2009 Boulder County Gold
BEST Locally Owned Store: McGuckin Hardware
Winner McGuckin Hardware www.mcguckin.com 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder 303.443.1822, McGuckin Hardware McGuckin Hardware stocks more than 200,000 items in 18 departments, including hardware, tools, housewares, camping gear, sporting goods, electronics, pet supplies, eco-friendly products, fireplaces, flowers, gifts, and school and office supplies. Don’t get the wrong idea though; McGuckin is anything... [Read more]
BEST Sporting Goods Store: Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI)
Winner Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) www.rei.com 1789 28th St., Boulder 303.583.9970 REI Shopping at REI is flat-out fun. “It has to do with us being a cooperative, so there’s a sense of belonging,” explains Boulder’s assistant store manager, Anna Ransdell. “This is a place where people come to hang out on the weekends.” The outdoor gear cooperative and its knowledgeable employees... [Read more]
BEST Liquor Store: Liquor Mart
Winner Liquor Mart www.liquormart.com 1750 15th St., Boulder 303.449.3374 Liquor Mart General manager Jack Stoakes credits the founders of Liquor Mart for creating the company’s roadmap to success: selection, service and value. “That was back in 1968, and those things sustain us today,” he says. The selection at Liquor Mart is unarguably impressive. The store’s 30,000 square feet houses more... [Read more]
BEST Theater Performance: Boulder’s Dinner Theatre
Winner Boulder’s Dinner Theatre www.theatreinboulder.com 5501 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder 303.449.6000 Boulders' Dinner Theatre Boulder’s Dinner Theatre has been wowing us with live, Broadway-quality performances paired with fine dining since 1977. “It’s a complete evening of entertainment,” explains artistic director Michael J. Duran. “Our audience gets a good meal and fantastic theater,... [Read more]
BEST Veterinarian: Alpine Hospital for Animals
Winner Alpine Hospital for Animals www.alpinehospitalforanimals.com 3210 Valmont Road, Boulder 303.443.9661 Alpine Hospital for Animals Karen McCormick, DVM, CVA, has been practice owner of Alpine Hospital since 2006. Her approach is humane and compassionate to her animal patients and their owners. “My underlying philosophy as a citizen and a doctor is to treat people as I want to be treated –... [Read more]
BEST Mexican Restaurant: Efrain’s Mexican
Winner Efrain’s Mexican www.efrainsrestaurant.com 101 E. Cleveland St., Lafayette, 303.666.7544 Efrain’s II: 1630 N. 63rd St., Boulder, 303.440.4045 Efrain’s III: 451 S. Pratt Pkwy., Longmont,720.494.0777 For authentic Mexican food, speed past the fast-food chains and head over to Efrain’s, a 20-year institution in Lafayette. This is the mother ship for three restaurants serving home-cooked... [Read more]
BEST Interior Design Studio: Bartlett Interiors
Winner Bartlett Interiors www.bartlettinteriors.com 2020 Pearl St., Boulder 303.442.5194 Bartlett Interiors Bartlett Interiors has been decorating and furnishing Boulder homes for nearly 50 years. Started by a Boulder family in 1960, Jane Bartlett joined the business in 1975 and bought it in 1984, the same year her sister, Nancy, joined her in the enterprise. “We are a small, but full-service interior... [Read more]
BEST Lasik/Laser Eye Facility/Surgeon: InSight Lasik
Winner InSight Lasik www.insightlasik.com 1120 W. South Boulder Road, Lafayette 303.665.7577 InSight Lasik “At InSight Lasik we strive to achieve perfection,” says Dr. Jimmy Jackson, president of InSight Lasik. “We are in the perfection business.” The facility and its experienced vision correction specialists, who have collectively treated more than 35,000 patients, approach perfection with... [Read more]
BEST Sushi: Hapa Sushi
Winner Hapa Sushi www.hapasushi.com 1117 Pearl St., Boulder, 303.473.4730; 1220 Pennsylvania Ave., Boulder, 303.447.9883 Hapa Sushi Sushi reigns. And the favorite spot to savor this delicacy is Hapa Sushi. “We owe our awards to our loyal customers, who have come to Hapa since we opened 10 years ago,” says owner Mark Van Grack. “We believe we have the freshest sushi in town – most of the tuna... [Read more]
BEST Green Products/Services Store: Ellie’s Eco Home Store
Winner Ellie’s Eco Home Store www.elliesecohomestore.com 2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder 303.952.1004 Ellie’s Eco Home Store The wide range of recycled and rapidly renewable products at Ellie’s Eco Home Store are as impressive for what they are – attractive, affordable, effective, clever – as what they aren’t – poisonous, single use, wasteful. Ellie’s new nontoxic cleaner bar, featuring... [Read more]
