In 2003, owner Marty Checkoway (who had worked for years as a department store buyer) founded his own business by "setting out on his own."  That business has become the toast of Boston, a collection of rare treasures and unexpected surprises. Firefly (located on Newbury Street, near Maya and the Fairy Store) has garnered high praise for such items as 2,000-year-old "Roman glass" (recovered from ruins in modern-day Israel and incorporated into jewelry) selling for as little as $50, stained glass plates lovingly crafted by local artists, and eyeglass-holders shaped like noses. The breadth and beauty of Firefly's many offerings are exceeded only by the charm of its owner. "People tell their friends," he explains, "and folks come back again and again—even tourists—whenever they're in Boston."