The Guide to Shopping in Highland Park

Don’t be fooled by the size of Arroyo Records. You’ll need to carve out a good amount of time to dig through this small space on York Boulevard. The record shop’s collection is heavy on the classics across genres and there’s a lot packed into those bins. Whether you’re looking for funky 45s, psychedelic full-lengths, or new wave dance singles, it’s unlikely that you’ll leave here empty-handed. Be sure to check out the hefty bargain bins before you leave.

The Bearded Beagle is a vintage clothing and accessory store with hard-to-beat prices. The stock is carefully curated with treasures from all eras, catering to both men and women. They have a great selection of vintage tees, vinyl and discounted racks, so everyone is likely to walk away with something.

Aptly named after the Swedish word for “daughter,” Dotter is a clothing store owned and operated by a mother-daughter duo, Susanne McLean and Annika Huston. Jewelry, shoes, children’s games and books are also sold in-store. American clothing companies with timeless design are featured in the store.

Not your typical music shop, Future Music is full of used instruments, including discontinued synthesizers, guitars and more. They also have some of the best techs in the business, with the ability to bring your favorite music gear back to life. With the store being such a treasure chest of hard-to-finds, musicians will have a hard time leaving.

Opened on York Boulevard in 1897 as an Italian grocery store, Galco’s Soda Pop Stop changed “flavors” when John F. Nese took the helm of his father’s store in 1995 and lined the shelves with more than 600 classic, small-batch, exotic and hard-to-find sodas. With a mission to support small soda makers, Galco’s offers sodas from around the world, as well as traditional brands that use recipes from the 1950s, 60s and 70s with the insistence that all sodas contain cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.

Galco's also offers a wide range of craft beers (local, national, international), hard ciders, rare sakes, wines, French champagnes, honey meads, artisanal waters and more. There's a selection of old-time candies and toys, as well as a full service deli in the back serving up its popular “Blockbuster” sandwich.

In 2013, Galco's debuted its Soda Creation Station - with more than 100 syrups to choose from, there are literally millions of possibilities. Choose your own flavors, add carbonation strength, mix, cap and label a 12 oz. bottle - perfect for customizing your parties, events and special occasions.

The Quiet Life flagship store is an extension of the men’s clothing and accessory brand, touting its minimal look. Shop their extensive selection of hats, button-down shirts, jackets and more. The Quiet Life also carries product by other designers, including accessories like wallets, belts and socks. For those interested in books of the moment, they feature one publisher per month, making them available for sale.

We all need beautiful things for our desks, and Shorthand is exactly the place to get them - whether they stay on your desk or are en route elsewhere via the mail. One example would be a stack of specialty letterpress cards printed by Shorthand Press (formerly Iron Curtain Press), which makes its home inside the store. They also have note pads, phone cases and patches for that extra flair at home.

Opened in 1962, U.S. Office Machine Company is a family-run business that will fix any and every typewriter from any era that needs repair. Whether you’re simply looking or need that family timepiece repaired, Ruben Flores will have your machine working again like new.