Margaret S.

Toyrifix

Toyifix, which is probably most associated with puzzles (both jigsaw and mind puzzles that take a while to solve) and games (card and board) also offers a lot of scrapbooking goods, which my mom is into. They have paper, stencils, stickers, and cute decorations to turn your photos into a neat book. They have a better assortment than what I've seen at other places.

Rockin' Robin's Amazone

Rockin' Robin's Amazone is fantastic for kids! We go on Tuesdays to see Outback Ray, who has Australian marsupials, mammals, and even a small crocodile (that live at his home and are well cared for!) that kids love seeing and learning a lot of information about. They have a playground for the younger ones, a huge arcade (much bigger than the ones in malls) which kids of all ages can find something to enjoy, and a very cool laser tag room with huge statues and glowing bright lights. This is great for day trips or hosting private birthday parties.

Speedway Superamerica Rcrtng

I haven't smoked a cigarette in my life and neither has anyone in my immediate family, but I have extended family members who are smokers and also struggle financially. As part of their gifts, I've included cigarettes from here to save them money for the outrageous costs of cigarettes. There are rolling machines to make your own, but I've only gotten the prepackaged cigarettes. It's cheaper than buying from convenience stores, even though the cheapest thing to do would be to quit cold turkey.

Maple Heights Lanes

My friend had a coupon for a free game so we went one Sunday afternoon. It was somewhat impressive; I've seen bigger places with a cleaner atmosphere. The shoes *were* pretty cool and the assortment of balls came in different colors and weights. However, we bowled two more games afterwards and thought it was too pricey. I'm not sure how it compares to other bowling alleys since I'm not a frequent bowler, but I was a bit surprised by the cost.

All Makes Vacuum Cleaner Co

This store is stocked with appliances such as vaccuum cleaners. The prices were better than what Sears offered, so we wound up buying one here. We had a chance to plug them in and turn them on to get a feel for the noise level, handling, and overall fit. We were pleased with the large assortment and the chance to test each one before committing.

Toproc Ink Tattoo Studio

I don't have any tattoos, but I know serveral people who've had their tattoos done here. They were both really pleased with the results, and I thought they were nice too - it was drawn perfectly and evenly, not crooked. They have books to pick a design from or if you're creative like my friend, you can sketch your own for the artist to recreate. The tattoo looked identical to my friend's original drawing; I was impressed by the skillful artists.

PROS: Clean, sterile equipment; nice designs
CONS:

Pet Supplies Plus

This sort of reminds me of Sam's Club or the likes, except for pets, because you can buy in bulk quantities and save money. This is great if you have multiple pets or just want to stock up on litter, food, etc. and save some cash in the meantime. It's worth checking out for that - they seem to carry a diversity of brands, so there's a good chance your favorite pet brand is sold here in bulk.

The Cleveland Animal Protective League

I love the APL; I think they provide an amazing service. I got both of my kittens here because they're already screened for feline leukemia, worms, etc. and are neutered, which ensures that you'll get a healthy pet. They have hundreds of pets to choose from and sometimes the decision can be hard! The APL, which is an independent, nonprofit league, is cheaper than buying from an overpriced pet store. It's clean and the animals are well-cared-for. I highly recommend the APL for selecting a pet.

Adrian Michael Jewelers

If you're looking for a customized piece of jewelry instead of a trite piece being sold by handfuls to women everywhere, Adrian Michael is the place to go. They have original, unique pieces or are willing to take the time to design a piece you have in mind, going over every detail until you have the exact match what you're looking for. Great.

Gamestop

Gamestop has a lot of old and rare games for any console there is. You can call ahead to verify the game you want is in stock and place it on reserve to pick up later. The staff are video game afficionados and can make recommendations based on other favorite games of yours. However, you can get a better deal on eBay, so I recommend browsing online, unless you need the game in a hurry.