A-List Stores: Best of the rest

Gruhn Guitars (above)
400 Broadway
Nashville, TN
gruhn.com

In Nashville's historic downtown district, George Gruhn's 3,000-square-foot showroom is like a museum where you can play with the art. Gruhn has hundreds of guitars, mandolins, and banjos just begging to be plucked off the wall, but you have to ask first, because these are expertly restored instruments. Some of them Gruhn made himself; others belonged to, say, Roy Orbison; and if you're really nice maybe they'll show you a priceless 1955 Fender Stratocaster upstairs. 

Local 35
3556 Southeast Hawthorne Boulevard
Portland, Oregon
local35.blogspot.com

This endlessly creative clothing store has periodic crazy sales that ease the sting of the draconian regular prices. The “progressive casual” labels may be imposing, but the welcoming staff isn’t, and neither are the obscure t-shirts you’ll find here. Bonuses: A newly affixed flat screen beams videos by artists you never heard of; and hey, this is Portland, so no sales tax.

Bonanza Gifts Shop
2440 Las Vegas Boulevard South
Las Vegas, NV
worldslargestgiftshop.com

Obliterating the line between kitsch and junk, this warehouse across from the Sahara Hotel & Casino overflows with the kind of tacky souvenirs that have always been synonymous with a trip to Vegas: keychains; magnets; mini slot machines; fuzzy dice; lifesize Wayne Newton dolls. If you've got any money left over at the tail end of your vacation, a stop at Bonanza is a must. Because nothing screams Vegas like a potty-mouthed mechanical parrot.

Crouch & Fitzgerald
400 Madison Avenue
New York, NY
crouchandfitzgerald.com

The rare Manhattan legend that lives up to the hype, this hallowed leather-goods shop has been in New York for 170 years, and it's still the best place to find top-of-the-line luggage and travel accessories. From Cambridge Triple Gusset briefcases to antique steamer trunks to a shock-absorbent silver laptop cases, the selection is above reproach. And if you're the kind of guy who likes things monogrammed, C & F's experts will do it while you wait. You may as well.

International Poster Gallery
205 Newbury Street
Boston, MA
internationalposter.com

Yes, they're crazy expensive, but the posters on the hallowed walls of Jim Lapides's gallery aren't the kind destined for thumb tacks and dorm rooms. He's spent years combing through flea markets and estate sales, tracking down his impeccable collection of Bolshevik propaganda, classic ski art, Art Deco, and Art Nouveau advertising from around the globe. If you go, go prepared: Check the web site's invaluable searchable database for ideas.

The Map Shop
1500 East Morehead Street
Charlotte, NC
mapshop.com

Don't be surprised if you see your seventh-grade geography teacher wandering the aisles of this charming family-owned business. Under a canopy of hanging world flags, The Map Shop has every globe, atlas, map, and travel guide you can imagine. And a few things you can't, like a frameable map that marks the 300-plus shipwrecks off Cape Hatteras, or something called a Geochron that shows what parts of the world are currently under daylight and which are under night.

Mele Ukulele
1750 Kaahumanu Avenue
Wailuku, HI
meleukulele.com

Because every man of the world, whether he realizes it or not, should have a good ukulele, that's why. Michael Rock, the luthier who runs this impressive stand-alone shop, has become a minor celebrity in the uke world for his meticulous craftsmanship, which makes use of genuine koa wood found only in Hawaii. The place is not for beginners, but Mele's employees have been known to give quickie lessons to the uninitiated, though that would be akin to learning to drive in a Ferrari.

Meltdown Comics & Collectibles
7522 West Sunset Boulevard
Los Angeles, CA
meltcomics.com

In L.A., every comic fanboy looks forward to Wednesday, when Meltdown puts new comics on the shelves. They might find mainstream stuff like X-Men or obscure graphic novels; either way this bright, slick space has plenty of room to roam, unlike the usual cramped, mothbally comic shop. In its attempt to be all things to all people, Meltdown now offers courses on the comic-book industry, and Baby Melt, a boutique with stuff like superhero onesies. It's geektastic.

Meyer the Hatter
120 Saint Charles Avenue
New Orleans, LA
meyerthehatter.com

It's possible that no one in America is more dedicated to hats than Sam Meyer, who at 84 still works five days a week in his grandfather's 115-year-old shop. People come from all over the south to Meyer's for fedoras, straw boaters, stovepipes, Kangols, baseball caps, and pretty much anything else men have ever put on their heads. Meyer and his employees, who include various family members, know their stuff. And, of course, the cluttered shop has the obligatory balcony for Mardi Gras.

Political Americana
1331 Pennsylvania Avenue NW
Washington, D.C.
politicalamericana.com

Just down the road from the White House, history junkies and tourists who want a piece of D.C. do battle over the inventory here, which focuses on presidential ephemera. That currently includes the Eisenhowers' Christmas cards, mushy Bush dolls, and, if they aren't sold out, an all-important pillowcase with Obama's face on it.