On the Grid : Richards Variety Store

"Richards Variety Store has never had much of a beach body. In the first moments of gazing at its anonymous strip mall denizen exterior, you may marvel at how the proprietors of this old-timer 1950s family retail business have managed to wrap all that interesting ephemera—unique toys, a rainbow of electrical tape, books, Persian rugs, classic candy, and Atlanta's funniest greeting card selection—in all that frump. But the epic dowdiness is camouflage. Lying just beneath the ho-hum stucco, is one of the city's last vital retail experiences. Nothing is sacrificed to appearances; all is function. From the tight but tidy grid of aisles to the thermostat unapologetically tucked into the hand tools display, Richards is goofy, beautiful, and incredibly practical all at the same damn time." - Office of Brothers