Annie's Blue Ribbon General Store

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Brooklyn resident Ann Lopatin abandoned her job in corporate retail to open this corner shop in Park Slope that evokes the feel of a country general store in Vermont—but with an urban spin. Floor-to-ceiling shelves line three of the bright, colorful space’s walls, displaying items clustered around themes. Shoppers can expect to find pinwheel straws and candles in party supplies; bibs and piggy-bank-making kits in children’s; a shared water bottle for dogs and their owners in pets; slate cheese boards in kitchen; and Dr. Singha’s mustard bath and Cucina lotion in beauty. Books for all ages cover two long tables in the center of the store—everything from the Paddington Treasury to The Green Book: The Every Day Guide to Saving the Planet One Simple Step at a Time. More offbeat items like Mrs. Meyer’s cleaning supplies, gourmet pet food, and napkins with driving instructions for cab drivers round out the motley inventory. — Bree Sposato

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