In today’s world of self-service shoe stores, a shop that does fittings is a rarity. That’s not always for the better, says Shoe Story owner Julie Jordan. “A lot of people are wearing the wrong width, the wrong fit without realizing it,” Jordan says. A poor fit can cause fatigue, contribute over time to fallen arches or plantar fasciitis, or aggravate arthritis. “There are so many…
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A good pet shop is a sanctuary for animals as colorful as the people hoping to take them home. The atmosphere at Exotic Jungle is exactly as advertised—exotic, hospitable, and teeming with character. The number of standout characters is too much to name here: Marley the Savannah Monitor, who wore a sporty Santa uniform in December; parakeets jumping laps around each other; one cat sleeping on top of a boa…
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A staple in downtown Morgantown, The Elegant Alley Cat has gifts for every occasion. West Virginia–themed goods, local artwork, jewelry and accessories, housewares, and seasonal and year-round decor give customers the warm and loving feeling of home. Just looking around is part of the experience. At The Elegant Alley Cat, finding gifts is not the challenge—it’s having to choose between the two or three or maybe…
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This is a bittersweet winner profile for BOM voters. Hometown boy and two-time BOM winner Stefano’s Head Chef Chris McDonald has served up memorable fine dining since the restaurant opened in 2009. McDonald’s love of seafood and his inventiveness with flavors and textures helped develop the restaurant’s loyal following. But when this year’s Valentine’s Day dinner is done, McDonald will hang up his apron for…
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The Oliverio family started serving up its home cooking in Bridgeport more than 50 years ago. Expanding over time from burgers and hot dogs to pizzas, hoagies, and eventually family Italian recipes, the Oliverios’ food and service inspired customer devotion. “Oliverio’s is everyone’s hometown favorite,” says Clarksburg native Amber Porter. “Ever since I can remember, if our family is celebrating, we always go to Oliverio’s, because…
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