Editors' Picks
Pet Stars
By Chad Anderson
Executive Editor
Before we had children, my wife and I were already parents — to three dogs and two cats. Once we had kids, help on the pet front became even more important.
The Barking Lot
606 N. Belmont Ave., 358-4038
Clean dogs with trimmed nails, and we didn't have to lift a finger.
Pets at Play
320 N. 25th St., 343-7387
One of our cats is diabetic. Whenever we go away, our Pets at Play sitter gives him his twice-daily insulin shots.
Break of Dawn Farm
& Kennels
5803 Charles City Road, 795-5933
Our Lab loves romping around with the other dogs here so much that it's like he's going on vacation, too.
Friends United with the Richmond Shelter
3420 Pump Road, No. 228, 364-1944
This volunteer-staffed rescue group matched us up with our much-loved first dog, a husky mix named Wolfie.
Cary Street Veterinary Hospital
3210 W. Cary St., 355-9144
You know how they say someone's true measure gets revealed in a crisis? When we had to put Wolfie to sleep recently, one of our vets here offered invaluable advice on breaking the news to our kids.
Handy People
& Places
By Kate Andrews
Associate Editor
I'm single, busy and utterly useless with a hammer. Here are the people/institutions that keep my house from falling down around my feet.
Bobby Hudson
Hudson Plumbing & Heating,
1102 Normandy Drive, 285-0202
I live in a 1950s-era home with 1950s-era pipes, so I've called Bobby when the tub wouldn't drain. He talked me through the options over the phone, which has earned him my loyalty for when something big goes wrong one day.
Dominion Service Company
745-0007
This HVAC company sent a repairman over quickly when the heat stopped working last winter.
ACE Pleasant's Hardware
423 Ridge Road, 288-1262
When I needed a big pair of pliers for a home project, this store lent them to me free overnight.
Springfield Road Public Use Area (aka the dump)
10600 Fords Country Lane, 747-1865
I come here to discard bulky waste from my house, but you can also bring things home — for free — from the dump. It offers free mulch, and you can pick through "donated" furniture too. That sofa may need a slipcover, but it ain't necessarily junk.
Readers' Picks
Best Storefront
Adam Ewing photo
Pink
3158 W. Cary St., 358-0884
In recent years, Ken Langston's displays for this Carytown clothing store have included an elaborate Marie Antoinette theme and a larger-than-life shrine to artist Frida Kahlo that won last year's window-display contest during the Watermelon Festival, says Pink co-owner Debra Boschen.
2. World of Mirth, 3005 W. Cary St., 353-8991
3. Bygones, 2916 W. Cary St., 353-1919
Worst Storefront
Pink
3158 W. Cary St., 358-0884
It's a thin line between love and hate. Just ask Debra Boschen, co-owner of the Carytown boutique that took top place in this category while also winning "Best Storefront" (see above). Huh? We're scratching our heads, too. Boschen takes it in stride: "That'll keep us on our toes, I guess — help us to keep it real."
2. (Tie) West Broad Village; Wal-Mart
Best Shop for One-of-a-Kind Gifts
Mongrel
2924 W. Cary St., 342-1272
Be careful: This recently renovated Carytown gift shop has microbes, and they're giant. Actually, they're plush toys in the form of bacterial heavy-hitters like the common cold, the West Nile virus as well as the antibacterial penicillin. Co-owners Stan McCulloch and Mark Burkett say humor is a key element to many of the quirky wares they sell. "There's got to be some sort of wit to it," McCulloch says. "Then we figure out how it works into people's lives."
2. Tweed, 11743 W. Broad St., 249-3900
3. World of Mirth, 3005 W. Cary St., 353-8991
Best Car-Dealer Service Department
McGeorge Toyota
9319 W. Broad St., 755-9234
A whopping 45,000 Lexus and Toyota vehicles are serviced at McGeorge Toyota's state-of-the-art Innsbrook facility each year, estimates general manager Bob Farlow. "The culture of McGeorge Toyota is very stable, very family-oriented," Farlow says. "The key here is longevity. Our technicians have been here for 12 years, so they know our product and customers very well." Farlow says their speedy-yet-detailed customer service is due to their seven master-certified Toyota technicians working in 36 repair bays. Beginning last month, McGeorge Toyota also added live online service scheduling, allowing customers to receive appointment information in real time.
2. West Broad Honda, 7014 W. Broad St., 672-1111
3. Pearson Honda, 7450 Midlothian Turnpike, 745-0300
Best Selection of Gently Used/Pre-Owned Furniture
Diversity Thrift
1407 Sherwood Ave., 353-8890
Turning 10 years old this month, Diversity Thrift takes in hundreds of donated furniture items a week. And sometimes the castoffs coming into the nonprofit's are actually prizes — like the box of World War II memorabilia worth thousands of dollars. Or the painting that sold for $4 and also turned out to be worth thousands. "Sometimes folks are in a hurry and don't clean out their items before bringing [them] to us," says Jay Squires, director of the Gay Community Center of Richmond, which runs the independent thrift shop.
2. Impulse, 419 N. Ridge Road, 288-7300
3. West End Antiques Mall, 2004 Staples Mill Road, 359-1600
Best Home-Accessories Selection
Tweed
11743 W. Broad St., 249-3900
If you want your out-of-town houseguests to get a sense of place, this is the shop to help you play up Richmond's local flavor. Among its many wares are painted dishware with images of city landmarks, including St. John's Church, the State Capitol, Old City Hall, Belle Isle and the 17th Street Farmers' Market. And if you're feeling parochial, you can also pick up a sign like the one that reads, "Life is good South of the James." Fear not, West Enders, they have one for you, too.
2. Crate and Barrel, Short Pump Town Center, 364-0820
3. (Tie) Bed, Bath & Beyond, bedbathandbeyond.com; Marshalls, marshallsonline.com; Fraîche, 304 Libbie Ave., 282-4282
Best Furniture Showroom
La Différence
125 S. 14th St., 648-6210
Several Saturdays ago, La Diff president Andy Thornton was standing near the escalator of the store's second-floor showroom when a couple glided up toward him. The man had an odd look on his face, so Thornton stopped him to ask if everything was OK. "He said, ‘I think I just entered heaven,' " Thornton recalls with a laugh. He says the store's showroom displays may appear effortless, but they require painstaking attention to detail. "In this economy, people have got to be wowed to spend money."
2. Leo Burke, 3108 W. Cary St., 358-5773
3. Ethan Allen Interior Design Center, 12000 W. Broad St., 360-1530
Best Craft Supplies
Ben Franklin
Visit bf-crafts.com for locations.
Whether you need seven sterling-silver necklace clasps, 18 skeins of confetti yarn or 300 polka-dot cupcake liners, Ben Franklin's got you covered. With six locations in the Richmond area, they can easily transfer items between stores to meet almost any crafter's demands. And while crafting was once considered an old-fashioned hobby, vice president Buzz Ingalls says an increasing number of Richmond's young adults now keep the jewelry and yarn departments buzzing. "More young people are attending crafting class," he says, adding, "crafting class is a rapidly growing category because crafting becomes more popular as the economy slows down."
2. Michael's Arts & Crafts, michaels.com
3. Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores, joann.com
Best Fine-Watch Selection
Fink's Jewelers
Visit finks.com for locations.
At their three local stores, Fink's Jewelers offers Rolex, Cartier, Breitling and Tag Heuer watches — some of the top global names. But Fink's real timepiece haven is at the Short Pump location, where, manager Steve Pridgen says, out of the dozen or so watches they sell each week, no style is more current than sporty crossover timepieces. "The men are definitely wearing a sport-watch design, and the women are wearing crossover styles that are for active lifestyles," Pridgen says, adding that a crossover watch is sleek with a suit but trendy with casual attire, and usually comprised of stainless steel or a blend of stainless and white gold.
2. Schwarzschild Jewelers, schwarzschild.com
3. Capri Jewelers, 11525 W. Broad St., 364-6000; 10069 Brook Road, 553-1444
Best Discount Fabric Store
Jo-Ann Fabric and Craft Stores
Visit joann.com for locations.
In February, Jo-Ann Fabric and Crafts opened a 35,000-square-foot Midlothian store, a comprehensive crafting haven with more than 4,500 fabric varieties, and fresh options delivered each week. "There is a great interest in sewing and crafting out there, but other retailers are getting out of the fabric business," says general manager Russell Corey. "One of our big company initiatives is to stay in the fabric business." Jo-Ann's Midlothian store also offers weekly classes on topics from sewing to cake decorating, as well as free craft demonstrations on Saturdays.
2. Hancock Fabrics, 8051 W. Broad St., 270-4903; 13583 Midlothian Turnpike, 794-7848
3. Williams & Sherrill, 2003 Huguenot Road, 320-1730
Best Tailor/Alterations
George's Alterations
1344 Gaskins Road, 741-0992
What began as a contract to tailor through Jos. A Bank in 1981 became George's Alterations, an independent shop, about 12 years ago. George Livaniou and his five-member staff tailor about 100 garments each day, covering a wide range of men's, women's and children's clothing. Livaniou also provides next-day services by request.
2. Mitchem's Shoe Repair, 3101-A W. Cary St., 355-6117
3. (Tie) Nittaya's Designs Inc., 3436 Lauderdale Drive, 364-4858; Vincent's Custom Tailor Shop, 5811 Grove Ave., 288-9127
Best Shoe Repair
Mitchem's Shoe Repair
3101-A W. Cary St., 355-6117
Hanging over a Carytown street corner is a black, wrought-iron shoe — an invitation to a shop offering one- to four-day repairs on men's and women's shoes, from complete sole and heel reconstruction to high-heel repair. A step up onto the shop's suede-covered stand allows shoe repairman Yong Joon Park to assess customers' shoe needs, or you can add some sheen to your shoes with polish ranging in shades from olive green to scarlet or black.
2. King's Shoe Repair, 4028-F Cox Road, 270-9040
3. Jerry's Shoe Services, 5408 Lakeside Ave., 262-6795
Worst Parking at a Mall/Shopping Center
Short Pump Town Center
11800 W. Broad St.
Thanks to our reader survey, Short Pump is going to need some therapy, or at least a hug. Our "worst" categories this year have uncovered some disdain for the volume of cars in and around the retail mecca. The mall's spokesperson, Misty Parsons, says it's a Catch-22: There's a lot of parking, but it fills up quickly, at least closer in. Some folks, she says, must not enjoy the walk.
2. Stony Point Fashion Park, 9200 Stony Point Parkway
3. The Village Shopping Center, Three Chopt Road and Patterson Avenue
Best Shop for Pet Toys
Petsmart
Visit petsmart.com for locations.
Kevin Binkley, manager of Petsmart's White Oak Shopping Center store, knows his market. He's the owner of two cats and one dog. And dogs, he can attest, are clearly the most "rabid" consumers of pet toys. Binkley says he has to work hard to keep the popular Kong and Loofadog brands in stock. Cat toys, not so much. "My cats? You throw them a toy, and they're like, ‘Whatever.' "
2. Dogma, 3501 W. Cary St., 358-9267
3. Petco, petco.com
Best Lighting Selection
Shades of Light
4924 W. Broad St., 288-6515; 9912 Midlothian Turnpike, 320-3695 (outlet)
Yes, these are real items: A custom-made chandelier for a doghouse, a desk lamp crafted from a World War II helmet, or the floor lamp made from ski boots and poles. "If it's in your head or imagination, we can figure out how to shape it into a light in some way, shape or form," says Angela Trevvett, store manager at Shades of Light's West Broad Street location.
2. Lowe's, lowes.com
3. Atlantic Electrical Supply Corporation, 2117 Westwood Ave., 358-6737
Best Grocery-Store Deli
Ukrop's
Visit ukrops.com for locations.
On a tour of the local supermarket chain's stores two years ago, CEO Bobby Ukrop pointed to a chilled dish, a mandarin-orange gelatin salad, in a display near the deli. "Right or wrong, that's my favorite thing in here," he confessed. No, it's not exactly deli food, but the company's food director, Nancy Wingfield, says a lot of customers see the store's kitchen and prepared foods as an extension of the deli, which offers all varieties of meats and cheeses.
2. Whole Foods, 11173 W. Broad St., 364-4050
3. Fresh Market, 1527 N. Parham Road, 282-3823; 1200 Huguenot Road, 897-0300
Best Car Washing/Detailing
Car Pool
Visit carpool-llc.com for locations.
Coupons and the $7 exterior wash have been the key to keeping Car Pool's seven locations hopping this year, says CEO Paul Carr. In business since 1977, Car Pool welcomed Carr in 2003, and, in partnership with Gina Budhai, he added a detail shop that has received national recognition. Car Pool offers a range of services, from the quick-but-personalized $7 wash to an $80 wash featuring a two-step wax, sprucing up your ride inside and out.
2. Dave's Auto Spa, 11571 Robious Road, 327-9933
Best Family-Owned Business
Ukrop's
Visit ukrops.com for locations.
Not long after Joe Ukrop opened his South Side grocery store in 1937, the nation entered WWII and labor shortages swept the U.S. economy. "Crops mostly grew in the summer, so Dad made a decision to close the store's doors on Wednesday and have his five associates, including my mother, go out to the fields and help the farmers bring in the crops," explains Bobby Ukrop, president and CEO of Ukrop's Super Markets Inc.
2. Tom Leonard's Farmer's Market, 4150 Brookriver Drive, 364-5800
3. (Tie) Westbury Pharmacy, 8903 Three Chopt Road, 285-3428; Saxon Shoes, Short Pump Town Center, 285-3473
Best Cooking Classes
Sur La Table
Stony Point Fashion Park, 272-7094
As culinary education goes, Sur La Table has all the ingredients — offering everything from basic knife skills and "Kitchen Essentials" to "Date Night" and baking for kids. And, single guys, listen up: Sur La Table's culinary director Lee Chaharyn notes that cooking classes are where enlightened ladies really go for fun. We're just sayin' …
2. Mise en Place, 104 Shockoe Slip, 249-1332
3. (Tie) Compleat Gourmet, 3030 W. Cary St., 353-9606; University of Richmond culinary arts program, 28 Westhampton Way, 289-8133
Best Same-Day Dry Cleaning
Puritan Cleaners
Visit puritancleaners.com for locations.
Several months ago, one of Puritan's delivery drivers noticed that a regular dry-cleaning customer wasn't leaving suits and shirts for pickup. When the driver found out his customer had been laid off, he offered to clean the customer's interview suit for free. "He was so appreciative that we decided to turn it into a program," says Puritan's owner, Gary Glover. Through August, the company will clean a suit and two shirts (or two dresses) for job seekers who can show proof of their unemployment.
2. HandCraft Cleaners, handcraftdrycleaners.com
3. Bill's Cleaners & Laundry, 3467 W. Cary St., 358-7337
Best Auto Mechanic
Wallace Automotive
607 Research Road, 897-0700; 7427 W. Broad St., 501-0700
Every day, Wallace Automotive cranks through about 25 cars, specializing in quality but affordable Honda and Acura repair. "We use genuine Honda and Acura parts," Wallace says, adding that they offer "the attention to detail that the dealership can give, without the price." And owner Bruce Wallace knows Hondas — inspired by his mechanically inclined, drag-racing father, a 10-year-old Wallace worked at Richmond Honda washing cars and later joined the staff, until he opened Wallace Automotive in 1996. He adds that the shop's experienced staffers strive for a pristine environment — "I want to appeal to women, that we are not going to get your car dirty."
2. Allen Tire Inc., 5606 W. Broad St., 288-3950
3. (Tie) David Word Automotive, 2000 Dabney Road, 358-9100; Ron Ellis Frame & Front End, 810 Murray Olds Drive, 379-8172
Best Store for Hip, Fun Shoes
Saxon
Short Pump Town Center, 285-3473
Saxon's Short Pump store has 27,000 square feet for inventory — a space that could swallow multiple department-store shoe shops. This is why Saxon president Gary Weiner is reluctant to guess how many brands they carry. And if you can't find something hip or fun in that mountain o' shoes, you're just not looking hard enough.
2. DSW, 9880 West Broad St., 290-4244; 1300 Huguenot Road, 379-3479
3. Nordstrom, Short Pump Town Center, 364-6900
Best Store for Fashion-Forward Clothes
Pink
3158 W. Cary St., 358-0884
It's probably not a bad idea, when in search of trendy designers, to look where the rich and famous shop. Pink has certainly seen its share of visiting celebrities, including race-car driver Danica Patrick, actors Angelica Huston and Hillary Swank, Olympic skater Kristi Yamaguchi and even the rockers in Aerosmith, according to owners Libby Sykes and Deborah Boschen.
2. (Tie) H&M, Short Pump Town Center, 364-9949; Nordstrom, Short Pump Town Center, 364-6900
3. Need Supply, 3010 W Cary St., 355-5880
Best Flooring Selection
Costen Floors Inc.
9840 Mayland Drive, 527-2929
Even when it comes to what's under foot, more homeowners are trying to keep it green, according to Costen spokeswoman Theresa Kitchen. "We have ‘green' carpet, and all of our hardwood surfaces are harvested from sustainable forests," she says. The full-service flooring company, which has 120 employees, celebrates its 60th anniversary this year.
2. Lowe's, lowes.com
3. Capitol Floors & Decorating, 4200 Brookriver Drive, 360-1600
Best Plant Selection
Strange's
Visit stranges.com for locations.
For many in the region, Strange's has been the go-to flower shop for generations, but these days, its garden centers are getting more traffic from frugal folks looking to do some backyard farming. "This year, the demand for vegetables is very high," says Strange's president Bill Gouldin. "And that's economically driven. When times are tough, people want to learn more about how to grow food to save money."
2. Great Big Greenhouse, 2051 Huguenot Road, 320-1317
3. Lowe's, lowes.com
Best Prom-Dress Selection
Lex's
3020 W Cary St., 355-5425
One can imagine a dress shop being a prime backdrop for drama between a mother and her daughter. Last year, however, it was shop owner Lisa McSherry's turn to experience the drama when a couple of counties' school officials tightened dress codes for high-school proms. Girls who had bought their gowns months before came back to McSherry in desperation. This year, she's ahead of the curve, making sure to cover the spectrum with some more-conservative designs in addition to the latest trends.
2. Bella Rosa Bridal & Special Occasions, 11114 W. Broad St., 360-8120
3. David's Bridal, 101 W. Broad St., 747-9920
Best Addition to Short Pump
Trader Joe's
11331 W. Broad St., 360-4098
A safety warning: Please don't get between a Trader Joe's fanatic and … Trader Joe's. When the region's first store came to Short Pump late last year, some shoppers were overcome with gratitude and affection, says store captain (aka manager) Kevin Risser. "We received lots of kisses from our customers and even had some kiss the ground inside our store."
2. Whole Foods, 11173 W. Broad St., 364-4050
3. Dave & Buster's, 4001 Brownstone Blvd., 967-7399
Worst Addition to Short Pump
Traffic and West Broad Village
Maybe it's best to meet this head-on: No, it's not farmland anymore, and that makes a lot of folks sad, especially when they have to dodge 2,400 other cars an hour (according to VDOT traffic stats) on their way to Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Dave & Buster's or any of the other additions to the steadily developing strip of West Broad Street. We've met the enemy, and he is us.
2. (Tie) Apartments/Condos
3. (Tie) Everything/The Mall
Best Wallpaper Selection
Williams & Sherrill Interiors
2003 Huguenot Road, 320-1730
In 1990, when owner Patrick Williams started the business (borrowing the name of his future mother-in-law for the other half of the store moniker), Williams & Sherrill was a small operation with only a select offering of fabric and wallpaper. Today, the huge store is regarded as an East Coast mecca for interior decorators. "If anybody makes wallpaper, we have access to it," says Williams.
2. Lowe's, lowes.com
Best Store for Traditional/Transitional Furniture
Leo Burke Furniture
3108 W Cary St., 358-5773
As a teenager in the early '70s, Jack Burke started working in his father's Carytown store by helping with deliveries. Now the owner, today Jack has a cast of expert employees who have been around almost as long as he has. "Nobody has been here for less than 10 years," Burke says, adding that two of the store veterans have been there 38 years and 27 years, respectively.
2. (Tie) Haverty's Furniture, 11501 Midlothian Turnpike, 794-7902, 10070 W. Broad St., 270-7043; Virginia Wayside Furniture, 10500 Patterson Ave., 740-3124
3. Ethan Allen Interior Design Center, 12000 W. Broad St., 360-1530
Best Store for Modern/Contemporary Furniture
La Différence
125 S. 14th St., 648-6210
Modern furniture these days is not just about the lines, the textures and the colors, but also how mindfully it's made, says La Différence owner Andy Thornton. "For a long time, furniture suffered from the ‘disposable syndrome.' " La Diff has steadily seen more consumer demand for green or "sustainable" furniture — now about a third of its inventory meets
that market.
2. Crate and Barrel, Short Pump Town Center, 364-0820
3. Ruth and Ollie, 3445 W. Cary St., 288-3360
Best Store to Find Unique Gemstone Necklaces
Capri
Short Pump Crossing, 11525 W. Broad St., 364-6000; Virginia Center Commons, 10069 Brook Road, Glen Allen, 553-1444
Capri Jewelers CEO Christopher DeCapri says that fashions coming off the runway and onto the red carpet these days are paying heed to the down economy. It shows in the jewelry, he says, especially when it comes to making a statement. "People are looking for bold, crisp designs that may be more affordable," he says.
2. Cocoanut Jewelry, Willow Lawn Shopping Center, 282-1335
3. Vera's Fine Jewelers, 16701 Midlothian Turnpike, 794-5671
Best Store for Timeless Dresses
Talbots
Visit talbots.com for locations.
2. (Tie) Ann Taylor, anntaylor.com; Macy's, macys.com
3. Nordstrom, Short Pump Town Center, 364-6900
