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 Wednesday, July 23, 2008 Volume: 22, Issue: 50
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New Times / Special IssueBest of 2008Burnin' Money
BEST WINE CELLAR Eberle Winery
3810 Highway 46 East, Paso Robles
Just as a magician has something hidden up his sleeve, Eberle Winery has something hidden under its vineyards: 17,000 square feet of caves, used as a wine cellar. “It’s still a worthwhile thing to tour the caves,” founder/owner Gary Eberle said. “You can still learn something about winemaking—we’re very proud that we still do full-on guided tours.” Apparently, those guides come in handy. Eberle joked that the first time you explore the tunnels, “you have to drop bread crumbs” like Hansel and Gretel to find your way back. At Halloween, the caves transform into “The Haunted Caves,” an attraction that raises money for the “Dreams for Kids Foundation.”
—Brent Parker
runner up:
BEST LOCAL BOOKSTORE, NEW Novel Experience
779 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
Owner Jim Hill is as comfortable in his community as a rabbit in a hat. “The owners and everyone that works here live in town. ... It’s wonderful being in the middle of my own community, hanging out with friends and neighbors every day.” The bookstore has been in continuous operation for more than 50 years. When Hill and his wife bought it from the founder, it was known as Bookland, but he waved his magic wand and the name became “Novel Experience.” Hill describes the look of the store as simple and straightforward: books on shelves. So with so many to choose from, what’s his favorite book? “The last one I read,” he said.
—BP
runner up:
BEST LOCAL BOOKSTORE, USED Leon’s Book
Store 659 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
Floor-to-ceiling, wall-to-wall books—practically new, gently used, rare, antique, recent releases, illustrated children’s books, colorful adult books, musty literature, avant garde novels, how-to books, and books about books. Everything you could hope to discover between two covers, that’s what you’ll find at Leon’s. “We have a high turnover—our stock is constantly changing,” said owner Rick Wiegers. “We keep it well organized, and we have a very knowledgeable staff.” This year’s win for best used book store will be Leon’s last, however. In mid-May, the venerable venue for not-so-new novels will be closing its doors. Seismic retrofitting is proving to be the death knell for this downtown book shop, which has been attracting readers and collectors since it opened in 1969.
—Andrea Rooks
runner up: Nan’s Pre-Owned Books
BEST PLACE TO BUY MUSIC, NEW Boo Boo Records
978 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
Sure, you could find any tune from Sufjan or Cat Stevens by barely lifting a finger from your computer keyboard. But really, the music lover in you knows it’s not just about any tune any time; it’s about the experience of finding what you didn’t know you were really looking for. That’s what shopping at Boo Boo Records is about. In the words of co-owner Mike White: “What we offer besides a deep selection is great service and a fair price.” And chances are you’ll not only find the Once soundtrack on CD, but on vinyl. “A lot of new releases are coming out on vinyl,” White said. “Vinyl is enjoying a renaissance.” Plus, music lovers can purchase access to the newest of new music—the downtown SLO store is a ticket outlet and a performance venue in its own right—and receive new-music updates through a free e-mail newsletter.
—AR
runner up:
BEST PLACE TO BUY MUSIC, USED Boo Boo Records
978 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
Who hasn’t regretted getting rid of Mellon Collie and the Infinite Sadness? Well, regret no more. Nostalgic Gen Xers will most likely be able to get their hands on that two-disc set at Boo Boo Records. And while digging through the used-CD bins, you’ll probably find several other things you wouldn’t mind owning again. “We either have it or we know how to get it,” co-owner Mike White said. If browsing Boo Boo’s 5,000 square feet of music selection doesn’t fit into your schedule, you can buy through the store online via Amazon, eBay, Half.com, and Gemm. As of this writing, Boo Boo Media had more than 6,400 titles available through Amazon.
—AR
runner up: Cheap Thrills
BEST MEN’S CLOTHING STORE Patrick James
641 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
I wouldn’t have a sleeve to have nothing up if it weren’t for good men’s clothing stores. Founder Patrick J. MonPere credits the company’s growth to loyal customers. “Without them,” he said, “we wouldn’t have been able to grow the way we have. We’ve enjoyed such a wonderful home there in San Luis for many years.” MonPere said that his firm designs and manufactures its own line of clothing, which provides an “exclusivity over other stores that could be competitors.” Longtime manager of the SLO store, Ritchie Wilson, recently passed away; MonPere said that he brought a “special light” to the shop. “We always pride ourselves on our personnel,” MonPere said, “people who have been with us many years, like dear Ritchie was. They find a home and become a part of the Patrick James family.”
—BP
runner up: Yello Kiss
BEST WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE Coverings
760 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
SLO County locals may not have easy access to Rodeo Drive, but they can still easily find some of the very brands that grace the gilded windows of that palm-lined lane—in windows lining Higuera Street. New Times readers named Coverings as their favorite place to get their girly duds. With a recent expansion under its stylish belt, Coverings has worn the economic downturn to keep offering Poly Dollies the most popular fashions. They even have Lauren Conrad’s collection! Oh. Em. Gee.
—Angela Marie Watkins
runner up: Ambiance
BEST LINGERIE SHOP Fanny Wrappers
799 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
Twenty-four years of wrapping San Luis Obispo’s fannies is exactly why Fanny Wrappers owner Terry Treves thinks her shop was voted the No. 1 a place to buy lingerie. There’s that—and the fact that they have the widest range of bra sizes, offer bra fittings, and have a mixed selection of high-class underwear and sexy costumes. “I consider my store a prize for everyone,” Treves said. Look forward to seeing a remodeled Fanny Wrappers soon—as well as some clubwear among the sheer goodies.
—AMW
runner up:
BEST THRIFT STORE Goodwill
San Luis Obispo, Grover Beach, Paso Robles, Atascadero
Want to get some ultimate hipster cred? The thrift shop to hit for all the best (and somehow ironic) wolf shirts is Goodwill. California Cool in Grover Beach might have been on MTV, but MTV hasn’t known what was cool since 1998—or else they would have hit that town’s Goodwill, or any of the other local branches. Their loss. But that means we get to keep all of the wolf shirts, funky sweaters, and shoes that would make Urban Outfitters jealous—all for cheap. Take that, Tila Tequila.
—AMW
runner up: Old Mission School Thrift Store
BEST LOCAL OUTDOOR STORE
667 Marsh St., San Luis Obispo
Mountain Air Sports has been a local outdoors centerpiece for more than 30 years. The store covers the high-end, service-oriented niche of the outdoor spectrum, stocking gear for backpacking, rock climbing, mountaineering, camping, and various other avenues of outdoor enjoyment. “People are always taking trips. We have one customer who’s climbing Aconcagua in South America, the highest peak in the Americas,” said manager Josh Haring. “People have done McKinley, Shasta, Whitney.” Staffers know this market, and this market trusts Mountain Air Sports when it heads out for adventure. “We outfit people going on amazing trips, both locally and all over the world,” Haring said. From the tents on the ceiling to the sunrise-like array of skis on the back wall, Mountain Air Sports oozes adventure and excitement.
—Jeff Kendall-Weed
runner up:
BEST ANTIQUE SHOP SLO Antique
Treasures 1248 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo
Pulling a rabbit out of a hat. Picking a card, any card. Sawing a woman in half. Some tricks only improve with age—and the same can be said for antiques. Shirley Gurke has been in the antiques business for 25 years (nine as owner of Antique Treasures), but her love of antiques goes even further back. “It started when I was little,” she said. “My mom took me to all the antique stores.”She said that her real love is furniture, but her shop also carries fun items like pinball machines and player pianos. She describes the shop’s atmosphere as pleasant and fun to be around. “There are people who come in here all the time,” she said. “A lot of people just hang out and talk and visit.” Sound like fun? Gurkeinvited readers to join them for a cup of coffee and some cookies.
—BP
runner up:
BEST PET STORE Tails Pet
Boutique 745 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
The pet shop that gets SLO locals wagging their tails the most—if they have tails, that is—is Tails, or, as owner Terry Treves calls it, “the store with the cats in the window!” This pet accessories store specializes in felines, but also offers a wide variety of all-meat pet food for dogs (never been recalled), Juicy Couture pet accessories, and even bunny carriages. You read that correctly: bunny carriages. Also, the cute cats in the window are up for adoption, and, once they find loving families, will add their numbers to the more than 300 cats Tails has helped find homes.
—AMW
runner up: Lemos Feed and Pet Supply
BEST LOCAL HARDWARE STORE Miner’s Ace
Hardware Arroyo Grande, Atascadero, Grover Beach, Los Osos, Morro Bay
In business for more than 50 years, Miner’s Ace Hardware is a local keystone. All five shops have the requisite selection and service to keep the long-standing favor of the community, but Miner’s also has an additional and delicious edge on the competition: free popcorn. “I was helping a customer one day, and they told me they were going around to all five stores to find the one that had the best popcorn,” said Terry Harness, assistant manager at the Morro Bay Miner’s location. The hardware store began as a family business, and continues in much the same fashion today. Glenn and Lee Miner opened the first Grover Beach store in 1956. Now, 52 years later, the chain is going stronger than ever.
—JKW
runner up:
Pacific Coast Home and Garden
BEST FLOWER SHOP Open Air Flowers
1055 Osos St., San Luis Obispo
This colorful flower shop on Osos Street is New Times readers’ favorite place to find flowers to honor spouses, mothers, secretaries, and secret crushes. In case you’ve never seen this completely opened-up shop, with flowers practically bursting out of the building, you really need to get out more and smell the roses. And lilies. And whatever those tall, red Hawaiian ones are called. The shop offers a range of modern flower arrangement design and they deliver, even on college campuses.
—AMW
runner up:
BEST BUSINESS PET Timo’s junkyard cat
I truly expected to get an epic picture of a cat on top of a beautifully wrecked car as I drove down to the Nipomo Mesa to find Timo’s junkyard cat. The man I spoke to on the telephone seemed a little amused about the award, but he said the cat comes in for lunch every day and that I would be able to get a shot of the animal eating. The cat has a definite schedule, as he already had lunch when I arrived. I spied him among some wrecked cars near their fence, for a millisecond. Off the cat went, black fur like a blur. I caught sight of it again twice more, but he evaded the camera like a reborn movie star who was skittish of paparazzi. I left after a half hour, without a photo—defeated by Timo’s beloved cat.
—Steve E. Miller
runner up:
BEST VIDEO GAME SELECTION Best Buy
255 Madonna Road, San Luis Obispo
Gamers have an almost preternatural attraction to the large store in the Madonna Plaza. Best Buy brings the convenience of a box store to a local spot that’s easy to get to and fun to visit. “It’s like the mall. They let you hang out and play Guitar Hero all day,” said Brian Gruber, a San Luis Obispo video game enthusiast. The store prides itself on the combination of a helpful staff, and its extensive selection of games. But for some local gamers, a visit to the store turns into a game itself: “I like the challenge of scooting in without the guy at the door saying ‘Hi,’” said Connor Bondlow, a local graphic designer. “It’s the best place. They’ve got the best selection,” Gruber added.
—JKW
runner up: GameStop
BEST EYEWEAR STORE
Atascadero, Paso Robles, San Luis Obispo
The hand is quicker than the eye, but you can make your sight sharper at Michael’s Optical. Michael’s carries a wide selection of eyeglasses, sunglasses, and contacts in a variety of styles. “Some [eye] doctors will have niches,” said Steve Nutt, manager of the SLO shop. “We have very elegant things, and we also have very funky, cutting-edge type items as well.” The Michael in the store’s name is Steve’s brother, founder/owner Michael Nutt. Several of their other relatives also work at this family business. “It’s Mike and Kathy’s place,” Steve said. “We’re just very happy that they let us spend time here.”
—BP
runner up:
BEST MAGAZINE/NEWSPAPER SELECTION Barnes
and Noble 894 Marsh St., bldg. G, San Luis Obispo
If Barnes and Noble’s book majority is too overwhelming, take a short ride up the escalator to their magazine and news section, where you can find a bit of light reading in the areas of sports, travel, art, music, entertainment, parenting, photography, psychology, tattoos, feminism, cancer, and more. You can edify yourself on the current affairs side with the likes of Newsweek or The Economist, then flip around to the other side, pick up the latest Italian Vogue, slowly meander through its glossy pages, and hope the other shoppers believe that you’re actually reading. The magazine section is thoroughly navigable, well organized, and labeled by category. The friendly staff is happy to assist you in finding whatever subject you’re after. And once you’ve found it, there’s a cozy café up there with a big window overlooking the sidewalk, perfect for an afternoon of light reading and people-watching. If you buy something, you can sit there and read to your heart’s content. Just try to not spill any coffee on those glossy GQ pages.
—Anna Weltner
runner up: Borders
BEST JEWELRY STORE Kevin Main
Jewelry Design and Studio 720 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
For my next trick, I’ll require a valuable item from an audience member. Perhaps a piece of jewelry? “I’ve been a bench jeweler for over 30 years,” said owner Kevin Main, “and I’m extremely passionate about it. I love it. For me, it’s incredible.”Main said that what sets his store apart is that they design and manufacture their own jewelry. He added that each piece they produce is “unique unto itself. It expresses the true meaning of the giver’s feelings. ... It isn’t how many dollars it’s worth. It’s what it means. Each piece of jewelry means something.”Main noted that someone once told his staff they would wear the jewelry they bought there “until they breathe their last breath.” Wow.
—BP
runner up:
BEST TOY STORE Tom’s Toys
682 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
Little Emily’s birthday is just around the corner, and it’s terribly tempting to just click your way into her heart by ordering from her Amazon wish list. Here’s a tip: Save yourself theshipping-and-handling costs. Tom’s Toys in downtown San Luis Obispo was voted No. 1 for a few good reasons: price, selection, gift wrap, and customer service. The discount specialty toy store most likely has what Little Emily wants, and you’ll get to feel like a kid again while browsing the aisles of colorful Barbies, Melissa and Doug wooden toys, and tea sets.
—AR
runner up:
BEST SHOE STORE Charles Shoes
867 Higuera St., San Luis Obispo
A family business in operation for more than 40 years, Charles Shoes is quite a sight for sore feet. The shoes you’ll find here are built primarily for comfort. Charles boasts the biggest selection in sizing and width on the Central Coast, and possibly beyond. Though style tends to fall by the wayside when comfort is involved, shoppers are sure to find a handsome and comfortable pair with assistance from Charles Shoes’ very attentive staffers, who offer full service to every customer and will find the best fit for your foot. So why not slip on that pair of Danskos you’ve been admiring?
—AW
runner up: Avanti
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