Best American Restaurant
AND Best Late-Night Restaurant
The Kitchen
RU for Best American Restaurant:
Boulder ChopHouse & Tavern
RU for Best Late-Night Restaurant:
The Attic Bar & Bistro

Best Asian Restaurant
Chey Thuy
RU: Golden Lotus

Best Bakery
Breadworks Cafe
RU: Spruce Confections

Best Bar AND Best Italian Restaurant
Carelli’s of Boulder Ristorante Italiano
RU for Best Bar: West End Tavern
RU for Best Italian: Pasta Jay’s

Best Barbecue
The Rib House
RU: KT’s Barbecue

Best Caterer
A Spice of Life
RU: Dish Gourmet

Best Coffeehouse
Vic’s
RU: Laughing Goat Coffehouse

Best Deli
Salvaggio’s Delicatessen
RU: Snarf’s

Best Happy Hour AND Best Outdoor Dining
AND?Best Appetizers
Mediterranean Restaurant (The Med)
RU for Best Happy Hour AND Best Appetizers:
Brasserie Ten Ten
RU for Best Outdoor Dining:
Centro Latin Kitchen & Refreshment Palace

Best Ice Cream/Frozen Yogurt
Glacier Home Made Ice Cream & Gelato
RU: Cold Stone Creamery

Best Indian Restaurant
The Taj
RU: Tandoori Grill

Best Mexican Restaurant
Efrain’s Mexican
RU: Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant

Best New Restaurant
Happy Noodle House
RU: Arugula Bar e Ristorante

Best Pizza
Abo’s Pizza
RU: Proto’s Pizza

Best Seafood
Jax Fish House
RU: Dolan’s Restaurant

Best Sushi
Hapa Sushi
RU: Sushi Zanmai

Best Take-out Food
Jimmy & Drew’s Delicatessen
RU: Noodles & Co.

Best Vegetarian Restaurant
Leaf Vegetarian Restaurant
RU: Sunflower

Best Gunbarrel/Niwot Restaurant
Colterra
RU: Treppeda’s Italian Ristorante

Best Lafayette/Louisville/Superior/Erie Restaurant
The Empire Lounge & Restaurant
RU: Efrain’s Mexican

Best Longmont/Lyons Restaurant
Oskar Blues Cajun Grill & Brewery
RU (TIE):
The Rib House / Sugarbeet

Best Breakfast AND?Best Brunch
Lucile’s Creole Cafe
RU for Best Breakfast: Walnut Cafe
RU for Best Brunch: Greenbriar Inn

Best Place for a Romantic Dinner
Flagstaff House Restaurant
RU: Carelli’s of Boulder Ristorante Italiano

Best Dessert
Cheesecake Factory
RU: The Kitchen

Best Restaurant Service
Frasca Food & Wine
RU: Flagstaff House Restaurant

Best Restaurant to Bring Kids
Red Robin Gourmet Burgers & Spirits
RU: Noodles & Co.

Best Place to Hear Live Music
Boulder Theater
RU: Nissi’s

Best Theater Performance
Boulder’s Dinner Theatre
RU: Colorado Shakespeare Festival

Best Boulder County Event
Boulder Creek Festival
RU: Bolder Boulder

SERVICES, FACES & PLACES

Best AC/Heating Service
Precision Plumbing & Heating
RU (TIE):
Save Home Heat Co.
Meyer’s Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc.

Best Auto Dealer
Fisher Chevrolet Honda
RU (TIE): Boulder Toyota / Flatirons Acura/Subaru

Best Auto Repair Shop/Service Dept.
Hoshi Motors
RU: Super-Rupair

Best Car Wash
Puddle Touch-Free Car Wash
RU: Black Diamond Car Wash

Best Carpet Cleaning Service
Nesheim Cleaning Services, Inc.
RU: Chem-Dry of Boulder

Best Kids‘ Day Camp
Rocky Mountain Day Camp
RU: YMCA of Boulder Valley

Best Financial Institution
Elevations Credit Union
RU: Boulder Valley Credit Union

Best Dentist
Joel L. Schaffer, DDS
RU: Steven L. Eurich, DDS

Best Dry Cleaner/Laundromat
Art Cleaners
RU: John’s Cleaners

Best Place to Work Out
RallySport Health and Fitness Club
RU: 24 Hour Fitness

Best Pilates/Yoga Center
CorePower Yoga
RU (TIE):
Yoga Pod / RallySport Health and Fitness Club

Best Hair Salon
FIX
RU: The Parlour

Best Hearing Aid Center
Hearing HealthCare Centers
RU: Boulder Valley Hearing & Speech Center

Best Holistic Care/Wellness Center
Frasier Meadows
RU (TIE):
Acupuncture Clinic of Boulder
Helios Integrated Medicine

Best Interior Design Studio
Bartlett Interiors
RU (TIE):
Design Matters Home
Timberline Fine Furniture & Interior Design

Best Lasik/Laser Eye Facility/Surgeon
InSight Lasik
RU: Beyer Laser Center

Best Medical Facility
Boulder Community Hospital
RU: Boulder Medical Center

Best Moving Company
Taylor Moving
RU: TWO MEN AND A TRUCK

Best Pet Boarding Service
Cottonwood Kennels
RU: Broadway Animal Hospital

Best Pet Grooming Service
The Hydrant
RU: Dog Spot

Best Veterinarian
Alpine Hospital for Animals
RU: Broadway Animal Hospital

Best Place for Worship
Unity of Boulder
RU: First Presbyterian Church of Boulder

Best Funeral Home Service Provider
Crist Mortuary & Crematory
RU: M.P. Murphy & Associates Funeral Home

Best Real Estate Agent
Paul Roach, RE/MAX of Boulder
RU (TIE):
Karen Bernardi, Bernardi Real Estate Group at Coldwell Banker
Dave Fish, RE/MAX of Boulder

Best Real Estate Company/Office
Wright-Kingdom Real Estate
RU: RE/MAX of Boulder

Best Retirement/Alternative or
Elder Care/Assisted Living
The Academy
RU: Frasier Meadows Retirement Community

Best Boulder Valley/St. Vrain School
Boulder High School
RU: Fairview High School

Best Teacher
Doug London, Alexander Dawson School
RU: Brenda Taylor, Centennial Middle School

Best Spa
Essentiels Spa
RU: St. Julien Hotel & Spa

Best Skincare Facility
Laser & Cosmetic Associates of Boulder
RU: Essentiels Spa

Best Storage Facility
U Store It
RU: Boulder Bins Self Storage

Best Tanning Salon
Tans To Go
RU: VerandaSun

Best Travel Agency
James TravelPoints
RU: Cain Travel

Best Place to Entertain Kids
Pearl Street Mall
RU: Gateway Park Fun Center

Best Local Employer
Boulder Valley Credit Union
RU: Boulder Community Hospital

Best Non-Profit Organization
Humane Society of Boulder Valley
RU: Eco-Cycle

Best Activist/Community Champion
John Breaux
RU: Josie Heath, The Community Foundation Serving Boulder County

Best Customer Service
McGuckin Hardware
RU: Boulder Valley Credit Union

SHOPPER’S PARADISE

Best Antique Dealer
The Amazing Garage Sale
RU: Bedell & Co.

Best Antique Jewelry Store
Classic Facets Antique Jewelry
RU: Hurdle’s Jewelry

Best Art Gallery
Art & Soul Gallery
RU: Mary Williams Fine Arts

Best Art Supply & Hobby Store
Michaels
RU: Art Hardware

Best Bedding/Linens/Mattress Store
Verlo Mattress Factory
RU: Bed Bath & Beyond

Best Bicycle Shop
University Bicycles
RU: Full Cycle

Best Bookstore
Boulder Book Store
RU: Barnes & Noble Booksellers

Best Children’s Store
Grandrabbit’s Toy Shoppe
RU: PlayFair Toys

Best Camera Store
Mike’s Camera
RU: Wolf Camera

Best Men’s Clothing Store
The Regiment
RU: Weekends

Best Women’s Clothing Store
JJWells
RU: Chelsea
Best Shoe Store
Pedestrian Shops
RU: Two Sole Sisters

Best Eye Care Store
Aspen Eyewear
RU: Wink Optical

Best Floor Covering Store
Atlas Flooring, Inc.
RU: FloorCrafters

Best Florist AND Best Garden Center
Sturtz & Copeland
RU for Best Florist (TIE):
Fiori Flowers / Lafayette Florist
RU for Best Garden Center:
The Flower Bin Garden Center & Nursery

Best Tree Nursery
The Tree Farm
RU (TIE):
CreekSide Tree Nursery / Harlequin’s Gardens

Best Gift Shop
Paper Doll
RU: Jacque Michelle

Best Green Products/Services Store
Ellie’s Eco Home Store
RU: Whole Foods Market

Best Grocery Store
Whole Foods Market
RU: Sunflower Farmers Market

Best Hardware Store AND Best Locally Owned Store
McGuckin Hardware
RU for Best Hardware Store:
Home Depot
RU for Best Locally Owned Store:
P.C.’s Pantry for Dogs and Cats

Best Home Furnishings Store
HW Home
RU: Bartlett Interiors

Best Housewares & Kitchen Goods Store
Peppercorn
RU: McGuckin Hardware

Best Imported Goods Store
Cost Plus World Market
RU: Indochine

Best Jewelry Store AND Best Company/Store
that Gives Back to the Community
Walters & Hogsett Fine Jewelers
RU for Best Jewelry Store: Hurdle’s Jewelry
RU for Best Company/Store That Gives Back to the Community:
Whole Foods Market

Best Liquor Store
Liquor Mart
RU (TIE):
Superior Liquor / Boulder Wine Merchant

Best Place to Buy Musical Instruments
Robb’s Boulder Music
RU: H.B. Woodsong’s

Best Pet Store/Bakery/Deli
P.C.’s Pantry for Dogs and Cats
RU: Whole Pets

Best Recycled Goods/Thrift Store
Hospice Care & Share Thrift Shop
RU: Savers

Best Running Store
Boulder Running Company
RU: Fleet Feet

Best Sporting Goods Store
AND Best Outdoor Recreation Store
REI
RU for Best Sporting Goods Store (TIE):
Sports Authority / Dick’s Sporting Goods
RU for Best Outdoor Recreation Store:
Neptune Mountaineering

Best Place to Buy Windows
(within Colorado)
Champion Windows, Siding & Patio Rooms
RU (TIE):
SolarGlass Window & Door
Renewal By Andersen

Best Place to Buy Window Treatments
(within Colorado)
Innovative Openings
RU: Cloth Constructions

Best Shopping Destination
(within Colorado)
Pearl Street Mall
RU: FlatIron Crossing

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 than 1,500 beer products, more than 70 brands of keg beer, virtually every brand and type of liquor available and more than 6,000 varieties of wine. Should you need a roadmap to a particular spirit or an expert recommendation, Liquor Mart’s service is second-to-none. “You hear about employers saying, ‘I can’t find good help!’ You’ll never hear that coming from my lips,” asserts Stoakes. “We get great help. And our people stay with us; the average tenure here is about 15 years.” Liquor Mart also delivers on value, offering low prices overall as well as daily case discounts and weekly coupons. You’ll find details on all these offers at www.liquormart.com; you’ll also find Liquor Mart’s new online store, where you can not only browse the store’s huge selection, you can buy it and have it delivered.

Runner Up

Superior Liquor
www.superiorliquor.com
100 Superior Plaza Way, Superior
303.499.6600

Runner Up

Boulder Wine Merchant
www.boulderwine.com
2690 Broadway, Boulder
303.443.6761

Winner

Robb’s Boulder Music
www.robbsmusic.com
2691 30th St., Boulder
303.443.8448

Robb’s Boulder Music

Robb’s Boulder Music has been enabling the dreams of local musicians for 30 years. Big names like Big Head Todd and the Monsters, Wendy Woo and the Samples got their start with instruments from Robb’s. But the history of the place rests squarely on the shoulders of the thousands of unknowns who have patronized the store, too, the ones who saw a shiny axe in the window and decided, “That has to be mine.” For green and experienced musicians alike, those who live here and those just passing through, Robb’s offers a haven of hands-on experimentation with the best instruments in the business, as well as a friendly staff of musically minded individuals to help you find your signature sound. “We are constantly adding new and great products to our inventory that people want, need and enjoy,” says musician and owner Seth Goodman. Robb’s new 30th Street location has a complete percussion department as well as lots of new guitar, bass, live sound, keyboard and accessory products. And, says Goodman, be sure to check out what’s new in the music lesson, rental and repair departments.

Runner Up

H.B. Woodsong’s
www.hbwoodsongs.com
2920 Pearl St., Boulder
303.449.0516

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 but a generic, impersonal warehouse. It’s a 60,000-square-foot embodiment of our community’s essence. “Our product mix is geared to being located in Boulder,” says marketing manager Randy Barker. “Being independently owned allows us to react to our customers’ needs immediately. There’s no corporate office that needs to be consulted.” The owners are on the floor every day, taking note of customer preferences so inventory can be tailored to best meet their wants and needs. Also on the floor are the green vested heroes of McGuckin, the ones who can find the light bulb, hinge pin or nontoxic paint that has eluded you at every other store in town. “The key to that level of service is the longevity of our staff,” explains Barker. “We have a strong core of employees who have worked in the store for 10, and some even up to 40, years.”

Runner Up

P.C.’s Pantry for Dogs and Cats
www.pcs-pantry.com
2600 30th St., Boulder
303.245.9909

Winner

McGuckin Hardware
www.mcguckin.com
2525 Arapahoe Ave., Boulder
303.443.1822,

McGucking 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 but a generic, impersonal warehouse. It’s a 60,000-square-foot embodiment of our community’s essence. “Our product mix is geared to being located in Boulder,” says marketing manager Randy Barker. “Being independently owned allows us to react to our customers’ needs immediately. There’s no corporate office that needs to be consulted.” The owners are on the floor every day, taking note of customer preferences so inventory can be tailored to best meet their wants and needs. Also on the floor are the green vested heroes of McGuckin, the ones who can find the light bulb, hinge pin or nontoxic paint that has eluded you at every other store in town. “The key to that level of service is the longevity of our staff,” explains Barker. “We have a strong core of employees who have worked in the store for 10, and some even up to 40, years.”

Runner Up

Home Depot
www.homedepot.com
1600 29th St., Boulder, 303.449.4221
1200 W. Dillon Road, Louisville, 303.661.9600
393 S. Hover Road, Longmont, 720.494.0319

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 are passionate about what they provide: the means for experiencing, exploring and enjoying the great outdoors. Around every corner is a must-have jacket, tent, kayak, climbing rope, snowboard or other piece of tantalizingly shiny gear. What’s the latest must-have item from REI? Check out the Novara FlyBy Shuttle Foldable Bike, suggests Ransdell, a bike that folds up to the size of a small duffel bag. It has great potential, she says, “especially for bus commuters. A lot of time there’s no room on the bike racks. So what do you do with your bike? Fold it up and bring it on with you.” The FlyBy is like everything at REI: simultaneously ultra functional and ultra cool.

Runner Up

Dick’s Sporting Goods
www.dickssportinggoods.com
210 Ken Pratt Blvd., Longmont
303.682.5740

Runner Up

Sports Authority
www.sportsauthority.com
3320 N. 28th St., Boulder, 303.449.9021
301 Marshall Road, Superior, 303.554.0161
2251 Ken Pratt Blvd., Suite C, Longmont, 303.651.9697

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 are passionate about what they provide: the means for experiencing, exploring and enjoying the great outdoors. Around every corner is a must-have jacket, tent, kayak, climbing rope, snowboard or other piece of tantalizingly shiny gear. What’s the latest must-have item from REI? Check out the Novara FlyBy Shuttle Foldable Bike, suggests Ransdell, a bike that folds up to the size of a small duffel bag. It has great potential, she says, “especially for bus commuters. A lot of time there’s no room on the bike racks. So what do you do with your bike? Fold it up and bring it on with you.” The FlyBy is like everything at REI: simultaneously ultra functional and ultra cool.

Runner Up

Neptune Mountaineering
www.neptunemountaineering.com
633 South Broadway, Suite A, Boulder
303.499.8866

Winner

Innovative Openings
www.innovativeopenings.com
1672 30th St., Boulder
303.449.6465

Innovative Openings has been artfully covering Boulder County’s windows since 1980. The locally owned, independently operated company sells hundreds of solutions – solar screens, cellular shades, wood shutters, draperies, Roman shades, vertical blinds and many more – but it’s the people that make the difference. “A lot of employees have been with us a long time: 10 years, 25 years,” explains co-owner Dave Friedlander. “It takes a long time to get the experience necessary to be an expert in all the products we sell; we try hard to retain our employees for the long-term.” Part of that effort includes providing as many opportunities for local staff as possible. Currently, Innovative Openings’ most popular products are solar screen shades, transparent coverings that reflect and absorb sunlight without blocking the view. “The motorized solar screens are manufactured by our wholesale manufacturer Insolroll in Louisville, where our corporate office is located,” says Friedlander. “It’s the fastest-growing part of the window covering industry, and we make them right here.”

Runner Up

Cloth Constructions
www.clothconstructions.com
3013 Walnut St., Boulder
303.449.2102

Winner

Champion Windows, Siding & Patio Rooms
www.championwindow.com
877.221.0770 or 303.499.7800

Champion Windows

The slogan really says it all: “We build it. We install it. We stand behind it.” Champion Windows has been providing factory direct products, service and pricing to our state since 1997. Because the windows are made in Colorado by Coloradans, they are designed and constructed with our climate and altitude in mind. The company also shares our concern for the environment; Champion windows are 35 percent more energy-efficient in winter and 41 percent more energy-efficient in summer than standard dual-pane glass windows. They are tested by the American Architectural Manufacturer’s Association, certified by the National Fenestration Rating Council and are Energy Star® compliant. For these reasons as well as the company’s free lifetime warranty on materials and installation, more than 40,000 Front Range residents have Champion windows.

Runner Up

SolarGlass Window & Door
www.solarglass.com
7123 Arapahoe Road, Boulder
303.442.4277

Runner Up

Renewal by Andersen
www.renewalbyandersen.com
8840 E. Arapahoe Road, Centennial,
303.773.1515

Winner

Pearl Street Mall
www.boulderdowntown.com
Downtown Boulder
(from 700 to 2200 Pearl St., between Spruce and Arapahoe)
303.449.3774

Pearl Street Mall

Pearl Street Mall is only four blocks long, but each one of those blocks packs a wallop of shopping, dining and entertainment – and many shopping and dining opportunities extend west and east of the walking Mall. Grab a great read at the Boulder Book Store. Pick up a present at Paper Doll. Find a frock at Fresh Produce. Relive your childhood at Into the Wind. There are so many fabulous choices. And once you’re done shopping, it’s time to drop into a cozy eatery for a delicious meal, an entertainment venue for a world-class show, or just a park bench to admire the surroundings, people watch or catch a busker in action. Unlike most shopping districts, the pedestrian Pearl Street Mall and its bordering East and West End corridors are made up of almost entirely independently operated businesses (an impressive 85 percent are locally owned). So when you spend money here, you’re not only privy to some of the best shopping on the Front Range, you’re also supporting the vitality of your hometown and hundreds of your fellow residents.

Runner Up

FlatIron Crossing
www.flatironcrossing.com
1 W. FlatIron Crossing Drive, Broomfield
720.887.7467