Best Shoe Store
Charles Shoes
867 Higuera St., SLO

To Suzette Porche, who runs the family business known as Charles Shoes along with her sister, its preeminence locally is simply a matter of service, selection, and sizes.

“This is the fourth year we’ve been first,” she adds, “which tells me we must be on the right track.”

A New Yorker we know comes here every other year in July for one of Charles Shoes’ two annual sales. This man is a merciless value maven, whose dental work was done in Albuquerque and whose ties hail from Charleston, S.C., which may give you some notion of his seriousness. Charles buyers are similarly serious: they have a superb rapport with sales reps and seem to have a second sense about brands—as well as sizes and widths.

Says Porche: “We don’t go way out on a limb on styles. We do stock up on Dansko—it’s a relatively small line that got big, probably because the American Podiatry Association accepted it. But we range from clunky to high fashion, comfort to Eurotech.”

Besides a hot seller like Dansko, Charles carries other popular lines like Clark, Stonefly, SAS, Rockport, Skechers, Born, Reicher, Naturalizer, and Munro.

“Call it gut feeling or whatever—knowing what our customers want is second nature,” Porche claims.

—Bill Beeson

2nd: Takken’s
3rd: Copeland’s Sports Superstore

 

Best Bike Shop
Art’s Cyclery
2140 Santa Barbara St., SLO

“This is the 14th or 15th year we’ve been chosen No. 1,” claims Scott Smith, Art’s manager. “I think it’s all because we have an awesome staff. They treat everyone who comes in here like they’re the most important person in the world. It pays off.”

According to Smith, there are three top bike brands in the country—Trek, Speedy, and Giant. They have almost equal footing. In SLO County, Art’s carries all three, of course, plus an assortment of boutique brands. Not only are is Art’s Cyclery well-stocked, they’re big on sponsorship and support of many community groups and benefits, often donating helmets and accessories as prizes.

For two weekends yearly, Art’s produces sales San Luis will remember.

“We go all out,” Smith says. “Everybody’s working like a well-oiled machine.” Just what you’d want in the county’s best bike shop.

—B.B.

2nd: Ira’s Bike Shop
3rd: A Better Bike Shop

 

Best Supermarket
Trader Joe’s
Arroyo Grande • San Luis Obispo

John Trusdell, manager of T.J.’s capacious new SLO store, has a theory as to why New Times readers voted it Best Supermarket this year—a significant first for the burgeoning chain.

“Suddenly, we became a big, grown-up store—doubled our display space and our parking lot,” he says. “There’s more space to display exciting new lines of organic products, as well as staples. We carry household cleaning products, paper goods, health and beauty supplies. We were able to devote lots more space to organic lines. Trader Joe’s was the first retailer in the country to be certified as an organic trader, you know. We’re almost one-stop now.”

Other Trader Joe’s employees in the chain’s Arroyo Grande store stress its ambiance.

“We try to make it fun to shop here. Call it an adventure. There’s a lot of excitement. We’re introducing our customers to new, healthy merchandise, merchandise that’s good for them. By now they know us well enough by now to trust our name wherever they see it. We’re acutely aware there’s a recession on as well. We’re committed to keeping our merchandise as affordable as ever.”

—B.B.

2nd: Vons
3rd: Scolari’s

Best Place to Buy Wine
Trader Joe’s
Arroyo Grande • San Luis Obispo

This is the third year Trader Joe’s vintages have rated No. 1 with New Times readers, so its premier place can’t be wholly attributed to the appearance of Charles Shaw in its wine displays, though it must have helped. The $1.99-a-bottle winner took off the moment it appeared, and we’ve all grown accustomed to the familiar sight of customers of all ages lugging cases of the cheap but respectable Sauvignon Blanc and Chardonnay across the parking lot.

Still, T.J.’s says they cater to discriminating oenophiles of all ages who are as apt to drink Charles Shaw as a pricey Chateau Yquem.

The store’s buyers keep their eyes peeled for values. They see themselves as missionaries, with an obligation to educate their public while exposing them to some of the best deals on the Central Coast. Soon, in an effort to satisfy local appetites, Trader Joe’s will introduce SLO County wines.

—B.B.

2nd: Central Coast Wines
3rd: Albertson’s

Best Place to Buy Seafood
Avila Pier
Avila Beach

You’ve got a craving for more of that succulent salmon you had at your favorite bar & grill the other night, but suddenly realize you paid $24 for that meager portion and you could have easily eaten more. In fact, for that price you could have bought the whole fish, still twitching. So why not follow savvy SLO County shoppers who know where to go for the freshest, sweetest-smelling fish: Avila Pier.

Three commercial fisheries and a few dedicated fishermen offer a myriad of selections of fresh fish and shellfish, and they’ll cut it any which way you want. The Olde Port Fishery boasts an impressive selection of locally caught swordfish, albacore, petrale sole, and rock cod, plus live Dungeness crabs and
oysters.

At their usual bargain price of $20 per three-dozen oysters, you can invite your friends and tell them to bring along some Talley Sauvignon Blanc. Pete’s Pierside Café has it fresh to go or cooked with specialties like Ahi and octopus. It pays to shop up and down the pier; prices vary per pound. Most retailers can’t cook it for you, but no worries, the smell of fried fish coming out of your kitchen won’t last more than a couple of days.

—Kathy Marcks Hardesty

2nd: Giovanni’s Fish Market
3rd: San Luis Fish & BBQ

Best Bookstore
Barnes & Noble
894 Marsh St., SLO

“It’s very simple,” says Kathy White, who heads up Barnes & Noble’s Customer Relations Department, “we love books. We go out of our way for our customers.”

Barnes & Noble’s place in the hearts of SLO County’s book-reading populace is supremely evident on Thursday nights. Lower down on Higuera, Farmer’s Market reigns supreme, but in and around the Downtown Centre, it dominates the action. There’s a constant swirl of browsers, buyers, and club members.

Club members constitute a core group here as different book groups form, meet, and either run their natural course or run out of steam after a while. This doesn’t apply to certain groups with a notable record of longevity. The mystery group held its 110th meeting in October, while Barnes & Noble’s women’s group and its Shakespearean studies group show no signs of stopping.

—Bill Beeson

2nd: Novel Experience
3rd: Leon’s

Best Used Bookstore
Leon’s
659 Higuera St., SLO

For bookmen—and women—Leon’s is like paradise. One can browse for hours there, where the intoxicating odor of vintage volumes mixes with the Proustian perfume of past owners and their domiciles—redolence for sampling when the door is open and a breeze blows in off Higuera Street.

Leon’s has been owned by the same couple since 1985. They’ve managed to keep the large old store staffed with knowledgeable salesfolk.

The inventory is always vast and well-organized. The inventory
moves, often at the rate of 300-400 books a day. The staff pulls books for customers with a proven interest in
certain titles.

—B.B.

2nd: Phoenix
3rd: Nan’s

Best Store To Browse Through
Best Buy
255 Madonna Road, SLO

It didn’t take Best Buy long to endear themselves to New Times readers. What Manager Tom Narr describes as a giant toy store set up shop here in August. Since then, the place has been abuzz with nonstop activity. Much of what’s on view is new and unusual equipment, and product lines to intrigue every member of the family.

“Our competitors are satisfied with the status quo,” says Narr. “We keep the customers in a constant state of excitement.”

—B.B.

2nd: Atmospheres
3rd: Hands Gallery

Best Record Store
Boo Boo Records
Grover Beach • San Luis Obispo

Mike White of Boo Boo’s SLO emporium has success down to a formula, and it goes like this: Customer service. Fair price. Deep selection.

“Of course, we’re very lucky to have 15 great employees, too,” he says.

Boo Boo’s is a San Luis/Grover Beach institution. If you shop there much, you already have a handle on who else shops there—pretty much everyone. These days, that would be an anathema. Instead they’ve created pocket environments for different interests, beginning with one devoted to jazz, classical, and international fare. There’s also ample room to accommodate a burgeoning part of today’s marketplace reserved for used and vinyl .

—B.B.

2nd: Cheap Thrills
3rd: Wherehouse

Best Bank
Mid-State Bank & Trust

Arroyo Grande • Atascadero • Cambria • Cayucos • Grover Beach • Los Osos • Morro Bay • Nipomo • Paso Robles • Pismo Beach •
San Luis Obispo • Templeton

This is the 16th year Mid-State has been voted Best Bank by New Times readers. Communications Officer Andy Frokjer comments:

“We’re real pleased and honored by New Times readers who are Mid-State customers. We go out of our way to show all our customers how much we care about the places we work and live, so this validates our philosophy. The bank has a long history of community involvement, both at the individual and corporate level. Mid-State employees take pride in providing human services. That pride is reflected in our dramatic new look and logo—a positive approach to the new millennium rooted in our 40-year tradition of service.”

—B.B.

2nd: First Bank of SLO
3rd: SESLOC

Best Travel Agency
Gulliver’s Travel
605 Santa Rosa St., SLO

Gulliver’s is the oldest locally owned travel agency. In business since 1980, the agency’s been named “best” by New Times readers at least five times since opening their doors.

Right now, Gulliver’s 10 hardworking employees keep things humming, even in the face of global or regional troubles. Says Manager Mary Vickers: “When there are troubles in one area, we try to come up with other destinations that are both safe and attractive.”

Up until just recently, Hawaii and Europe were constant favorite destinations, followed by the South Pacific, Tahiti, and Fiji. Now the SARS epidemic has arisen, and Gulliver’s is suggesting customers try Southern Mexico, the Caribbean, and Alaska—destinations closer to home. But it won’t be long until Hawaii and Europe are back at the top again, Vickers is sure.

—B.B.

2nd: Casablanca Travel
3rd: Travel Time

Best Men’s Clothing Store
Patrick James
641 Higuera St., SLO

Headquartered in Fresno, Patrick James has 16 stores under its wing. One of them opened in San Luis 14 years ago. Since then, it’s never failed to place in Best of SLO—usually in first or second place.

It’s a store with an inescapable upscale image, sustained by three distinct assets. First, Patrick James personnel know about the construction of men’s clothing, as well as the material used in constructing clothing that is distinctive.

Secondly, the store emphasizes customer service, with records of customers’ purchases, likes, and dislikes always on file.

Third, the presence of an on-site tailor greatly enhances Patrick James’ image as a one-stop shopping experience.

—B.B.

2nd: Express Men (formerly Structure)
3rd: The Gap

Best Women’s Clothing Store
Ann’s
Paso Robles • San Luis Obispo

Ann’s considers their customers a family.

“We like to see them look their best,” says Landy Fike, a member of the popular dress shop’s sales force.

It’s easy enough to emphasize customer service, but customer service has to mean something. The staff at Ann’s goes all out with merchandise display. They give customers visual ideas of what goes well with what.

“You can only do that when you know a customer’s wardrobe,” Fike comments.

So the interior of Ann’s here in SLO and its newest manifestation in Paso Robles, right off the Park, is full of light, color, and real personality.

—B.B.

2nd: The Gap
3rd: Ambiance/Express

Best Vintage Clothing Store
Second Time Around
577 Marsh St., SLO

For 25 years, Bernice Souza and daughter Charlotte have brought SLO the best in authentic vintage clothing at affordable prices. Because she cultivated her sources and knew where the pickings were golden, Second Time Around had developed an enviable following among people who knew quality. Souza’s delight was the higher end of the clothing market, and she consistently delivered.

The shop was known to out-of-town shoppers, as well as locals, who tripped across the threshold with high expectations. Recently, Second Time Around began to rent some of their merchandise. This will continue until July, when, regrettably, the doors to those million-dollar outfits will close.

—B.B.

2nd: Decades
3rd: Goodwill

 

Best Thrift Store
Goodwill
Atascadero • Grover Beach • Paso Robles •
San Luis Obispo

A thrift store it is, but Goodwill is a very upscale thrift store with a well-established, marketable name.

Its success may be due in part to the fact that it’s run like a department store. People of all sorts go in there without a qualm in the world. The idea of slumming wouldn’t occur to them because of the way the store presents itself.

The values are significant. According to Operations Manager Pete Dunan, Goodwill inherits a lot of merchandise that’s only been worn once. He himself wears a jacket from a popular Beverly Hills men’s store which could’ve gone for $300-$400. He paid $29 for it! An article stays a month in Goodwill before it goes to the outlet, after which it’s baled and sold abroad for $1.50 a pound.

Life isn’t a cabaret, old friend. It’s a Goodwill thrift store.

—B.B.

2nd: Old Mission School Thrift Shop
3rd: Decades

 

Best Audio Equipment
Best Buy
255 Madonna Road, SLO

Suddenly, Best Buy burst upon the SLO scene like a great big pleasure palace.

Suddenly, the hills were alive with everything you’d ever wanted in audio equipment—Bose, Yamaha, Kenwood, JBL, Sony, KLH—and those prices!

—B.B.

2nd: Audio Ecstasy
3rd: Audio Video City

Best Computer Store
Best Buy
255 Madonna Road, SLO

There are many places where you can buy well-known computers at a greatly reduced price.

But none of them are named Best Buy.

Think of it! At Best Buy, you can buy the models you see on TV and in newspapers and magazines. Sony. Toshiba. Compaq. Hewlett-Packard. All yours, at reductions we don’t even whisper about.

—B.B.

2nd: Mac Superstore
3rd: Gateway Computers

Best Place To Buy Outdoor Apparel
Copeland’s Sports Superstore
1144 Chorro St., SLO

Here’s what Copeland’s has going for it:

The name, first of all; the sense that behind everything they sell, there’s a certain tradition.

The assurance always that you’re choosing from a wide variety of the very top products—Mountainsmith, Lowe-Alpine, Columbia, MFR backpacking stoves.

It’s a family kind of place; you can try on the apparel and try out the equipment. No one’s going to hassle you. Treatment like this builds big customer loyalty and helps make lifelong customers.

—B.B.

2nd: Mountain Air Sports
3rd: Big 5 Sporting Goods

Best Local Internet Provider
Charter Communications
270 Bridge St., SLO

It happens every minute here in SLO County. Someone converts to the broadband culture, whether they’re checking out a piece of information online or conferencing with other family members.

The older folks keep in touch with neighbors they left behind, just as they keep up-to-date on their hobbies and interests.

Here in San Luis Obispo County, Charter’s become the only direct conduit between the college community and the faculty—no bypasses needed. Twenty-four-hour-a-day support means access to all college services without leaving home.

—B.B.

2nd: TCSN
3rd: Fix.net

Best Antique Shop
Goodwill
Atascadero • Grover Beach • Paso Robles •
San Luis Obispo

“This is the aspect of Goodwill we tend to forget about,” says Operations Manager Pete Dunan, “even though—and so many people are amazed by this!—people in other thrift stores shop Goodwill.”

Understand, please, that very little Goodwill handles is really 100 years old. But it can’t be called used furniture, either. The word is vintage. And bona-fide antique shop owners are bona-fide Goodwill browsers.

What are the chances that you might come upon some rare piece of Philadelphia Chippendale or a vase that could be nothing but California Craftsman? Frankly, slim. Dunan’s advice: Keep looking. The merchandise is far from tacky, and whatever you get is sure to be a bargain.

—B.B.

2nd: Old Edna Antiques
3rd: Rich Man Poor Man

Best Auto Dealership/ New
Rancho Grande Motors
1404 Auto Park Way, SLO

With a 23-year history in the business, matched with five different franchises, Rancho Grande stands completely apart.

New Times readers are sensitive to the difference. They like the friendly, knowledgeable staff every bit as much as they like the models they handle: Buick, Pontiac, GMC Truck, Subaru, and Isuzu.

Sales Manager Robert Haupt points with pride to Rancho Grande’s award-winning service department:

“Every one of them has a mantra that goes, ‘100 percent customer service—above and beyond.’ We live and die on referrals.”

—B.B.

2nd: Sunset Honda
3rd: Perry Ford

Best Auto Dealership/ Used
McCarthy Wholesale
43 Higuera St., SLO

It’s difficult to ignore McCarthy Wholesale’s involvement in San Luis Obispo County. From giving away
vehicles (“Keys to a Sober Graduation” and Mid-State Fair Pageant Queen), to free children’s tour passes, to the Wings of Freedom World War II Bombers that visit our airport annually.

This is their third win in a row for Best Auto Dealership/Used, proving they are not only well-known, but well-loved and respected. McCarthy’s offers used cars for all price ranges, from Porsche 911s to Geo Metros, and each vehicle on the lot has been Smog Certified, thoroughly safety-inspected, and detailed. McCarthy’s also features a museum-like, 1950s-style showroom complete with a soda fountain and various automobile-related antiques.

To eliminate the cost of a visit to the DMV, McCarthy’s offers full DMV staff. Customers can also choose to sell their car through McCarthy’s at consignment or trade-in. If a customer doesn’t find a car on the lot or in the showroom that he or she is interested in, McCarthy’s Car Buying Service will track it down, if it is 1997 or newer, for the lowest price possible. McCarthy Wholesale is a member of the Better Business Bureau, the SLO Chamber of Commerce, and the Independent Automobile Dealers Association of America.

—B.B.

2nd: Rancho Grande Motors
3rd: Christianson Chevrolet

Best Auto Repair
Villa Automotive
1234 Broad St., SLO

John Villa says what he has to say in a quiet but emphatic way. There’s no sales hype—it’s the quiet born of assurance.

“People feel comfortable coming here,” he says. “They know they’re getting genuine value.”

Elsewhere (San Francisco, the Bay Area, other urban centers) customers are exploited and taken advantage of, he feels. Villa comments: “They’ll wash the car and return it without doing half of what they said they would.”

Villa’s edge is the experience of the personnel in his shop. And the amount of equipment available to take care of vehicles—more than you can ever expect elsewhere.

Elsewhere, according to Villa, they’re likely to throw in the towel in desperation and say: “We can’t fix it. Take it to Villa.”

—B.B.

2nd: College Auto
3rd: Morin Bros.

Best Furniture Store
A&R Furniture
1301 Broad St., SLO

According to Susan Nickel, an old hand in the trade now employed by A&R, there are many factors in the store’s success in San Luis and over the Grade. The biggest, of course, is the variety of quality furniture available at substantial reductions.

Then there’s advice.

“Whether it’s in our stores or in the customers’ homes, we’re always ready with ideas and advice. Time isn’t a concern. We take lots of time when we have to.” A&R personnel bring fabrics and samples right into the home.They keep files on customers, so they’re always ready with viable decorating ideas. Best of all, they do their own direct delivery—free.

“It helps when you look at business like one big family,” says Nickel, “it really does.”

—B.B.

2nd: Davidson’s Furniture & Interiors
3rd: Meridian Interiors

Best Hardware Store
Miner’s Ace Hardware
Arroyo Grande • Grover Beach • Los Osos • Morro Bay

You get good vibes about Miner’s Hardware when you learn that they maintain a lawnmower brigade—marching in community parades in Arroyo Grande. They practice routines, special steps, and even a trick or two till they’re blue in the face—a sight to behold.

There are 100 employees in Miner stores. They sell a vast array of merchandise and are always happy to handle special orders as well.

Of course, there are special promotions as well at appropriate times of year—be they plumbing, nursery, garden items, or paint.

All stores are very involved in the communities they serve, with a heavy emphasis on youth activities. In the Five Cities area, Miner’s supported a special movie program for area families at the Clark Center. Elsewhere there’ve been special projects for Little Leaguers, Boy Scouts, and Campfire Girls. And don’t forget that lawnmower brigade ... .

—B.B.

2nd: Pacific Home Do-It Center
3rd: Quaglino’s/True Value

Best Nursery/Garden Store
Ron’s Nursery
1207 S. 13th St., Grover Beach

“All I can say,” begins Ron Carlock, the Ron of Ron’s, “is that customers go out of their way to support us. We aren’t that convenient. But over the years they’ve never stopped coming here—through fire, dirt, dust, ruins, and then dodging construction.”

There is nothing quite like Ron’s. You can browse literally for hours through its interior and exterior nurseries. You’ll always find something fascinating.

After the recent fire, Ron’s boutique emerged bigger, better, and more beautiful than ever before. It’s a superb place to purchase a gift.

Ron waxes philosophical about his establishment: “These days people need what we have—even if they just come to browse. Beauty. It’s like a shot in the arm.”

—B.B.

2nd: Pacific Home Do-It Center
3rd: Home Depot

Best Flower Shop
Open Air Flowers
1001 Higuera St. and 1330 Madonna Road, SLO

Suffer from acute floral anxiety?
No, you’re not allergic, but you need the right flowers right now, you’d know ’em if you saw ’em, and don’t know where to go? Best of SLO to the rescue!

Open Air has an experienced staff acquiring and arranging flowers to impress at any occasion. Trust these experts: They can turn the sketchiest string of adjectives you can throw at them (even if peppered with “uhs” and “kindas”) into the floral work of art you were seeking in the first place.

Owner Vance Weber and his staff’s dedication to selecting the freshest cut flowers, acquiring spring flowers with short seasons and difficult-to-obtain exotics, all add to their palette, allowing them to create the truly extraordinary arrangement. Because Open Air purchases California-grown flowers and gets them grower-direct, their prices are competitive, too. All this quality is no secret to many of their customers who come in weekly to get flowers or just to look—and enjoy the sweet
smell. Don’t miss their “Deal of the Day” the next time you just can’t
show up empty handed.

—Shawna Galassi

2nd: Alberts Florist
3rd: The Greenery

 

Best Hair Salon
Bladerunner Day Spa
956 Monterey St., SLO

Has the old hairdo turned into a hair-don’t? Flattop gone to seed? Or did your friends finally tell you your mullet’s the real reason they can’t hang with you Friday night? Not to worry—Bladerunner Spa can set you straight … wavy or curly. Once inside, it’s easy to see why they’ve earned the votes; theirs is a beautiful state-of-the-art salon, comfortable for clientele. Just as quickly you recognize a team put together by owner Todd LeMay that excels in the art of customer service, styling to your mind’s eye, or helping to provide the vision for the look you want. And while being SLO’s best hair salon, Bladerunner won’t sock you for Beverly Hills-type moolah, allowing the hoi polloi to venture past the spinning red-and-white pole for a treatment that’s a treat.

—S.G.

2nd: Skin Deep
3rd: Soho Grand Salon

Best Real Estate Office
Century 21
Arroyo Grande • Cambria • Cayucos • Los Osos • Paso Robles • Pismo Beach • San Luis Obispo

When it comes to buying a house, nothing can spare you hours of agony like a good, straight-talking agent. The last thing potential buyers need is to be dragged all over town looking at “cute dollhouses” (translation: so tiny your car wouldn’t fit) or “rustic hideaways” (a hovel that should remain hidden). By all accounts, the agents at Century 21 eschew such euphemisms in favor of honesty and integrity.

“We win quality service awards every year,” Barbara Brooks of the SLO office on Marsh Street says. “Our clients come back, and back again.” Brooks also points out that Century 21 services the entire county. This is no small thing in an industry where agents often try to dissuade buyers from looking outside their own tiny perimeter of listings. “You want to look where?!” many a Realtor has been known to sniff. “Well, I guess it’s okay if you like … (insert anything that can be construed as pejorative here).” Whether you’re in the market for a multimillion-dollar estate in Pismo Beach, a modest Victorian in the historic village of Arroyo Grande, or a starter house in Santa Maria, Century 21 can point you in the right direction.

—S.G.

2nd: Cornerstone Realty
3rd: Re/Max

 

Best Place to Pamper Your Pet
PETCO
271 Madonna Road, SLO

You may not be able to take your dog to Sycamore Mineral Springs, but at PETCO they will bring Sycamore Mineral Springs to your dog.

“Everything you expect at the hot springs, we try to do here,” groomer Jeff Bravo says. At this doggie day spa your pet can have a stress-reducing paw massage, a pawdicure with three shades of pawlish to choose from, a hot-oil treatment for the scalp, and a haircut and blow-dry. To complete her day at the spa, Fifi can select from a wide range of perfumes and colognes. If you want her to be au courant, urge her to go with the Berry Blast—a very popular choice.

“I have to order it by the gallon,” grooming manager Amy Sawyer says. After her spa treatment, you may want to take your little pet into the main store where she can choose from an extensive line of clothing. Or perhaps

she would like to sidle up to the Doggie Bar where she can sample some of the finest biscuits around. The open spread includes duplex sandwich crèmes, peanut delights, zoo cookies, and for those who are watching their waistline, low-fat vanilla pretzels. As Fifi ponders the choices, be on the lookout for canines circling the bar. They may not be interested in the biscuits.

—S.G.

2nd: Tails
3rd: PETsMART

Best Kids Clothing Store
Johnson’s for Children
837 Monterey St., SLO

Johnson’s for Children is one of those dangerously cute clothing stores where you go to buy a baby gift and walk out with a whole new wardrobe for your child. Who can resist buying their little girl ruby-red slippers with a tulle bow? And doesn’t every little boy need cherry-red fire engines to keep his toes warm on cold mornings?

Then there’s the pink Skechers with rhinestones embedded on the sides, the floral sneakers, the ladybug rain boots … The contents of your wallet may well be empty before you even make it to the clothing section! Expectant parents have even more to fear. Johnson’s carries all of the new baby necessities: fashionable strollers in leopard print; animal-themed bedding with lamps and growth charts to match; and well-crafted dressers, cribs, and gliders. Then there’s all the fun stuff you don’t need, but won’t be able to live without.

—S.G.

2nd: The Gap
3rd: Mervyn’s

 

Best Toy Store
Tom’s Toys
682 Higuera St., SLO

When I asked my son recently where he wanted to go for “Mommy Time”—a special outing where he is king and his younger sister is temporarily exiled—without hesitation he exclaimed, “Tom’s Toys!” Never mind that it was a beautiful day we could have been spent building sandcastles at the beach or steering the pirate ship at the park. To a child of 4, nothing compares to having unlimited time to walk the aisles of Tom’s Toys.

First comes the train aisle, where the shelves are overflowing with everything Thomas, Brio, and Lionel. On this particular day, some of the battery-operated trains are discounted more than 50 percent. My son quickly realizes the meaning of the word “sale” as I snatch up three new engines for his collection. For a change of pace we eventually move away from the train aisle to the train-playing area. Before closing we manage to see the rest of the store, which includes an awesome selection of sand toys, an expansive collection of Madeline dolls, and enough board games and art supplies to put any mega-store to shame. Unlike many of the chains, however, this owner-operated store has helpful staff, one-of-a-kind gifts, and an abundance of charm.

—S.G.

2nd: Whiz Kids
3rd: Toys “R” Us

Best Mom and Pop Store
Rudolph’s Coffee & Tea Co.
670 Higuera St., SLO

Go into Rudolph’s Coffee & Tea Co. when Kristin Carswell is working and you can be assured of service with a smile.

“I always put a flower design or smiley face on everyone’s latte,” she says, proudly displaying her signature foam design. Owner Jeff Langford, every bit as cheerful, is on hand each day to assist patrons as they choose from a mind-boggling selection of coffee and teas. With service like this, it’s easy to see why they were voted Best Mom and
Pop Store. And then, of course, there’s the product.

“We are the biggest retailer of tea in the county,” Langford says. With 40 different teas to choose from—all brewed fresh from the leaves—that sounds like a reasonable claim. Of the 49 different kinds of coffee offered, the house specialty is Jamaica Blue. Langford describes it as the “Dom Perignon of coffee.” At a staggering $30 a pound, he’s gotta be right.

—S.G.

2nd: Muzio’s Grocery
3rd: Penelope’s

Best Movers
Meathead Movers
3211 Broad St., SLO

Only in SLO is the term meathead mover synonymous with brains and brawn.

“Our movers are all strong, clean-cut student athletes,” says co-owner Aaron Steed, who founded Meathead Movers with his brother Evan six years ago. The two SLO natives, who are barely into their 20s, have single-handedly raised the standards in an industry known for its bad rap.

“We are the exact opposite of what people have known moving companies to be in the past,” Aaron says. Worried about movers dawdling on the job while the clock is ticking? The brothers require their employees to jog when they are not carrying anything.

“Our clients feel the breeze on the back of their head as we sprint past them to get more furniture,” Aaron says. Concerned about your beloved great aunt’s bureau getting nicked? Their breakage-to-move ratio is six times less than the national average, due in part to their mover-incentive program. Their movers, who are all professionally trained, receive bonuses when nothing is damaged. On top of all this, Aaron and Evan volunteer with the SLO Women’s Shelter to move all of the heavy items out of a battered woman’s house for free. So, with Meathead Movers, you’re getting brains, brawn, and philanthropy.

—S.G.

2nd: ASAP Movers
3rd: Coast to Coast Movers

 

Best Jewelry Store
Serengeti West
951 Monterey St., SLO

Men or women who are at a total loss when it comes to buying gifts for the special someone in their lives can quickly redeem themselves at Serengeti West, a place where they can do no wrong. This jeweler has an award-winning designer on the premises, an in-house gemologist, and an affable staff, all to help even the most hapless buyers. As the name implies, Serengeti West is known for an impressive variety of African gems, which come in striking pinks, blues, greens, and other colorful hues. But if you’re pretty sure your loved one’s tastes run more to diamonds and pearls, they have an exquisite selection of these, too.

“We’ve got something for everybody,” sales associate Tina Galliani says. Seeing how this is the store’s fourth year at the top, it’s clear they aren’t the only ones who think so.

—Shawna Galassi

2nd: Kevin Main Jewelry Design Studio
3rd: Gold Concept

Best Lingerie Shop
Fanny Wrappers
799 Higuera St., SLO

Fanny Wrappers is an anomaly. It’s safe in saying that much of SLO—the male of the species, predominantly—believes it to be some gaudy temple hustling lingerie of a certain kind, if you catch my meaning.

Nothing could be farther from the truth, according to Teri Treves, who 19 years ago opened a store with an audacious line of goodies straight from New York. Nobody else had merchandise remotely like it. It was what Treves calls a “fashion-forward” gesture, and it started making waves immediately.

Fashion-conscious customers opted for designer label merchandise. It took buying of a very perspicacious sort, and because her buyer worked the sales floor and listened to what customers wanted, she could say whether or not a winter flannel nightgown by Donna K might sell. In other words—adapt current fashion dictates to the SLO trade.

Treves credits Assistant Manager (and Buyer) Sara Pollard for helping turn Fanny Wrappers completely around.

—B.B.

2nd: Victoria’s Secret
3rd: Barely Nothing Lingerie