Among all of the chain stores and name brands located on Connecticut Avenue lies Proper Topper, a store with a unique mix of anything you could be looking for on your walk home.

{mosads}Proper Topper was opened in 1990 by Anna Fuhrman. Fuhrman founded the store with, as she writes, “the hopeful dream of collecting, arranging and selling beautiful treasures.”

Nearly 20 years later, it seems she has accomplished this. 

Although the name of the boutique suggests that this is only a hat store, it is far from it. While it does contain a large variety of hats, and was named “one of the 10 best places in the U.S. to buy a hat” by USA Today, its selection of sale items is wide. 

Items found in Proper Topper range from quotable magnets to children’s rain boots and just about everything in between. Quirky books as well as home products can be found lining the shelves of the small boutique, all surrounded by contemporary women’s fashion and jewelry.

The store maintains a steady stream of customers throughout the week. Many of them include local businessmen and -women who wander in around lunch or after work.  No day is busier than another, store manager Kimberly said. And although they maintain a constant flow of customers at their location in both their Golden Triangle and Georgetown locations, they have no plans of expanding. 

“We’re happy with the way things are,” Kimberly said. 

The Kid’s Closet
1226 Connecticut Ave. NW

When thinking of the Golden Triangle shopping district, children aren’t the first thing that comes to mind. High-end fashions for businessmen and -women alike, as well as chain stores, line the streets. They’re interspersed with office buildings and banks, not creating the most child friendly environment.

However, in 1982 The Kid’s Closet opened its doors for the first time, and they have yet to look back. Having been open for 26 years the store has seen many businesses come and go, but they have maintained a steady stream of valued customers.

The Kid’s Closet offers children’s products from popular names, at a reasonable price. Their age range covers infancy to young childhood, and the store is designed as such starting with baby products up front and children’s clothing toward the back.

The children’s boutique has clothing selections from name brands such as Carter’s, Me Too  and Cotton Resources. It also has a wide selection of toys and gifts from companies such as Lamaze and Gund.

While still on the beaten path the store is in the perfect location to stop in during lunch or on the way home for a forgotten birthday, or fun surprise.

Beadazzled
1507 Connecticut Ave. NW

Considered a family business, Beadazzled first opened in Dupont Circle in 1989 due to founder Penny Diamanti’s passion for beads. 

According to Associate Manager Kathleen Manning, Diamanti spent much of her young life abroad, due to her parents’ jobs with the State Department. Frequently spending time in Africa, she developed a deep love for beads early on.

Now, 20 years later, Diamanti owns three Beadazzled stores across the D.C. and Virginia area, all of which were opened in the first 10 years of business.

Each store offers a large selection of beads varying from five-cent trinkets to expensive pearls. Any person of any age is able to find something he or she would appreciate.

Although the store specializes in beads, it also has a varied collection of other treasures including glass products such as vases and perfume bottles, textile, bronze, and wood products. It also has other home goods like candles, ceramics, and lamps.

Chocolate Moose
1743 L St. NW

{mosads}Chocolate Moose is one of those fantastically eccentric stores unique to its neighborhood that plans on surprising people for years to come. Catering to Washingtonians since 1978, Chocolate Moose sells an array of wacky gifts and bizarre knick-knacks, and of course, lots of chocolate and candy. Forget the traditional and the mundane — how about a pair of nun-shaped saltshakers to spice up dinner, a flamingo-print necktie for your favorite colleague?

With its “artful accessories, hip housewares, jazzy jewelry and tacky toys,” the Chocolate Moose ranges from silly to delightfully quaint.  Pop-open cards, rainbow Italian leather wallets, vintage brooches and candy favorites like malted milk balls and Swedish fish are just a few of the “happy things” owners and sisters Barbara and Marcia Levi enjoy selling.

The Levis started Chocolate Moose because they were tired of low-paying jobs and working for others. “We’re still working for low pay, but we make people happy,” said Marcia. “Our customers are really wonderful people.”

They changed locations twice since opening, and finally landed in the Golden Triangle, when the area was still the hub of downtown Washington. “It was either here or Capitol Hill,” explains Barbara. The sisters say they miss those days, but look forward to having fun in the future.

Schakolad Chocolate Factory
1107 19th St. NW

Warning: This store could turn you into a serious chocolate lover.

At the Schakolad Chocolate Factory, no one takes chocolate lightly. Handmade on site in the traditional European style, white chocolates and 73 percent real cocoa dark chocolates are created fresh every day.

The store sells over 70 varieties of signature truffles. While you could get standard milk or dark chocolate truffles, why not try a key lime, white cherry, champagne, Jamaican rum or Italian amaretto? An assortment of truffles can be a simple yet elegant holiday or wedding gift.

The store’s homemade gelato, chocolate-dipped strawberries and fresh-brewed coffee can make for an inspiring uplift to any dull lunch break.

“We’re very unique because of our personalization with customers,” said Sam Aboulhosn of the Schakolad team. Customers can choose from dozens and dozens of customized chocolate novelties for personal, holiday or corporate gifts, like giant chocolate Santas, teddy bears, fall cornucopias, soccer balls and roses. They can even rent chocolate fountains. The store offers sugar-free options, as well as online ordering and shipping.

Lou Lou
1601 Connecticut Ave. NW

Shoppers at Lou Lou will find themselves surrounded by dazzling color. Branded handbags are stacked floor-to-ceiling, and unique jewelry and trendy accessories compete for attention. Colorful scarves, cute hats, wallets, headbands, sunglasses and even incense round off the unpredictable and ever-changing stock at Lou Lou.

On an average day, Lou Lou is bustling and full of charm. Dozens of gold and silver earrings covering tables shimmer in the sun during late afternoon.