My ‘local’ store is a hundred and fifty miles away (actually, a few blocks from my parents’ house) and their sole stock was a mermaid sconce that they’d had so long they’d forgotten they had her. The two clerks, when I took her up to pay for her, looked and said “Ohhh- she’s so beautiful; did you find her here?” I was tempted to say no, that I’d just wandered in off the street with a sculpture and spontaneously decided to pay them for, but decided not to. I really miss Wicks N’ Sticks – although I’d still have to drive at least 60-odd miles to the closest mall.
As far as truly local stores . . . I don’t think I can convince Walmart to start ordering Windstones. I’ll have to hunt on the internet.