Seven Daysies: Annual Guide to Readers' Picks

Services+Stuff

When it comes to shopping for stuff, you people know what you like. No big surprises here. Except maybe that the Men’s Store in Montpelier finally overtook Burlington’s Michael Kehoe for best men’s clothing. And that humble little Crow Bookshop faced down the mighty Goliath Barnes & Noble — and won. Here’s to independent bookstores and, let’s face it, prime Church Street real estate.

You probably thought we’d covered everything you could think to buy last year, but we didn’t! So we added a few new categories, including best pet daycare (Gulliver’s Doggie Daycare), best toy store (Woodbury Mountain Toys) and an outside Chittenden County award for best lighting store (Barre Electric & Lighting supply).

Jennifer Kahn, who was named best Vermont craftsperson in 2008 before we retired the category, found her way back to a Daysie this year, taking the title of best local jewelry designer from last year’s winner Timothy Grannis.

It was a tight race for financial institutions this year. Defending champion Merchants Bank edged out runner-up New England Federal Credit Union with just seven votes!

Anjou & the Little Pear is getting its moment in the sun. The consignment store was runner-up to ReStore last year for best antique/secondhand store; this year, the two shops flip-flopped. In another switcheroo, the Old Spokes Home is back in the game as best bike shop, having lost its title to runner-up Skirack last year. And then there are the Stowe spas ever jockeying for a Daysie. This year, the best spa title went to Stoweflake Mountain Resort & Spa, with Topnotch Resort and Spa about 40 votes behind.

For the second year, you named Perrywinkle’s best jewelry store, with Zinnia not far behind. In trying to cast your vote for that category, one of you stumbled on a moment of self-discovery. “Kay?” you suggested. “I don’t know. I’m divorced … maybe that’s why.”

In the wedding world, the Inn at Shelburne Farms and the Inn at the Round Barn Farm are holding tight to their best Vermont wedding venue titles, inside and outside Chittenden County, respectively. Fiori Bridal Boutique in Essex Junction has been the reigning bridal salon since 2006 — except for the one time this year’s runner-up, Sewly Yours & Once Upon a Bride, won the title. Still, one respondent remained mystified by the whole bridal salon thing, offering, “The one that actually sells brides?”

The majority of last year’s winners coasted easily to another victory. Full Tank and Good Stuff remain, by far, your favorite places to buy pipes and adult toys, respectively. Seventh Generation still has a reputation as the greenest Vermont business. And you seem to seriously love the Automaster of Shelburne — does it have anything to do with that commanding name?

Kudos to Gardener’s Supply and Pet Food Warehouse, who each won with colossal leads of more than 600 votes. Whatever they’re doing, it’s clearly working.

— Megan James

Click the links below to see the runners-up, previous winners and spotlights (where available) in each category.