Bite-sized shopping options and arty bazaars abound for indie Angelenos opting out of the mall riptide this holiday season. Pop-up stores and holiday boutiques, though mysterious in form and nebulous in detail, offer creative creatures a chance to buy original goods for the ones they feel obliged to placate love. Be sure to confirm hours and specific details since the rules of time and space do not always apply to stores with the power to "pop-up." more ›

...and another one bites the dust: Yankee Candles' Illuminations stores have announced they are shutting down all 28 of their retail locations as part of a large financial restructuring plan. The stores are located in 9 states, but half are here in California, including ones in Anaheim, Brea, Canoga Park, Costa Mesa, and at the Westside Pavillion. Illuminations joins the growing number of retailers with stores in the LA-area shutting down, such as Circuit City, Expo Design Center, and Mervyn's--not to mention the growing number of retailers implementing layoffs. So get your stinkin' candles now; Illuminations expects to be fully shuttered by the end of April. more ›

Today's Daily News takes a look at one of Los Angeles' main streets, Ventura Boulevard, and how it's faring in the current economic crisis. Not surprisingly, things are not going well for business owners whose shops are located on "the San Fernando Valley's most robust commercial strip." more ›

It was speculated last month that 99 Cent Only stores might have to raise their prices due to the economy, possibly breaking the one-dollar price point. However, they've finagled their prices by raising them almost one-penny still keeping the highest price in the store under $1. $99.99 cents is the new 99 cents. Seems kind of silly, but hey, if you can swing it. The changes will take place in the stores later this month. more ›

Times are tough, which means saving a buck, or a penny, here and there is a high priority for lots of local shoppers. That means that a place like the 99 Cents Only store is a haven for penny pinchers and bargain hunters alike. But what happens when the economy can't keep a good thing going? more ›

For some, taking a shopping cart out of a parking lot and using it to haul their purchases home is a regular practice. But this habit has multiple consequences, with companies having to hire retrievers to comb the neighborhoods in search of wayward carts, carts becoming regular hallway fixtures in some apartment buildings, and stores having to absorb the cost of the lost carts--which in turn often means having to raise prices, since most metal carts cost about $100-$135 each. more ›

One of the first major stores in the US to initiate a surcharge per plastic bag, IKEA, has announced that they will stop providing customers with disposable bags entirely in October of this year. more ›

On storefronts all over town the word Famima!! (and its quirky pair of exclamation points) is showing up, with a vibrant backdrop of neon green and black. So what's Famima!!? Basically they're the Japanese version of 7-11, proffering convenient food and sundries for the urban dweller. Packaged sandwiches nestle alongside Asian-style eats like sushi rolls and noodle bowls, the dessert area is resplendent with tasty cold creme brulees and pastries, and the refrigerated drink... more ›