By Loretto J. Hulse

A mercantile offering produce, gifts and edibles, two gift/home décor stores and a sporting goods store were the top shopping picks for three Tri-Cities’ women. For Jammie Horn of Kennewick, who has a hockey-crazy 4-year-old, the Hockey Source in Kennewick is a favorite shopping stop. “The staff there are really helpful,” Horn said. “Sure you can find things online, but if you don’t know hockey — like me — you need to have backup. All the staff at Hockey Source keep him entertained and let him touch everything. They don’t mind catering to him at all.” You’ll find Hockey Source at 6501 W. Grandridge Blvd., Ste. E, in Kennewick. You can find the business on facebook.com or call them at 509-737-0515. Horn said she doesn’t do a lot of shopping; it’s too difficult with a toddler.

But another store she really enjoys going to — and now there’s two locations — is the Country Mercantile on Highway 395 north of Pasco and in Richland on Ava Way. “I love the pepper jelly they sell there and, in fact, all their food selections. They have the homemade chocolates and ice creams, the mustards and pickles and jellies. There’s just things there you wouldn’t find anywhere else,” Horn said.

The Country Mercantile stores are at 232 Crestloch Road in Pasco and at 5015 Ava Way in Richland. Find them online at www.countrymercantile.com and on facebook.com.

Kim Richards of Richland and Julie Sovereign of Kennewick enjoy home décor and gift shops. Richards prefers Real Deals in Kennewick. “I love their furniture selection. It’s very unique. They carry items you don’t normally see just everywhere,” Richards said. She shops there for herself and family and friends for birthdays and Christmas. Richards’ son recently redecorated and she said shopping for him at Real Deals was “awesome.” The store carries lots of items imported from out of the country and often gets in huge crates of merchandise.

“The key,” she said, “is to go often. You never know what you’ll find and it’s all reasonably priced.” The only drawback, Richards said, is the store has limited hours and days that it’s open. Real Deals is at 206 N. Benton St. in Kennewick and you can find them online at www.realdeals.net/kennewick/ or on Facebook.com.

Sovereign likes to find gifts for herself and others at It’s All In The Details in Kennewick. The store carries some eclectic women’s clothing, shoes, jewelry, home décor and furniture. “It’s kind of like Pier 1, with a little bit of everything,” Sovereign said. It’s All In The Details is at 4504 W. 26th Ave., Ste. 120 in Kennewick and you can find them online at http://itsallinthedetailsllc.com and on Facebook.com.