Firle Plaza is my closest shopping plaza and after living in a few different areas of Adelaide, it…read moreis definitely one of the best plaza's with a great selection of shops. The Firle Plaza has all the main necessities, a Coles, Kmart, fruit and veg shop, and a newsagents with a post office inside it. There is also a great hairdresser, a bargain shop and the most important establishment of all, a Liquorland! With a bakery/coffee shop as well it has everything you need to do your shopping and then put your feet up for a little rest. The only bad thing I would say about it is the parking is SHOCKING. Having been in the car park A LOT I have witnessed so many minor crashes from people just not looking before they pull out and because of the small size of the aisles between cars. My tip is to park on the Glynburn Rd side and walk the extra 100m, it will totally be worth it to save your car from someone backing into it. And try and exit the car park onto Glynburn Rd too, you don't need to pull out into the main pathway of traffic where a lot of people pull out without even looking. My horn has had a working out since spending a lot of time in that car park.

Firle Plaza is one of the places where I spend most of my time if I'm not at home or at uni. Why?…read moreWell, probably not because it is 'the' hotspot to hang out in the Eastern suburbs but because it's close to where I live and really has all the shops you would have to frequent for your weekly household needs. There's one massive Cole's that seems to be open all the time (it closes at 9pm during the week and reopens at 12am, for all those of you who work late or just fancy late night grocery shopping). Liquorland, K-mart, a bakery, Commonwealth bank and a newsagents have also found their homes at Firle. There is heaps of parking and it is easily accessible, with 3 entrances, from Glynburn Road. It is also walking distance to Oporto and Dominos (just opposite the road) and has a KFC, a Thai restaurant and a laundrette to its left-hand side. Next to Firle, on the right, is a hairdresser, a Priceline, a video rental store, Caffe Primo, Chicken Coop, a gym and an Indian grocery store. If it's not in Firle Plaza, it's right next to it. Amazing! Note that opening times vary according to each different shop but most are open till 9.

As a local business, it's hard to compete with international conglomerates such as Woolworths and…read moreColes. However, I think it's the exceptional service that keeps businesses like Romeo's Foodland afloat. As Foodland is franchised, products and prices vary between stores. The Erindale location does have a large variety of products, but has less to offer than some of the larger Foodland supermarkets around Adelaide. For example, the selection of fruit and vegetables are somewhat limited and sometimes no longer fresh. However, their prices are usually reasonably low and sometimes you can grab some great offers. Last week I picked up some bananas at only $.189 per kilo, which in my experience, is almost unheard of. The customer service is the selling point of this supermarket though. Whilst they don't have the largest range of goods, nor are they always able to compete with larger chains, it's the friendly staff that has me going back. Going through check-out is always a pleasure, and Foodland's employees always ask how their customers are and are willing to smile and chat. There's nothing worse than dealing with employees that are both unfriendly and don't enjoy their jobs, and feel the need to make it obvious to everyone around them. You'll never experience that sort of thing here. Also, for those that have trouble with multiple heavy bags, Foodland provides 'car service' and will have an employee help you to your car with your items. It's not too often you see that sort of service anymore!

I used to make a special effort to get to this lovely op shop on the other side of town…read more Now I find their prices match the big commercial op shops so it's not worth bothering. If you live near by you can probably afford to shop there and they do often get quality stuff so it's worth checking out.

Run by Clayton-Wesley Uniting Church , all profits from the op shop goes to the local and…read moreinternational outreach programs. With a chapel-inspired shaped door, this op shop is fantastic with prices and good stock. Rows of wooden racks displaying women's clothing, men's clothing, kids clothing and vintage tops are aplenty. I spotted some pretty evening dress shoes, most going for under $10. Am sure most ladies can relate to how expensive shoes are nowadays. Expect to find lots of Mummy groups here as they dive into kids international brands, such as Pumpkin Patch, Esprit and Gap, all going for great prices. I spotted plenty of vintage furnitures and stunning bric a brac pieces. This has got to be one of the cheapest op shop in the city. Bring a bag or two to stock up at your next visit. Caution: Highly addictive!

Most days you'll find me hanging out in this "mall"…read more I add parentheses because it's not a) lit with fluorescent bulbs b) full of teenagers or c) packed with chain stores. In fact, it's a lovely open air thoroughfare lined with quaint / useful / delicious stuff. First there's the ALL DAY BREAKFAST at Uncle Albert's Cafe (I stand by the all caps excitement); then there's the local Coles, which I actually like and they know us there; then there's coffee and baked goods; gifts; magazines and books; and a travel agent if you want to book an impromptu trip to Paris while on a sugar high. Ahem. Yeah. Nice!

Norwood Mall is located just opposite Cibo's on the parade, right next to Dillon's. First of all,…read moreif you don't find a parking space on the side of the road, there's heaps at the back of Norwood Mall. There's a rather small Coles in here and a random mix of other shops like souvenir and gift shops, chocolate shops, a newsagents, a dry cleaner etc. My favourite place is the greengrocer right at the entrance (when you come to the Parade). They often have great deals and better prices than supermarkets, plus all their fruit and veggies are really fresh. If you continue walking you'll find a great fresh pasta shop on your left, followed by a nice little gift shop that sells things like candles, soaps, cards etc. Another tip is the newsagents in the middle of Norwood Mall; they usually have a large table outside with heaps of books that are hugely discounted. Worth having a look at!

The Buyer's Market is a treasure trove of beautiful antique furniture, and you never know what…read moreyou'll come across. The couple who own the business really love their pieces, and admit to having great fun collecting them. Their beautiful golden retriever is always in the store, normally sprawled in the middle of the floor somewhere, and quite happy for a pat. The prices reflect the nature of antiques, though some of the pieces are not worth what is asked for them, because you could get something the same for less than half the price at an op-shop. They do however collect some beautiful pieces, like oriental side tables and gorgeous old 'bedroom couches' that have storage in the seats. The coolest collectable I've seen in here was a transforming, two-sided set of shelves which could become a chest, or a set of shelves with stairs along the side, which could then lock into each other and become a square shelf. You could access it from both sides so it makes a great room divider. It's made entirely from a high-quality wood with a beautiful polish. The owners had definitely fallen in love with this one, but they let it go, for $1,300. For little beauties like this one, the Buyers Market is always fun to poke through.

Amongst a lot of very odd and old furniture (in particular that mean and scary looking clown at the…read moreback of the shop), there was the one or other item that I quite liked and would consider buying if it weren't for the price. If you think you can grab a bargain at The Buyer's Market, think again. A lovely wooden dining table I saw cost around $600 and a nice set of outdoor glass furniture (a table and 2 chairs) were, all together, more than 1000 bucks. If you do have a bit of spare cash and are willing to spend it on some furniture, have a look here. Although the overall style is rather conservative, you'll find a few modern things like bar stools or glass tables among their selection .

One Rundle Trading Company is a shopping experience. With gifts, furniture, books, pictures,…read moremirrors and a whole lot more on sale, there's always plenty to choose from. I often like to just browse through there to see what they have on offer. If you wander through to the back of store - and trust me its not a small space to wander through - you'll find a range of beautiful fashion pieces as well. All in all One Rundle Trading is an eclectic mix of beautiful things. I love the way the shop is set out with a Ladies Room and a Gents Room at the front of the store - and by that I don't mean toilets but rather rooms for of things specifically for men and women. There's also a children's room and a garden or outdoor room as well. They offer a Bridal Registry and an Interior Decorating service and best of all a free - yes free - picture hanging service. The space itself is massive and once served as a 1920's Melba Picture Theatre. Located in Stuart Road at Dulwich, I recommend wandering through on a Sunday afternoon to take in the sights. When you're in there, don't forget to look at the beautiful old ceilings - they're as gorgeous as many of the trinkets and pieces you will just fall in love with.

Holy Moly have you seen this place? It's like a Church but instead of praying to God rich people…read morepray to the stock market. I stepped through the front archway into a glittering, vast space full of chandeliers and hallways leading into more beautiful rooms. I avoided eye contact and didn't want to touch anything for fear they would tell me I'm too poor to shop here. The rear section is clothing, and the books and pictures around the area with words like DIOR and CHANEL hinted at the fact I couldn't grab a bargain for twenty bucks. But a pair of shorts for five hundred? Sure, pocket change for you brokers and people with old money. What beautiful homewares they have, gorgeous lamps and paintings and sculptures, the only consistency being no two things are alike and yes, you pretty much could close your eyes and point and find a gorgeous antique chest or a marble sculpture of a blackbird and want to take it home so bad you nearly weep. I will never look at Ikea the same again. This store is glorious and completely unattainable for the likes of me.

This store was a pleasant surprise! I stumbled in here still reeling from my stroll through One…read moreRundle down the road and expected more sky high prices and mouth pursing glamour. Not so! The clothes here are not only beautiful but they're totally affordable. Considering Stuart Street Dulwich is a bit of an exxy spot the prices here are really very low. They had a sale rack out front with lovely pieces from Finders Keepers and Mink Pink and the prices started from ten dollars! Swoon! The staff are very nice here and they have a second area next door with lots of lovely Wish and Paper Heart clothes where you can try things on and hang out on the comfy couch and feel a bit special. Let there be Lace. I will be back.

Alexandra & Lace is located in the delightful cluster of shops in Dulwich. This area holds such…read morecharm, mostly as it feels quite hidden away which gives it an exclusive vibe. Alexandra & Lace is, in my opinion the best of the few clothing shops in the group. It is geared for the most part towards women in their 20s and 30s with an outstanding selection of brands such as mink pink, ladakh, wish and tigerlilly, amongst others. It's a great place to pick up a tasteful frock that is at the cutting edge of fashion. Most of them are quite affordable also, with an average price being around $79.95. For those ladies who enjoy Rundle st and Norwood Parade boutiques, this store will provide you with a Miss Gladys/Tu Yu/Birdcage style shopping experience minus the crowds. You may just nab the store all to yourself. If you can't make it during opening hours, they may even open the boutique for you by special arrangement. The number is on the door!

This is not one of the biggest Salvos stores, but they do sure make up for the size with really…read morefriendly staff. I was welcomed immediately upon entering and told what colour tags were on special. (For those who do not know, Salvos have a daily special on different coloured tags on items). I made a quick stop at this Salvos store as I am in search for a ceramic butter dish. It is actually quite hard to find one. Apparently they get picked up pretty quick when donated. But, it seems that this store has more clothing than ceramics or homewares. There is nothing wrong with that though. I have a clothing addition. There are many racks of clothing to have a good rummage through. I saw a couple of nice jackets and woollen jumpers. As for the prices, some Salvos are a little more expensive than others. You will find that this store is one of the cheaper ones.

Salvos are often the best op-shops in terms of size and furniture. This one is no exception. It is…read morespacious yet packed with good quality clothing, tons of books and a good range of furniture. I was tempted by a blue futon for $100. You always need another futon, don't you? Given the area, the clothing is quite conservative, but there are lots of nice pieces. They have a lot of long skirts, and plenty of men's working wear. They're following the Salvo's trend of selling new jewelry, but there is rarely anything worthwhile. There is a nice range of new-looking cushions and throw rugs at the moment though. Definitely a shop worth checking in on regularly.

This is me pretending to talk to my friend Kate about fashion:…read more Me: 'Hey girl, I love your dress, is that from .... Target Free Fusion?' Kate: 'It's an Alice Mccall.' Me: 'Oh right. Hehe. Of course.' Kate: ......'Is your skirt made of newspaper?' I'm not a fashion expert but these names might mean something to you: Palma Talulah Shakuhachi, This is Genevive, One Teaspoon, Children of the Sun, Azuki, Alice Mccall, Piper Lane? Love Affair is actually a bit of a surprise. You have to pass the chicken shop, and the Cafe Primo, and the Blockbuster, and the Eagle Boys, and then at the end of this suburban dream shopping centre you find: funky high end fashion. Who knew? The shop is small but packed full of stuff and from what I can see they have a high turnover, not unlike my handbag and chocolates. While I'm not a fashionista I have noticed that they have one-offs and quirky pretty things that you wouldn't find anywhere else. They also always have sales racks at the front with really nice stuff too. And the store name: provocative isn't it? Makes you want to buy a dress. And some condoms. Good store.

rubbish business cant even reply to provide a refund for low quality rubbish product RUDE OWNER!read more