Services+Stuff

There’s nothing a dedicated shopper likes more than new stores to check out. But Seven Days readers still keep voting for the tried and true. For six straight wins, the following should stand up and take a bow: Sweet Lady Jane, ecco, Eyes of the World, Stella, Pet Food Warehouse, Advance Music Center, Pure Pop, Outdoor Gear Exchange, Waterfront Video, Imago, Gardener’s Supply and Yankee Tattoo. We can add Homeport to that list if you count its previous incarnation as Pier One. In addition, Buch Spieler, Bear Pond Books and PhotoGarden have reigned since we introduced their categories, and others have won at least three times.

We’re delighted to hand out awards, but there’s not much we can do about the economy. Retailers struggle during a downturn, which is one of several good reasons to support local businesses — and as a locally owned media outlet, that’s a soapbox Seven Days is proud to stand on.

But times are especially tough for shopkeepers whose merchandise is trampled by the relentless march of technology. CDs, for example. Buch Spieler owner Fred Wilber says he’s bolstered the inventory in his 35-year-old Montpelier establishment with fun gift items, and augmented the income with online sales. His goal, he says darkly, is “to be the last standing record store in America.” At least it’s a Daysie-winning one. Feel the love.

We’ve only one surprising upset to report in this section: After five years at the top, Burlington’s Indigo salon dropped the, um, scissors, while Stephen & Burns Salon & Spa slid into first; The Men’s Room held onto second place.

On the bookstore map, in Chittenden County, Seven Days readers have bounced between David and Goliath: Crow and Barnes & Noble. But this year for the first time, another giant stepped in: Borders. B&N was runner-up, nudging the beloved indie out of the Daysie field. With the popular Ashley’s Furniture now gone, Burlington Furniture Company (formerly Burlington Futon) moved in (Best Furniture Store), while Vermont Furniture Galleries and Wendell’s will have to settle for sharing runner-up. Bet they won’t take that sitting down next year! The only other new winner in a pre-existing category is Planet Fitness — the South Burlington and Essex gym muscled Sports & Fitness Edge into second place.

We tried out some brand-new categories this year, and the readers spoke. Evolution Physical Therapy & Yoga can pose as Best Yoga Studio, with Yoga Vermont just a few asanas behind. Waitsfield-based Small Dog Electronics scored Best Computer Store over national chain Circuit City. Similarly, Seven Days readers preferred municipally owned Burlington Telecom over behemoth Comcast for Best Internet Provider. We dropped Glass Shop and added Smoke Shop, with an entirely different result: Instead of Full Tank (now second place — sorry, pipe peeps), voters went for Garcia’s Tobacco Shop. Lake views and 19th-century splendor probably helped Shelburne Farms take the cake in the Best Wedding Venue category — but runner-up The Round Barn in Waitsfield is pretty nice, too.

When you gotta go . . . You’re surely eager to know the location of the Best Public Restroom in Vermont. According to Seven Days readers, it’s at Burlington City Hall. Lower level. Keep that in mind when you’re on the Marketplace supporting the economy. Clearly a mobile bunch, readers chose “rest stops on I-89” as runner-up — the majority of votes for the spiffy station in Williston.

And finally, we asked voters to tell us the Best Place to Spend $20, but there wasn’t anything close to consensus. Perhaps we should have said $200? First place was tied three very diverse ways: Zutano, Borders and the Peace & Justice Store. Pure Pop was runner-up. Anyway, spend it if you got it, people, but don’t forget to save some, too, and help others less fortunate whenever you can. What goes around comes around.
-Pamela Polston