Shopping in Abilene is increasingly main stream. Freshman year I bemoaned not having a Bed, Bath & Beyond where I could buy my bed linens and oversized bath towels. I thought it was odd to drive more than ten minutes along a major highway and not see a Home Depot. Abilene now has both of those major retailers and many, many more. Every year new mega-stores seem to be setting up shop here. Wal-Mart is even going so far as to put in a second Super Center! Four years after first complaining about their absence, I’m no longer so sure I want them around.

This chapter covers resale shops, grocery stores, furniture, home décor, discount retailers, and a few other personal favorites. Special emphasis here is given to Mom & Pop shops due to the likelihood of you not having heard of them before. (I also think they are more fun!)

In the course of time I have been exposed to bevy of outstanding “Mom and Pop” retailers. While few local stores have ever been famous for rock-bottom prices or far-as-the-eye-can-see selection, they do offer wonderful experiences. When you wander into a Mom & Pop store, something always surprises you. The personalities of the shop keepers leak out from among their wares and add a refreshing element to the experience. National chains seem sterile by comparison.

Generally speaking, geography separates the small shops and the mega retailers in Abilene. National chains are most heavily concentrated on the southwest side of town, along TX Hwy 83/84 between Buffalo Gap Road and S. 14^th. (This is also the region where you will find the Abilene Mall—the local epicenter of national retailers.)

Mom & Pop establishments are located in clusters throughout the remaining areas of the city. Great streets for finding local vendors are Butternut, Barrow, Mockingbird, Hickory, S. 14^th, S. 7^th, S. 1^st, N. 1^st, and the western half of Ambler. Judge Ely also has a great pocket of shops near the ACU campus. 

RESALE STORES

 Antique & Almost     (695-2423)       141 Clyde

This is a large consignment shop with a lot of home accent pieces (no couches/over-stuffed chairs).  Because the items are owned by random Abilene citizens, you never know what you are going to get, and are likely to see something new every time you visit.

 

Elmwood Antique Center     (670-0400)       3910 S. 7^th

This is a very large shop with a wide array of offerings. Though very low on clothing, they do have some accessories. If you want an 8 track tape or an old copy of Life Magazine, this is the place to get it. This has the most open, free-flowing feel of the resale shops in town, thus offering a refreshing change of pace.

 

Goodwill Store     (676-0229)       4135 N 1^st 

                             (677-3327)       1246 Pine    

Always a classic, Goodwill is perhaps the quintessential thrift store—now in two locations!

 

Noah Sales Again     (672-5150)       642 Butternut

This is not huge resale shop, but they do a lot of business and have some high quality clothing—retro though it may be. I have found things from Land’s End and Neiman Marcus here at ridiculously low prices, and everything is half priced on Thursdays! This is a charity organization, and all proceeds go to benefit the Noah Project for battered women and children.

 Wed – Fri 10 – 5:30 (Thurs open till 7 pm); Sat 10 – 2

 

Salvation Army Thrift Store     (673-0223)       1709 Butternut St

This store often has several couches to choose from. Perhaps not the best fit for your parents’ living room, they’re great for the dorm room or at a frat house!

 

St. Vincent de Paul     (677-6871)       1241 Walnut Street

This thrift store not only sells pre-used clothing, they also rent out costumes for $10 (with another $10 deposit). Most of the clothing and the costumes here are for women.

 

Street Savvy Sixth     (672-1800)       3658 N 6^th

This store has more formal dresses and wedding dresses than I have ever seen in a resale shop. There is no men’s section.

DISCOUNT RETAILERS

 Sam’s Club     (691-5480)       5301 S. 1^st

Sam’s Club is like a super sized Wal-Mart. Sam’s sells everything in bulk, from frozen chicken breasts to printer ink. Sam’s Club also consistently has the cheapest gas in town. You must have a membership to shop here ($35 per year).

 

Stein Mart     (793-1280)       3204 South Clack

National discount department store chain with full line of men’s clothing, all high quality. There is an equally broad selection of women’s clothing. Additionally, Stein Mart has a nice home décor section and a decent shoe department.

 

Wal-Mart     (677-5584)       465 North Judge Ely

Wal-Mart sells nearly everything, and most of it at the lowest prices in town. Wal-Mart also has the longest lines in town.

 

Wal-Mart Super Center     (695-3092)       4350 Southwest Drive

The Super Center is like a regular Wal-Mart, only it’s bigger, includes a grocery store, is open 24 hours a day, and has longer lines. Taking a trip here with friends can be a great late-night activity. Especially entertaining after 10 or 11 pm are the toy and sporting goods departments!

FOOD & GROCERY STORES

 Filipino Food Store     (675-6646)       1112 N. Mockingbird

This little shop has a broad array of foods for ethnic cooking. From Mexico to the Philippines, to Korea, and back again (Dublin Dr. Pepper), if you need a hard to find sauce, spice or canned good, look here. They also have a selection of fresh, ethnic fruits and vegetables in the back. I once bought a six-pack of Dublin Dr. Pepper here for less than I would have to pay if I drove all the way to Dublin. (Dublin, TX is the birthplace of Dr. Pepper. It has the only factory still producing the soft drink with its original recipe: using pure grain sugar instead of sweetener.)

 

H.E.B.     (690-5000)       1345 Barrow

For years this was the premier grocer in Abilene. Next to Wal-Mart they have the cheapest prices on a wide variety of foodstuffs. H.E.B. also has a fair selection of ethnic and foreign food products for Asian cooking, Mexican cooking, etc. The only place I’ve found better quality produce was in a farmer’s actual pickup truck on the side of the road.

 

Natural Food Center    (673-2726)       2534 S 7^th

This is rated as one of the best health food stores in Abilene. In addition to health food, they also offer books which help to make sure you know what you’re doing when you decide to be “naturally healthy.” Brands they offer include Tree of Life, Solaray, and Natural Factors. They also offer lunch daily. If you are new to health food, the people here are knowledgeable, very friendly, and super helpful.

 

United Supermarket     (698-9391)       3301 S. 14^th

This store is United’s answer to H.E.B. Just down the street from each other, they compete for the unofficial title of “Premier Grocery Store in Abilene.” Here, United has a wide assortment of goods, including many international products. There is also a long row of glass cases to as you walk in where you can buy pre-prepared dishes and foods.

FURNITURE

 Home Again     (672-7878)       1317 S 1^st

This three story consignment shop always has a wide assortment of furnishing and accent options for the home. Definitely worth a stop before you go and pay retail somewhere else.

 

Palazzo Reale     (672-8955)       1307 Butternut

This is one of the coolest stores in Abilene. Totally unexpected Palazzo Reale specializes in international accents and furnishings. They import from more than a half-dozen countries all over the world—Mexico, Thailand, India, etc. If you have some decorating to do, this is a great place to start. They also have a store in San Marcos, so if you don’t find what you need here, inquire about their other store. The prices are negotiable.

 

Relics     (670-9282)       1292 N 1^st

This is another imported home furnishings shop and a good gift shop. It has a Southwestern flavor offering a wide array of merchandise and a fun shopping atmosphere. Relics also has a margarita machine that mixes up free drinks on Saturday afternoons. Be sure to check out the attic while you’re there.

 

Thomas Everett’s Fine Furniture    (677-3781)       1200 S. 1^st

These are often the best prices in town on new brand-name furniture. They have a friendly, helpful sales staff and a variety of options for your bedroom and den.

OTHER LOCAL TREASURES

 Friendze     (672-3824)       301 ES 11^th

                   (795-9582)       3351 Turner Plaza

This is a great shop for beads, jewelry, and occasional gifts. I don’t know of a better shop for beads, and if you are a craft-oriented person, you’re likely to think this is a slice of Heaven.

 

GooJaw Designs     (673-1500)       270 S Leggett

This store has an interesting list of credentials: jeweler, florist, Cookie Bouquet artist, and art gallery/dealer. All the art is done by amateur and student artists, so the prices are very reasonable. Even when you don’t have the money to buy anything, it is still fun to go and look around at what is available here.

 

Jordan Taylor     (672-9764)       157 Pine

Consisting of three stores, Jordan Taylor takes up an entire block of N 1^st. While geared towards the female crowd, nearly any guy will be able to appreciate these shops (especially around Mother’s Day and Christmas). Probably the premier gift shop in town, their prices aren’t bargain basement. Whether you are looking for furniture, interior decorating ideas, or gifts, Jordan Taylor has a wealth of ideas to stimulate your creativity.

 

Leaf     (670-9955)       202 Cypress

This is the premier tobacco shop in Abilene. Features include a large walk-in humidor chock full of cigars for all price ranges, premium cigarettes, a coffee shop, chess, leather furniture, and a big screen TV. This is a great hang out spot for smokers.

 

 Under One Roof     (673-1309)       244 Pine

This is a HUGE store, and it requires quite a commitment if you hope to see everything in one day. I recommend going two days in a row rather than trying to squeeze the three stories of shopping all into one trip. If you decide to do it all at once, however, there is a restaurant upstairs (Becker’s Loft) that offers a reprieve from a hard day’s shopping. Try the chicken salad sandwich on homemade bread. They do have an elevator, but it is temperamental, so expect to take the stairs.

 

Whimsey Doodle     (676-4646)       233 Cypress

A man has no business in this store. This is a girls’ shop—and a fun one at that! This is one of the best examples of how small town stores allow you glimpses at the personalities of their owners. The name of this store perfectly suits the fun, irreverent attitude of the merchandise. Enjoy—but please, don’t make your boyfriend go with you.