleton, Leatherman, and Airblaster, a playful mural by Lori D, and a gallery to serve as a pop-up exhibition space. Basically it's everything the old space was, just bigger and better.
Aquarius Records
The Bay Area has been synonymous with great music since the '60s, and one of its best record stores has been around nearly as long. Established in 1970, Aquarius Records is the oldest independent record shop in the city, offering up a selection of music that's as eclectic that the folks who shop there — they claim to only stock records they love, and thanks to an interest in everything sludge metal to bluegrass, that makes for a fantastically weird selection. As you'd expect, the staff is friendly and helpful, and explain perfectly how the store has managed to thrive for over four decades.
The Boston Shaker
There's no shortage of great places to grab a drink in Boston, but if you're the type who'd rather be mixing your own drinks, plan on stopping by The Boston Shaker. This Davis Square store is dedicated to the art of crafting cocktails, and as such stocks a ton of quality tools, ingredients, drinkware, and books. And if you're looking to expand your drink-making abilities, they also host classes on a regular basis to help you hone your craft.
Boerum House & Home
If you're outfitting an abode in Boerum Hill, you need to make a trip to Boerum House & Home. This new shop is set in an open, two-story space, and offers home goods, accessories, kitchen supplies, books, sundries, jewelry, and other knick-knacks from over 130 local designers, makers, and artists. With such an eclectic selection, you're sure to find something that suits your taste, and if supporting local talent wasn't enough for you, the store's proceeds will be donated to a number of local charities — making it a win-win-win proposition all the way around.
Green City Market
Most farmers markets are "green" in concept — you're likely buying products directly from farmers and artisans, as opposed to them sending their wares to the store — but few take it as seriously as Green City Market. Open in the south end of Lincoln Park on Wednesdays and Saturdays from May until October (and in the Peggy Notebaert Nature Museum in the winter), this unique market offers local, sustainable foodstuffs from purveyors that are heavily vetted before being allowed in. The result is fresh, delicious food that you can feel good about eating.
Premier Skate
You might not expect to find one of the world's best sneaker shops in the Rust Belt, but that's not the only thing about Premier Skate that's outside the norm. As the name might suggest, Premier is both a skateboard and sneaker shop, offers a solid selection of both decks and shoes, with the occasional collaboration with Nike SB. There's also a good selection of clothing and accessories, but if you can find what you want in your size, don't fear — you can walk to nearby Hopcat and sip on a beer while you try to snag it off their website.
Heritage Barbershop
Sometimes the name says it all, and at Heritage Barbershop, that's very much true. This Northeast PDX destination aims to honor the heritage of the classic neighborhood shop in all the best ways, with a simple menu of services that includes haircuts, buzzcuts, kids cuts, straight razor shaves, and hot oil treatments, and combinations thereof. And while the haircuts and service are top-notch, so is the atmosphere, which reestablishes the barbershop as a meeting place of men.
Hidden Treasures
It doesn't matter if you're looking for vintage clothing, a costume, or just a cool old knick-knack — you're likely to find it at Hidden Treasures. Beyond the store's fantastic collection of clothes from the 1970s and earlier, there's also tons of generally cool stuff, all set in an amazing nautical/pirate-themed environment. If you're looking for bargain clothes, this might not be your place, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for — and the goods at this shop are worth every penny.
The Thing
It might look messy, but what it lacks in organization, The Thing makes up for in sheer volume. One of the oldest second-hand stores in Greenpoint, its ground floor offers kitchenware, furniture, camera equipment, books, clothing, and, according to the store, "assorted bric-a-brac." But head to the back and down the stairs, and you'll find the shop's true treasure: over a hundred thousand vintage records, all selling for bargain-basement prices. Just remember to clear your schedule before you go, because the store has been known to swallow shoppers for hours at a time.
NikeLab
Part store, part experiment, the new NikeLab store is a must-see for fans of the brand or design in general. Built with sustainability in mind, using as little material as possible, and plays host to limited edition and collaborative versions of both Nike's latest shoes and apparel as well as reimagined heritage styles. Oh, and don't worry if you're not planning a visit to NYC anytime soon — this new store opened the same day as its sister stores in London, Hong Kong, Shanghai, Paris, and Milan.
KICKS/HI
Just because you're on the ocean doesn't mean that you'll want to wear sandals 24/7. So when it's time to get a new pair of kicks, direct your feet in the direction of KICKS/HI. Founded in 2001 by Ian Ginoza of Saint Alfred fame, this store is the premiere place to buy sneakers on the islands, boasting a solid selection of brands, plenty of limited edition kicks and exclusive collaborations, and some sought-after store-brand tees.
Recycled Books
Yes, the name sounds more like a description of what they sell than an actual name for a store, but when you boast a selection like this, it fits perfectly. Set inside a former opera house, Recycled Books is 17,000 square feet of used goodness, offering three floors of books, a solid selection of vinyl, CDs, and more than enough nooks and crannies to take up an entire afternoon. Grab a cup of coffee at nearby Jupiter House, head on inside, and prepare to lose a few hours — and likely spend a few dollars, as well.
