Cha-ching! (6-28)

Adams Fairacre Farms, with three locations in New York, does an outstanding job of branding the garden centers as quaint throwbacks to an era when life was slower and simpler. From the Norman Rockwell-esque drawings depicting the various features you can find on the company website to the very fare inside the store, this is a place that knows its identity -- and that knows its customers.

And the twain meet often.

Adams Fairacre Farms has the usual lineup of garden center products (lots of beautiful plants and items to make them grow), plus there's a destination quality about the place, thanks to its cafe, high-end gift shop, cut flower department and grocery store.

Some retail stores are places customers shop. Adams is a place customers experience. And "experience" is always good for some "Cha-ching!"