Decatur Shopping Tips by rexvaughan

Eagle Eye Book Shop: A mile of books

I am a sucker for used bookshops and this is a truly wonderful one. It advertises itself as having "a mile of new and used books" and I don't doubt it. The books are also well catalogued so that you don't have to search through a mixture of stuff to find the kind of thing you are looking for. Another clever idea is that a lot of the books are priced in amounts like 93 cents which means, with tax, it is an even $1.00. They also have a back room of rare books for the connoisseur . The website is equally incredible as it is so organized even to the point of having a section listing awards of various sorts and all the books in stock which were winners. I find it a bit unusual but they also have Author's Nights in which writers come to discuss and sign their books. If you can't get here in person, check out their web site. Many independent used booksellers stay alive pretty much on their internet business. I do that some, but love browsing through the old books. Today I went in and came out with 5 books I can't wait to read.

I had my camera with me and got a couple of shots of the outside front, fully intending to take a couple more inside, but became so absorbed in looking at the books, I completely forgot.

Address: 2076 North Decatur Road, Decatur 30033

Directions: Just off the corner of Clairemont and North Decatur

Phone: 404 486-0307

Theme: Books

Website: http://www.eagleeyebooks.com

DeKalb Farmer's Market: A world of foods

The DeKalb Farmers Market is an amazing place. Its name is a bit misleading as, while they have a huge and amazing selection of fruits and veggies from around the world, it is not only not a true farmer’s market, but much more as well. They do a huge volume of business which allows them not to warehouse the fresh products so they are always fresh as well as cheaper than about anywhere else. They also have an extensive selection of wine and cheeses from around the world and bake a wide variety of breads and pastries daily so they are always fresh as well.

An interesting note on their history is that they opened in 1977 in a small 7,500 square foot facility and were an immediate success. A couple of years later a freak 4 inches of sleet caused the root to collapse. A story in the local paper indicated that the owner, who was just getting started, did not have the funding to rebuild but asked customers to send money and their cancelled checks could be redeemed for merchandise in the same amount when they reopened. It worked. Pretty slick as he got an interest free loan and repaid it with merchandise which he bought at wholesale and redeemed at retail.

I only have one photo as they do not allow photography inside and I took this one on the sly.

What to buy: Fresh flowers, fruits & veggies, cheese, wine, beer, fresh meats and seafood, freshly ground coffee or whole beans, homemade pastas, soups, cakes, pizzas, and sauces.

What to pay: Any amount depending on what you buy, but the prices here will be cheaper for almost anything.

Address: 3000 East Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur

Phone: 494 377-6400

Theme: Food and Drink

Website: http://www.dekalbfarmersmarket.com/

Books Agin: An old fashioned book shop

This little bookshop is one of those that you can lose yourself in. It has a surprisingly large selection which is very eclectic. I went in searching for some books on Portugal and Spain and came out with 3 very old but very good ones, and all for a reasonable price. They specialize in used, out of print and rare books, but have about 30,000 in stock so many are used at a good price. The owner is very accommodating and helpful without being pushy and his cat sprawled on the floor gives it a very welcoming ambience. They also do a significant internet business so if you are searching for something, give them a try.

Open 10:00-6:00 Monday-Saturday

Address: 225 N. McDonugh St.

Directions: Just a little over a block south of the Decatur MARTA station on McDonough.

Phone: 404 377-1444

Theme: Books

Website: http://www.booksagain-ga.com

So Rare: Kitchen sinks may be here

It is hard to classify this funky little shop as they have all sorts of garden art and "accoutrements" from statuary to bathtubs - I expect the kitchen sink will be added at any time. Inside they also have vintage clothing and jewelry as well as other unsual items or art and craft. I found a wonderful urn for our back garden and also enjoy just wandering around to see what they have new. You might even be able to negotiate a little on some prices.

What to buy: Click on the photo to get some idea of the merchandise available here.

What to pay: Depends a lot on what you buy but most things seem reasonably priced to me.

Address: 407 West Ponce de Leon Ave, Decatur, GA 30030

Directions: Just west of the center of Decatur and just east of the Post Office.

Phone: 404-377-0102

Theme: Other