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

Winner

Boulder Running Company
www.boulderrunningcompany.com
2775 Pearl St., Boulder
303.786.9255

Boulder Running Store

Whether you’re running, walking, skipping or hopping, wearing the right shoes can make all the difference. The hard part is finding that perfect shoe, the proverbial needle in a massive haystack of choices. Worry no more. Boulder Running Company has both the haystack inventory and the needle-seeking service you need to get moving. The specialty running store has a broad selection of running and casual shoes, and it was the first running store in the country to offer free video gait analysis to customers. Here’s how it works: you walk or run on a treadmill in front of a camera, one of Boulder Running Company’s expert employees analyzes the tape to see what your feet and arches are doing during each stride, and then, armed with that information, you work together to find the perfect shoe for your specific anatomy and chosen activities. It’s easy to see why Boulder Running Company has long been a favorite of local athletes as well as the throngs of runners who flock to Boulder for high altitude training.

Runner Up

Fleet Feet
www.fleetfeetboulder.com
2624 Broadway, Boulder
303.939.8000