DART Rider Insider

For some of us, the hustle and bustle of the mall is part of the whole shopping experience. But if a relaxed, nostalgic atmosphere is more your speed, maybe you need to go back to square one – one of three distinctive town squares located along the DART Rail lines.

These enclaves offer a treasure trove for bargain hunters and curiosity seekers year-round. In addition to helping you avoid crowds and traffic, these retail and dining hamlets are steps away from their namesake DART Rail stations and provide a more gracious pace and an abundance of one-of-a-kind items you may never see in a chain store.

Looking for an out-of-the-ordinary gift for Valentine's Day or an uncommon hostess gift? These town squares offer both the quaint and the quirky served up with a dollop of charm.

Downtown Plano

Although it's long been a popular destination for antique hunters, Downtown Plano offers a lot more than knickknacks and nightstands. Just steps from the Downtown Plano Station on the Red Line, brick streets harbor more than 25 specialty shops including craft merchants, galleries, art dealers and more. During the holidays, it's especially festive with special décor and extra special inventory.

Check out La Foofaraw (1008 E. 15th St.), a haven for design geeks named after an obscure 1930s slang term for "frills and fancy finery." No worries if your taste runs more to the modern, though – it's all here, from traditional and timeless to industrial chic. Furnishings, gifts and floral creations are all uniformly unusual, and they encompass enough design styles to fill a magazine. lafoofaraw.com


Looking to impress your cousin Carl, the family wine connoisseur? The folks at A Toast to Texas Int'l Wine Shoppe (1016 E. 15th St.) can help. The experts here specialize in small-production, hard-to-find varietals you’re not likely to find at grocery stores or chain retailers. There is no need to break the bank, since you can find bottles for as little as 10 bucks. The proprietor really knows her stuff, and she also stocks a large selection of chocolates and an array of wine-related gifts. atoasttotexas.com

Downtown Garland

A small town in the city – that's downtown Garland. This collection of shops and restaurants that is so laid-back and down-home-friendly, you'd swear you're near open farmland instead of the Downtown Garland Station on the Blue Line. The square itself dates back to the 19th century, and today it houses numerous antique and craft shops, as well as cafes and coffee houses. There's even a feed store.

Nana's Eatz and Antiquez (627 Main St.) is a case in point. Yes, the name means just what it sounds like: This is a combination antique store and restaurant – with a tearoom, too, for good measure. On recent visits, shoppers could spot vintage dishes, bicycles and water skis. There is no lack of unexpected gift and decorator items. As an added bonus, they have a pretty awesome burger.

And if Nana's first location is not enough, her second store just around the corner now holds the lion's share of the pickings. The new State Street Antique Mall (620 W. State St.) offers distinctive treasures and is attracting even more fans.

Downtown Carrollton

Eclectic on all four sides, Downtown Carrollton is a classic old-fashioned square that plays host to a wide range of shops, restaurants and even a climbing gym. It packs a lot of shopping per block, and it's right across from the Downtown Carrollton Station on the Green Line. Shopaholics beware: You'll be here awhile. But you knew that.

Don't pass up the Silver Star Mercantile Company (1102 W. Main St.). It's a beauty shop and an antique shop wrapped into one, with a cool array of quirky, one-of-a-kind, handcrafted gifts; a well-stocked inventory of embroidery, wool applique and rug hooking supplies; and spirited Texas-themed items (including the architectural "lone stars" of its namesake). silverstarmercantile.com

Lovers of retro toys and other funky finds will delight in Mr. Pickle's Toys (1014 S. Broadway St.), a place where childhood is not a time, but a state of mind. Uglydolls, Madlibs and Vamplets live here, as well as Little Golden Books, science kits, board games, puzzles – "and a whole lot more" seems like an understatement. Upping its funk factor further, the store also sells original artwork by local artists. mrpicklestoys.com