Fresno Bee People's Choice 2019 by McClatchy Custom Publications

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THE CONTEST

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he Fresno Bee’s People’s Choice Awards have been determined. Every spring, we celebrate the best of the best by asking you, our readers, to cast your votes. All those votes have been tabulated, and the winners list is here. There are some businesses that are consistently listed here, places that are such Valley favorites that they couldn’t help but be named winners. In other cases, long-established industry greats are joined by newcomers, businesses that are new to the Valley, but have quickly earned a place of honor. Join us as we celebrate both. You voted for your favorite places to shop, to play and to get things done, and the winners all have one thing in common. They are the people and places that offer top-quality products and customer service, the stuff that keeps us coming back for more. The Central Valley is growing and changing, which means there is so much to celebrate. This special section was written and produced by the Custom Publications Department of The Fresno Bee. Custom Publications Editor Carey M. Norton Assistant Editor Monica Stevens

The Categories

Lead writer Janessa Tyler Staff Writers Carey Norton, Monica Stevens and Dani Villalobos Additional writing by Emily Cameron, Carole Grosch, Doug Hoagland and Nancy Price Staff Photography Gary Kazanjian Additional photography by Wayne Hutchison. Archive photos from Silvia Flores, John Walker and Joe Johnston. Submitted photo from Cary Edmondson. Cover Juan Vega

Arts and Entertainment Art Gallery ................................6 Central Coast Destination ..............6 Golf Course ...............................6 Local Casino ..............................6 Museum ...................................8 Nightclub ..................................8 Performing Arts Venue/Theater ........8 Sports Bar ...............................10 Water Park ..............................10 Winery ....................................10

Food and Drink Bagels or Bread .........................11 Bakery ....................................11 Barbecue Restaurant ...................11 Breakfast Place .........................13 Buffet .....................................13 Caterer ...................................14 Chinese Restaurant .....................15 Coffee House ........................... 15 Cupcake Shop ...........................15

Delicatessen .............................15 Desserts .................................16 Family Restaurant ...................... 17 Fine Dining ...............................17 Food Truck ...............................17 Hamburgers ..............................18 Hot Dogs .................................20 Ice Cream ...............................20 Indian Restaurant ......................20 Italian Restaurant .......................21 Japanese Restaurant ...................22 Mediterranean Restaurant ............22 Mexican Restaurant ....................24 Microbrewery ............................24 Patio and Outdoor Dining .............24 Pizza ......................................25 Sandwich Shop ..........................25 Seafood ..................................25 Steakhouse ..............................26 Sunday Brunch ..........................26 Sushi .....................................26 Tea House ...............................26 Thai Restaurant .........................27 Wedding Cake ...........................27

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Health and Fitness Athletic Club ...................................27 Chiropractor ...................................27 Diet Headquarters ............................27 Eye Doctor/Group .............................28 Hospital ........................................28 Martial Arts Center ...........................28 Women’s Fitness Center ......................28 Yoga Studio ................................... 29

Local People and Places Best Company to Work For ................. 29 Family Fun .................................... 29 Local Festival/Event ..........................30 Local Radio Personality/Team .............. 30 Sportscaster .................................. 31 Television Anchor ............................. 31 Weathercaster ................................ 32

Services Air Conditioning/Heating Repair ........... 33 Alterations .................................... 33 Animal Boarding .............................. 33 Auto Service Center ......................... 33 Bank ........................................... 34 Car Wash ...................................... 34 Closet and Garage Storage Organizers .... 35 College or University ........................ 36 Cosmetic/Medical Spa ...................... 36 Credit Union .................................. 37 Day Spa ....................................... 38 Dry Cleaners .................................. 38 Employment Agency ......................... 38

Hair Salon ..................................... 38 Home Theater Technology Company ....... 40 Home Window Replacement ................ 40 House Cleaning Service ...................... 41 Licensed Day Care Center .................. 41 Mortgage Company .......................... 41 Nail Salon ..................................... 42 New Home Builder ........................... 42 Oil Change Center ............................ 43 Pet Groomer .................................. 43 Photo Processing ............................ 44 Photography .................................. 44 Pool Builder ................................... 44 Real Estate Company ........................ 44 Retirement Community ...................... 45 Solar Company ............................... 45 Tanning Salon ................................. 46 Trade/Technical School ...................... 46 Travel Agency ................................. 48 Tree Service ................................... 48 Tutorial Center ............................... 48 Veterinarian/Animal Clinic .................. 49

Shopping Bicycle Store ................................. 49 Boutique ........................................49 Children’s Clothing ........................... 51 Consignment Store ............................51

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Domestic Auto Dealer ....................... 52 Electronics Store ............................. 52 Flooring Store .................................52 Flower Shop ................................... 52 Furniture Store ............................... 53 Grocery Store ................................. 53 Home Improvement Store .................. 54 Import Auto Dealer .......................... 54 Jewelry Store ................................. 54 Local Hardware Store ....................... 55 Luxury Auto Dealer .......................... 55 Mattress Store ............................... 56 Meat Market .................................. 56 Men’s Clothing ................................ 57 Motorcycle/ATV Dealer ...................... 57 Musical Merchandise ........................ 57 Party Supply Store ........................... 57 Pet Store ...................................... 58 Photo Supply Store .......................... 59 Plant and Garden Store ..................... 59 RV Dealer ..................................... 59 Shopping Center ............................. 59 Spa Dealer .................................... 60 Specialty Gift Store ......................... 60 Sporting Goods Store ....................... 60 Tire Dealer .................................... 61 Used Car Dealer .............................. 61 Watercraft Dealer ............................ 62 Wedding and Formal Attire ................. 62 Wine Selection ................................ 62 Women’s Clothing ............................ 62

Hidden Gems Mochuelo ...................................... 14 Aquarius Aquarium ........................... 37 Grandpa’s Popcorn and Sweets ............ 56

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Arts & Entertainment

People’s Choice Association NorCal tournaments. The Fitness Centre provides members with equipment by Life Fitness, Cybex and Schwinn Carbon Blue, along with exercise classes from HIIT to Cardio Jam. The Swim Pavilion includes a 25-meter outdoor swimming pool with lap lanes, which is heated throughout the fall and winter.

Art Gallery

1 Arte Américas 1630 Van Ness Ave. (559) 266-2623 arteamericas.org The Central Valley is home to Arte Américas — a flourishing place for Latino arts. Known as Casa De La Cultura, the 10,000-square-foot cultural center has been an art gallery in the Cultural Arts District of downtown Fresno for more than 30 years. The cultural center is recognized as a key stakeholder working to redefine downtown Fresno. It hosts Friday night concerts, Nights in the Plaza, from May to September, as well as ArtHop on the first Thursday of each month. The familyfriendly events and exhibits feature community artists with talents that celebrate Latino arts. There are performances by Flamenco, folklorico and mariachi ensembles, and presentations by poets, authors, writers and novelists. Camino’s launched the 2019 season by opening on Sunday, March 3. Lilia Gonzáles Chávez, the executive director of Fresno Arts Council, says the exhibit is “a comprehensive look at Latinos in the Central Valley.” On the horizon for 2019: The Dia de las Madres (Mother’s Day) Celebration in May. You can bring your mother(s) for brunch at La Plazita. The Cala Gala will return to celebrate Dia de los Muerto in early November. “For the holidays, Arte Américas will be filled with traditional Nacimientos (Nativity scenes) created by community artists,” Gonzáles Chávez says.

2. M Street Arts Complex 1419 M St. (559) 438-8200 mstreetarts.com

3. Fig Tree Gallery 644 Van Ness Ave. (559) 485-0460 figtreegallery.us

Central Coast Destination

1 Pismo Beach classiccalifornia.com If you haven’t been to Pismo Beach lately, it’s time to go back.

2. Fort Washington Golf and Country Club 10272 N. Millbrook Ave. (559) 434-1702 fortwashingtoncc.org

3. San Joaquin Country Club 3484 W. Bluff Ave. (559) 439-3484 sjcc.cc

CENTRAL COAST DESTINATION: The newly renovated Pismo Beach Pier is open for visitors. It closed in March 2017 as part of an $8.7 million overhaul of the aging structure located in the People’s Choice for Best Central Coast Destination, Pismo Beach. First and foremost, the iconic Pismo Beach Pier has reopened after an 18month renovation. The $8.7 million overhaul of the aging structure closed the pier from March 2017 to October 2018. During that time, deck boards, wooden pilings and supports were replaced. Before the renovation, city officials said there were wooden boards on the structure that hadn’t been replaced since the pier was built in 1928. As it stands now, the Pismo Beach Pier is the 18th longest in California, at 1,200 feet. The pier’s facelift is the cornerstone of a larger project that will, planners hope, make this great beach town even better. The project to redesign the pier’s plaza area includes redesigned public restrooms and a newly created stage area with “flex spaces” for farmers markets and public events. The plaza renovation project — and new hotels in the area — will take up space that is currently used for parking. A story in the San Luis Obispo Tribune noted, however, that the parking area is being reconfigured to maximize parking in the smaller space. Between removing landscaping and making all the spots parallel, rather than at an angle, the lot would likely only lose about five parking spaces at the project’s completion. While you’re visiting Pismo Beach, make sure to explore beyond the pier area. The city of Pismo Beach has miles of sandy shores, unending entertainment options and some of the best restaurants, clam chowder and scenery around. Also make sure to visit the Monarch Butterfly Grove, Dinosaur Caves Park or the Oceano Dunes State Vehicular Recreation Area.

2. Monterey seemonterey.com

3. Morro Bay morrobay.org

Golf Course

1 Copper River Country Club 2140 E. Clubhouse Drive (559) 434-5200 copperrivercountryclub.com Tranquility and natural beauty meet at Copper River Country Club. Located at the end of the palm tree-lined driveway sits an early California-inspired clubhouse surrounded by an 18-hole, par 72 golf course that was designed by David W. Pfaff. The world-renowned golf course architect designed the country club at the base of the Sierra Nevada mountain range — offering members a picturesque view while burning calories. Members also have access to La Cantina for hot and cold sandwiches, soups and salads, and a selection of grab-andgo snacks. The Restaurant at Copper River, offering lunch items Wednesday through Saturday, is open to the public. The menu for Sunday brunch includes made-to-order omelets, pancakes and French toast, and classic sides like bacon and sausage. The country club also features 15 LEDlighted tennis courts and two clay courts, which host the United States Tennis

Local Casino

1 Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino 711 Lucky Lane, Coarsegold (866) 794-6946 chukchansigold.com They say winning isn’t everything. But at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino, the local gaming destination gives its players as many opportunities as possible to make it happen. A whopping 1,800 slot machines, 36 live table games, nine progressive table games and a High Limit Room help make up the landscape of Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino’s 56,000-square-foot gaming floor. Visitors are welcome to test their luck at the casino’s popular slot machine games, including Dragon Link, Wheel of Fortune, Buffalo, Lightning Links and Monopoly series. “We have premium slots, regular reel, video slots, Keno, electronic table games including poker and craps. We also have wide area progressives, which have large top jackpots,” says Deann Kamalani, Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino’s director of marketing. “We’re always refreshing our casino floor with the newest games in the Valley.” The casino recently upped the ante for its Rewards Club members, which earns users points for fine dining, resort accommodations, merchandise, extended gaming and cash with every slot or table game played. Points are now double what they used to be, according to Kamalani, and are worth twice as much than any other casino program in California. And Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino is all about its guests winning big. More than 300 machines have jackpots of

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Arts & Entertainment $10,000 or more, while several of its wide area progressive table games have jackpots starting in the mid-$100,000 range that grow into millions of dollars. The biggest jackpot since its 2018 reopening was $1.5 million on the Monopoly Millionaire slot. But what really makes the casino a stand out is that Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino is much more. “Chukchansi is the only casino in the Central Valley with resort accommodations and amenities for our guests to enjoy unlike any other — offering more than 400 spacious rooms and suites, six dining venues with distinct cuisines options, four bars, two café venues, a luxurious spa, indoor/outdoor pool and weekly live entertainment, along with our Summer Concert Series hosted in our 1,900-seat Outdoor Pavilion,” Kamalani says. Add in the spectacular views and proximity of nearby Yosemite National Park, and it’s nearly impossible to leave this place feeling less than lucky.

People’s Choice

LOCAL CASINO: Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino offers table games, entertainment and dining options just minutes away from Fresno.

2. Table Mountain Casino 8184 Table Mountain Road, Friant (559) 822-7777 tmcasino.com

3. Tachi Palace 17225 Jersey Ave., Lemoore (866) 4PALACE tachipalace.com

Museum

1 Forestiere Underground Gardens 5021 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 271-0734 undergroundgardens.com

MUSEUM: The work of Baldassare Forestiere, a Sicilian immigrant who created an oasis below Fresno’s ground floor in the early 1900s, is designated as a California Registered Historical Landmark and is the People’s Choice winner for Best Museum.

Central Valley’s heat during the summer months is inescapable. That is, unless you’re Baldassare Forestiere. The Sicilian immigrant created his own oasis below Fresno’s ground floor in the early 1900s — imaginatively crafting nearly 10 acres of patios, grottoes and garden courts from the blueprint of his own mind. Today, Forestiere’s work is a designated as a California Registered Historical Landmark and has been visited by people from 50 U.S. states and as many as 80 countries around the globe. “The Underground Gardens provides guided tours through a one-of-a kind inspirational environment that offers a testament on how our dreams and talents can help us achieve the unbelievable,” says Lyn Forestiere Kosewski, great-niece of Baldassare Forestiere and co-owner of Forestiere Underground Gardens LLC. “For 40 years, Forestiere dreamed and labored in his spare time to build an

underground Mediterranean resort. … Although he didn’t live to complete his resort, what remains has proven to be an even greater legacy than he imagined.” The one-hour tour includes the history of the site, weaving guests through three levels of a subterranean maze and courtyards filled with fruit trees and grapevines originally planted by Forestiere. Forestiere Kosewski notes that visitors will even experience an underground home, which consists of a kitchen, dining room, two bedrooms and a fireplace. Tour season runs from April through November, with the summer drawing out the bigger crowds starting Memorial Day weekend. Forestiere Kosewksi recommends visitors wear comfortable shoes and check back with Forestiere Underground Gardens online for updates and special announcements throughout the year.

2. Fresno Art Museum 2233 N. First St. (559) 441-4221 fresnoartmuseum.org

3. Arte Américas 1630 Van Ness Ave. (559) 266-2623 arteamericas.org

Nightclub

1 Fulton 55 875 Divisadero St. (559) 412-7400 fulton55.com Located on the corner of Divisadero and Fulton streets, Fulton 55 is a landmark in the Mural Arts District of downtown Fresno. The nightclub hosts a

diversity of acts in various genres. For example, February included a mariachi ensemble, tribute bands and four California-based comedians. “The atmosphere changes from show to show, but we always provide a safe, fun place to visit,” says Tony Martin, the general manager of Fulton 55. Recently, the nightclub hosted Tenova, an American DJ, producer and songwriter; Prey 4 Reign, a Fresno-based metal band; Metalachi, a heavy metal/mariachi ensemble; and Patrick Contreras; a Carlos Santana tribute act. Situated in a two-story building, the nightclub can also accommodate large crowds for private parties, holiday celebrations and corporate events.

2. The Standard Restaurant and Lounge 9455 Fort Washington Road (559) 434-3638 standardfresno.com

3. Strummer’s 833 E. Fern Ave. (559) 485-5356 strummersclub.com

Performing Arts Venue/Theater

1 Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater 1226 N. Wishon Ave. (559) 266-9494 rogerrockas.com Located on Wishon Avenue in the Tower District, Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater has been the hub for live theater

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Arts & Entertainment

People’s Choice

for more than four decades. The performing arts venue was started by Roger Rocka and Dan Pessano in 1978. It became the home of Good Company Players, which was founded by Pessano and a group of local actors and musicians in 1973. It features shows with broad appeal, family-friendly themes and a cross section of works to get the community involved. Rocka attributes the success of the performing arts venue to “friendly, attentive service” and “customers who become friends.” And, of course, meticulous attention is paid to the menu. With Eric DeGroot behind the menu, you can expect to see mouth-watering plates designed to complement the shows. For example, the menu for “Mama Mia!” included pan-seared chicken, New York steak and ricotta-stuffed gnocchi. Cocktails, inspired by the soundtrack, were named S.O.S., Dancing Queen and Honey, Honey. The 2019 schedule of shows includes performances of “Hairspray,” “Disney’s Newsies,” “Calamity Jane,” “Man of La Mancha” and “Elf The Musical.”

cheese — or The Pig Sandwich, shredded pork, coleslaw and barbecue sauce on a French roll. You can also find a hearty selection of beers like 805, Union Jack, DBA, Luponic Distortion, Modelo, Blue Moon and Guinness.

2. Saroyan Theatre 730 M St. (559) 445-8100

Wild Water Adventures 11413 E. Shaw Ave., Clovis (559) 299-9453

fresnoconventioncenter.com/saroyan-theatre

3. The Tower Theatre for the Performing Arts 815 E. Olive Ave. (559) 485-9050 towertheatrefresno.com

Sports Bar

1 Dog House Grill 2789 E. Shaw Ave. (559) 294-9920 firestonegrill.com/dog-house-grill Sport fans can rejoice when they enter Dog House Grill, located across the street from Fresno State and the Save Mart Center. It starts with TVs — lots of big screens. The restaurant/bar features 10 70-inch TVs and four 120-inch projector screens to help you catch all the details of the games. The interior is decorated with photographs and memorabilia from legends in the NFL, NBA and MLB — a treat for sport fans. The owners, David and Vickie Billingsley, created the menu to satisfy your taste buds after rooting and cheering for your favorite team. You can’t go wrong with the tri-tip steak sandwich, the ABC Burger — avocado, bacon and Jack

2. Mad Duck Craft Brewing Co. 3085 E. Campus Pointe Drive (559) 325-3825 765 W. Herndon Ave., Suite 200, Clovis (559) 298-3825 madduckcraft.com

3. Sequoia Brewing Company Multiple locations sequoiabrewing.com

Water Park

1 wildwater.net There’s a common understanding once summer hits the Central Valley: stay indoors. But Wild Water Adventure Park enthusiasts have come to a different conclusion. If you can’t beat the heat — why not find a way to enjoy it? The family-owned water park is the largest in California, filling its 52 acres with an impressive 38 slides, 20 attractions, fishing lakes, sports fields and barbecue areas for families to take advantage of. And after celebrating its 45th anniversary in 2018, Central Valley residents have experienced first-hand how Wild Water Adventure Park’s grown from the humble picnic area, Serena Vista Lakes, to Clovis Lakes’ single Olympicsized pool in 1977, and finally into the ultimate summer playground it is today. Thrill-seekers can find their match in its plunging Drop Zone, Ghostslider and Sidewinder slides while attractions like Thunder Falls and The Blue Wave provide more family-friendly fun for all ages to enjoy. One of its most recent additions, the Kaleidoslide, combines the gaming obsession of today with some good oldfashioned adventure — a true melding of the virtual and reality. Riders aim for various targets while rushing down the waterslide, with top-scorers earning recognition on its leaderboard throughout the day. During the summer, Wild Water Adventure Park transforms into the main stage for its annual Star Spangled Revue, which features patriotic music, a laser

SPORTS BAR: Fresno State students cheer for Fresno State during the 2016 NCAA tournament basketball game against Utah at Dog House Grill in Fresno. light show and fireworks to help celebrate the Fourth of July. It’s become a staple of the park since debuting in 1989 — so much so that it’s now the Central Valley’s No. 1 Independence Day celebration with encore performances on multiple weekends. Wild Water Adventure Park remains the only water park in the state that allows visitors to bring in their own gear, food, beverages and games — helping to make guests’ experiences more affordable and uniquely their own. Season passes are available online.

2. Island Waterpark 6099 W. Barstow Ave. (559) 277-6800 islandwaterpark.com

3. Blackbeard’s Family Entertainment Center 4055 N. Chestnut Diagonal (559) 292-9000 blackbeardsfresno.com

Winery

1 Solitary Cellars 32749 Avenue 7 B, Madera (559) 481-1150 solitarycellars.com Before starting Solitary Cellars Wine Company, Greg Bergersen and Rick Quesada came from careers in the Cali-

fornia Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation. In 2014, they decided to combine their knowledge of and love for wine to create Solitary Cellars Wine Company. “We work very hard to bring a highquality and flavorful wine to your glass,” Bergersen says. The North Block Tasting Room is located on Avenue 7 in Madera; the winery is located on Lockeford Street in Lodi. It harvests fruit under the Lodi Rules for Sustainable Winegrowing Certification Program. It also sources fruit from the Central Valley, as well as Paso Robles, Santa Barbara, Lodi, Napa County, Sonoma County and the Santa Lucia Highlands. “We offer single varietals such as pinot noir, old-vine zinfandel, cabernet sauvignon, barbera and merlot, but our blends lead the way,” Bergersen says. The Lifer is a combination cabernet sauvignon, merlot and zinfandel grape varieties. Code Three, a blend of Grenache, syrah and Mourvèdre grape varieties, will be released in the spring. Bergersen says the most popular blend is “the wedding wine” called Ball and Chain.

2. Fresno State Winery 2360 E. Barstow Ave. (559) 278-4867 fresnostatewines.com

3. Engelmann Cellars 3275 N. Rolinda Ave. (559) 274-9463 engelmanncellars.com

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Food and Drink

People’s Choice Grill to include barbecue and American food staples like the tri-tip steak sandwich — slices of tri-tip tossed in barbecue sauce on a French roll — and The Pig Sandwich — shredded pork, coleslaw and barbecue sauce on a French roll. For burgers, try the one-third-pound cheeseburger, the ABC Burger or the Monster Burger. Complete your meal with a basket of fries or onion rings. You can also find a wide selection of beer like 805, Union Jack, DBA, Luponic Distortion, Modelo, Blue Moon and Guinness.

Bagels or Bread

1 Uncle Harry’s New York Bagelry and Coffeehouse Multiple locations

3. Panera Bread Co. multiple locations

BARBECUE RESTAURANT: A tri-tip sandwich, fries and a drink are popular items at Dog House Grill. From biscotti, cheesecake, cinnamon rolls and cupcakes to Nicoise tortes, scones, sugar cookies and 9-inch pies, the variety of products are expansive. The key to success for the bakery is customization. Specialty items include wheat and flourless, as well as low-sugar products. Baguettes, rolls, croissants and loaves of bread are made daily. The bakery also serves breakfast and lunch items from omelets and French toast to Belgian waffles and biscuits topped with gravy. After 11 a.m., indulge in lunchtime grub like the California Club, the Bacon Bleu Burger or the Southwest Chicken Salad.

2. La Boulangerie French Bakery & Cafe 730 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 222-0555 laboufresno.com

www.panerabread.com

3. Nothing Bundt Cakes 635 W. Herndon Ave., Suite 100, Clovis (559) 298-7698

Bakery

nothingbundtcakes.com

Barbecue Restaurant

Eddie’s Bakery Cafe 7089 N. Cedar Ave. (559) 323-0900 eddiesbakerycafe.com Located at Herndon and Cedar avenues, Eddie’s Bakery Café has been a local icon for eight decades. Owned by Marc and Rachelle Wickliffe, the bakery creates products with fresh, high-quality ingredients.

Dog House Grill 289 E. Shaw Ave. (559) 294-9920

Since 2004, the restaurant has provided the Central Valley with mouth-watering plates that create a jam-packed parking lot. The owners, David and Vickie Billingsley, perfected the menu for Dog House

3. The Meat Market — The Grill 454 W. Alluvial Ave. (559) 436-6688 1990 N. Fowler Ave, Suite 120, Clovis (559) 256-1390

PEOPLE'S CHOICE WINNER 14 TIMES! "BEST ITALIAN RESTAURANT"

The Lounge @ Dicicco’s YD E VER

AY!

Glow Nite

& SLICE OF COMEDY EVERY FRIDAY & SATURDAY

firestonegrill.com/dog-house-grill Located on Shaw and Chestnut avenues near Fresno State, Dog House Grill is a landmark in the Fresno-Clovis area.

themeatmarket.com

408 Clovis Ave, Clovis

.com

laboufresno.com

westwoodsbbq.com

lovis

2. La Boulangerie French Bakery & Cafe 730 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 222-0555

2. Westwoods BBQ & Spice Co. 8042 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 449-9227

dicic cosc

Since opening in 1995, Uncle Harry’s New York Bagelry and Coffeehouse has been a mainstay in the Fresno area. Operating as a mom-and-pop shop, the bagelry focuses on using fresh, highquality ingredients. The bagelry has built a reputation on serving cream cheese schmears and bagels of various flavors, as well as a variety of coffee and espresso drinks, caramel apple cider, hot chocolate and Italian soda. The Beggelwich — a popular item on the menu — has scrambled eggs, American cheese and your choice of meat (sausage, bacon, ham or Canadian bacon) stuffed within two halves of a bagel of your choice. The Ultimate is a favorite option of the Beggelwich. It has scrambled eggs, American cheese, hash browns, bacon and sausage. The Traditional Lox Sandwich has slices of Nova lox, cream cheese, red onions and tomatoes on a bagel. The selection of bagels includes cinnamon raisin, sun-dried tomato, banana nut, chocolate-chocolate chip, cranberry orange and gingerbread. Cream cheese schmears like Lite Supreme Spinach and Lite Sundried Tomato Basil are packed with flavor. The possibilities of satisfying your appetite are endless.

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I VE RS AR N N

2019

1993 A

MEDITERRANEAN GRILL

LE B R AT I ON

NUMBER ONE, ELEVEN YEARS IN A ROW!

THANK YOU FRESNO! PLEASE CALL US FOR ALL YOUR CATERING NEEDS Whether at your preferred venue or ours! Pick a Menu or Create Your Own.

Delicious Cuisine• Flawless Service Memorable Events Please call us for your next Catering Event Call Mitch at 559-360-3198 medgrillcatering@gmail.com

Mediterranean Grill is a full service, casual restaurant located in downtown Fresno, We are known for our hearty and flavorful Mediterranean dishes and efficient service. We’ve been offering exceptional food at a great value for 26 years.

Our menu features the freshest of ingredients prepared daily under the watchful eyes of our much loved Mama, She takes great pride in insuring and asserting quality and freshness in every dish we serve.

BTW - Mama is doing well, thank you for your thoughts and prayers! Mediterranean Grill • 1031 U Street • Downtown Fresno • Across From Oﬃce Depot • MedGrillFresno.com

559-441-7050

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Breakfast Place

1 Batter Up Pancakes 8029 N. Cedar Ave. (559) 440-1221 batteruppancakes.com Batter Up Pancakes has been a hot spot in northeast Fresno — serving an array of made-to-order breakfast and lunch items to tantalize your taste buds — for a decade. With a gift for pairing pancakes with mouth-watering flavors, Jeff and Becci Colla named the restaurant after their love for America’s pastime. The menu features breakfast and lunch items made with fresh, high-quality ingredients. Becci says the most popular item on the menu is the Tessa Cate Cinnamon Roll — a pancake topped with a generous swirl of brown sugar, butter and cinnamon before being flipped to add a layer of cream cheese frosting. If you have a sweet tooth, the Ice Cream Sundae is a pancake topped with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, drizzled with your choice of boysenberry, straw-

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People’s Choice berry or chocolate syrup, and finished with whipped cream, pecans and sprinkles. As far as omelets are concerned, Becci says the chili verde omelet is a top choice among customers. Omelets come with a pancake or toast, and hash browns, country potatoes, fruit or cottage cheese. You can also order gluten-free pancakes and vegan-friendly dishes like the Vegan Meal. New to the menu: Kaily’s Avocado Toast, Hook’s Scramble, Caveman Paleo and Nikki’s Eggless Cookie Dough Pancake, which was designed by the Collas’ 8-year-old granddaughter. “It’s our earnest desire to provide consistency on a daily basis,” Becci says. “We never skimp on portions or the quality of ingredients in attempt to save a buck.”

2. Red Apple Cafe 488 W. Herndon Ave. (559) 261-1505 3. Fresno Breakfast House 488 W. Herndon Ave. (559) 261-1505

Buffet

1 California Market Buffet at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino 711 Lucky Lane, Coarsegold (866) 794-6946 chukchansigold.com A buffet by nature is designed to delight the taste buds with a diverse spread that’ll leave you more than sated. Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino’s California Market Buffet, however, likes to do one better — bring on the themes! Since 2003, the California Market Buffet has created a menu of regional specialties that reflect California’s cultural heritage. The lunch buffet includes a bounty of traditional American and home-style foods, and rotates four times a year to ensure the freshest seasonal ingredients are used. Its chefs prepare daily specials to surprise regulars with something new each visit, as well as holiday menus throughout the year. Patrons can choose from Californiainspired items such as Fisherman’s Wharf

clam chowder, China Town fried rice and Coarsegold BBQ ribs, with director of marketing, Deann Kamalani, pointing to the buffet’s smoked tri-tip, roasted prime rib and fried chicken as fan-favorites. Come dinnertime, things get a little more festive. The California Market Buffet celebrates themed nights for each day of the week, ranging from Italian and international barbecue to seafood specialties and Mexican cuisine. Many lunch items are also available for the evening buffet, along with baked goods and homemade sweets to round out the varied offerings. Its Sunday champagne brunch is also an event, and includes an impressive helping of breakfast darlings like country sausage, custom omelets, southern biscuits and grits and fresh California fruits.

2. Sweet Tomatoes 7114 N. Fresno St. (559) 435-5797 sweettomatoes.com

3. Sizzler 3121 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 227-1218 sizzler.com

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Food and Drink

People’s Choice Pardini’s Catering offers breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, hors d’oeuvres and themed menus. “We have our menus available to serve as a jumping off point for each client’s unique vision,” Pardini says. “Whether it’s a rustic-style meal served family style or an elegant-plated entrée, we pride ourselves on only using the finest ingredients and cooking on-site to ensure the proper execution of each and every meal.”

Caterer

1 Pardini’s Catering & Banquets 2257 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 224-3188 pardiniscatering.com Pardini’s Catering & Banquets plays a big role on celebration days many clients will long remember. Weddings, reunions and awards banquets are only a few of the events that Pardini’s Catering makes special. The business offers expertise in custom menu planning, venue selection, beverage and bar service, plus floor planning and logistics. “There is nothing more gratifying than to help our clients’ vision come to life from a catering standpoint, but also to use our expertise to assist in any way possible to ensure their entire event is successful,” says Jeff Pardini, the general manager. The Pardini tradition of excellence was well-established by Jeff Pardini’s late grandfather, Al, and his father, Jim.

CHINESE RESTAURANT: Shanghai Chinese Cuisine is a longtime Fresno staple. And it is once again the People’s Choice winner.

2. Bobby Salazar’s Mexican Foods Multiple locations (559) 497-9920 (Tower District), (559) 298-7898 (Clovis), (559) 324-0484 (Herndon/Fowler), (559) 271-0836 (Shaw/Valentine) bobbysalazar.com/catering-party-trays

At Pardini’s Catering on West Shaw Avenue, clients can choose from several banquet options. The Tuscan Room features Italian-inspired décor, a sweeping bar and a dance floor. A separate banquet room offers two salons that can be reserved separately or combined for a

larger crowd. Pardini’s Catering also works with a number of outside venues. Some of them are the Fresno Convention Center, D&D Ranch, Clovis Memorial Hall, Toca Madera Winery, Fresno Chaffee Zoo and the Smittcamp Alumni House at Fresno State.

3. The Painted Table 1211 N. Wishon Ave. (559) 443-7199 paintedtablecatering.com

Hidden Gem: Mochuelo Mochuelo 2305 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 348-5520 piccadillyinn.com/mochuelo Formerly called Oliver’s Pub, Mochuelo features a fresh, contemporary spin in a local iconic hotel. Located in Hotel Piccadilly, the restaurant specializes in Spanish-style tapas and handcrafted cocktails. “The idea for Mochuelo had been brewing in our minds for many years,” says Gene Chien, the owner of Hotel Piccadilly. Chien was inspired to open the restaurant after he and his wife, Phoebe Shih, visited Spain during their honeymoon. They fell in love with the architecture, the culture and the food — especially in the Gothic Quarter of Barcelona. “We wanted to introduce the flavors of Spain and yet stay true to our Californian roots,” he says. Mochuelo, which means “little owl” in Spanish, opened in 2017. The menu is a California fusion of Spanish-style tapas with a French flair. The executive chef, Megan Done, creates shareable dishes like bacon-wrapped dates, potatostuffed croquettes, roasted Brussels sprouts and Moroccan-style street tacos.

A signature drink like the Pomegranate Manhattan, which consists of blended whiskey, sweet vermouth, pomegranate juice and lemon juice, can be found at Mochuelo. Chien says the most popular dishes are patatas bravas (fried potatoes with a spicy Parmesan sauce), lamb meatballs, gambas al ajillo (jumbo prawns with herbs and chili oil) and seafood paella. “The most talked about dish would have to be the salted caramel bread pudding made from buttery brioche,” Chien says. The restaurant is stocked with international wines from Portugal and Spain, as well as local wines from Moravia Wines in Fresno. There are also 12 taps that pour California beers like the General Sherman IPA from Tioga-

Sequoia Brewing Company, the Nitro Merlin from Firestone Walker Brewing Company and the Tangerine Wheat by Lost Coast Brewery. Guinness is also served as a nod to Oliver’s Pub, Chien says. Cocktails change depending on the season, but you can expect concoctions infused with herbs and fruit like raspberries, citrus and cucumbers. Hanging from the ceiling is a large piece of artwork comprised of gold forks and spoons, which took more than 100 hours to construct. The restaurant includes a pet-friendly patio that features a mural of local landmarks like Half Dome and giant sequoia trees.

Mochuelo offers a unique dining experience. Top: Spoons and forks create a large piece of artwork. Above: AJ Griem, left, and Barry Falke enjoy the bar area before getting tapas.

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Food and Drink

Chinese Restaurant

1 Shanghai Chinese Cuisine 4011 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 221-0227 shanghaichinesecuisine.com Shanghai Chinese Cuisine has been providing authentic Chinese cuisine to the Central Valley for nearly four decades. Located at Blackstone Avenue and Griffith Way, the restaurant provides a family-friendly ambience to accompany the modern Chinese décor. The menu boasts an array of exotic flavors and savory sauces, using fresh, high-quality ingredients to create authentic dishes. Appetizers include fried wontons and calamari, pot stickers and spring egg rolls. You can order from a wide selection of pan-fried or European-style chow mien, chop suey and vegetarianfriendly meals. The menu is divided by several sections to showcase the array of dishes like fried and steamed rice, Chinese chicken salad, Kung Pao beef, chicken or shrimp, Cantonese-style shrimp, fried oysters, braised-bean cakes and hot-braised shrimp. The restaurant offers combination plates, platters and several selections of Sichuan cuisine. It also hosts private parties in a large banquet room.

2. P.F. Chang’s 7894 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 438-0814 pfchangs.com

3. Hunan Chinese Restaurant 6716 N. Cedar Ave., Suite 104 (559) 297-0336 hunanfresno.com

Coffee House

1 Dutch Bros. Coffee Multiple locations dutchbros.com Give your morning a jolt of energy from Dutch Bros. Coffee. The drive-thru coffeehouse was founded by Dane and Travis Boersma in 1992. The brothers of Dutch descent bought a double-head espresso machine and started experimenting with 100 pounds of beans. With the mission of “spreading the

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People’s Choice Dutch Luv,” the coffeehouse serves cups of coffee, hot, iced and blended espresso drinks, tea, smoothies, fruit-infused sodas, hot cocoa and iced or blended drinks made with Blue Rebel — the energy drink made by Dutch Bros. Coffee. Today, there are hundreds of locations throughout the United States. There are six local locations: Ashlan and Willow avenues, Bullard and West avenues, Shaw and West avenues, McKinley and Blackstone avenues, Maple and Behymer avenues, and Palm and Herndon avenues. The coffeehouse is known for employing baristas — or bro-istas — who connect with customers known as the Dutch Mafia. “Our employees are so great,” says Jacob Cantu, the marketing and events manager for Dutch Bros. Coffee. “They have a passion to serve customers and the community with a smile and a killer cup of coffee.” Cantu says the most popular beverage on the menu is iced or blended drinks made with Blue Rebel. There are dozens of flavors like Dutch Mojito, Unicorn Blood, Dinosaur Egg, Shark Attack, Bubblegum and Orangesicle. As for espresso drinks, Cantu says the Annihilator — a chocolate macadamia nut breve — and the Caramelizer — a caramel mocha — are top beverages among the Dutch Mafia. With the help of the community, Dutch Bros. Coffee raises money for local nonprofit organizations like Poverello House, Marjaree Mason Center and Valley Children’s Healthcare, as well as national nonprofit organizations like the American Cancer Society, the Muscular Dystrophy Association and the ALS Association.

2. Kuppa Joy Coffee House Multiple locations kuppajoy.com

3. Starbucks Multiple locations starbucks.com

Cupcake Shop

“People kept coming in the door saying, ‘So, when are you going to start (offering) cupcakes?’ ” Gable says. “There weren’t a lot of cupcake places, so we just started doing it. And we love it, because you can be so creative in such a small little package.” These days customers can choose from among 12 popular cupcake flavors available daily (Tuesdays through Saturdays) at the Tower District shop, which also sells cannoli, French macaron cookies, cake pops and cake slices. Salted caramel continues to be the top cupcake seller, Gable says, while vanilla bean raspberry, snickerdoodle, cookies and cream and pink champagne typically top picks. The cupcakes are topped with buttercream frosting and anything from tiny waffles to luscious blackberries — the sky is the limit. Employees at Frosted Cakery are constantly on the lookout for new flavors to test out. Gable says the French toast with bacon cupcake was inspired when another Fresno bakery introduced a mapleglazed doughnut topped with bacon bits. Movies like “Beauty and the Beast” also can provide inspiration. Gable and her staff mine social media to identify trends, and she credits the Food Network, Facebook and Instagram with generating customers’ interest in new flavors. And mindful that some customers may have dietary restrictions, Frosted Cakery has gluten-free and vegan cupcake options. Frosted Cakery is a family affair — Mooney handles social media, Gable’s son did the website, and on occasion Gable’s granddaughters can be found serving customers at the counter. They represent the fourth generation in a bakery family. Gable’s mother, Jimmie Carlton, had a knack for baking custom cakes, and that led to Jimmie and Owen Carlton opening Jimmie’s Bakery, which they operated in Fresno for a quarter century. That’s where Gable developed her cake-decorating skills. The most unusual cupcake request so far? “Somebody wanted dill pickles on their cupcakes. It was for a kid,” Gable recalls. “We had half with pickles on them, and the other half, I made pickles out of fondant, and you couldn’t tell which one was the pickle and which one was the fondant.”

Frosted Cakery 1292 N. Wishon Ave. (559) 917-8880

2. Eddie’s Bakery Cafe 7089 N. Cedar Ave. (559) 323-0900

frostedcakery.com

eddiesbakerycafe.com

When Beverly Gable and her daughter Megan Mooney were drawing up the business model for Frosted Cakery a decade ago, they planned to focus on providing custom cakes for weddings and other special occasions. Customers, however, had other ideas.

3. Cupcakes Bakery 7062 N. Cedar Ave. (559) 325-0935 cupcakesbakery.net

CUPCAKE SHOP: Delightful cupcakes are a staple at Frosted Cakery, a People's Choice winner. The bakery also makes custom wedding cakes, cookies and other sweet treats.

Delicatessen

1 Sam’s Italian Deli and Marketplace 2415 N. First St. (559) 229-9346 samsitaliandeli.com When you visit Sam’s Italian Deli and Market, be prepared to be immersed in a taste of Italy. Located on the corner of First Street and Clinton Avenue, the delicatessen has been a staple in the FresnoClovis area for more than 30 years. The delicatessen is owned Nick Marziliano and his mother, Angela. The Marziliano family continues to celebrate the traditions of Southern Italy in the aisles packed with imported Italian pasta, olive oil and specialty groceries. You’ll find fresh Italian cold cuts, imported cheeses, antipasto platters, Angela’s take-home pasta dinners and Sam’s homemade Italian sausage. “We keep adding more and more graband-go meals,” Marziliano says. Currently, Marziliano says the delicatessen sells 12 grab-and-go meals like spaghetti and meatballs, lasagna and calzone. You can also order a number of Italianstyle subs like Sam’s Special Sandwich — ham, turkey breast, mortadella, dry sala-

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Food and Drink

People’s Choice 2. Deli Delicious Multiple locations deli-delicious.com

3. Piemonte’s Italian Delicatessen 616 E. Olive Ave. (559) 237-2038 piemontesdeli.com

Desserts

1 DESSERTS: Ampersand ice cream shop owners Jeff and Amelia Bennett hold a fresh batch of their whiskey caramel swirl ice cream at their new location at Herndon and Marks avenues. mi and Jack cheese — and The Meat Lovers Trio with roast beef, pastrami, turkey breast and Jack cheese. The delicatessen is also proud to offer a collection of more than 700 labels of

wine. The selection includes boutiquestyle wines from California to Super Tuscan, Barolo and Brunello di Montalcino wines produced in Italy.

DO 5 #2 TO S NG I TH

“Now you have good reasons to enjoy Eggs Benedict every day!”

bloody mary!”

1. Traditional 2. Crab Cake 3. Veggie 4. Turkey Avocado 5. Smoked Salmon 6. Shrimp and Avocado 7. Spinach, Mushroom and Jack Cheese 8. Hot Link with Chipotle Hollandaise

488 W Herndon Ave Fresno, CA

559-261-1505 we are open 6am to 3pm 7 days a week

Ampersand Ice Cream 1940 N. Echo Ave. (559) 264-8000 7010 N. Marks Ave., Suite 101 (559) 478-5858 ampersandicecream.com Jeff and Amelia Bennett serve desserts with a spin at Ampersand Ice Cream. For starters, pick a flavor of ice cream. Flavors range from staples like Honeycomb and Bordeaux to seasonal specials and dairy-free sorbets.

Next, choose between a cup, cone or flight of four flavors. House-made toppings include whiskey caramel sauce, hot fudge or salted caramel sauce. You can skip a cup or cone and order a milkshake. Although you won’t find frozen yogurt or cupcakes at the ice cream parlor, your mouth will be drooling with a variety of options for dessert. Amelia recommends ordering ice cream in between two house-made chocolate chip or snickerdoodle cookies. She also encourages ordering a cup of ice cream and then walking to Kuppa Joy Coffee House — located a few steps away from the original location near Fresno High School — for a shot of espresso to pour on top. Having their roots planted in Fresno, Jeff and Amelia partner with local businesses like The Annex Kitchen, Cracker Pepper Bistro and Takumi. They’re also co-owners of The Revue in the Tower District. The Revue serves affogato — an Italian coffee-based dessert — with a scoop of Madagascar Vanilla and a shot of espresso. You can also order the Whiskey Caramel Latte, the Nitro Float and the Cold Brew Milkshake.

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People’s Choice

laboufresno.com

always introducing delicious new specials for frequent customers. A popular current special is the Macadamia Crusted Calamari with Mango Beurre Blanc, says Pismo’s owner Dave Fansler.

3. The Cheesecake Factory 639 E. Shaw Ave. (559) 228-1400

2. Dicicco’s Italian Restaurant Multiple locations

thecheesecakefactory.com

diciccos.com, diciccosclovis.com, diciccos-fresno.com

Family Restaurant

3. Red Robin Multiple locations

redrobin.com

Pismo’s Coastal Grill 7937 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 439-9463

Fine Dining

2. La Boulangerie French Bakery and Cafe 630 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 222-0555

pismos.com

Pismo’s Coastal Grill features a menu so varied and interesting it can satisfy children, teens and adults, and every generation can enjoy the interesting and energetic ambience at the restaurant. Located in the Villaggio Shopping Center, Pismo’s features an exhibition kitchen, a fish market, a crafted wooden boat and a circular bar. The open-feel dining room is accented by Adirondackstyle booths and Santa Barbara rock columns. Younger guests (10 and under) can choose from a kids menu that features chicken fingers, popcorn shrimp, grilled cheese, grilled mahi mahi, buttered noodles, grilled salmon, a cheeseburger or fried snapper. Meals come with a choice of drinks, plus fries, cole slaw or steamed broccoli. Teens (and anyone else, of course) can select from a variety of burgers and sandwiches. A few examples: The California Burger is loaded with guacamole, bacon, tomatoes, arugula, crispy onions, jack cheese and cilantro aioli. The Spice Crusted Tri-Tip Sandwich features watercress, crispy onions, pickled red onions and creamy horseradish sauce. The choices keep on coming. Adults opting for dinner entrées can choose from two regular sides that range from roasted cauliflower to potatoes au gratin with bacon. Some (but not all) of the other sides are fries, cilantro rice and sweet potato hash. Primo sides also are available, and guests can choose from creamy polenta, pasta du jour, Caesar salad or a mixed green salad. From there? More choices. Pismo’s is recognized for its clam chowder (white, red and Rhode Island clear), calamari steak, crab cocktails, salads and woodgrilled seafood (wild Chilean sea bass, wild shark and grilled prawns to name a few). Executive Chef Michael Vernon is

The Annex Kitchen 2257 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 248-8512 annexkitchenfresno.com The Annex Kitchen has risen quickly to must-go status among Fresno restaurants. Opened in 2015, the restaurant features an exciting menu inspired by the renowned culinary tradition of Italy plus the rich bounty of California produce, says chef and owner Jimmy Pardini. If the last name sounds familiar, it should. Pardini is a third-generation restaurateur — following his late grandfather, Al, and his father, Jim, to the Fresno dining scene. Only 36, Jimmy Pardini was named Restaurateur of the Year in 2017 by the Fresno chapter of the California Restaurant Association. Pardini is quick to share credit for the success of The Annex Kitchen. “We have a great team of people who work in a very demanding environment, and our reputation is a result of their dedication to consistency and quality,” he says. His vision for the restaurant’s future? “Our food, wine and cocktails will continue to evolve each year as we make new discoveries.” Three of The Annex Kitchen’s many tempting dishes are: t Wood oven-roasted bone marrow, with pickled shallot and parsley salad. t Squid ink linguine with seafood ragu, Fresno chilies and breadcrumbs. t Bistecca Fiorentina: a 40-ounce wood-grilled Brandt Farms porterhouse steak (serves two to three), served with aged balsamic vinegar.

FINE DINING: The Annex Kitchen is becoming known around social media circles for its popular corn agnolotti, created by owner Jimmy Pardini, which features little clusters of handmade pasta filled with Fresno State's sweet corn. The dish is seasonal, so watch the restaurant’s social media for dates. 2. Vintage Steakhouse at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino 711 Lucky Lane, Coarsegold (866) 794-6946 chukchansigold.com/dining/vintage-steakhouse

3. Yosemite Ranch 1520 E. Champlain Drive (559) 434-4403

Food Truck

1 Casa de Tamales (559) 541-4656 casadetamales.com In 2009, after nearly two decades of working in the restaurant industry, Liz Sanchez opened Casa de Tamales as a storefront on Shaw and Brawley avenues. She offers a spread of dishes made from recipes passed on from her mother and grandmother. Tamales are made by hand with in-house, lard-free and gluten-free masa. In 2015, Casa de Tamales moved to the heart of the Tower District. Sanchez also runs a food truck that travels to local events. It can be found at Kaiser Permanente Fresno Farmers Market and Market

on Kern on Wednesday mornings, CArtHop along Fulton Mall on Thursday afternoons and Enzo’s Table (Willow and Shepherd avenues) on the weekends. “We’re expanding in the Central Valley — adding stops in Visalia,” Sanchez says. The most popular dishes are traditional tamales like the New Mexico Chile Pork and the Green Tomatillo Chicken, she says. The Creamy Chicken Poblano is also a favorite among customers. Casa de Tamales is also known for serving vegan and vegetarian tamales like the Farmers Market, the Jalapeño & Cheese, the Portobello & Asparagus, the Spinach & Artichoke and the Savory Sweet Corn. If you have a sweet tooth, try the Triple Chocolate Cake and the Blueberry & Cream Cheese. Seasonal tamales include the Pineapple Coconut Tamale in the summer and the Pumpkin Pie Tamale in the autumn.

2. Le Elegante Taqueria (559) 497-5844 laelegantetaqueria.com

3. Tako BBQ (559) 515-4543 takobbq.com

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Food and Drink

People’s Choice

Hamburgers

1 In-N-Out Burger Multiple locations in-n-out.com

HAMBURGERS: In-N-Out Burger’s Double-Double Combo is one reason it was voted as the People’s Choice winner.

Born alongside Southern California’s network of infamous interstates, In-NOut Burger’s status as the state’s first drive-thru restaurant seems only apropos. See, it’s car country out here. A culture founders Harry and Esther Snyder tapped into early on — creating a passionate fan base that’s been willing to slow down just long enough to enjoy its simple, quality product for 70 years now. In-N-Out’s Baldwin Park, California, burger stand was the flagship eatery in what has grown to include more than 330 restaurants in six states. Hardcore followers can visit a replica of the landmark stand four days of the week or travel to different parts of the country using its Road Trip Location Guide. One thing’s for sure: your taste buds won’t be able to tell the difference. The burger spot takes a lot of pride in the few items that have made it onto its

notably limited menu. In-N-Out only uses the freshest ingredients for its burgers and fries and real ice cream for its tasty milkshakes. In fact, all In-N-Out kitchens are microwave-, freezer- and heat lampfree. But where there are traditions, there’s also room for the new — even if it’s on the hush-hush. The restaurant’s not-sosecret-menu, as it’s commonly referred, features everything from the meat-lovers’ 3X3 and 4X4 to In-N-Out’s trademarked Animal Style burger and fries. And its grilled cheese sandwich and Wish Burger are great options for vegetarians who also want to get a dose of the In-N-Out experience.

2. House of JuJu 565 Pollasky Ave., Suite 101, Clovis (559) 298-3090 houseofjuju.com

3. The Habit Burger Grill Multiple locations habitburger.com

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Â¢

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DUTCHBROSFRESNO

THANK YOU FOR VOTING

DUTCH BROS FRESNO BEST COFFEE HOUSE

3 YEARS RUNNING

OPEN DAILY 5AM-11PM

OPEN 24 HOURS

4982 E ASHLAN AVE. 1773 W BULLARD AVE. 10033 N MAPLE AVE. 7090 N PALM AVE.

1831 E MCKINLEY AVE. 1768 W SHAW AVE.

0004083777-01

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Food and Drink

People’s Choice The popular, gluten-free dogs contain no by-products, corn syrup, phosphates, fillers, artificial color or artificial flavors. With impressive stats like those, it’s no wonder Costco sells more than 100 million hot dogs a year — and shows no signs of slowing down. Add-your-own topping stations make the hot dog at Costco your perfect meal each time.

2. Rocket Dog Gourmet Brats & Brew 88 E. Shaw Ave. 1365 N. Willow Ave., Suite 160, Clovis (559) 283-8096 rocketdogbratsandbrew.com

3. Chuck Wagon 1203 Academy Ave., Sanger (559) 875-3889

Ice Cream ICE CREAM: Fresno can’t get enough of Ampersand Ice Cream.

Hot Dogs

1 Costco Multiple locations costco.com Costco is a strategic outing. It’s easy to get lost in its rows of electronics, furniture, toiletries, groceries and clothing — a new gadget or fragrant snack at every corner vying for your attention. The worst part (or best, if we’re being honest): Costco knows this. We’re a visually driven society. And there’s no way we’re going to miss the food court. A warehouse staple since 1984, the purposely placed Costco food court is bound to catch customers on their way in or out. After all, who can resist the temptation of its signature hot dogs? The $1.50 soda and hot dog combo hasn’t changed much since it was first introduced at a Costco cart 35 years ago. Well, at least where it matters most: the price. The soda eventually grew from a 12ounce can into a 20-ounce fountain drink (with free refills), while the original kosher dog supplied by Hebrew International transitioned into Kirkland Signature’s 1⁄4-Pound Plus all-beef hotdog in 2008 — 10 percent bigger and longer than before.

1 Ampersand Ice Cream 1940 N. Echo Ave. (559) 264-8000 7010 N. Marks Ave., Suite 101 (559) 478-5858

lowed by Whiskey Caramel Swirl,” Amelia says. Amelia says the top choices for seasonal specials are Grizzly Jack, Bananas Foster, Central Perk and Spring Flowers & Zest. The dairy-free sorbet flavors include Strawberry Balsamic, Raspberry Sorbet and Lemon Sorbet.

2. Superior Dairy 325 N. Douty St., Hanford (559) 582-0481 3. Cold Stone Creamery Multiple locations coldstonecreamery.com

Indian Restaurant

1 Elephant Lounge/Haveli Indian Bistro & Banquet 80 W. Shaw Ave., Clovis (559) 323-1300 fresnohaveli.com The Elephant Lounge Indian Bistro

started in 2019 with a major makeover, from its new name — Haveli — to new menu items and interior décor. Owner Ranjit Dosanjh said after operating the Clovis restaurant for five years, he felt it was time for a rebranding and some updating. Dosanjh, a native of India whose family moved to California when he was a youngster, chose the name Haveli — a Hindi word that translates to “mansion” — because it’s well-known among natives of India and Indian Americans as a restaurant and banquet facility. “With the name Elephant Lounge, a lot of people would say they didn’t know that it was an Indian restaurant. That’s why I wanted to use that name (Haveli), it takes out the guesswork for a lot of people,” he says. The new name also helps eliminate the confusion that was created among some Elephant Lounge customers when north Fresno’s Elephant Bar restaurant closed, Dosanjh says. The restaurant’s new interior takes diners back to 1950s India, and its décor includes a red scooter from India and a refurbished 1950s Massey tractor. Gone from the menu are the Italian-American dishes and burgers. Haveli’s menu is now all-Indian and includes new items such

ampersandicecream.com The possibilities are endless at Ampersand Ice Cream — the ice cream parlor “where great ice cream and community meet.” Owned by Jeff and Amelia Bennett, the ice cream parlor opened the original location on the corner of Echo and Weldon avenues — across the street from Fresno High School — on Memorial Day 2015. A few weeks ago, the second location opened at Herndon and Marks avenues. The ice cream parlor is a small-batch creamery and state-licensed dairy plant, Amelia says. You can watch the four-hour process of making ice cream through a window. Not only does the couple have love for Fresno, but also the Central Valley. They stay true to buying and using local and in-house ingredients. They buy dairy from Top O’ The Morn Farms, almonds from P-R Farms, honey from Bradshaw Honey Farms, olive oil from ENZO Olive Oil and coffee from Lanna Coffee Company. Although seasonal specials change on the first Thursday of each month, you’ll find staples like Whiskey Caramel Swirl, Honeycomb, Chocolate Chip, Madagascar Vanilla, Dark Chocolate, Bordeaux, Mint Chip and Rocky Road on a daily basis. Honeycomb is the top seller — “fol-

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Food and Drink as lamb chops and a combination plate called thali that will allow diners to try three to five items in smaller portions. “Indian food is typically family-style, so that’s where a lot of people get confused, they don’t know what to order,” Dosanjh says. “This way, it’s made for one person, and they get to explore different styles of Indian food.” Specialty items such as Indian fish and fusion dishes will be offered on selected days, such as Fridays, he says. The menu will continue to showcase the original recipes that Dosanjh developed after he switched careers, quitting his Silicon Valley job to learn the restaurant business and start his own eateries. Dosanjh’s first restaurants were in the Bay Area, but he later decided to head to the Valley, where some of his relatives as well as a lot of families from northern India live. He doesn’t regret leaving the Bay Area — especially its traffic congestion. This year, Dosanjh wants to host more banquet events and is working with wedding planners and other event coordinators. Haveli’s design allows for easy reconfiguration since the tables, chairs and booths can be rearranged to comfortably seat 250 people and include a dance

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People’s Choice floor. The restaurant still will be able to seat customers in the private dining area when the main restaurant is reserved for banquet events, he says.

2. Tandoori Night 6751 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 438-7200 tandoorinightfresno.com

3. Brahma Bull Indian Cuisine 3050 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 108 (559) 275-1100 brahmabullindian.com

Italian Restaurant

1 Nativo’s at Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino 711 Lucky Lane, Coarsegold (866) 794-6946 chukchansigold.com/dining/nativos Top-of-the-line gaming options and

live entertainment are enough to draw many Central Valley residents to Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino. And then there’s Nativos. The fine dining Italian restaurant reopened to the public in 2018 with the same goal as when it was established: to serve authentic Italian foods that can be found in its native country. “[The] menu keeps up with modern culinary trends and delivers a cuttingedge dining experience while retaining the peerless flavors of Italy and the Mediterranean coast,” says director of marketing, Deann Kamalani. “Only the best-quality food and ingredients are selected to make the dishes fully authentic and flavorful.” The restaurant’s airy, simple elegance allows the food to shine on its own, with diners ordering some of Nativos’ most popular entrées such as prosecco clams, calamari misto, zuppa di pesce and veal parmigiano. Guests are welcome to dine on its limited patio seating to take in the region’s fresh air. It also rivals California Market Buffet’s brunch every Sunday, and features light, fresh, artisanal fare to go with the eatery’s stunning scenic views overlooking the Sierra foothills. Specialty food stations include a sea-

food raw bar, brioche French toast, omelet bar, carving table with various meats and farmers market-inspired salads. Pastry Chef Louisito adds authentic flair to the desserts with pot du crème, fruit tortes, pistachio and strawberry panna cotta and flambéed creations. Paired with libations crafted by the restaurant’s wine sommelier and mixologist, and your transportation to an Italian oasis is complete.

2. Dicicco’s Italian Restaurant Multiple locations diciccos.com, diciccosclovis.com, diciccos-fresno.com

3. Luna Pizzeria Italian Restaurant 349 Pollasky Ave., Clovis (559) 299-4141 lunasclovis.com

Thank you for voting us #1 Food Truck for the second year in a row!

www.CASAdeTAMALES.com 609 E. Olive Ave., Ste. C, Fresno, CA 93728 Tel: 559.541.4656

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0004075864-01

Located in the historic Tower District

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Food and Drink

Japanese Restaurant

1 Sakura Chaya Tokyo Cuisine 690 E. Nees Ave. (559) 438-9378 sakurachayarestaurant.com Diners looking for a variety of Japanese dining options under one roof will find them at Sakura Chaya Tokyo Cuisine near the corner of Nees Avenue and First Street in northeast Fresno. From sushi to teppanyaki grill to traditional Japanese meals, the 11-year-old restaurant offers it all. General manager David Wong says Sakura Chaya excels at its consistent quality of service and food. The restaurant, which gets top marks for its sushi and seafood offerings, receives twiceweekly shipments of fresh fish. “Our head sushi chef, Koji, is very particular on the quality,” he says. Customers’ favorites include the Kojisan roll with lobster and chirashi (assorted sashimi served on seasoned rice). The

People’s Choice most popular teppanyaki is the Terrific Teppan Trio, a lunch special of chicken, beef and shrimp that comes with miso soup, salad, grilled vegetables and fried rice. Some newer menu offerings include ramen noodles and poke, the diced raw fish dish that Wong says is popular right now. Not all dishes stay on the menu at Sakura Chaya. The restaurant used to offer ostrich, Wong says, “but we weren’t able to get that consistent quality we like to provide to customers.” In addition to good food, customers also can expect to have fun interacting with teppanyaki chefs who may tell jokes, do tricks with shrimp or lemons, and sometimes juggle while grilling meat, seafood or tofu at the tables. “Our teppanyaki chefs are very entertaining and make it a fun environment,” he says. And more fun is on the horizon. A second Sakura Chaya Tokyo Cuisine restaurant is scheduled to open sometime this spring in Clovis. The restaurant will be at Sierra Vista Mall and will be 8,200 square feet — about the same size as the Fresno restaurant — with teppanyaki tables, a sushi bar, a full cocktail bar and traditional dining. “The newest thing will be patios,” Wong says. “We’ll have a patio off the bar and a patio for

traditional dining as well.”

2. Edo-ya Tokyo Cuisine 3050 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 112 (559) 275-7535 edo-yarestaurant.com

3. Japanese Kitchen 711 W. Shaw Ave., Clovis (559) 297-1100 japanesekitchenrestaurant.com

Mediterranean Restaurant

1 Mediterranean Grill & Cafe 1031 U St. (559) 441-7050 medgrillfresno.com Mediterranean Grill and Café has been an international delight in downtown Fresno for 25 years. The family-owned and -operated restaurant is known for

serving a variety of hearty and flavorful traditional Mediterranean dishes made with high-quality ingredients. Hisham Hemaidan owns and operates the restaurant with his sister, Heiam Elaawar, and their mother, known as “Mama.” His brother-in-law also helps with the behind-the-scene operations. The menu includes appetizers like falafel balls, hummus, grape leaves and baba ghanoush. Hemaidan says the most popular dishes are the fattoush chicken salad — made from toasted or fried pieces of pita bread — and the Lebanese chicken served with rice and garlic sauce. “The Lebanese chicken is a savory, hearty dish,” he says. Hemaidan also notes the beef or chicken shawarma as a top item. Entrées extend to include the Tabbouleh salad, the Greek chicken salad, lamb, beef or chicken kebabs and gyros. Finish your meal with homemade baklava — thin layers of phyllo stacked with honey, butter, cinnamon and nuts. The restaurant is open for lunchtime on weekdays, but offers full-service catering for special events and private parties.

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japanesekitchenrestaurant.com

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Sushi • Teppan Yaki • Traditional Dining 711 West Shaw Ave. Clovis, California 93612 Phone (559) 297-1100

3050 W. Shaw Ave, Suite 112 Fresno, California 93711 Phone (559) 275-7535

edo-yarestaurant.com

0004090802-01

Sushi • Teppan Yaki • Traditional Dining

Japanese Kitchen

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#1 Japanese Restaurant!

Exquisite Japanese Cuisine Enjoy our skillfully prepared Japanese specialties, from sushi and teppan yaki to cocktails, traditional Japanese dining dishes.

NEW Second Location At The Sierra Vista Mall

Sakura Chaya TOK YO CUIS IN E

690 E. Nees Ave. | Fresno, Ca 93720 559.438.9378 sakurachayarestaurant.com

Gift Certiﬁcates Available

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1200 Shaw Avenue, Suite 105 Clovis, CA 93612 – OPENING SPRING 2019

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Food and Drink 2. Phoenician Garden Mediterranean Bar and Grill 1025 E. Herndon Ave., Suite 106 (559) 261-2747 thephoeniciangarden.com

3. House of Kebab 7458 N. Fresno St. (559) 449-1344 houseofkebabfresno.com

Mexican Restaurant

1 Sal’s Mexican Restaurant Multiple locations salsmexicanrestaurants.com Sal’s Mexican Restaurant is synonymous with south-of-the-border cuisine in Fresno. It serves traditional Mexican dishes like tacos, burritos, quesadillas, enchiladas and tamales. The story of the Mexican restaurant

People’s Choice started with Salvador Salazar in 1942. Now, there are three locations in Selma, Fresno and Madera. It was named the “Best Mexican Restaurant” by the California Restaurant Association in 2017. The menu features appetizers like quesadillas, nachos and Mexican pizza. Specialty plates include huevos rancheros, the Theisen Omelet, the Enchilada Suizas and the Ensalada Eleanor. Burritos are stuffed with refried beans, your choice of meat and Jack cheese. Sal’s Fancy Burrito is loaded with refried beans, chili con carne and Jack cheese in a tortilla. The Mexican restaurant also offers pre-ordered tamales, frozen dinners and a variety of party platters.

2. Casa Corona 7044 N. Cedar Ave. (559) 323-7409 1724 W. Bullard Ave. (559) 283-8605

MICROBREWERY: Mad Duck Craft Brewing Co. gives patrons a first-class craft brew experience and offers a menu to match.

Microbrewery

3. Toledos Mexican Restaurant Multiple locations

1 The Mad Duck Craft Brewing Co. 765 W. Herndon Ave., Suite 200, Clovis (559) 298-3825 3085 E. Campus Pointe Drive (559) 325-3825

toledosmexicanfood.com

Thank You,

madduckcraft.com

OUR LOYAL CUSTOMERS AND FRIENDS,

8029 N. Cedar Ave. (at Nees) Fresno, CA 93720 559-440-1221 | www.batteruppancakes.com

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8 Years

In 2010, Alex Costa and Mark Bagdasarian opened The Mad Duck Neighborhood Grill & Taphouse at Herndon and Willow avenues. Five years later, with the success of the first location, they opened The Mad Duck Craft Brewing Co. near Fresno State in The Square at Campus Pointe. The third location is set to open at Herndon and Marks avenues in June or July. Costa defines the brewery as a “chefdriven pub that focuses on the whole plate — great cocktails, great craft beer and great food.” The craft beers — made in small batches to complement the flavors of California — are for every occasion, he says. “Like your ‘Why does it have to be Monday’ beer or the classic ‘Let’s meet for a quick Happy Hour pint on Thursday!’ beer or the much (and wrongfully!) maligned ‘Saturday noontime patio’ beer or my personal favorite, the ‘One more quick one before we have to go?’ beer,” Costa says. The Honey Pot Blonde, the Classic California-style IPA and the Citra, referred to as “the baby IPA,” bring tropical flavors of citrus to your palate. The Hopical Paradise is an American-style Hefeweizen with lots of fruity flavors. The Pub Ale and the Almond Brown Ale are

brewed with flavors of caramel, and the Opulence Oatmeal Stout is a creamy concoction of coffee and chocolate. The brewery also serves tasty snacks and meals like onion rings, sweet potato fries, pulled-pork sliders, soups and salads, sandwiches and burgers including the California Mad Burger, the Triple Bypass and the Napa Valley Burger.

2. Tioga-Sequoia Craft Brewery 745 Fulton St. (559) 486-2337 tiogasequoia.com

3. Sequoia Brewing Co. 777 E. Olive Ave. (559) 264-5521 1188 E. Champlain Drive, Suite 107 (559) 434-2739 124 W. Main St., Visalia (559) 627-2537 sequoiabrewing.com

Patio/Outdoor Dining

1 Elbow Room Bar & Grill 731 W. San Jose Ave. (559) 227-1234 elbowroomfresno.com Patio dining at the Elbow Room Bar & Grill is more than a culinary experience. Diners in the outdoor spaces can enjoy watching the flames in a large stone fireplace through cascading water from a waterfall that tops the fireplace, or gaze

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Food and Drink

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People’s Choice

SEAFOOD: Pismo’s Coastal Grill’s food makes it seem like you’re right in the middle of a great weekend at the coast. The Ultimate Louie combo is a house favorite, consisting of jumbo shrimp, dungeness crab, hardboiled eggs, gherkins, green beans and tomatoes. at a 29-foot mural that wraps around the top of the full-service bar, all while being kept comfortable year-round by overhead heaters and mister fans. The aesthetics as well as outstanding menu choices and attentive staff are what sets Elbow Room’s patio dining apart, says owner Mike Shirinian. The Elbow Room has come a long way from its birth 64 years ago as a 10-stool bar in a converted small home near the intersection of McKinley and Palm avenues. The bar’s trademark steak sandwich is still a top seller, but Elbow Room’s menu has been updated over the years as culinary tastes have changed. Shirinian credits Chef Eric Rodriguez with introducing specialty dishes that top the menu and are rotated for seasonality. The Elbow Room also offers small dishes for the less-hearty appetite; “dinners for two,” an entrée with soup or salad that’s priced at $30; and a full-service brunch that’s available on weekends and other special days, such as Black Friday and Monday holidays. “Those elements have evolved into what the Elbow Room is,” Shirinian says. After the Elbow Room moved to its current site in Fig Garden Village at Palm and Shaw avenues in 1997, the first patio opened and seated about 25. With expansions over the years, Elbow Room’s patio space also has expanded and now can accommodate as many as 140 customers. A year’s worth of thought and planning went into the design, including visiting restaurants in Carmel and other locales, Shirinian says. Fresno artist Conrad Jimenez, who painted the restaurant’s murals, is an “incredible designer” who assisted with the patio and other projects, he

says. Patio features include retractable awnings, side curtains that can lowered in inclement weather, 20 overhead heaters that can be individually adjusted to suit diners, and misters with fans to keep the space cool in the warmer months. “We want you to be ultra-comfortable,” Shirinian says.

2. Starving Artists Bistro 9447 N. Fort Washington Road (559) 433-0133 starvingartistsbistro.com

3. Patio Cafe 5138 N. Palm Ave. (559) 243-1074 patio-cafe.com

Pizza

1 Me-n-Ed’s Pizzeria Multiple locations meneds.com For more than 60 years, Me-n-Ed’s has provided fresh, high-quality food and service, establishing close relationships within local communities and endeavoring to build a satisfied customer base upon great family hospitality. Whatever the pizzeria is doing is working as Me-nEd’s has been voted Best Pizza in The Fresno Bee’s People’s Choice awards every year since its inception in 2005.

“It means a lot for Me-n-Ed’s to have been chosen ‘Best Pizza’ for The People’s Choice Award since the program began 13 years ago,” says John Ferdinandi, CEO of Me-n-Ed’s Pizzeria. “We’d like to thank our customers for being such devoted fans and sharing their enthusiasm by voting for us year after year.” Me-n-Ed’s dough is made fresh daily using established recipes and practices, and baked in a specially designed brick oven. Then, the pizza is smothered with sauce from vine-ripened tomatoes and topped off with Me-n-Ed’s special blend of five cheeses and more than 20 choice toppings. Is your mouth watering yet? Me-n-Ed’s also offers delicious, homemade deli sandwiches, crisp salads, calzones, strombolis, focaccia bread, garlic bread, garlic cheese bread and more, all inspired by family recipes and the flavors of Italy. Me-n-Ed’s recently introduced Pizza Bites — your favorite classic pizzas are now available in bite sizes. Whether you’re organizing a graduation party, baby shower or anniversary celebration, Me-n-Ed’s is the perfect choice to cater your next event. With Me-n-Ed’s new catering menu, it’s easy to customize your menu, whether it’s for 5 people or 500. And, in case you want to show off your love for Me-n-Ed’s, there’s an online merchandise store. T-shirts, sweatshirts and hats are available. “Our customers’ loyalty only fuels our commitment to deliver the highest quality product and to always find ways to better serve our communities,” says Tom Ferdinandi, COO of Me-n-Ed’s Pizzeria. “It’s an honor to be the Valley’s leader in this category and we’re committed to living up to the reputation we’ve been building since 1958.”

2. More Than Pizza 2093 W. Bullard Ave. (559) 840-1564 2195 Shaw Ave., Clovis (559) 298-4865 morethanpizzafresno.com, morethanpizzaclovis.com

3. Pieology Multiple locations pieology.com

Sandwich Shop

1 Sam’s Italian Deli and Market 2415 N. First St. (559) 229-9346 samsitaliandeli.com Located at First Street and Clinton

Avenue, Sam’s Italian Deli and Market is a landmark in the Fresno-Clovis area. Owned by Nick Marziliano and his mother, Angela, the delicatessen features culinary delights that embody the taste of Italy. The menu of sandwiches is extensive. Sandwiches are made to order on 5-inch or 8-inch sesame rolls, with the exception of the New Yorker Hot Pastrami and the Sam’s Steak Sandwich, which are available on a large, 10-inch crusty baguette. Sam’s Focaccia Sandwich is an Italianstyle sub on homemade tomato focaccia. Sandwiches are piled high with the high-quality ingredients, including mayonnaise, mustard, peppers, pickles and cheese — and, depending on what you ordered, meat: turkey breast, roast beef, salami, pastrami, ham, tuna, capicollo, mortadella and prosciutto. Marziliano says the most popular subs are the Sam’s Special Sandwich — ham, turkey breast, mortadella, dry salami and Jack cheese — and the New Yorker Hot Pastrami. New to the menu is the grilled sausage sandwich with peppers, onion and provolone cheese. “Local Italian peppers are used from June through September,” Marziliano says. Specialty sandwiches like meatball or eggplant Parmesan sandwiches are also top choices among customers. In addition to sandwiches, the delicatessen offers sides like pasta, potato, macaroni and Mediterranean Orzo salads to complete your lunch.

2. Deli Delicious Multiple locations deli-delicious.com

3. Piemonte’s Italian Delicatessen 616 E. Olive Ave. (559) 237-2038 piemontesdeli.com

Seafood

1 Pismo’s Coastal Grill 7937 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 439-9463 pismos.com Pismo’s Coastal Grill offers Central Valley residents the bounty of the oceans in a lively setting complete with a crafted wooden boat and fish market. The menu is as varied as the California coastline, and entrées include wild shark, wild swordfish and wild Chilean sea bass. But we’re getting ahead of ourselves. Guests can begin their experience in the Villaggio Shopping Center with ice cold

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Food and Drink seafood appetizers. They include oysters on a half shell, the popular crab cocktail and the Pismo’s Platter featuring assorted seafood. Another option: crab cakes topped with lemon beurre blanc. The seafood restaurant is known for three styles of clam chowder: classic white, spicy red and Rhode Island clear. Beef burgers and a grilled chicken sandwich are also on the menu, as well as seafood variations: a blackened salmon burger and a snapper sandwich. Entrées extend to grilled Alaskan halibut, grilled Atlantic salmon, grilled wild mahi mahi, pistachio-crusted calamari, pan-seared scallops. “The fish market handles the butchery of the fish, which ensures a very high fresh factor,” says Dave Fansler, the owner of Pismo’s Coastal Grill. “Many customers drive from the coast to Pismo’s in Fresno for a fresh seafood meal.” Meals can be topped off by tempting desserts: Peanut Butter Pretzel Pie, Lemon Mascarpone Cheesecake or Warm Brownie a la Mode.

2. Butterfish Poke 8482 N. Friant Road (559) 478-5471 butterfishpoke.com

3. Red Lobster 1460 E. Shaw Ave. (559) 221-9495 redlobster.com

Steakhouse

1 Yosemite Ranch 1520 E. Champlain Drive (559) 434-4403 yosemiteranchssrh.com Yosemite Ranch Steak, Seafood & Roast House owns a bit of history because of its location in northeast Fresno. More on that later. In the here and now, Yo Ranch (as it’s also known) offers steak dinners of unmatched quality. Some of the steak selections are baconwrapped filet mignon, slow-roasted sirloin, steak and lobster, and Midwest 28-day-aged ribeye or New York. Steaks are served on sizzling plates with herb butter. Baby back pork ribs and pork chops also are on the menu. “The steak dinners are very popular with locals since they include all the sides and dinner salad,” says Dave Fansler, the owner of Yo Ranch. “This is a savings of at least 35 percent when compared to other steakhouses.” Meats are cooked on fires burning with coastal red oak, a distinction Yosemite Ranch can claim over other restaurants.

People’s Choice The restaurant also offers a varied seafood menu: sea scallops, salmon, scampi, crab cakes, lobster tail, Alaskan king crab and calamari. Guests have many options, including “dinner enhancers” such as firecracker prawns, crab cakes and pan-roasted scampi. The wine list includes varietals from the Central Coast, Napa Valley, Sonoma and Monterey, plus Dom Perignon champagne from France. Now about Yosemite Ranch’s connection to history. It involves logging that occurred early in the last century near Yosemite National Park. Timber came by flume and rail from the mountains to the Sugar Pine Lumber Co. in Pinedale. From 1921 to 1933, the trains passed on what is now Shepherd Avenue — right in front of Yosemite Ranch’s location at Champlain Drive and Shepherd Avenue.

2. Ruth’s Chris Steak House 7844 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 490-0358 ruthschris.com

3. Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 639 E. Shaw Ave. (559) 222-5823 flemingssteakhouse.com

TEA HOUSE: Teazer World Tea Market takes your taste buds on an adventure. as well as a banquet facility for wedding receptions, bridal and baby showers, birthday parties, fundraisers and meetings.

2. Campagnia 1185 E. Champlain Drive (559) 433-3300 campagnia.net

Sunday Brunch

1 Fresno Breakfast House 2085 W. Bullard Ave. (559) 431-1385

3. Batter Up Pancakes 8029 N. Cedar Ave. (559) 440-1221 batteruppancakes.com

Sushi

fresnobreakfasthouse.com Owned and operated by the Tellawi family, Fresno Breakfast House has spoiled customers with scrumptious dishes for breakfast and lunch for two decades. The original location was nestled at First Street and Ashlan Avenue, but closed when business was booming at the second location on Bullard and West avenues. The menu is comprised of breakfast classics like French toast and pancakes to lunch specials like a bacon cheeseburger. You can’t go wrong with the crepes florentine with hollandaise sauce, eggs Benedict or the Southwest Breakfast Enchiladas — topped with homemade enchilada sauce. FBH also serves cranberry and mango mimosas for brunch. As for lunch, there are also sandwiches, melts, soups and salads. If you’re indecisive on ordering breakfast or lunch, try the FBH Brunch Burger — complete with bacon, hash browns and a fried egg. The restaurant offers Paradise Catering

1 Wassabi 752 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 226-2233 2920 E. Nees Ave. (559) 797-4361 wassabifresno.com Without a doubt, Wassabi hooks customers with the eclectic atmosphere, enthusiastic employees and more than 40 different rolls. After the original location on Herndon Avenue closed, Wassabi moved to the northwest corner of Willow and Nees avenues. The name: Wassabi on Fire. The second location, Wassabi Off The Hook, is located in Fig Garden Village. The most popular rolls on the menu include the OMG, the Booty Booty and 3M. The three rolls feature crab and spicy tuna. If you don’t have a palate for sushi, try the Nemo with salmon or the Yoda with deep-fried calamari and asparagus

topped with avocado. Wassabi also plays tribute to the Golden State by featuring the Super California: imitation crabmeat and avocado topped with shrimp tempura. The Fresno consists of salmon, yellowtail, shrimp and green onions wrapped with soy paper and spicy tuna. The menu also features vegetarianfriendly rolls with avocado, asparagus, eggplant, mushrooms or cucumber. But if you want to skip sushi, Wassabi has you covered with teriyaki chicken, Chilean sea bass, deep-fried wontons, crab cakes, salted or garlic edamame, fried rice, deep-fried green beans.

2. I Love Sushi 465 W. Shaw Ave, Clovis (559) 297-1117 ilovesushi559.com

3. Yoshino Japanese Restaurant 6226 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 431-2205 110 E. Paseo Del Centro Ave. (559) 432-4424

Tea House

1 Teazer World Tea Market Multiple locations teazerworldteamarket.com Teazer World Tea Market takes your taste buds on a tropical adventure — without leaving the Fresno-Clovis area. Currently, there are three locations: The Tower District, River Park Shopping

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Food and Drink/Health and Fitness Center and West Shaw Avenue. The tea shop, which boasts more than 100 types of tea, is known for featuring seasonal blends like Cherry Blossom Green Tea, Lavender Cream Earl Grey, The Royal Blue, Peachy Lichee, Shanghai Lichee Jasmine and Nerola Orange Oolong in the spring. Tango Mango, Vanilla Sky, Green Lantern, Brazilian Coconut, Lavender Lemonade and Pomegranate Hibiscus are top picks in the summer. You can order tea with fresh fruit, cream or soy milk. There are a number of caffeine-free herbal teas — infused with flavors like peppermint, ginger, spearmint, lavender, lemongrass and rose petals — with medicinal properties to relax and soothe your mind and body. The tea shop also offers unfermented green tea, which contain powerful antioxidants. Rooibos, meaning “red bush,” is a caffeine-free herbal tea native to South Africa. It boasts beneficial properties like zinc, iron, calcium, magnesium, fluoride and polyphenols. The fourth location is set to open soon at Sierra Vista Mall.

2. Little Leaf Tea 6011 N. Palm Ave. (559) 261-2699 littleleaftea.com

3. Starbucks Multiple locations starbucks.com

Thai Restaurant

1 Pad Thai Restaurant 198 Shaw Ave., Clovis (559) 324-1235 padthaiclovis.com Since opening in 2014, Pad Thai Restaurant has made traditional Thai dishes crafted with fresh, high-quality ingredients. The restaurant, named after the traditional Thai dish, serves appetizers, soups and salads, entrées and desserts. If you’re trying Thai cuisine for the first time, order pad thai — stir-fried rice noodles that are made with eggs, green onions, bean sprouts and crushed peanuts. It can be ordered with beef, chicken, pork, seafood or a combination of meat. Pad kee mao (also known as drunken noodles), which includes spicy pan-fried flat rice noodles with chili, garlic, yellow onions, bell peppers, mushrooms and sweet basil leaves, is a mouth-watering dish that remains popular among customers. Finish your meal with desserts like ice cream, custard or slices of mango with

sticky rice.

2. The Thai House 1069 E. Shaw Ave. (559) 221-7245 thaihousefresno.com

3. Thai Country Restaurant 151 W. Bullard Ave., Clovis (559) 298-6697 thaicountry.us

Wedding Cake

1 Eddie’s Bakery Cafe 7089 N. Cedar Ave. (559) 323-0900 eddiesbakerycafe.com Each year, Eddie’s Bakery Cafe makes hundreds of tiered creations of moist sweetness for couples. After scheduling an appointment with a consultant, you can choose from five flavors — wedding white, marble, dark chocolate, carrot and banana nut — and 18 fillings like champagne custard and raspberry preserves to customize your wedding cake. The most popular flavors are wedding white and dark chocolate. You can add chocolate chips, white chocolate chips, pecans, walnuts, macadamia nuts, pieces of Snickers and chunks of Heath Bar. Liqueur flavors include amaretto, rum, crème de menthe, kirsch, framboise (raspberry), Grand Marnier and Kahlua. The top combinations are champagne custard and raspberry preserve, chocolate mousse with pieces of Snickers, and chocolate mousse with chocolate chips and Kahlua. You can design your wedding cake to include two, three, four or five tiers.

2. Frosted Cakery 1292 N. Wishon Ave. (559) 917-8880 frostedcakery.com

3. La Boulangerie French Bakery and Cafe 730 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 222-0555 laboufresno.com

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People’s Choice

Athletic Club

1 Gb3 Multiple locations gb3clubs.com Gb3 is convenient and comprehensive when it comes to fitness in the FresnoClovis metropolitan area. With five locations — including the 50,000-square-foot Super Club at Champlain Drive and Shepherd Avenue — Gb3 provides many choices if you’re looking to break a sweat. Gb3 clubs feature top-brand fitness equipment such as Star Trac, BodyMaster, Precor, Cybex, Hoist Roc-It and LifeFitness. With so many brands, Gb3 members can vary their workouts and stay motivated. “The body does build up resistance with one line of equipment,” says Gb3 owner George Brown. “If you have a lot of equipment to choose from, you keep seeing results and you don’t get bored.” All Gb3 clubs offer a variety of exercise classes at no extra charge. Depending on location, members can choose from cycle, Pilates, yoga, Zumba, kickboxing and more. Gb3 offers a free one-time one-week trial, available online or at one of the clubs. New members receive three free one-on-one sessions with Gb3 trainers. “We find out about their fitness goals, their needs, and their medical histories,” Brown says. “Then we customize a workout for them, and it gets them on the right track.” Gb3 also makes it easy to transfer membership from other fitness centers by waiving the standard initial membership fee.

2. Planet Fitness Multiple locations planetfitness.com

3. Fit Republic Multiple locations fitrepublic.com

Chiropractor

1 Schroeder Family Chiropractic 2535 N. Fresno St. (559) 226-2535 yourfresnochiropractor.com Serving for four generations, Schroed-

er Family Chiropractic has your back — literally — when you have aches and pains. Today, there are more than 65 chiropractors in the family, including Dr. Thomas Schroeder, Dr. Madeline Schroeder and Dr. Rebecca Schroeder. The family-owned and -operated chiropractic clinic is located on Fresno Street near Clinton Avenue. The family of chiropractors is trained on the latest treatments and techniques to improve the quality of your life. They strive to provide a safe, effective and natural approach to managing your concerns. The most common ailments that they provide care for on a regular basis are headaches, pain in the lower back and neck, and injuries caused by an automobile accident. The chiropractic clinic is also involved in the community — giving back through volunteering at Poverello House and taking missionary trips to El Salvador.

2. Feel Good Chiropractic 5132 N. Fresno St. (559) 225-3335 feelgoodchiropractic.com

3. Integrity Chiropractic 1782 E. Bullard Ave., Suite 102 (559) 439-9001

Diet Headquarters

1 Weight Watchers 840 Herndon Ave., Suite 101, Clovis 7859 N. Blackstone Ave. weightwatchers.com Weight Watchers’ Freestyle program is proven to help people lose weight and feel happier, but that doesn’t mean the company is resting on its laurels. Weight Watchers, the People’s Choice for Diet Headquarters, has been reimagined. Now known as simply WW, the name reflects the company becoming the world’s partner in wellness. It will always be the global leader in weight loss, but now WW welcomes anyone who wants to build healthy habits — whether that means eating better, moving more, developing a positive mindset, focusing on weight … or all of the above. To reward members for building healthy habits, WW recently introduced WellnessWins, a one-of-a-kind rewards program. The number on the scale is only one indicator of overall health; wellness is about building habits that last a lifetime. So now members will be rec-

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A CUSTOM PUBLICATION OF THE FRESNO BEE

Health and Fitness

People’s Choice him to open Fresno UMA. He says Fresno UMA offers six programs for toddlers to adults. Children can enroll in Lil’ Dragons (ages 3-5), Youth Martial Arts (ages 6-10) or Teen Martial Arts (ages 11-15). Adults (18+) have the options of Brazilian jiujitsu, kickboxing and fitness classes. Carrillo says when you join Fresno UMA, you become a part of the family. “We believe on building relationships with our members,” Carrillo adds. The martial arts center is equipped with 15-foot ceilings, Fuji Mats and a climate-controlled training room. Instructors are certified and licensed to teach martial arts. “Like” Fresno UMA on Facebook to learn about deals and promotions.

ognized and rewarded with credits — aka “Wins” — for the healthy behaviors they do each day — like tracking their meals, activity and weight. Members will also get personalized emails that show how many Wins they’ve racked up and offer encouragement if they need a boost. Rewards include fitness class passes, an organizer and a closet update. WellnessWins is free with a WW subscription, and the WW app does all the work. More than 60 years ago, WW founder Jean Nidetch began inviting friends into her Queens home once a week, to discuss how best to lose weight. Today, that group of friends has grown to millions of women and men around the world who use the products and services of WW to lose unwanted pounds.

2. Guido’s Martial Arts Academy 130 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 102 Clovis (559) 477-2053

2. GNC Multiple locations gnc.com

3. Nutrishop Multiple locations nutrishopusa.com

Eye Doctor/Group

1 Eye Medical Center of Fresno 1360 E. Herndon Ave., Suites 301 and 210 1122 S St. (559) 486-5000

MARTIAL ARTS: Fresno Ultimate Martial Arts is the People’s Choice winner. Here are 2. Eye-Q Vision Care 726 N. Medical Center Drive East, Suite 101, Clovis 7075 N. Sharon Ave. (559) 486-2000 eyeqvc.com

3. Fogg, Maxwell, Lanier & Remington EyeCare Multiple locations eyecarefresno.com

CCMC is also home to the Marjorie E. Radin Breast Care Center — California’s premier care center for breast cancer — and the Leon S. & Pete P. Peters Future Generations Center, which welcomes more than 5,000 babies each year.

2. Valley Children’s Healthcare 9300 Valley Children’s Place, Madera (559) 353-3000 valleychildrens.org

emcfresno.com Eye Medical Center of Fresno comprises of a team of nearly 20 optometrists and ophthalmologists who have followed a tradition of delivering high-quality care to patients for more than 75 years. With two locations in the Fresno-Clovis area, the fellowship-trained doctors provide comprehensive exams and treatment for conditions including cataracts, glaucoma, corneal disease and macular degeneration. They perform retinal, corneal and oculoplastic surgeries, as well as refractive and laser eye surgeries like LASIK, PRK and clear lens extraction. The center also specializes in cosmetic procedures including blepharoplasty, browplasty, injectable fillers and BOTOX. As part of the mission statement, the center gives back to the community by offering scholarships to students in Fresno County. In 2018, 14 students from Clovis Unified School District and Fresno Unified School District were awarded a total of $6,000 in scholarships.

clovismartialarts.com

Wendy and Rudy Carrillo, with Demetri Varner, Liam Carrillo and Tyler Fink.

Hospital

1 Clovis Community Medical Center 2755 Herndon Ave., Clovis (559) 324-4000 communitymedical.org Located on Herndon and Temperance avenues, Clovis Community Medical Center provides high-quality care and state-of-the-art technology for a wide range of services including the 24-hour emergency room, labor and delivery, critical/intensive care, radiology, physical therapy and weight-loss surgery. The latest project was the Community Cancer Institute, which was completed in the summer of 2018. The 10,000-squarefoot center combines world-renowned doctors and first-class expertise. Services include imaging, radiation, chemotherapy and other vital services designed to ease a patient’s journey through treatment.

3. Saint Agnes Medical Center 1303 E. Herndon Ave. (559) 450-3000 samc.com

Martial Arts Center

1 Fresno Ultimate Martial Arts 7731 N. First St. (559) 261-2805 ultmartialarts.com Build strength and confidence at Fresno Ultimate Martial Arts. Located at First Street and Nees Avenue, the 5,500square-foot martial arts center was started by Rudy Carrillo and his wife in 2008. Carrillo has been studying martial arts and fitness since his youth, which led

3. Pacific Martial Arts Multiple locations (559) 436-4641 fresnopma.com

Women’s Fitness Center

1 Gb3 Multiple locations gb3clubs.com Women looking to tone up, lose weight, increase their cardio capacity and more will find a variety of equipment and classes at Gb3’s five locations in Fresno and Clovis. Gb3 owner George Brown says his clubs probably have three times more equipment than other fitness centers, which benefits Gb3 members. “We give women the opportunity to change their workouts and not do the same thing day in and day out,” Brown says. Using different machines helps keep members motivated to continue their fitness routines, he adds. A wide selection of classes provides the same benefit. “We have classes that can fit most people and their goals,” Brown says. Some of the classes are water aerobics, cycling, Pilates, yoga and Zumba. Women new to Gb3 sometimes say they don’t want to work out with men nearby, Brown says: “But they soon realize our clubs have a low-key and friendly atmosphere, and they feel comfortable —

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Health and Fitness/Local People and Places like they’re in their front rooms.” Gb3 offers a free one-time one-week trial, available online or at one of the clubs. New members receive three free one-onone sessions with Gb3 trainers. All five Gb3 clubs offer professional daycare, which is available during weekdays and Saturdays. There is a minimal charge. Activities are geared for children ages 6 weeks to 11 years.

2. Whole Body Boot Camp 1519 Tollhouse Ave., Suite 102, Clovis (559) 978-6163 wholebodybootcamp.com

3. Rhonda’s Fitness 686 E. Bullard Ave., Suite 102 (559) 431-3600

24 instructors who have a passion for yoga, as well as being part of the community. The second location features the Blue Moon Juice Bar, which serves coldpressed juices, smoothies and smoothie bowls.

2. Fig Garden Yoga Studio 6045 N. Palm Ave., Suite A (559) 222-5100 figgardenyogastudio.com

3. Perfect Balance Yoga 5091 N. Fresno St., Suite 133 (559) 222-6212 pbyoga.com

Yoga Studio

Company to Work For

bluemoonyogafresno.com Transform your mind, body and soul at Blue Moon Yoga. Owned by Britney and Mike Easton since 2013, the yoga studio brings the heat — literally. The room is heated to 105 degrees with 40 percent humidity. The first location is rooted at Champlain Drive and Perrin Avenue. In 2018, the second location opened at Clovis and Herndon avenues in the Trading Post Shopping Center. “It was the first hot yoga studio in the Central Valley,” says Christine Brown, the marketing manager for Blue Moon Yoga. The combination of heat and humidity increases your heart rate providing an incredible cardiovascular workout while increasing your metabolism. It also warms your muscles, making them more pliable, and makes you sweat (a lot) allowing you to release toxins, cleanse your body and melt away excess fat. Blue Moon Yoga offers four types of hot yoga: Hot Hatha, Hot Vinyasa Flow, Beginner Low-Heat Vinyasa and Hot Fusion Flow. It also offers Inferno Hot Pilates, which is designed to sculpt and tone your body while improving cardiovascular health. “You aren’t just working on the outside — you’re also working on the inside,” Brown says. Brown believes that “everyone needs yoga,” which led her to be an instructor at Blue Moon Yoga. There are a total of

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

Chukchansi Gold Resort & Casino 711 Lucky Lane, Coarsegold (866) 794-6946 chukchansigold.com In today’s tight job market, the tables have turned — it’s all about the employee experience. And with 1,096 full- and part-time employees, Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino is certainly doing something right. The roles that help a multi-People’s Choice Award winner run smoothly are wide ranging, including gaming, grounds, housekeeping, maintenance, IT, human resources, marketing and security departments. Deann Kamalani, marketing director, describes the work culture as exciting, fast-paced and high-energy, with 45 percent of employees having been with the company for five-plus years, 35 percent for 10 or more years and 15 percent for 15 or more years. Chukchansi Gold Resort and Casino boasts a full health and wellness package, which includes medical, dental, life, vision, 401k plan and generous ER match. Employees can also take advantage of discount programs for retail and entertainment services, as well as various job and career training classes at no cost. Top performers are recognized at the company’s monthly, quarterly and annual awards ceremony and dinners, as well as celebrated during Customer Service Week. And at a time when fostering a fun, inclusive environment is of utmost importance, Chukchansi hosts team

People’s Choice with the rhinos and discovering the ins and outs of daily elephant care. Aside from the interactive experiences, Fresno Chaffee Zoo has numerous exhibits and attractions for guests to peruse. The zoo’s newest attraction, Wilderness Falls, opened in May and allows children 2. Granville Homes to cool off and make a splash in the waMultiple locations terfall, follow the footprints and explore gvhomes.com the wilderness, discover the fire lookout tower and more. 3. De Young Properties A recent addition, African Adventure, Multiple locations emulates the African plains and savan(559) 656-0600 nas. African Adventure is a state-of-theart home for a pride of lions, a family deyoungproperties.com herd of African elephants, cheetahs, white rhinos and a giraffe feeding station with 360-degree views of the savanna. There’s also a dine-in restaurant called the Kopje Lodge, which serves gourmet entrées such as artisan sandwiches, ovenroasted pizza, fresh salads and more. And, for the 21 and older crowd, Kopje Fresno Chaffee Zoo Lodge also features beer and wine. 894 W. Belmont Ave. “Visitors may have noticed some con(559) 498-5910 struction going on between the flamingo fresnochaffeezoo.org exhibit and the kangaroo area,” says Area families are wild about the zoo — Brandy Gamoning, marketing manager at the zoo. “This is an infrastructure project voting it best Family Fun for the second that will help pave the way for an excityear. Nowhere else in the Valley can you get ing long-term project, our new Kingdoms of Asia exhibit. This is our largest future up close and personal with one of the zoo’s two two-toed sloths, Esmeralda and project and will house exhibits for the Oliver. That’s just one of the several inter- Malayan tigers, Komodo dragons and active experiences guests can have at the sloth bears.” The project is scheduled to be completed next year. zoo. During the Seal Swim experience, Spring brings more events to the zoo, guests will get a tour of the Sea Lion Cove including Breakfast with the Animals on kitchen, where all of the seals’ fish is April 13. And spring break means camps prepared daily. Then guests get to wade for kids who are looking for fun and into the behind-the-scenes training pool educational hands-on ways to keep busy for an in-water seal training session. during school breaks. Other interactive experiences include meeting African lions, having breakfast member barbecues, picnics and contests, and partners with various organizations to offer on-site enrollments for discounted memberships at Costco, Sam’s Club, AAA and more.

Family Fun

rhofit.com

Blue Moon Yoga 1144 E. Champlain Drive, Suite 104 (559) 434-2469

FAMILY FUN: Chisulo, Fresno Chaffee Zoo's male lion, watches over the African Adventure exhibit.

30 SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

A CUSTOM PUBLICATION OF THE FRESNO BEE

Local People and Places 2. Woodward Park 7775 N. Friant Road (559) 621-2900 3. MB2 Raceway 1200 Shaw Ave., Clovis (559) 298-7223

People’s Choice

specially designated walk nights, when the lane is closed to vehicular traffic. The free event is sponsored by the Fig Garden Homeowners Association. Donations are accepted. Learn more about the lane and its history on its website.

2. The Big Fresno Fair fresnofair.com

mb2raceway.com

Local Festival/ Event

1 Christmas Tree Lane

3. Fresno Taco Truck Throwdown facebook.com/FresnoTacos

Local Radio Personality/Team

christmastreelane.com Christmas Tree Lane is a Valley institution. Located on north Van Ness Boulevard between Shields and Shaw avenues in Fresno, the lane magically transforms itself each December from a quaint neighborhood of stately homes to a winter wonderland. For many longtime Fresnans, a visit to the lane is an absolute must each December. Here are some figures: About 140 homes and 300 trees are decorated with approximately 2,499,950 lights and holiday displays along the 2-mile stretch. It began in 1920 with a single tree, decorated to honor a child who had passed away. Since that time, the lane has gone dark twice, once in 1941, during WWII and again in 1973, during the energy crisis. In 2007, the lane was featured in Sunset Magazine. In 2010, it was on TLC. In 2014, the Alexander family was featured on ABC’s “The Great Christmas Light Fight” and won. If you’ve been on the lane, you will know Dean Alexander’s home: It is the one with the big splash of lights at the end, the grand finale, so to speak, that makes you want to go around again. You can experience Christmas Tree Lane by vehicle or by foot on one of two

ksks.com After years of working solo and being paired with others, radio personalities Gnarley Charley and Jody Jo finally teamed up, to the delight of KISS Country listeners. “When we weren’t working together, we always wanted to work together,“ Charley says. “I was in another radio relationship. I thought to myself, if I could just be married to her on the radio, it would be so much easier. And the first week we worked together, it was like magic. It was really like finding your dance partner. It’s like, oh my gosh, this is so much easier.” That was nearly a decade ago, and their radio relationship — Charley says they are like siblings who are also best friends forever — remains strong. And there’s no secret to what makes their morning show a favorite among listeners. Charley, who graduated from Sanger High, and Jody Jo, a Clovis West grad, grew up in the Valley and know their audience.

SPORTSCASTER: KMPH Fox 26’s Ralph Wood is a People’s Choice winner. “In order for us to be relevant — relevant is the key word — we have to be local, because that makes us more relevant than a national show,” Charley says. “We live here, we went to high school here, that makes us different than a show that might be in LA or Nashville. They might have bigger stars on it, but they aren’t local at all.” Each morning the pair spends their first hour sifting through the day’s news, figuring out what their listeners either are already talking about or will want to hear about. It’s not difficult keeping the show fresh, Charley says, because “every day something that’s different happens in the news, some celebrity dies, somebody gets married, there’s always stuff to talk about.” Charley and Jody Jo also have connected with their listeners through their personal challenges and tragedies. Jody

Jo was diagnosed with breast cancer six years ago, and Charley’s wife lost her battle with colon cancer two years ago. “Here we are being funny on the radio, talking about our lives, at the same time we are dealing with real, real serious things, just like everybody,” Charley says. “And we live our lives on the radio. I think they can feel between the lines, we’re not perfect, and we’re not trying to be perfect. Sometimes we’re clunky, sometimes we’re polished, sometimes we’re just real, sometimes we’re babies, sometimes we’re just goofing around, and that’s who we are.”

2. Skippy New Rock 104.1 newrock1041.fm

436 - 4641 DISCIPLINE CONFIDENCE COORDINATION

KIDS & ADULT CLASSES AGES 3+

0004093866-01

AIKI JU JITSU KARATE LITTLE NINJAS JIU JITSU BOXING KICK BOXING ESKRIMA FENCING JUDO • TAI CHI WRESTLING

1 Gnarley Charley and Jody Jo KISS Country 93.7 FM

www.fresnopma.com

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SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

Local People and Places 3. Greg & Dre Q97.1 FM q97.com

Sportscaster

1 Ralph Wood KMPH, FOX TV26 kmph-kfre.com Ralph Wood grew up in San Pedro listening to Hall of Fame broadcasters such as Vin Scully (Dodgers), Chick Hearn (Lakers) and Dick Enberg (Angels and Rams), all role models for a budding sportscaster. The best career advice he got came from Bryant Gumbel, then a sportscaster at KNBC, who mentored Wood and counseled him to “ ‘just be yourself, be Ralph Wood. Don’t try and be Bryant Gumbel,’ even though I liked the way he did things. It was his advice to just be yourself, create your own brand.” Wood, now in his 38th year as a sportscaster in Fresno, says he thinks that’s

People’s Choice

why viewers continue to connect with him after so many years. “When I decided I wanted to do sports, I decided to produce a sportscast that I would want to watch. A lot of people want to watch like I want to watch, so they want to watch what I produce.” After graduating from the University of Southern California, his television career took him in 1978 to a station in Reno where he covered news and sports, and then in 1981 to CBS 47 in Fresno. KMPH offered him the sports director job in 1988. The big stories he’s covered include Fresno State’s wins in the 1992 Freedom Bowl, the 1983 NIT basketball championship and the College World Series baseball and softball championships. But probably his biggest story — and scoop — was when Fresno State was considering Jerry Tarkanian for the men’s head basketball coaching job in 1995. “The Tarkanian (story), it had so much intrigue, and who had the better sources,” Wood recalls. “I can remember getting ready to go on the air one night with the story that would basically say that Jerry Tarkanian was going to be hired as the new Fresno State coach. I don’t know

TELEVISION ANCHOR:

and the rest of that is history.”

2. Paul Loeffler ESPN Radio, 940 AM

When you’re known by only your first name, it says something. Kopi is the People’s Choice winner for Television Anchor and Weathercaster.

pro.kfig-am.tritonflex.com

3. Andrew Marden KGPE www.yourcentralvalley.com

Television Anchor if it was a promo from another station or an actual story from the station, the other sportscaster had said that night, just a few hours before I’m supposed to go on, ‘There are two chances that Jerry Tarkanian gets the job at Fresno State, slim and none.’ He and I are 180 degrees apart. “So I call my source, and I said, ‘This is what I’m hearing, and I know what you’re telling me. This guy is saying it’s not going to happen.’ And he says, ‘Well, Jerry is sitting here right now signing a contract, do you want to talk to him?’ How good is that? I get goosebumps thinking of it right now. So, away it went,

1 Kopi Sotiropulos KMPH, FOX TV26 kmph-kfre.com Kopi Sotiropulos celebrates his “Sweet 16” anniversary this year on KMPH’s “Great Day” morning show, where he works as the show’s anchor and weatherman. He credits his on-air partners — co-anchor Kim Stephens and reporters Tayhana Garcia and Michael Ikahihifo — and behind-the-scenes producers, directors and staffers with helping him keep

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32 SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

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Local People and Places the program fresh after so many years. “I feel blessed and honored to be part of that team,” says Sotiropulos, whose work on the show has been Emmy-nominated. “It’s just a good group to work with. It’s a lot of fun — I mean, you get up that early, you better have fun.” Sotiropulos got his start in television at KMPH in 1971 after graduating from San Francisco State. Back then the station had no news programs so he worked as an advertising copywriter. After six years he headed to Hollywood with his wife Elaine to pursue his dream of acting. A decade later he returned to his adopted hometown of Fresno with Elaine and their two youngsters, Anastasia and Vasili, and in 1991 rejoined KMPH as a weather forecaster. “Great Day” beckoned in 2003. On the show, “every day is a new day,” he says. “You look forward to what’s happening today, and the future, and you reminisce about the past. You look at what’s happening now and how to make it interesting and fun. And you improvise and go by the seat of your pants.” Sotiropulos says his role on “Great Day” is not only to entertain but also to provide viewers with accurate information, whether it’s about the weather or local news, to help them be informed and

People’s Choice

plan their day. “There are moments when it’s serious and you play it straight, and you give it the respect it deserves,” he says. “But we try to have as much fun as possible. Because remember, the typical viewers in the morning will be watching maybe 40 to 45 minutes. A lot of times, it’s in the background so you’ve got to have fun verbally and physically.” He may well be one of the best recognized faces among Fresno broadcasters because he makes so many public appearances. He particularly likes going to schools to meet with students, many of whom who are immigrants who speak little or no English. Sotiropulos tells them that when his family moved to Fresno from Greece, he started kindergarten at Fremont Elementary speaking only Greek.

2. Graciela Moreno KFSN, ABC TV30 abc30.com

3. Warren Armstrong KFSN, ABC TV30

Thank you, Fresno!

abc30.com

Weathercaster

1 Kopi Sotiropulos KMPH, FOX TV26 kmph-kfre.com Kopi Sotiropulos already had several careers under his belt — actor, awardwinning commercial producer, host of the “Dialing for Dollars” afternoon movie — when KMPH Channel 26 called in 1991 and asked if he would like a job as a weathercaster. It marked his second gig at the station, which had hired him exactly 20 years earlier as a commercial copywriter right after he graduated from San Francisco State with a degree in broadcast communication arts. “They asked me if I wanted to come back and do weather, which was great,” he said. “I’m not a meteorologist, but they brought a meteorologist in and worked with me, gave me the basics to get things going. And then you learn on the job with the other people who work there.” In between his Channel 26 jobs, Sotiropulos spent about a decade in Hollywood

following his dream of being an actor, landing roles on “Beverly Hills Cop II” and other movies and a variety of TV shows. It’s something he talks about when visiting school kids: “If you’ve got a dream, go for it. I just turned 70, and if I hadn’t gone to Hollywood, I’d be sitting back now saying, ‘Jeez, what would have happened if I’d only tried.’ If there’s something you want to do, do it. Whatever the outcome is, to a certain point it’s immaterial. The thing is, you tried, and you won’t have that regret.” Sotiropulos, who is as well-known for his sunny personality as for his trademark Hawaiian shirts and colorful ties, jokes that the best season in Fresno for weather forecasting “is summer because it’s easier to predict.”

2. Kevin Musso KFSN, ABC TV30 abc30.com

3. AJ Fox KSEE, NBC TV24 yourcentralvalley.com

Nothing makes a woman more beautiful than the belief that she is beautiful. Dr. Kathleen Behr

1125 E. Spruce Ave., Ste. 207 Fresno, CA 93720 (559) 435-7546

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Services

SATURDAY, MARCH 23, 2019

People’s Choice

ANIMAL BOARDING: Israel Ramirez spends time with a few furry guests of Elaine’s Pet Resorts, a People’s Choice winner.

Air Conditioning/ Heating Repair

1 Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning 1444 N. Whitney Ave. (559) 400-8929 www.mrcool4ac.com Since 1970, Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning has served the greater Fresno area with state-of-the-art technology that provides homes and businesses with air services and comfort. Along with air conditioning and heating, its other products include indoor air quality, sheet-metal fabrication, insulation, air-filtration systems, solar power and commercial HVAC. The company website has a blog and information on services offered. Customers can schedule service, request an estimate or get the latest updates and promotions. “Summer is our busiest time of year,” says David Dick. “When it’s cold, you can put on a jacket, wear heavier clothes, but of course, not in summer. We’re very busy with air conditioning then.” The company stands behind its work in the form of warranties and pricematching for same equipment jobs. They also participate in the Hero Financing Program that provides low cost, fixed interest rate financing for energy efficient upgrades. Donald P. Dick has kept up with the technology that gives users substantial savings, like the smart thermostat.

“People have the ability to control their homes from their cell phones,” says Dick. “They can save money on using only the energy they need.”

2. Allbritten 2705 N. Larkin Ave. (559) 292-4919 allbritten.com

3. Lee’s Air Conditioning, Heating & Building Performance 5456 W. Mission Ave. (559) 227-9569

Tran’s father owns the original store on First Street and Shaw Avenue. Sew-N-So’s philosophy rests in a firm belief that one need not purchase an brand-new garment just to feel good about the way something looks — in fact, it’s typically much cheaper to get an item altered than to buy an entirely new piece of clothing at a store. Beloved shirts, blouses, pants, dresses and more can be adjusted to flatter each person’s individual figure. Tran notes that Sew-N-So succeeds at accommodating customers’ requests with the ever-fluctuating fashion trends of the day. “Lately, the style has been changed. People wear their clothes more fitted. Pants, suits and jeans are usually more fitted than they used to be,” Tran says. “We just finished up with a lot of prom dresses too.” As a local mom-and-pop store, Sew-NSo has the ability to be more flexible and forgiving in certain situations. For example, funeral alterations are always given top priority out of respect for grieving customers with a lot on their mind. Even though alteration services are mostly known for addressing items worn on fancy occasions, Tran believes regular garments deserve just as much love and investment. “People wear clothes every day, not just for special events,” Tran says.

2. Gili Couture 3035 W. Bullard Ave., Suite B (559) 229-0712

leesair.com

3. Becky’s Alterations 1175 Shaw Ave., Clovis (559) 325-7979

Alterations

Animal Boarding

1 Sew-N-So Multiple locations (559) 297-9271 For nearly 35 years, Sew-N-So has been a Fresno area staple for affordable alterations and simple sewing fixes. Over the years, the family-owned business has expanded into a four-store operation with different family members owning their own respective stores while maintaining the same baseline standards of exceptional service and transparency. “We’re known for our prices,” says Patrick Tran. “I’ve been working 18 years and we are very competitive and reasonable. We understand what customers want, we consult on the fit, and we make suggestions.”

1 Elaine’s Pet Resorts 3912 N. Hayston Ave. (559) 227-5959 40373 Brickyard Drive, Madera (559) 432-5959 elainespetresorts.com In 1989, Elaine Nestell needed a place she felt comfortable leaving her dogs when she had to go out of town — so she created one. This year, Elaine’s in Fresno celebrates its 30th anniversary. “Elaine used to drive to Sacramento all the time because there was nowhere in the Central Valley for pets to lodge,” says Nicole Wolverton, the marketing communicator. “Her husband and son would say, ‘Why are you always doing this?’ So she

took action. She is 84 and still comes in to work every day.” Elaine’s Pet Resorts is “home away from home” for dogs and cats across the Central Valley. Elaine’s is located in both Fresno and Madera, making comfortable overnight stays for pets just a short drive away. “We pay attention to guests’ needs. We give plenty of interaction — there’s room of exercise, supervised pools, and bedtime tuck-ins,” Wolverton says. The facilities were designed for dogs to engage and play with other dogs, ensuring each stay at Elaine’s will be an exciting one. Dogs can participate in Elaine’s Lodge and Learn program, a training program that helps pups improve behavior skills while pet parents are away. Tours are available for pet owners who are curious about the facilities. Staff at Elaine’s monitor pets throughout the day and have an understanding of pet behaviors, should any emergency medical problems arise. Elaine’s has temperature-controlled rooms, baths for dogs and activities that can be tailored to your pet’s individual needs. “We are super excited about another People’s Choice win. We take our pet care very seriously and love that our clients trust in us to watch over their pets,” Wolverton says.

2. Petsmart Multiple locations petsmart.com

3. Abby Pet Hospital 4508 E Ashlan Ave. (559) 442-1127 abbypethospital.com

Auto Service Center

1 Good Guys Tire & Auto Repair Multiple locations goodguys-tire.com Just about everything you need to keep your ride running smoothly you can find at Good Guys Auto and Tire. ASE-certified technicians provide basic mechanical services as well those more specialized, all at an affordable price. “Locally owned for over 40 years, we are a dealership alternative, offer sameday service, shuttle service and no appointment necessary,” says Dana Dubois. “We have eight locations in the Central Valley, Fresno, Clovis, Sanger and Visalia.” Pete Shubin opened the first Goodguys

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Services Tire & Auto Repair in Madera, in 1976. Since then, the name has become nationally recognized. “We offer six months, zero interest on our Goodguys Card and as a thank you we have a $50 off coupon on a set of four Bridgestone, Firestone or Cooper Tires,” says Dubois. The website lists services and tires offered, plus specials and coupons. You can make service appointments online and the store will contact you to confirm appointment date and time.

2. Clawson Honda 6346 N Blackstone Ave. (559) 435-5000 clawsonhonda.com

3. Michael Automotive Center Blackstone and Bullard avenues (559) 431-6000 michaelautomotive.com

People’s Choice

Bank

1 Wells Fargo Bank Multiple locations wellsfargo.com It’s been a time of rebuilding for the Wells Fargo brand. After improper sales practices rocked the 167-year-old financial services company in 2016, the longtime industry leader has recommitted itself to becoming a better bank for its customers and team members. Wells Fargo provides banking, consumer and commercial finance, and investment and mortgage products and services at 7,950 locations and 13,000 ATMs throughout 37 countries. Its mobile and online services also earned the organization No. 1 in Overall Mobile Performance and No. 1 in Overall Performance for a Positive Small Business Banking Experience through Digital Channels in 2017. The bank has always learned to adapt to the needs of today — creating new standards of transparency, goal setting and innovation to make itself account-

able to its ever-changing communities. Wells Fargo ranked in the Top 50 of the Most Community-Minded Companies in 2018 by Points of Light, and had the largest workplace employee giving campaign in the U.S. based on 2017 donations, according to United Way Worldwide.

2. Chase Multiple locations chase.com

3. Bank of America Multiple locations bankofamerica.com

Car Wash

1 Red Carpet Car Wash Multiple locations redcarpetcarwash.com Everyone likes a sparkling clean ride, and with 60 years of experience, Red Carpet knows how to give you the look you want, inside and out.

You can choose the plan that best suits your particular needs, from a Premium Full-Service Fast Hand Wax, to a quick 10-minute Express Wash. Ride and Shine Express Wash includes access to vending machines stocked with vehicle care products and free use of high-performance vacuum cleaners, a mat cleaner and air chucks to eliminate water from crevices of your vehicle. You can also get a smog check, a fillup, oil change, new filter, a lube job and more. The Blackstone station is Star Certified and fuel price is the same for whether you use cash or credit. “Our wash and quick lubes are favorably designed for customer engagement, which provides opportunities to do the right things, the right way, for solving issues in the customer’s favor,” says the owner, David Bowie. “Not always easy to achieve, but when people have the latitude to go outside their normal routines to make customers happy, they not only find the right answers but enjoy their work more.” Currently Red Carpet has six locations. “We couldn’t be happier that the voters chose us as the winner of the Bee’s People’s Choice Award again this year,” says Bowie. “We are excited about a new wash service we’re unveiling at our full

FREE CHECKING LOW LOAN RATES HOME LOAN PRODUCTS 30,000 CO-OP ATMS ACROSS THE U.S.

1-800-538-3328 | myEECU.org Membership is open to school employees, students, members of school organizations, and their families. Federally Insured by NCUA NMLS #457253

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People’s Choice service car washes this spring and we hope to start building out a new Ride and Shine Express wash by the end of this year, with another to follow sometime next year.”

California Closets 7638 N. Ingram Ave., Suite 107 (510) 763-2033

2. Surf Thru Express Multiple locations

“Closets” is in the name, but consultants with California Closets have plenty of experience in helping customers organize media centers, pantries, craft storage areas, offices, garages, bedrooms and living rooms — wherever a space needs taming. For more than 30 years, the company has focused on listening to its customers and understanding their needs. A visit to the Fresno showroom allows clients to experience custom closets and storage areas, the variety of finishes and the quality of the materials, accents and accessories that are available. Showcased at the showrooms are dovetail drawer construction, undermount slides, soft-close door and drawer mechanisms, pull-out storage options, hanging rod styles and slat walls. Additionally, customers can view samples of shelf lighting, closet lighting and accent lighting, as well as a range of installation and switch options. California Closets has 120 showrooms and more than 700 designers across

californiaclosets.com

surfthruexpress.com

3. Jack’s Car Wash 8995 N. Cedar Ave. (559) 435-7335 6745 N. West Ave. (559) 438-8201 jackscarwash.com

Closet and Garage Storage and Organization

CAR WASH: Red Carpet Car Wash employees Crystal Western and Elvoyde White dry a newly clean car.

Thank You

Thank You for Voting Us #1 Cleaners & People’s Choice Winner 2005-2019

10-TIME WINNER!

for your vote!

7280 N. Remington Ave. (559) 431-6892 • Drive-Thru

Jonescleaning.com

mollymaid.com 559-475-6341

Since 1968

2083 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 229-1896

FREE ROUTE PICKUP & DELIVERY SERVICE

0004083793-01

0004083782-01

FRESNO’S FINEST Dry Cleaning • Laundry • Fluﬀ & Fold • Wedding Gowns Draperies • Shades • Carpet • Upholstery • Tile & Grout Area Rugs • 24-Hour Drop Box & Lockers

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Cosmetic/ Medical Spa

1 Mystique Medical Spa 7161 N. Howard St., Suite 101 (559) 447-5273 mystiquemedicalspa.com

COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY: Fresno State is known for its Red Wave and academic success. North America. The company is expected to expand to 300 showrooms and 1,600 designers in the next five years, through a combination of company stores and franchises. Californiaclosets.com has helpful articles, advice and photos. You can sign up online for an in-home consultation or make an appointment at the Fresno store.

2. Closets by Design 5531 E. Lamona Ave. (559) 453-7034 closetsbydesign.com

3. Storage Systems Inc. 2910 E. Heaton Ave. (559) 225-5313 garagesystems.com

College or University

1 Fresno State 5241 N. Maple Ave. (559) 278-4240 csufresno.edu As Fresno State embarks on its 108th year, the academic profile of the university is stronger than ever. The university’s mission to boldly educate and empower students for success serves as an economic driver in our diverse Central Valley. For a third straight year, Fresno State was ranked among the top 25 national universities by Washington Monthly, a publication known for ranking universi-

ties based on social mobility, research and public service. Fresno State was selected alongside seven Ivy League institutions and six University of California campuses. As the university’s academics and athletics rise together, Fresno State is one of just six institutions to be ranked in the top 25 of both the Washington Monthly list (No. 24) and the final Associated Press college football poll (No. 18). About 68 percent of undergraduate students at Fresno State are the first in their families to obtain a degree, and about 80 percent of graduates stay and work in the Valley. The university awarded degrees to a record 6,000-plus students in May 2018. With majors in 69 bachelor’s, 42 master’s and three doctoral programs in educational leadership, physical therapy and nursing practice, Fresno State has come a long way from its humble beginnings. Nestled in the heart of the Valley, Fresno State is known for its 1,000-acre university agricultural laboratory and its water research. In 1997, Fresno State became the first university in the nation to have a commercially bonded winery on campus. Fresno State fields 22 varsity teams competing at the NCAA Division I level. In the past year, 159 student-athletes earned Academic All-Mountain West Conference honors, the most since the school joined the conference in 2012.

You want to feel good about the way you look and Mystique Medical Spa is committed to helping you look your best by offering a variety of aesthetic services. Treatments, including fat reduction procedures, laser hair removal, dermal fillers, BOTOX and skin tightening are done in a professional yet relaxed environment. There is a licensed medical director on-site and every new patient is offered a complimentary, no obligation, skin care consultation. “In March, we’ll have a new laser hair removal machine, the Splendor X,” says

Shelby Zuccarini, executive assistant. “Some of our most requested procedures are laser hair removal, BOTOX and filler and CoolSculpting, that permanently eliminates fat. We are in the top 200 out of 40,000 nationwide Allergan Account Providers and No. 1 CoolSculpting provider regionally. This is the fourth year in a row we’ve won the People’s Choice Award.” The Mystique website has videos and informational articles that explain the spa’s services and procedures as well as the monthly specials and on-going promotions.

2. Dr. Kathleen Behr 1125 E. Spruce Ave., Suite 207 (559) 435-7546 435skin.com

3. Body Del Sol 1648 E. Herndon Ave. (559) 432-7222 bodydelsol.com

ADOLPH’S A-1 TREE SERVICE Thanks for voting us #1 Tree Service in the Valley in 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2013, 2014, 2016 & 2017 • SENIOR CITIZEN DISCOUNTS • SAME DAY SERVICE 7 DAYS A WEEK

2. Fresno Pacific University 1717 S. Chestnut Ave. fresno.edu

FREE ESTIMATES

3. Fresno City College 1101 E. University Ave. fresnocitycollege.edu fresnobee.com

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Credit Union

Hidden Gem: Aquarius Aquarium

1 Educational Employees Credit Union Multiple locations myeecu.org

Fish frolic in a saltwater aquarium while Rick Martin, a branch manager at LPL Financial works. In addition to all-inclusive maintenance, Aquarius Aquarium also designs and installs saltwater and freshwater aquariums for clients like LPL Financial.

As the largest not-for-profit and locally based credit union in the Central San Joaquin Valley, Educational Employees Credit Union has 19 branches that serve more than 287,000 members with an excess of $3 billion in assets. Members enjoy everything a full-service retail credit union offers, including share savings accounts, certificate accounts, home loans, consumer loans and credit cards, all with excellent rates. Checking accounts are free and pay dividends when balances are more than $500. “In addition to our low rates for auto loans, home equity loans and other loans, we offer home mortgages with low down payments,” says Jim Lowe, vice president of research and analytics. “Our free financial education programs continue to grow, reaching more than 23,000 in

2018. And our membership also continues to grow and is expected to top 300,000 members in 2019. “We also reach out to members throughout the Valley and beyond, offering assistance to those affected by wildfires, floods and mudslides, and the recent partial federal government shutdown. Our goal is to lessen their financial burdens during difficult times.” EECU members are made up of school employees, educators, students, members of school organizations and family members of these groups. “This is the 13th consecutive year we’ve received the Bee’s People’s Choice award and we are humbled and thankful to our members and the community for their support,” adds Lowe. “We are invested in our communities and we care about the region’s well-being.”

2. Noble Credit Union Multiple locations noblecu.com

3. Golden 1 Credit Union Multiple locations golden1.com

Aquarius Aquarium 5541 Columbia Drive N. (559) 224-3474 www.aquariusaquarium.com

Steak House and Red Lobster. It also serves local medical centers like Valley Children’s Healthcare, Saint Agnes Medical Center and Community Medical Centers. Recent projects include an inwall saltwater aquarium for a home remodel, a modification of a 38-gallon bowfront aquarium, a 300-gallon saltwater aquarium at a home in Los Banos. Most recently, the company moved a large tank — and a turtle — so new carpet could be installed. Services, which are customized to your needs, extend to delivery of frozen and dry quality name-brand fish food and relocating saltwater and freshwater aquariums.

Thank You Fresno! g us for votin

as your #1 Animal Hosp

ital

1115 E Champlain, Fresno CA 93720 Phone : 559-434-4000 Mon-Fri 7:30am-6:00pm | Sat-Sun 8:00am-4:00pm

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For nearly four decades, Aquarius Aquarium has been providing allinclusive maintenance to commercial and residential aquariums throughout the Central Valley. Owned by Tom and Aletha Lang, the first client of Aquarius Aquarium was Medical Dental Pharmacy in 1980. “Our expert staff clean and maintain aquatic habitats for clients — no matter where they purchased their aquariums,” Tom says. Since starting the company, the husband-and-wife duo has increased their knowledge by staying informed about the latest products through attending regional and national conferences, workshops and seminars. Tom says their hands-on experience comes from working with architects, contractors and interior designers. In addition to all-inclusive maintenance, Aquarius Aquarium also designs and installs saltwater and freshwater aquariums in various shapes and sizes. The company serves national retailers and restaurants like Petco, PetSmart, Walmart, Ruth’s Chris

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HAIR SALON: Uni Kim styles the hair of Laura Davis at La Vogue Beauty Shoppe, which was established in 1924.

Day Spa

1 Muses Day Spa and Salon 8525 N. Cedar Ave., Suite 101 (559) 440-0772 Relax, renew and rejuvenate your body. Whatever you need to feel pampered, this full-service spa and salon most likely has it: massages, skin and body treatments, pedicures, manicures, make-up and hair services. “We have different services and focus on the whole client experience,” says manager, Courtney Baker. “We want the visit to be a wonderful experience from the time the client steps in the door.” New at the salon is the Nanopen Facial, which uses a handheld cosmetic skin permeation device. The tool delivers active ingredients into skin to lessen signs of aging by changing the skin from the inside out. The innovative technology treats many skin-related issues by triggering collagen production. Say good-bye to fine lines, wrinkles, scarring, acne, under eye puffiness and uneven skin tone and texture. The best part? Instant results with no downtime. Muses has a wide range of services that make you feel wonderful. Create the ultimate spa experience; your visit is tailored to your individual needs. You can choose updated spa packages that combine services, even lunch. All clients receive a complimentary mimosa or glass of wine. “I recommend the Classic Package,” says Baker. “It gives a good taste of what

we can do for you.” You’ll relish the sense of renewal and rejuvenation.

2. The Spa at Fig Garden Village 680 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 101 (559) 229-9553 thespaatfgv.com

3. Spectrum Salon, Day Spa & Boutique 7020 N West Ave. (559) 431-8243 spectrumdayspa.com

Dry Cleaners

1 Jones Cleaning Centers 7280 N. Remington Ave. (559) 431-6892 2083 W. Shaw (559) 229-1896 jonescleaning.com Using safe cleaning technology that is healthy and efficient is important to Jones Cleaners. Since 2002, the company has been a GreenEarth Cleaner. That same year the business was selected as an affiliate of America’s Best Cleaners, a prestigious international organization with high standards of eligibility. “When choosing dry cleaners, look for a company that uses earth-friendly dry cleaning methods,” says Robin Kraemer, owner of Jones Cleaners. “In 2002, Jones Cleaning Centers became the first dry cleaner in Fresno to convert to Green-

Earth cleaning technology. It’s safer for you, safer for your clothes and safer for the environment.” The GreenEarth cleaning system is a silicone-based cleaning solution that eliminates the carbon footprint because it does not rely on carbon chemistry. The GreenEarth cleaning solvent is chemically inert. The solvent carries detergent to your clothes and rinses away suspended dirt and oils trapped by the detergent. In 2011, Jones Cleaning Centers began using eco-friendly System K4, an excellent European cleaning system for textiles. Jones offers cleaning and laundry of household linens, including down comforters, down pillows and European feather beds. Tablecloths, napkins, sheets, duvet covers and bedding sets are hand finished. Other services include pick up and delivery and a 24-hour kiosk that is available at the drive-thru at the Remington location. Bridal, formal, specialty and designer items receive special care and handling. Customers get credit on their account for returned hangers that can be reused and company-used packing materials can be easily recycled.

2. Miller’s Cleaners 7775 N. Palm Ave., Suite 103 (559) 431-9225 1122 E. Champlain Drive, Suite 104 (559) 434-3925 millersdc.com

viduals to fill positions, and PrideStaff’s expertise cuts through much of the down time. “We focus on ensuring that candidates are placed in the right position. Their needs and interests are taken into account; we’re not a temp agency, we hope to find positions for the long-term,” says Sean Akins, strategic partner. Akins began working in the staffing industry in 2012 and has spent his career putting people to work. PrideStaff is a national company with locations all around the country and a few others in the Central Valley, including Modesto and Visalia. Anybody can stop by PrideStaff to see what positions are available, regardless of their employment status. With their referral program, if you refer a friend, you can get paid up to $100. “There are a ton of good opportunities for candidates even if you are still employed and looking for something better,” Akins says. “Come into the office, bring a resume. If we aren’t the right firm for you, we will make sure you have the right information before you leave.” PrideStaff is open Monday through Friday, and no appointment is needed.

2. Denham Resources 567 W. Shaw Ave., Suite C1 (559) 222-5284 denham.net

3. Hire Up Staffing Services 155 E. Shaw Ave., Suite 108 (559) 579-1331 hireupss.com

3. Crown Cleaners Multiple locations

Employment Agency

1 PrideStaff 585 W. Nees Ave., Suite 101 (559) 432-2022 pridestaff.com Looking for work online can feel like searching for a needle in a haystack. Job boards and employment websites oftentimes have thousands of posts, and finding the best options can get frustrating. That’s why PrideStaff is here to help. PrideStaff provides a personal, friendly environment for Fresno’s job-hunters -— and best of all, the service is free for applicants. Employers rely on staffing agencies when they need talented indi-

Hair Salon

1 La Vogue Beauty Shoppe 832 E. Olive Ave. 1490 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 237-5986 lavoguebeautyshoppe.com LaVogue Beauty Shoppe began in Fresno’s historic Tower District, on Olive Avenue, right across from the Tower Theater. Owner and stylist David Stone purchased the salon in 2005, but the location was established in 1924 as it boasts upon the original front door. The iconic old neon sign still hangs above the salon. Stone brought in new stylist talent, updated the interior, and has seen his business grow. “An opportunity arose [to purchase LaVogue] and it seemed like a good idea,” Stone says.

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Services LaVogue’s newest location is nearby Fig Garden Village, off of Fruit and Shaw avenues. The second location has been up and running for four years. Clients looking for a change in pace can come in for a standard cut, or venture out into fun colors and styles. LaVogue’s stylists are well-versed in techniques for highlights, perms, relaxers and much more. “Our clients seem to love our cleanliness, our decor and the talent of our stylists. We are a comfortable, approachable salon,” Stone says. “It wouldn’t be the same without our stylists.” La Vogue is open later than most typical hair salons; both locations are open until 9 p.m.

2. Preen 711 W. Alluvial Ave. (559) 431-8810 preensalon.com

3. Studio Fifth Avenue 520 Clovis Ave., Clovis (559) 325-2521

People’s Choice

Home Theater/ Technology Company

1 Best Buy/Geek Squad 655 W. Herndon Ave., Clovis (559) 298-9077 7550 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 446-0195 bestbuy.com We’re in the Golden Age of television — a time when binging quality programming isn’t just a hobby, but a lifestyle. And if your in-home entertainment center isn’t up to snuff, well, that’s just not acceptable — especially with a resource like Best Buy at the ready. The industry leader prides itself on providing state-of-the-art technology at various price points to fit its customers’ unique budget, including everything from value-priced televisions and home theater rooms. Plus, Best Buy brings fully immersive demos into its stores so peo-

ple are fully knowledgeable about the product before they buy. “Our Fresno store has dedicated instore experiences for Samsung, Sony and LG, and it offers premium home theater options from Magnolia Home Theater,” says John Vomhof Jr., a Best Buy Public Relations representative. “Our Clovis store also has a Samsung Experience Shop.” But with online giants giving customers access to the same caliber of electronics, it’s Best Buy’s team of experts that truly gives the retailer added clout. “Our employees receive extensive training on all of the latest home theater products, and they’re trained to address our customers’ needs, not just sell products. That starts with getting to know the customer and truly understand what they want to accomplish before we start talking about specific products that might fit those needs,” Vomhof Jr. says. And once you’ve made your purchase, you always have the Geek Squad. The extensively trained tech support company offers unmatched service 24/7, whether that’s online, by phone or at customers’ homes. Geek Squad agents can install, set up, protect, support and repair tech products. If you’re a member of the Total Tech Support program, this even

includes the entirety of the tech inside your home — no matter when or where you bought it.

2. Hi-Tech Home 2565 Alluvial Ave. (559) 521-1400 hitechhome.net

3. Linkus Enterprises 5595 W. San Madele Ave. (800) 581-3005 linkuscorp.com

Home Window Replacement

1 Clovis Glass Company 99 Sunnyside Ave., Clovis (559) 299-2819 clovisglass.com Beautiful door and window displays greet visitors to the Clovis Glass showroom, but that’s not all you’ll find there.

Voted #1 in Air Conditioning and Heating Repair &

Voted #3 in Solar Power 3 3 3 3 3 3

Over 50 Years in Business

Comfort & Eﬃciency

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The welcoming space showcases a diversity of products including a wide range of window styles, replacement windows, doors, color options, glass styles, hardware and millwork, along with information on these products. In business since 1964, and owned by Lee and Dee Hoover since 1991, Clovis Glass is located on 21⁄2 acres, which includes 40,000 square feet of buildings. An in-house shop saves time and money for customers and allows quality on-site custom work by in-house labor. Clovis Glass is the Valley’s largest Milgard-certified replacement specialist and does both residential and commercial work. Staff is friendly and happy to help. “There are no high-pressure sales and we take care of every problem,” says Lee Hoover. “We use top of the line Milgard, which is middle of the road in price. We’ve done commercial jobs like the medical office building at Clovis Community Medical Center with smart glass … we do everything but auto glass.” Experts at installing and replacing windows and doors, Clovis Glass also specializes in new and replacement custom leaded glass. They service screens, insulated glass and offer same-day service. Installations come with a lifetime warranty.

2. JZ Construction 145 Sunnyside Ave. (559) 324-0555, (559) 434-3535 jzconstruction.com

3. San Joaquin Glass 150 E. McKinley Ave. (559) 268-7646 sjglass.com

Schneider, the owner of Molly Maid in Fresno. Two things that set the Molly Maid apart from the competition are tailoring each job for each client’s needs. What is cleaned, products used and how often, is completely up to the client. Another plus is the lack of a contract or commitment. The service can be canceled or suspended at any time for any reason. “It’s an easy way of doing business,” says Schneider. A well-trained cleaning team arrives with your customized cleaning plan in hand, with supplies and in uniform. Employees are fully insured. The job includes a 24-hour satisfaction guarantee. Molly Maid gives back to the community with the “Cleaning for a Reason” program. Two cleanings a month are donated to a patient undergoing cancer treatment. The Ms. Molly Foundation supports victims of domestic violence by donating to the Marjaree Mason Center. Questions? Visit mollymaid.com for more information as well as to learn some cleaning and time-saving tips.

3. Brighten Academy Kinder-Prep Preschool Multiple locations brightenacademypreschool.com

Mortgage Company

1 Wells Fargo Bank Multiple locations wellsfargo.com There’s a thing called the Wells Fargo Difference: an experienced team, secure technology and ongoing support that continues even after you’ve gotten the keys to your new home. And when it comes to choosing a mortgage lender, that’s a motto worth taking seriously. Wells Fargo gives customers access to its team of local mortgage consultants, providing them with guidance that fits their individual needs — and a loan that’s just right. Your team also extends to include a loan processor, underwriter and closing agent to help you through

CELEBRATING 31 YE ARS OF BEING IN BU SINE S S!

3. The Master’s Helping Hands 5816 E. Shields Ave., Suite 115 (559) 348-2100

BEST ALTERATIONS

themastershelpinghands.com

Do you long to come home to a sparkling, spotless home, but just don’t have the time to get it that way? It’s Molly Maid to the rescue. This year, the popular cleaning service is celebrating its 25th anniversary of professionally cleaning Central Valley homes. The company has also earned multiple People’s Choice Awards. “First, I’d like to say thank you to everyone who voted for us,” says Craig

brightblc.com

merrymaids.com

Licensed Day Care Center

mollymaid.com

2. Bright Beginnings Learning Center 2080 Tollhouse Road, Clovis (559) 299-5247

2. Merry Maid 402 W Bedford Ave., Suite 110 (559) 366-4033

House Cleaning Service Molly Maid 2310 E. Gettysburg Ave. (559) 708-4598

crafts and social skills. For children in elementary school, the Club Kids Kare program provides transportation to and from local elementary schools, Homework Club for assistance with weekly homework assignments and recreational activities such as game rooms, computers, iPod areas and play yards. During the summer months, children who attend the Summer Blast program participate in 20 events, including field trips to local areas of interest, demonstrations and special guest speakers. Kids Kare Schools Inc. is a chain of family-owned and -operated child care centers. Started in 1960, the schools are committed to offering quality and affordable child care in a safe, happy and secure environment to help relieve the anxieties of today’s working parents.

Kids Kare Schools Multiple locations (559) 275-1169 kidskare.net The 12 Kids Kare locations throughout Fresno, Clovis and Madera provide yearround care and fun-filled age-appropriate experiences for more than 2,000 children aged 18 months through 12 years. The centers have the latest technology to help young children develop motor skills, physical strength and to become selfconfident. Starting with the pre-K readiness program, young children learn basics like phonics, math, science, arts, hands-on

SEW-N-SO THANK YOU FOR VOTING US

FRE SNO 1418 W. SHAW AVE. 559-227-2397 6751 N. BLACKSTONE AVE. #106 559-432-3465 1785 HERNDON AVE. #106 559-297-9271 429 N VAN NESS AVE. 559-355-6434

WE PROVIDE QUALITY WORK

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every step of the process. Not sure if your schedule allows for in-person meetings? No problem. Wells Fargo’s yourLoanTracker technology allows you to work with its mortgage lending team by phone, email and online. It tracks your mortgage application, uploads documents and has Esign capabilities to sign certain documents from your smart phone or other device.

2. Resource Lenders Multiple locations resourcelenders.com

3. De Young Mortgage 677 W. Palmdon Drive, Suite 208A (559) 666-2277 deyoungmortgage.com

Nail Salon

1 Aqua Nail Salon Multiple locations aquanail.com

The mission of Aqua Nail Salon is “to provide you with a warm atmosphere so you can relax, unwind and enjoy the moments when time is yours alone.” With the word “aqua” in the name, you would expect to see something related to water; the 14-foot-by-14-foot doublesided glass waterfall inside the salon is impressive and relaxing. The chairs are comfortable and the atmosphere is welcoming. Friendly and professional technicians perform a variety of services: manicures, pedicures, waxing, facials, eyelash extensions and acrylics. Manicures include French tips, gel and manicure repairs. Facials include a masque and massage. Waxing treatments can be just for the face, bikini or the entire body. “Our signature services are manicures and pedicures,” says Homes Vu, president/manager of a Clovis Aqua Nail Salon. “The manicure comes with hot towels and the pedicure comes with hot towels, hot stone between the toes and hot paraffin for the feet, massage, trim and polish. “We are the best in town, no other nail salon comes close,” says Vu. “We treat customers exactly like how we like to be treated and guarantee our services.”

2. QueenBee Nails & Spa 7723 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 439-3981 3. Envy Nails & Spa 132 W. Nees Ave. (559) 261-9983

New Home Builder

1 Granville Homes Multiple locations gvhomes.com Since 1977, Granville has been building homes and developing communities in the Central Valley. The builder continues to create new floor plans to accommodate all life stages and offers a wide selection of new Eco-Smart designs for comfort and sustainability. In the first few months of 2019, inventory homes are expected to be completed at each of Granville’s communities. “In early 2019, Granville began construction at our new Granville at Copper River Ranch neighborhood,” says Katie

Burchfield, Granville marketing manager. “This neighborhood features larger lots, standard three-car garages, five stunning floor plans and designer features not seen in any of our other communities.” Later, during the summer of 2019, Granville will begin construction in the picturesque foothills above Fresno in a new community to be called Granville at Millerton. “We will be building our full traditional line of homes including the popular Bella and Pasatiempo, and the new Cali and Aria plans,” says Burchfield. A big part of the Granville legacy is its philanthropy efforts, and the company doesn’t go it alone. Joining its homeowners and partners, the builder assisted more than 60 nonprofit and community organizations in 2018. The Granville Home of Hope added two new beneficiaries this year: Angels of Grace Foster Family Agency and PAIN — Parents and Addicts In Need. The grandprize home drawing — a gorgeous Canvas 10 at Belterra — will take place on Wednesday, May 1. Tickets for the Granville Home of Hope are on sale now.

THANK YOU CENTRAL VALLEY What an incredible moment to reﬂect

2019 #1 EYE GROUP

• LASIK • Facial Plastic Surgery • Glaucoma • Optical Shop EYE MEDICAL CENTER OF FRESNO | Two locations to serve you: 1360 E Herndon Ave, Suite 301 & 210 Fresno, CA 93720 1122 “S” Street, Fresno, CA 93721 | (559) 486-5000 | emcfresno.com

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deyoungproperties.com

3. McCaffrey Group 7020 N. Van Ness Blvd. (559) 256-7000 mccaffreyhomes.com

Oil Change Center

1 Jiffy Lube Multiple locations jiffylubeca.com Let’s face it. When your vehicle is sick, you feel it, too. That’s why taking advantage of preventative care measures like those offered at Jiffy Lube is a nobrainer — and a favorite stop of Central Valley drivers. Jiffy Lube pioneered the oil change game decades ago and is just as dedicated today to keeping your car safe and ready to ride. And lucky for us, it doesn’t discriminate. Jiffy Lube performs services on all types of vehicles, including domestic, imported, specialty, SUV, minivan, luxury, diesel and hybrid. “This year marks a significant milestone for the brand. Jiffy Lube has been providing automotive maintenance services to our customers for 40 years,” says Wes Taylor, district manager. “We know oil changes, and we set the standard as the industry leader.” Its Jiffy Lube Signature Oil Change is the company’s most popular service, and features preventative maintenance to check, change, inspect and fill essential systems and components of your vehicle. Jiffy Lube technicians also take care of your car’s exterior by cleaning its exterior windows and vacuuming the interior, as well as providing complimentary fluid top-off service on vital fluids. Taylor notes its preventative maintenance expertise expands to include light bulb and wiper blade replacement services, radiator coolant, cabin air filter replacement and differential fluid exchange. Jiffy Lube also handles brake service, spark plug replacement and engine diagnostic services through its Multicare program. Not sure how often your car needs a dose of TLC? Fresno’s Jiffy Lube team can help with that. All employees are trained through Jiffy Lube University’s comprehensive training program, with its customer service advisors having a thorough understanding of all vehicles’ point-ofsale system. Taylor says they can review manufacturers’ recommendations to help

you decide which options work best for you and your vehicle.

2. Lube Plus 4796 E. Shields Ave. (559) 255-2219 lubeplus.net

3. Red Carpet Oil Change Express & Car Wash 3601 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 277-2522 redcarpetcarwash.com/lube

Pet Groomer

1 Tailwaggers 1155 N. Fowler Ave., Suite 100, Clovis (559) 325-3647 8967 N. Cedar Ave., Suite 102 (559) 435-7387 tailwaggersfresno.com Fresno pet owners look for groomers with a distinct combination of field expertise and animal appreciation before they hand over their four-legged family members. By delivering a down-to-earth grooming atmosphere rooted in a genuine passion for the trade, the pet-pampering pros at Tailwaggers have grown into recognized grooming leaders. “We have groomers here with years of experience in the industry. I think collectively we have over 100 years of experience,” says Nicole Graham, owner. Graham emphasizes the importance of developing a relationship of trust with pets to limit any potential nervousness and keep both the pets and their parents eager to return. “Dogs have a one-on-one with groomers ... they build a personal rapport, and as a result, dogs are actually happy to come in and see us. We always do what’s in the best interest of the dogs,” Graham says. Tailwaggers offers traditional services such as baths, nail trims and fur styling, among others; for a little something extra, pet owners can opt for treatments like the blueberry facial or stick-on earrings. Don’t be mistaken, it’s not all frills and fluff: Tailwaggers offers a unique treatment opportunity geared towards pet health care. Tailwaggers’ dental clinic allows pets to undergo professional full-service dental cleanings without general anesthesia, which means less expense and no anesthetic side effects that can be tougher on older cats and

PET GROOMING: Sondra Taylor brushes Sienna at Tailwaggers, which is a People’s Choice winner.

Even your choices will have choices. There is no one-size-ﬁts-all retirement. Find out more at a complimentary lunch and tour. Call (559) 248-1172 to schedule.

It’s More Than Retirement. It’s Five-Star Fun.

Fresno • (559) 248-1172 • fairwindswoodwardparkseniorliving.com

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2. De Young Properties Multiple locations (559) 656-0600

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People’s Choice

dogs. On-site veterinarians handle the entire process. Tailwaggers’ dental clinics have become so popular that they have doubled their clinic days this year. “Our quarterly clinics are always booked solid,” Graham says. “Sometimes we see 60 dogs a day.” The next dental clinics in 2019 are on May 5, Aug. 11 and Nov. 3. Appointments must be scheduled in advance.

2 Wooforia Grooming Salon 5689 E. Kings Canyon Road, Suite 105 (559) 304-2212 www.facebook.com/wooforia.grooming.salon

3. Pet Medical Center and Spa 621 W. Fallbrook Ave. (559) 436-4444 petmedicalfresno.com

Photo Processing

1 Horn Photo 7899 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 225-5080 hornphoto.com Digital technology revolutionized photography. But film is not dead. At least not at Horn Photo. To be sure, the biggest part of Horn’s processing business is making prints from digital images and handling all types of restorations. (More on that in a moment.) But film is staging a mini comeback, says Stan Grosz, co-owner of Horn Photo with his wife, Shelly. The business sells Kodak, Illford and Fuji film of various ISO ratings and also processes it. Some professional photographers use film at weddings, and young people with retro sensibilities also like it. Digital customers can easily order prints from personal computers, smartphones and other mobile devices, and those customers have editing, size, finish, order and mounting options. Speaking of options, Horn Photo can reproduce images on mugs, water bottles, coasters, shot glasses, trays, T-shirts and pieces of wood and metal. Photo restoration is another popular processing service. Options include removing scratches, rips and discoloration; balancing color and exposure; adding or removing people or objects; coloring black and white photos; and changing color photos to black and white.

POOL BUILDER: Raul Espinoza works on a custom pool creation from Vineyard Pools, which does commercial work all over California, and residential work from Madera to Kingsburg, including Sanger and Oakhurst. Grosz specializes in restorations, and he estimates he has worked magic on more than 45,000 old photos. “Without a doubt, what motivates all of us at Horn Photo is helping people restore and archive their family photos,” Grosz says. “Seeing those happy faces gets us going everyday.”

2. Costco Multiple locations costco.com

3. Walgreens Multiple locations walgreens.com

Photography

1 Ellie Koleen Photography elliekoleenphotography.com Ellie Koleen has a creative eye, a love for design and a passion to tell stories with photographs. She has photographed more than 100 weddings since jumping behind the lens in 2010. Shortly after getting married to her husband, Spenser, her father encouraged her to start her photography business. In 2014, Ellie Koleen Photography was born. “My work is timeless yet stylish,” she says. When behind the lens at a wedding, she looks to find the quirks and subtleties that make the couple unique. She offers packages that can accommodate a small, intimate wedding, elopement and a 12-hour celebration. In addition to

weddings, she photographs family portraits, editorial shoots and boudoir sessions. “My favorite part about capturing a wedding is the friendships that form with my clients,” Koleen says. “I love how they quickly become way more than just clients; they’re friends who have trusted me to preserve such important and beautiful memories for them.” Her photography business has taken Koleen to various cities like Carmel-bythe-Sea, Cambria, Half Moon Bay and Santa Barbara in the Golden State, and a far as Mexico, Jamaica, Ireland and Italy. New for 2019: Koleen has started a podcast with Cori Derksen called Photographer Life, which is available on iTunes. They share tips and tricks on how to balance their day-to-day lives along with their photography businesses.

2. Milne Photography 1285 E. Nees Ave. (559) 431-0681 milnephotography.com

3. Dani Marie Photography danimariephoto.com

Pool Builder

1 Vineyard Pools 1 N. Clovis Ave., Clovis (559) 299-6044 www.vineyardpools.com Few things are as delightful on a hot day as an uplifting refreshing dip in your own swimming pool. Since 1994, Vine-

yard Pools has made that possible for families in the Central Valley. Originally started by Jim Bogdanof and now run by sons Ben and Jeff, the Vineyard Pools team does commercial work all over California, and residential work from Madera to Kingsburg, including Sanger and Oakhurst. Construction on a new pool or reconstruction on an older one can include water features, such as a waterfall or a pool/spa combination. Vineyard’s website has information and photos of freeform, geometric and natural rock swimming pools. You can also find photos of trim, tiles and mosaics and stunning water features. “All the pools on our website belong to people we know and care about,” says Sarah Pizano, Vineyard Pools Director of Operations. “We want them to have a good experience and pride ourselves on bringing a level of customer service to the small construction industry that is not found anywhere else.” Thinking of building the pool of your dreams? It’s best to start the process about four to six months before you’d like to be swimming, says Pizano. “We are much more flexible and have much shorter wait times in the winter than we do in the spring and summer,” she explains.

2. Holiday Pools 4961 E. Dakota Ave. (559) 291-5571 aholidaypool.com

3. Wildwood Pools 320 W. Bedford Ave., Suite 106 (559) 439-7311 wildwoodpools.com

Real Estate Company

1 London Properties 6442 N. Maroa Ave. (559) 436-4000 londonproperties.com Quality, integrity and productivity are the principles and priorities that have built London Properties. Started 48 years ago by Paula and Dan Conner, commercial and industrial real estate was the main center of The London Company, as it was called at that time. It didn’t take very long, though, before the business branched out to residential real estate and changed the name to London Properties Ltd. After a merger with its largest local competitor,

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Services London Properties become one of the largest real estate companies in the country. Regardless of your type of real estate transaction, London Properties can be of assistance. With more than 500 sales associates and support staff in 10 offices throughout the Central Valley, London Properties is in the top 1 percent of all brokerage firms in the United States. Adding to its marketing power, London Properties is affiliated with the prestigious real estate network, Leading Real Estate Companies of the World. This collection of successful brokerage firms gives clients more specialists, more experience, more technology and more listings than ever before.

2. FresYes Realty 7785 N. Palm Ave., Suite 108 fresyes.com

3. Guarantee Real Estate Multiple locations guarantee.com

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People’s Choice

Retirement Community

1 The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens 5555 N. Fresno Ave. (559) 435-1999 theterracesatsanjoaquin.com The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens offers a plethora of life-enriching amenities for seniors as they transition through life. Since opening in 1966, TSJG has remained the only Life Plan Community in the area — offering four levels of care for retirement options. “Living at The Terraces at San Joaquin Gardens means having the opportunity and resources to be fulfilled every single day,” says Jessica Lopez, the executive director of TSJG. Located on Fresno Street near Barstow Avenue, TSJG is owned and managed by HumanGood. In 2014, TSJG completed a redevelopment project to include the Valencia — an information hub with a coffee shop that serves Peet’s Coffee &

Tea, the Tolladay Theatre and two restaurants: the Monte Carlo and the Speranza Grille. Residents can join a workshop or class, watch a performance in the Tolladay Theatre, jump on a stationary bike in the 24-hour fitness center and get pampered with a pedicure at the Spa Bella. Across from the Valencia are the Piazza and the Milano — multicolored, Mediterranean-inspired buildings that house independent-living apartments with a spacious kitchen, state-of-the-art appliances, granite countertops and a balcony with a wrought-iron rail. The Tuscany and the Sequoia also house independent-living apartments. For assisted-living options, residents can live in the Trivoli, the Antonella and the Tulipano. The Grove is for residents with cognitive disabilities like Alzheimer’s disease. TSJG also offers rehabilitation/ skilled-nursing options. Residents at TSJG stay active in the community with trips to the Fresno Chaffee Zoo, Table Mountain Casino, Roger Rocka’s Dinner Theater, Woodward Park and the Fresno Philharmonic. They also contribute their time and energy to local schools, churches and nonprofit organizations, as well as international programs like Operation Christmas Child and the International Friendship Program.

2. Fairwinds Woodward Park 9525 N. Fort Washington Road (559) 434-6444 3. The Windham Senior Living 1100 E. Spruce Ave. (559) 399-2567 windhamseniorliving.com

Solar Company

1 Solar City/Tesla 3980 N. Chestnut, Suite 101 (855) 860-7652 solarcity.com Tesla’s mission statement is “to accelerate the world’s transition to sustainable energy,” so it made sense when the company merged in 2016 with SolarCity, one of the top-selling solar installation companies in the United States. The merger resulted in the world’s only vertically integrated sustainable energy company.

TIME

McCAFFREY HOMES THANKS YOU FOR YOUR VOTE

FAV O R I T E

McCaffreyHomes.com NOW SELLING | Riverstone - Highway 41 & Avenue 12 | Tesoro Viejo - Highway 41 & Tesoro Viejo Blvd. Clovis - Ashlan Ave. & Highland Ave.

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Services Tesla currently offers two solar products that produce clean power: solar panels and solar roof. Solar panels contain cells that convert light from the sun into usable electricity that can be used immediately. Tesla’s solar panels are made to blend into the roof. The design is a low-profile sleek look without visible mounting hardware. The result? An attractive, streamlined appearance. The system comes with a 20-year warranty, but many of its components are designed to last for decades. Testing by outside researchers show solar panels installed by Tesla have a useful life of 35 years. Elon Musk unveiled prototypes of Tesla’s solar roof tiles in October 2016. They came in four styles that looked just like normal roofing material but were basically miniaturized versions of traditional solar panels. “How do we have a solar roof that’s better than a normal roof?” asked Musk at the presentation. “A roof that looks better than normal roofs, generates electricity, lasts longer, has better insulation, and has an installed cost that is less than a normal roof plus the cost of electricity.” The system is rated at 9.85 kW at full capacity. Used with Tesla’s Powerwall, a

People’s Choice home battery that stores surplus power, electricity is available when the sun goes down without using the utility grid. Consumers can refer to the company website for additional information or request a custom quote.

2. Peterson Dean 408 S. Teilman Ave. (877) 552-4418 petersondean.com

3. Donald P. Dick Air Conditioning 1444 N. Whitney Ave. (559) 400-8929 mrcool4ac.com

Tanning Salon

1 Sunsational Tans Multiple locations sunsationaltans.com There is more than one way to get a tan — just ask Sunsational Tans. You don’t even have to go outside. In fact,

you can take advantage of Sunsational Tans’ services in a comfortable, air-conditioned room, complete with music. If you choose traditional UV tanning, the salon has the industry’s latest and most advanced tanning beds, all designed to provide optimum comfort during use. If UV-free tanning is more to your liking, there is the Mystic Spray booth, a full-body DHA tanning process that uses an all-natural Mystic solution, the MagneTan technology. The process takes only 60 seconds and gives a natural looking tan that will last for days. Another UV-free service is the Red Light Therapy, which works from the inside out of the skin to treat the signs of aging using specific wavelengths of red light. The wavelengths boostoverall cellular energy, increasing the body’s natural production of collagen and elastin and increases microcirculation. Sunsational Tans operates two locations in Fresno and one in Clovis. The friendly and knowledgeable staff members are happy to answer questions and help you achieve a healthy glow.

2. A Touch of Gold 1127 N. Willow Ave., Suite 108, Clovis (559) 297-8269 9463 Fort Washington Road, Suite 103 (559) 434-8266 atouchofgoldtans.com

3. The Tannery 7088 N. Cedar Ave (559) 322-0600 tanneryfresno.com

Trade/Technical School

1 Clovis Adult School 1452 David E. Cook Way, Clovis (559) 327-2800 clovisadult.cusd.com “Improving lives through education” is

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Thank you Central Valley. You made our entire year.

RIVERSTONE HAS JUST WON the CVLUX 2019 Luxury Award for Community of the Year. It’s a prestigious accolade that honors only the best of the best in the Valley. We couldn’t be happier with the win—which is a nice addition to the Nation’s Best MasterPlanned Community award we took home last year at NAHB. We’d like to thank all of you who gave us your vote—especially the funloving families who call Riverstone home. (We’ll see you around the neighborhood. High-ﬁves are deﬁnitely in order.)

From Fresno, go north on Highway 41, turn left at Avenue 12 and follow the signs.

RiverstoneCA.com ©2019 Riverstone Development, LLC. Obtain a copy of the Public Report as required by Federal law and/or the Public Report issued by the California Bureau of Real Estate and read them before signing any documents. No Federal or State agency has judged the merits or value, if any, of this property. This advertisement is not a solicitation to purchase or sell property in any state where prohibited by law. The stylized R logo is a service mark of Riverstone Development, LLC. Riverstone and Riverstone Development are trade names of Riverstone Development, LLC. The San Joaquin River and River Park are located approximately six miles from Riverstone.

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People’s Choice

Clovis Adult School’s mission statement and if you peruse the course catalog offerings, you’ll see a wealth of educational opportunities. Where to begin? There are academic programs, including basic education, business and health career classes and other programs as diverse as music, art, self-defense, dog training and cooking. “At Clovis Adult Education it’s ‘Never Too Late,’ ” says Ed Schmalzel, the principal of Clovis Adult Education. “Our staff is dedicated to the advancement of our community through education. We recognize the value adult education brings to parents, students, workers and local businesses in offering English as a Second Language, high school completion programs, community education enrichment and vocational training that leads to life-long learning, social mobility and economic growth. Our faculty and staff strongly believe that if we educate, then we elevate. “Clovis Adult Education offers our community the opportunity to brush up or refine skills, follow passions, explore new horizons and learn new skills in an environment respectful of adult learning. We encourage you to explore our website and catalog www.clovisadult.cusd.com to find subjects or programs that you are passionate about, a certificate program to enhance your career opportunities, a course to help you achieve your educational goals or a topic that enriches your life. We hope you will join us and take advantage of the wide variety of courses that Clovis Adult Education offers.”

digital age — offering unparalleled insights, discounts and upgrades so you’ll get the most out of your experience. Itineraries can be specialized to meet dietary demands, check off your sightseeing wish list and include insider recommendations only travelers themselves can provide. First-time vacationers making their way abroad can rely on AAA to handle passport and driver’s permit-related issues, as well as purchase foreign currency at a nearby store to avoid the hassle once you arrive at your destination. Members can browse through endless online resources, including discounted attraction tickets, travel tips and vacation packages that are exclusive to AAA. Most importantly, you have someone working for you. Accidents happen, flights get delayed and luggage gets lost. AAA travel agents act as your personal advocate when the unexpected happens, dealing with tour companies, airlines and car rentals directly so you can just sit back, relax and get ready for an experience to remember.

2. Fresno Adult School 2500 E. Stanislaus St. (559) 457-6000

Tree Service

2. Altour Travel 2788 W. Bullard Ave. (559) 431-1800 altourfresno.com

3. Travel Shoppe 7461 N. First St., Suite 102 (559) 447-5767 shoppetravel.com

fresnounified.org/schools/fas

3. San Joaquin Valley College 295 E. Sierra Ave. (559) 448-8282

Adolph’s A-1 Tree Service 6325 W. Olive Ave. (559) 222-0815

sjvc.edu

Travel Agency

1 AAA/CSAA Multiple locations aaa.com We get it. Who would want to leave the Central Valley? But for those who need a change of scenery once in a while (no judgment here), there are a lot of travel apps and companies available at the tip of our fingers. It can be overwhelming. That’s where AAA comes in. As the U.S. largest leisure travel agency, AAA travel agents bring a personal touch to the

adolphstreeservice.com Family owned and operated since 1991 by husband and wife, Adolph and Patricia Garcia, Adolph’s A-1 Tree Service handles just about anything that involves tree care. Services include tree and stump removal, tree trimming, chipping, pruning topping and shaping, shrub trimming and removal, cabling and bracing. “We specialize in tree trimming and removing; these services are our most requested services,” Patricia says. “Adolph’s Tree Service always strives to leave our customers happy and satisfied. Our customers are our most important form of advertising.” Adolph’s rates are competitive, coupons are available on the website and on-site estimates are free. Emergency tree service is available 24 hours a day and

TUTORIAL CENTER: Vanessa Lopez helps Miles Wippert at the Fresno City College Tutorial Center. experienced tree service crews are prompt and dependable. The company offers senior discounts and serves both residential and commercial properties. “We are a family-run business,” Patricia says. “Our son, Rene, will eventually take over and his son, Joseph, has joined our business this past year. We will continue to strive to be the best in our field by making sure our staff is well-educated in our field with certification in tree trimming and removing.” A quick suggestion for homeowners: Don’t plant too close to structures and be aware of mature tree size and type of root system to prevent future problems.

2. Cobb’s Tree Care 6931 E. Belmont Ave. (559) 251-7907 provhort.com/cobbs

3. Fresno Tree Service 5213 E. Pine Ave. (559) 453-2500 fresnotree.com

Tutorial Center

1 Fresno City College 1101 E. University Ave., L1 134 (559) 442-8209 fresnocitycollege.edu/academics/tutoring Whenever students need assistance

with achieving success in the academic arena, the Tutorial Center at Fresno City College stands ready to help. Just for the asking, support is available through several options: Peer Assisted Study Sessions, Extending the Class, Math Extending the Class, Online with netTutor, Hoonuit and the Writing and Reading Center. Appointments aren’t required and walk-ins are welcome. Both one-on-one and group tutoring is available by peer tutors who are either current students or former students attending other local colleges. Approximately 150 peer tutors are employed by the center. Students can get help in studying and writing skills as well as in multidisciplinary subjects, all while in a relaxed setting. “Our tutors are excellent and have excellent knowledge of their subjects,” says Eric Sanders, the coordinator of the Tutorial Center. “For what we do here, we do an excellent job.” The center, open Monday through Saturday, is located in the library building at Room 134.

2. Cullinan Education Center 8485 N. Fresno St., Suite 104 (559) 435-3276 cullinaneducation.com

3. Math Crazy 5646 N. Palm Ave., Suite 103 (559) 449-8516 mathcrazy.net

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People’s Choice

Veterinarian/ Animal Clinic

2. Abby Pet Center 4508 Ashlan Ave. (559) 442-1127

3. All Creatures Veterinary 6575 N. Santa Fe Ave. (559) 449-4551

Waterhouse Animal Hospital 1115 E. Champlain Drive (559) 434-4000

abbypethospital.com

allcreaturesfresno.com

waterhouseanimalhospital.com Pet guardians treat their beloved furry and feathered friends like members of the family, and when Fresno needs a veterinarian or clinic, there is no place like Waterhouse Animal Hospital. The hospital was founded by Dr. Cheryl Waterhouse and has a deep-rooted history in the community; it has since expanded into one of the area’s topaccredited veterinary clinics. “I started the hospital 23 years ago, started with the intent to get to know my clients and help them to be knowledgeable on their pets’ needs,” Waterhouse says. In addition to its eight primary care doctors, Waterhouse Animal Hospital has specialty veterinarians for surgery, dentistry and cardiology. Waterhouse built a specialty dental suite where Dr. Paul Hobson, a London-educated veterinary dental surgeon, performs complex procedures. Each exam room features a 42-inch touch screen for pet parents to write reviews, take photos and learn about important pet information. Innovative and immersive care is what truly sets Waterhouse Animal Hospital apart from other hospitals in the area, according to Waterhouse. “We really work hard to raise the level of care,” Waterhouse says. “We always try to stress that we take care of a pet as if it were our own.” Waterhouse Animal Hospital makes every attempt to make the experience of going to the vet more comfortable and convenient for everyone involved. Clients familiar with the hospital know that there are separate entrances for dogs and cats/ exotic animals. Cat owners are welcome to utilize small towels sprayed with special feline pheromones to soothe their kitty’s nerves. Two office cats can usually be found napping in a basket or strolling around the waiting area. Waterhouse knows that keeping pets happy and healthy is more than just a service for individual pet owners, but truly a service that benefits the community of Fresno as a whole. “We strive to do the best job possible, and we thank our loyal clients because they are truly the best clients in town,” Waterhouse says.

Bicycle Store

1 Steven’s Bicycles 1365 N. Willow Ave., Suite 150 (559) 797-0148 4045 W. Figarden Drive, Suite 105 (559) 229-8163 stevensbicycles.com Whether it’s for fitness, fun or spending time with family, Steven’s Bicycles has your bicycle needs covered. Professional cyclists and casual cyclists alike have made Steven’s Bicycles their No. 1 destination for biking. For nearly 65 years, the company has demonstrated excellence in the industry and inspired generations of cyclists. “We are proud to be the longest-running bike shop in Fresno. Parents have gotten kids their bikes, and now we see those kids as adults, coming in here getting bikes for their own children,” says Devin Bovee, the manager of Steven’s Bicycles. Steven’s Bicycles offers two of the most sought-after names in the bicycle world: Giant and Specialized. Other brands sold at Steven’s include Electra, Haro and Felt. Steven’s has bikes for all types of situations: people looking for a bike for their daily commute, hardcore mountain bikers, aspiring BMX superstars and, of course, bikes for kids. It utilizes top-ofthe-line technology to help cyclists get the most from their purchase. The Body Geometry Fit system is a process that analyzes the way your body moves on a bike and adjusts the bike itself to suit your individual physical needs. Starting at $60 and going up to $225, the fitting process can change a cyclist’s entire cycling experience. Steven’s Bicycles is proud to be more than just a retail store, but additionally, it’s a place to meet other cycling enthusiasts and have a good time enjoying a sport for folks of all ages.

BICYCLE SHOP: Steven’s Bicycles is the People’s Choice winner — thanks to the knowledge of staff like Blake Kutzbach, Mike Eaton, Nick Starne, Tanner McKeand and Brent Kutzbach. “The cycling infrastructure in Fresno is growing,” Bovee says. “We started a lady cycle club, with around 500 members. We also do a lot of community-based rides, like rides in Woodward Park, that end up at the food trucks. We’ve had rides in the Tower District. What we really like doing is focusing on being a community-oriented place, rather than just a store.” In addition to winning first place in The Fresno Bee’s People’s Choice Awards, Steven’s Bicycles has been crowned one of America’s Best Bike Shops for the fourth year, courtesy of the National Bicycle Dealers Association. For Bovee, recognition from both the public and knowledgeable specialist groups is proof that Steven’s Bicycles is doing something right. “We focus on customer spirit, not only customer service. We are here to take you on a ride, not just sell you a bicycle,” Bovee says.

2. Rubber Soul Bicycles 132 W. Nees Ave., Suite 111 (559) 435-2453 rubbersoulbicycles.com

3. Sunnyside Bicycles 6105 E. Kings Canyon Road, Suite 104 (559) 255-7433 sunnysidebicycles.com

Boutique

1 Ooh La La 1305 N. Willow Ave., Suite 140, Clovis (559) 297-7770 7973 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 439-7770 iloveoohlala.com For a hand-picked, out-of-the-ordinary shopping experience, Fresno turns to Ooh La La. At chain retail stores, merchandise is purchased by higher-ups in the industry that order the same products across the country; Ooh La La knows that fashion is about the trends within a region and keeps up with the pulse of what’s popular right here in the Central Valley. “Our merchandise arrives daily and is affordable so you can build your wardrobe without going broke. Our clothing ranges from casual chic to special dresses for showers, graduations and date nights,” says co-owner Norma Haynes. Ooh La La started in 2007 with the original location on Willow and Nees avenues in Clovis. Haynes and her sister, Janet Danielian, co-own the stores, which have grown into hubs where cute style and convenience merge.

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Shopping for children. Cat & Jack’s adaptive collection is designed-engineered to fit the needs of all children. Reversible snap closures, abdominal openings, flat seams and other features make the clothing soft and snugly, and comfortable for children with special medical needs. School uniforms in a variety of styles are also offered at Target. Khakis, navy blue bottoms and various styles of skirts can be found. In addition, parents like Target’s clothing for children because they’re just cute. From trendy tops and bottoms, to accessories, children can be outfitted from head to toe with one trip to Target. And, parents can grab a Starbucks on the way out. Now, that’s a plus.

2. Revival 23 416 Pollasky Ave., Clovis (559) 593-5127

3. Holiday Boutique 1772 W. Bullard Ave. (559) 435-1660 holidayboutique.org

Children’s Clothing

1 Target Multiple locations (800) 440-0680 target.com Target is an industry leader, and parents continue to turn to Target for their children’s clothing. The clean and organized stores carries toddler sizes 2T to 5T in shirts, pants, rompers, leggings, socks and even underwear for girls and boys. Clothing for the kiddos ranges in size from X-small (sizes 4-5) to XX-large (size 18). Target also offers plus sizes for girls and husky sizes for boys, knowing that sometimes growing children are too big for children’s clothes, but not big enough for adult-sized clothing. What some people may not know is that Target also offers adaptive clothing

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People’s Choice

According to Haynes, the clientele at River Park truly inspire the types of items they carry in-store. “In August 2018, we moved our Fresno store to Villaggio Shopping Center near Pismo’s because we wanted a more personal shopping experience with our customers. The store has a warm and welcoming boutique feel,” Haynes says. Ooh La La’s shoes and accessories also have earned them a cult following. VIP text club members can sign up to receive sale alerts and sometimes get exclusive deals. Fans of the fabulous boutique should gear up for a big sale on the horizon. “April 12-14 is our annual anniversary sale, where we celebrate 12 years in business in our community. We will have the cream-of-the-crop merchandise for spring, and always a fun time to shop with many surprises,” Haynes says. For the co-owners, recognition from their patrons is of utmost importance. “Our customers deserve the best from us. Our community supports our locally owned business and it is a special feeling building relationships throughout the years with our customers and different organizations who we support and give back to,” Haynes says.

revival23.com

2. Old Navy Multiple locations oldnavy.com

3. The Children’s Place Multiple locations childrensplace.com

Consignment Store Plato’s Closet 1053 E. Shaw Ave. (559) 222-6700

Bring in your gently used, good condition brand-name clothes and accessories to be evaluated by the professionals at Plato’s Closet. They will give you an offer to buy the items you bring in and, if you accept, you can walk away with some extra cash. Some of the most popular items Plato’s Closet buys are jeans, dresses, women’s tops, athletic wear and coats. Accessories like hats, sunglasses, purses, jewelry and belts are much-needed inventory. Some items such as designer purses may need proof of receipt for authenticity for Plato’s Closet to buy it from you; call the store beforehand if you have any questions or concerns about the types of merchandise they will accept. “Each season we put out a guide that shoppers can grab to see what we are looking for,” Cambrian Belleci says. “We encourage shoppers to follow us on Instagram, we always post new items and customers can even place items they want on hold.” Because Plato’s Closet relies on Fresno to fill its shelves, buyers can rest assured that they are purchasing items that people would actually wear. Plato’s Closet has stores across the country and several within California. Next time you are out and about, check

2. Repeat Performance 1429 N. Van Ness Ave. (559) 442-0129 repeatperformance.us

3. Orphan Annie’s 6735 N. First St., Suite 104 (559) 449-8707 orphananniesconsignmentandalterations.com

Domestic Auto Dealer

1 Hedrick’s Chevrolet 961 W. Shaw Ave., Clovis (559) 291-7711 hedrickschevrolet.com Hedrick’s Chevrolet is celebrating its 75th birthday in 2019 with a warranty deal that customers will

Thank you for voting us in the Top 2 of Fresno’s Best for 29 straight years!

platoscloset.com At Plato’s Closet, looking like a million bucks does not have to cost a fortune. When fashionistas want the prestige and luxury of designer clothing, shoes and purses, Plato’s Closet offers a much cheaper alternative than buying new items at high-end establishments. Plato’s Closet is a secondhand store with style. Everything in the store was previously owned, which means shoppers can snag hot items at a fraction of the cost. For both ladies and gentlemen, this chain store has earned a reputation as a higher-end used clothing store. Whereas thrift shops might be full of unwanted, out-of-fashion pieces, Plato’s Closet devotes itself to carrying only the best. After 12 years of managing the store, Andrew Belleci purchased the store with his wife, Cambria. Transitioning from a management position to owner was a challenge, but, according to Cambria, it was all worth it. “Our team in Fresno is really incredible. We have a new store manager and a really diverse team that’s made the process very special. We are a locally owned business giving you a personalized customer experience,” Cambria Belleci says.

out Plato’s Closet in Bakersfield, Visalia, Monterey or San Jose; each store is unique and constantly changing.

160 E. Bullard Avenue Fresno, California (559) 448-1000 www.aandmflooring.com

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Shopping certainly appreciate. Anyone who buys a new Chevrolet from the Clovis dealership this year will receive a 30-year or 300,000-mile (whichever comes first) limited power train non-factory warranty covering the engine, transmission, drive axle and transfer case. “We are celebrating all year long and with the celebration comes our promise on the warranty,” says Brett Hedrick, the owner of Hedrick’s Chevrolet. Denny Hallowell started the dealership in 1944, and his son, James, eventually took over the business. In 1959, Bill Hedrick (Brett’s father) started working there, and he became a partner with James Hallowell in 1978. Hallowell retired in 2000, and the Hedrick family became sole owners then. Hedrick’s Chevrolet sells the full line of Chevrolets. One of the best selling models is the Silverado pickup truck, a consistent go-to for folks rooted in agriculture or building their success in construction. The 2019 Silverado — sporting many new features — is up to 450 pounds lighter than its crew cab V-8 predecessors. It’s also been completely redesigned and comes in an expanded range of eight models and six engine/transmission choices. Hedrick’s inventory also includes the all-electric Bolt, the classic Camaro, the compact Cruze, the trend-setting Equinox sport utility vehicle, the roomy Impala, the sporty Malibu, the powerful Suburban and more models. Chevrolet customers can count on the manufacturer to keep pace with technology and innovation, Hedrick says.

2. Lithia of Fresno Multiple locations (888) 328-3102 lithiafresno.com

3. Michael Automotive 50 W. Bullard Ave., Suite 201 (559) 431-6000 michaelautomotive.com

Electronics Store

1 Best Buy Multiple locations bestbuy.com There are things that simply go together: bread and butter, peanut butter and jelly, pen and paper, Best Buy and electronics. The well-known retailer carries thousands of consumer electronics products

People’s Choice feel a little bit lost in the process. Schedule a free in-home measurement by calling (559) 448-1000.

2. Flooring Liquidators 6649 Blackstone Ave. (559) 227-7387 727 Clovis Ave., Clovis (559) 325-3664 flooringliquidators.net

3. Bedrosians Tile & Stone 3567 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 275-9990 bedrosians.com

DOMESTIC AUTO DEALER: Hedrick’s Chevrolet is a name known for its

Flower Shop

uncompromising quality and service. across a wide range of brands and categories — ranging from home theater and computing to mobile, smart home and appliances. And since opening in 1966, Best Buy has had to adapt to the everchanging needs of the modern customer. Translation: make premier tech and support as accessible as possible. “We want our customers to be able to shop with us whenever, wherever and however they wish,” says John Vomhof Jr., a Best Buy Public Relations representative. Seventy percent of Americans live within 15 minutes of a Best Buy store, he adds, where they can find advice, service and competitive prices. Its website and smart device app also provide fast shipping and store pickup options. The Fresno and Clovis locations were remodeled late last year to feature Best Buy’s latest state-of-the-art vendor experiences with brands such as Apple, Samsung, Sony, LG and Microsoft — allowing customers to learn firsthand what these products can do. Magnoila Home Theater showcases premium home audio, video and smart home capabilities, while Pacific Kitchen & Home highlights the latest in home appliances. And for those who want the same Best Buy service on their own turf, there’s always the In-Home Advisor program. “A Best Buy employee will visit your home, talk about your needs and develop a custom plan — all for free,” Vomhof Jr says. “It’s just a great way to explore what’s possible with technology in the comfort of your own home.”

2. Costco Multiple locations costco.com

3. The Apple Store 645 E. Shaw Ave. (559) 244-3400 apple.com

Flooring Store

1 A&M Flooring 160 E. Bullard Ave. (559) 448-1000 aandmflooring.com Founded by Alex and Morris Horwitz in 1940, A&M Carpeting started as a storefront on Belmont Avenue. Today, the family-owned store is a purveyor of carpet, hardwood, laminate, vinyl and tile. Located on Bullard Avenue near Blackstone Avenue, the showroom is a visual dream that has been remodeled to give customers a unique experience when purchasing flooring. “We offer the latest and greatest handpicked products,” says Rob Santos, the sales manager of A&M Carpeting. There are more than 35,000 products of flooring to choose from. Featured brands include Mohawk Industries, Karastan and Cambria. It might seem overwhelming to narrow down the choices, but the professionals at A&M Flooring have years of experience to help you along the way. They can guide you to discover the perfect solution for your budget in a way that aesthetically complements your home. The professionals at A&M Flooring also believe flooring should have an appearance and durability to withstand usage 24/7. They can also help with repairs and installations, as well as offer advice for first-time homeowners who

1 San Francisco Floral 5080 E. Tulare St. (559) 268-0111 sanfranciscofloral.com With more than 100 years under its belt, San Francisco Floral has definitely seen it all. The southeast Fresno florist is a third-generation family business helmed by owner Andy Azzaro. According to Azzaro, business is blooming. “The flower industry has changed with a lot of technology. Millennials aren’t the type to want to walk into a store and order flowers, so we’ve had to make adaptations. Online sales are getting bigger and bigger. But we are still an old-school, brick-and-mortar flower shop,” Azzaro says. Azzaro believes that when it comes to flowers, experience can’t be beat. “My grandfather purchased the nursery. My 93-year-old uncle and my father were born at the home on the property,” Azzaro says. “I come from a long line of florists, and because we’re the oldest [flower shop], we have the best understanding of how orders go. We buy our flowers directly from growers, not wholesalers that mark-up the prices. We cut out the middleman.” San Francisco Floral doesn’t keep all its flowers in store, and instead has a specialty greenhouse exclusively all their own. Flowers are picked up from growers then allowed to flourish in the conditions of the greenhouse — as many Fresnans know, our natural dry heat isn’t the best atmosphere for tropical plants. San Francisco Floral prides itself as being a member of the local community, and the store pays tribute to the generations of Fresnans making a living the old-fashioned way. “If you’re gonna buy flowers, you’re gonna want to buy local so you can see

A CUSTOM PUBLICATION OF THE FRESNO BEE

Shopping

gentilesflowers.com

2. Mor Furniture 5156 N. Blackstone Ave.

3. Kiku Floral 3714 N. Valentine Ave. (559) 266-5480

morfurniture.com

3. Macy’s Home Store 1732 E. Shaw Ave. (559) 222-6611

kikufloral.com

Furniture Store

For nearly six decades, Fashion Furniture has been a staple in the Central Valley. You’ll find a huge selection of furniture and mattresses to work with

macys.com

FLORAL SHOP: Andy Azzaro in back, shown with his son Nico and wife Bianca, is the owner of San Francisco Floral, which has been handed down through several generations and is a People's Choice winner. your style and budget. The 50,000square-foot showroom, located near River Park shopping center, also operates Flexsteel Home by Fashion, Moe’s Home Collection by Fashion and The Sleep Retreat by Fashion. For your living room, browse for

couches, recliners, ottomans, benches, chaises, bookcases, entertainment centers and fireplaces that can make you feel warm and cozy. Options for your bedroom include beds, nightstands, armoires and mirrors. Make a statement in your dining room with tables, chairs, stools

Grocery Store

1 The Market 7088 N. West Ave. (559) 432-3306 themarketfresno.com The Market is truly a local success

FRESNO CITY COLLEGE

Congratulations Tutorial Center Voted the Best 5 years in a row! Thank you for your dedication and service to our students! www.fresnocitycollege.edu Fresno City College is a college of the

State Center Community College District

0004086626-01

fashionfurnitureco.com

and china cabinets in various sizes. With a wide selection of mattresses, frames, comforters and pillows, you’ll find comfort at affordable prices. Fashion Furniture supports local organizations like the Fresno State Bulldog Foundation, the Green V Society, Habitat for Humanity Fresno and Nancy Hinds Hospice.

2. Lou Gentile’s Flower Basket 4918 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 243-9143

Fashion Furniture 255 W. El Paso (559) 440-9600

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People’s Choice

what you are actually buying. The best thing is to talk with someone who knows about the flowers,” Azzaro says.

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Shopping story. In an industry dominated by chains, the northwest Fresno store is independently owned by folks who live here. Stocking the store with products from other local businesses is important to Joe Pressutti, president of The Market. Those products include grapes, raisins, wines, olive oils and sauces from the Fresno State Agriculture Department. The Market also goes local with beer from Tioga-Sequoia Brewing Co., milk and dairy products from Producers Dairy, cracker breads from Valley Lavosh Baking Co. and USDA Choice Angus beef from Harris Ranch. Customers can even refill their Lanna Coffee cold brew growlers in the bakery department. “Carrying local foods makes sense because we are in the heart of a worldrenowned food producing area,” Pressutti says. “The products are high quality and extremely fresh. It also allows us to support other local businesses and jobs and improve our community.” Mindful of today’s health-conscious shoppers, The Market offers more than 800 gluten-free and organic items. In addition, the store’s delicatessen carries fresh salads, sandwiches, hot food entrées, soups and side dishes. Many delicatessen items change daily so customers can choose from a wide variety. “Our entire team would like to thank our loyal customers and friends for this recognition,” Pressutti says. “We are especially grateful to receive this award for the second year in a row.”

2. Trader Joe’s 8478 N. Friant Road (559) 433-6478 1077 N. Willow Ave, Clovis (559) 325-3120 traderjoes.com

3. Save Mart Supermarkets Multiple locations savemart.com

Home Improvement Store

1 Fresno Ag Hardware 4590 N. First St. (559) 224-6441 fresnoag.com Fresno Ag Hardware can kick start home improvement projects — and bring new life to established neighborhoods — with hardware, plumbing and electrical supplies.

People’s Choice

GROCERY STORE: Locally grown, fresh produce is a staple at The Market, a People's Choice winner. Kitchens are the heart of any home, and cabinets can get a facelift by replacing knobs, pulls, hinges and drawer slides stocked at Fresno Ag. Hard-to-find vintage parts are the store’s specialty. Installing a sprinkler system? Fresno Ag has PVC fittings and pipes. Redoing a bathroom? Fresno Ag carries toilets, bathroom faucets and other accessories. The store can help cut energy bills with LED bulbs and smart thermostats by NEST. The electrical and lighting department also stocks new dimmer switches to replace outdated toggle switches. If increased home safety is the goal, Fresno Ag offers surge protectors, smoke alarms, carbon monoxide detectors and home security systems. Lawn and garden projects can improve a home’s appeal and value. Fresno Ag has chainsaws, shears, loppers, gloves, nutrients, perennial flowers and more. With a thorough understanding of the Valley’s unique climates, the store carries only brands it’s confident will work here. “We have a team of people who are passionate about teaching the people of Fresno how to fix, maintain and make their home a more enjoyable place to live,” says Ian Williams, the manager and communications officer for Fresno Ag. “We spend a lot of time researching products that the community needs. We are always bringing in new products to try, and if we don’t have it in stock, we’ll order it for you.”

2. Lowe’s 75 Shaw Ave., Clovis (559) 322-3000 7651 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 436-6266 lowes.com

3. The Home Depot Multiple locations homedepot.com

Import Auto Dealer

1 Toyota of Clovis 895 W. Shaw Ave., Clovis (559) 291-5544

JEWELRY STORE: Karkazian Jewelers creates custom settings and personal touches. The locally owned store is a People’s Choice winner. says. He adds that a new model of the Supra sports car is expected to be reintroduced this summer.

2. Fresno Lexus 777 W. Palmdon Drive (888) 709-6304 fresnolexus.com

3. Mercedes-Benz of Fresno 7055 N. Palm Ave. (559) 438-0300 mboffresno.com

toyotaofclovis.com Toyota of Clovis sells vehicles from a manufacturer with an “unparalleled” commitment to quality and safety, says Jon Hagan, the general manager of the Clovis dealership. “Toyota listens to dealers and consumers to deliver a superior product with a customer-first mentality,” Hagan says. “In our constantly changing industry environment, I could not be more impressed with Toyota’s forward thinking in all segments, including alternative fuel and hybrids.” Toyota’s Camry is the best-selling midsize sedan ever, and 2018 began a new chapter for the model. “You have no idea until you drive a new one,” Hagan says. Camry offers consumers several options: the economical LE, the sporty SE, the even sportier XSE and the luxury XLE. Options in sport utility vehicles continue to improve with the 2019 RAV, and a new Highlander is expected on the market later this year. For consumers looking for heavierduty vehicles, the mid-size Tacoma and full-size Tundra offer tow capacity and payload coupled with a comfortable ride. “From farm to the mountains, from the lake to dinner, these trucks will get you there safely with confidence,” Hagan

Jewelry Store

1 Karkazian Jewelers 493 W. Shaw Ave., Suite B, Clovis (559) 297-0201 9447 N. Fort Washington Road, Suite 110 (559) 434-9009 karkazianjewelers.com When you think of a customized jewelry experience, Karkazian Jewelers comes to mind — especially for Central Valley shoppers. For more than 45 years, George Karkazian has turned his background of cutting diamonds and watch repair school training into a successfully, family-run business with two locations in Fresno and Clovis. All watch and jewelry repairs are done in-house, says Karkazian, and frequently assist customers with designing and redesigning custom jewelry pieces for customers and their loved ones to enjoy. For 2019, Karkazian predicts the dain-

A CUSTOM PUBLICATION OF THE FRESNO BEE

ty, rose gold trend to continue blooming into spring, as well as mixing gold-colored stacking rings. But even as Karkazian Jewelers grows and evolves with the tastes of its customers, there’s one underlying principle that will always remain. “The most important thing to our business is the relationships we have with our customers,” Karkazian says. “We treat our customers like family.”

2. Lewis Diamond Co. 7406 N. Fresno St. (559) 431-5373 lewisdiamondco.com

3. Rogers Jewelers 7685 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 449-7590 thinkrogers.com/fresno-universal-park

Local Hardware Store

1 Fresno Ag Hardware 4590 N. First St. (559) 224-6441 fresnoag.com Valley residents know: Fresno Ag Hardware has it all — or at least appears to. The store has 10 departments: hardware, plumbing, electrical and lighting, tools, outdoor living, paint, housewares, workwear, sporting goods, and lawn and garden. The inventory seems almost limitless. Take the hardware department. It stocks more than 18,000 items and can order tens of thousands more. “There’s no job too big or too small that we can’t handle,” reads the store’s website. A few examples: Fresno Ag’s helpful and expert staff can keep old door knobs working by replacing and lubricating vintage parts. The staff also can cut cable, rope, vinyl and webbing to length. Need nuts, bolts or washers? The store carries metric and standard sizes. Road warriors needing chrome for their motorcycles will find it competitively priced. Such variety extends across the store. The plumbing department has more then 7,000 items in stock, and the tool department carries more than 6,500 products. Offering customers many choices is part of Fresno Ag’s philosophy. Those choices include many national brands. They include Valspar paint, STIHL chain saws and other power equipment as well as Big Green Egg, Traeger and Weber premium line barbe-

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People’s Choice cues. Fresno Ag is part of a cooperative of about 5,000 hardware stores connected to Ace Hardware. “For the past 142 years, Fresno Ag Hardware has been the go-to place for the Fresno community,” says Ian Williams, the manager and communications officer for the store. “Our goal is to maintain and exceed that reputation for years to come. We make sure that every person on our team understands that the purpose of our company is to help people and have the right products in stock.”

2. Clovis True Value 1890 Shaw Ave., Clovis (559) 325-6730 clovistruevalue.com

3. National Hardware 7173 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 439-2767 natman.com

Luxury Auto Dealer

1 Fresno Lexus 777 W. Palmdon Drive (888) 709-6304 fresnolexus.com Fresno Lexus offers Valley customers the sensational 2019 ES, which debuted on the national market late in 2018. “It has our clients very excited about new technology on a core product,” says general manager Mike Gibson. Built on a new chassis and featuring a sleek coupe-like profile, the 2019 ES offers more space for driver and passengers. The engine specs are impressive: 302 horsepower 3.5 liter V-6 engine and eight-speed Direct-Shift automatic transmission with paddle shifters. The ES also is available in a hybrid and for the first time in an F sport model. The 2019 ES has higher specs than its 2018 counterpart in horsepower, fuel economy, torque at rpm, number of transmission speeds and 0 to 60 mph acceleration (measured in seconds). Also added to the Lexus lineup in 2019 is the new UX crossover sport utility vehicle. “This is a very economical and versatile crossover that provides a new demographic to our brand,” Gibson says. Fresno Lexus values a long-term relationship with every client, he says: “Our dealership strives to serve others in every aspect of our business. Each interaction is an opportunity to provide relevant, high quality service.”

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Shopping

People’s Choice

Hidden Gem: Grandpa’s Popcorn & Sweets

If you're looking for a sweet place to shop for fresh baked goodies, Grandpa's Popcorn should do the trick. Here, Yvonne Shipley fills containers full of popcorn.

Grandpa’s Popcorn & Sweets 673 E. Nees Ave. (559) 385-7698 grandpas-popcorn.com At Grandpa’s Popcorn & Sweets in northeast Fresno, you get a dose of

2. Mercedes-Benz of Fresno 7055 N. Palm Ave. (559) 438-0300 mboffresno.com

3. Haron Motors 2048 Ventura St. (559) 237-5533 haron.com

Mattress Store

1 Mattress Land SleepFit Multiple locations mattressland.com At Mattress Land SleepFit, it all starts with the foundation. Since opening its doors in 1996, the Central Valley store aimed to establish a new way of selling mattresses — one that relied on custom-

sweet, savory and spicy. The namesake of the sweets shop is Fred Campbell — or “Grandpa” as his grandson, Daniel Campbell, calls him. The story of the sweets shop starts with Amos “Jupie” in Cleveland, Ohio. Nearly five decades ago, Amos (Fred’s brother) opened a profitable franchise called Karmelkorn.

izing the shopping experience so customers find the best fit for them. After all, great days begin with a good night’s sleep. “The mattress is more important than anyone knows,” says CEO James Smith. “We spend one-third or our life on a mattress. And like shoes, we don’t buy the wrong size just because it’s on sale, right? Now, we have a science/data-based ‘fit’ process that is easy to use, free to the public and works great!” Mattress Land SleepFit’s innovative bedFIT diagnostic system creates a digital map of a person’s unique body and pressure points to find the best postural support possible. From there, Mattress Land employees pair customers with the mattress and pillow that best match their individual sleep profile. And to do that, Smith only allows the best on the floor. “Our management team spends a lot of time testing and selecting products using this proven bedFIT system,” he explains. “In fact, I’m so confident in this process I will not allow any products to be floored

It quickly caught the attention of his son and daughter-in-law, Jeff and Lynn. In 2004, the couple — along with their daughters, Holly and Bethany — opened Campbell’s Sweets Factory. Inspired to pursue a career in the sweets industry like his brother, Fred asked for help from his grandson. They packed their suitcases for a three-week trip to Cleveland, learning the process through trial and error. In 2017, they opened Grandpa’s Popcorn & Sweets on the southeast corner of Nees Avenue and First Street. The sweets shop uses mushroom kernels, which pop into large, puffy balls of gluten-free, non-GMO popcorn. Daniel says there are more than 60 different flavors of popcorn, which are labeled by categories: sweet, savory, spicy and a combination of sweet and

unless they pass very stringent testing guidelines offering best-in-class support/ pressure relief.” Clients can find a wide selection of sleep products at its 22 locations, ranging from TempurPedic, Sleep to Live, Sealy, Kingsdown and SleepFit. Look out for the opening of new Mattress Land SleepFit stores this year, as well as the introduction of exciting products that are intended to help you find your best sleep.

2. Macy’s Multiple locations macys.com

3. Fashion Furniture 255 W. El Paso (559) 440-9600 fashionfurnitureco.com

savory. “Kettle corn is the No. 1 choice among customers,” he says. Caramel and cheese, dill pickle and spicy caramel cheese are also popular choices. For spicy caramel cheese, the balls of popcorn are coated with caramel and then tossed again with cheddar cheese — similar to Chicago-style popcorn. A generous dose of cayenne pepper that measures 60,000 on the Scoville heat scale (that’s more than a serrano pepper, but not as spicy as a habañero) is added for a spicy kick. Inside the sweets shop, bags of popcorn adorn a shelf that stretches along the wall. There are free samples of 20 flavors. If you have a sweet tooth, try flavors like cinnamon roll, vanilla butternut, cotton candy, cocoa and butter rum. Daniel and his wife, Cassiopeia, run the day-to-day operations of the sweets shop. The Clovis residents work as a team with a handful of employees. Cassiopeia starts baking cupcakes as early as 4 a.m. Indulge in giant 5.5ounce and standard-sized cupcakes in a wide range of flavors, as well chocolate-dipped pretzels, graham crackers and marshmallows. There are also gift baskets for various holidays including Easter and Mother’s Day.

Meat Market

1 The Meat Market 1900 N. Fowler Ave., Suite 120, Clovis (559) 256-1390 454 Alluvial Ave., Fresno (559) 436-6688 themeatmarket.com The Meat Market started as a small, family-owned meat distribution business in 1976. Today, The Meat Market has blossomed into a multi-location retail market that doubles as a specialty store known for serving tri-tip and gourmet sausages. Butchers keep the counters stocked with custom-cut beef, chicken, lamb and pork, as well as seafood. Sausages — made in-house with fresh ingredients —

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Shopping come in a variety of flavors. The Fresno and Clovis locations feature an in-store restaurant, The Grill, which offers take-out service. The menu features made-to-order sandwiches, such as the Famous Santa Maria tri-tip, and specialties, such as Philly Cheese Steak and Texas-style brisket. The wine inventory includes a wide selection from local wineries, including Engelmann Cellars, Cru Winery, Fresno State Winery, TOCA Madera Winery and Solitary Cellars. There are also blends from the Central Coast, Napa Valley, Sonoma and Lodi.

2. Sam’s Italian Deli & Market 2415 N. First St. (559) 229-9346

costco.com

Men’s Clothing

1 Macy’s Multiple locations macys.com No one would have guessed that the small, fancy dry goods store that opened on the corner of 14th Street and 6th Avenue in New York City in 1858 would grow to be one of the largest retailers in the world. Today, Macy’s serves customers coast-to-coast and internationally through approximately 650 stores, online at macys.com and through the Macy’s shopping app for mobile devices. A full range of men’s clothing is available, including formal wear, suits, blazers, casual wear, dress shirts, hoodies and sweatshirts, jeans and even pajamas, lounge and sleepwear. Dozens of brand names are available, including Alfani, Armani Exchange, Brooks Brothers, Calvin Klein, Dockers, INC International Concepts, Levi’s, Michael Kors, Nautica, Polo Ralph Lauren, Sean John and Tommy Bahama and Tommy Hilfiger. Activewear brands include Adidas, Champion, Columbia, Nike, Puma and Under Armour. Adaptive clothing by Tommy Hilfiger is available for men as well, including shirts and pants with magnetic buttons, sweaters with a hoop and loop fastener on the shoulder and jackets with a magnetic zipper. Pastels are back for men this spring, according to The Edit on macys.com. Shop for pastels by brands such as RVCA,

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People’s Choice Alfani Men’s, BOSS, Calvin Klein and Lacoste. Men’s sizes at Macy’s include big and tall sizes, too, so men can find the perfect fit. Macy’s also features a variety of accessories, including belts, hats, gloves, wallets, watches, grooming products and more. Men’s shoes are available in sizes up to 18 in dress shoes, casual, boots and athletic footwear.

2. Harley Davidson of Fresno 4345 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 275-8586

2. Gottschalk Music Center 328 Pollasky Ave., Clovis (559) 298-4400

hdfresno.com

gottschalkmusiccenter.com

3. Mathews Harley-Davidson 548 N. Blackstone Ave. 555 N. Abby St. 559-233-5279

3. Patrick’s Music 769 E. Barstow Ave. (559) 224-7287

2. Patrick James 780 W. Shaw Ave. (559) 224-5500

mathewshd.com

patrickjames.com

3. Kohl’s Multiple locations kohls.com

samsitaliandeli.com

3. Costco Multiple locations

Motorcycle/ ATV Dealer

1 Clawson Motorsports 6334 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 435-5020 clawsonmotorsports.com Clawson Motorsports stocks a massive selection of new and pre-owned motorcycles, ATVs, UTVs, personal watercraft and snowmobiles at the dealership in Fresno. Founded by Jack Clawson in 1936, the family-owned company sells motorcycles and ATVs from top brands like Honda, Can-Am, Kawasaki, Polaris, Suzuki and Yamaha. It also sells personal watercraft by Ski-Doo, Sea-Doo and Jet Ski. Mike Stovall, the assistant general manager of Clawson Motorsports, says the inventory for 2019 is expanding to include the Can-Am Ryker, the Yamaha Niken and the KTM 790 Adventure R. Conveniently located on-site, you’ll find the parts and accessories department as well as the service department. Top factory-trained technicians are available during business hours. Since 1976, Clawson Motorsports has been involved in the community — giving back to Valley Children’s Healthcare, My Job Depends on Ag, Keep Youth Journeying Onwards, the Central California Blood Center, Clovis Unified School District and local nonprofit organizations. By going to the website, you can make an appointment for a test drive, view new and pre-owned inventory, shop for parts and merchandise, and hear about specials and promotions.

Musical Merchandise

1 Guitar Center 5330 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 221-2222 guitarcenter.com If it’s got strings or keys and can make music, you’ll probably find it at Guitar Center in north Fresno. The store has a wide inventory of new and used instruments, ranging from electric and acoustic guitars, ukuleles and mandolins to drum sets, keyboards, sound systems and music books. Top guitar manufacturers include Yamaha, Fender, Epiphone, Gibson and Ibanez. “We’ve seen a huge rise in string instrument sales, banjo, mandolin, anything with strings,” says Westin Conriquez, the store manager. “With the world we live in, it’s kind of one of those things that’s been untainted. It’s a pure and basic thing, the love of music.” And if you’re looking for lessons in how to play your instrument of choice — including your voice — the store can help. About 150 people with a wide range of abilities and musical backgrounds have registered for classes offered through Guitar Center, Conriquez says. The curriculum is standardized across the chain, so students who have to move can continue their lessons at their new local Guitar Center, picking up where they left off, Conriquez says. “Lessons are still such a new thing for us, and people are excited about it,” he says. Students get a chance to perform at public recitals, including a holiday recital last December. “It was really cool to see,” Conriquez says. “I’d never seen as many musicians performing at once, all working together.”

patricksmusic.net

Party Supply Store

1 Party City Multiple locations partycity.com For DIYers, sites like Pinterest are a hub of creative inspiration — the spark needed to craft, construct and plan the perfectly themed party. For everyone else, there’s Party City. Since 1986, the party supply store has deployed its party scientists to develop innovative products, stay up-to-date on the latest trends and brainstorm fun and wacky party ideas so you don’t have to. Whatever the occasion, Party City has got you covered. Its 850-plus retail locations house everything from tableware, balloons and stationery to party favors, personalized banners and a fully stocked costume department. Party City’s Kazzam service can connect you with prescreened party services near you that are not available in stores, including face painters, inflatables, photo booths and event rentals. Still have reservations about your party-planning skills? Check out the website’s regularly updated Party Ideas blog for more insights and how-to’s to give you the boost you need to throw the best party possible. After all, helping you create unforgettable moments is what Party City is all about.

2. Bargain Party Rental & Sales 453 W. Bedford Ave. (559) 431-1234 bargainpartyrents.com

3. Expo Party Rentals 3714 N. Valentine Ave. (559) 495-3300 exporentals.com

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Shopping

People’s Choice PHOTO SUPPLY STORE: Horn

Pet Store

Photo owners Stan and Shelly Grosz and staff celebrate another People’s Choice win.

PetSmart Multiple locations petsmart.com If you want to see pets smile, stop into a local PetSmart. The stores are filled with everything pets of all shapes, sizes, barks, meows, chirps or slithers will love. Founded in 1986, PetSmart Inc. is the largest specialty pet retailer of services and solutions for the lifetime needs of pets. It employs approximately 56,000 associates and operates more than 1,650 pet stores in the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico as well as more than 200 in-store PetSmart PetsHotel dog and cat boarding facilities. PetSmart provides a broad range of competitively priced pet food and products and offers unique pet services including training, pet grooming, boarding, PetSmart Doggie Day Camp and in-store pet adoptions. Veterinarian care is available in many stores, where Banfield Pet Hospital operates full-service pet hospitals. These in-store pet hospitals operate

independently of PetSmart and employ veterinarians who provide a full range of health care and emergency services. PetSmart, together with nonprofits PetSmart Charities and PetSmart Charities of Canada, invite more than 3,500 animal welfare organizations to bring adoptable pets into stores so they have the best chance possible of finding a forever home. Through this in-store

adoption program and other signature events, PetSmart has facilitated more than 8 million adoptions — more than any other brick-and-mortar organization. In May 2017, PetSmart acquired Chewy.com, a leading online retailer of pet food and products in the U.S., which operates as an independent subsidiary.

2. Whitie’s Pets 5215 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 438-4343 whitiespets.com

3. Petco Multiple locations petco.com

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Shopping

1 Horn Photo 7899 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 225-5080 hornphoto.com

2. Costco Multiple locations costco.com

3. Walgreens Multiple locations walgreens.com

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People’s Choice

Photo Supply Store

“Big, better and easier to get into.” That’s how Stan Grosz describes Horn Photo’s storefront in the Villaggio shopping center. In 2017, the iconic photo supply store moved from a smaller storefront at Villaggio to the more spacious quarters it now occupies. “The new store is fantastic,” says Grosz, the co-owner along with his wife, Shelly. “Our back parking entrance makes an easy in, easy out for customers.” Some important things have not changed. Customers checking out the latest cameras from Canon, Nikon, Fujifilm, Leica, Panasonic Lumix, Olympus, Promaster and Sony still find knowledgeable sales people willing to take time on transactions. They will assess needs and guide customers to the right equipment. Horn’s inventory covers a wide variety of camera bodies, lenses, flashes and other accessories — enough to satisfy amateur and professional photographers, plus anyone in between. As an added bonus for customers, Horn Photo is the only camera dealer in the area that operates a rental program. Prices are calculated on varying daily rates, and discounts are available on midweek rentals. For hobbyists aiming to feel more comfortable with their cameras, Horn Photo offers a number of classes throughout the year. Classes include Camera Essentials: Creative Control and Exposure, Portraits and Composition, and separate introductory classes for Canon and Nikon DSLR cameras. Grosz proudly says Horn Photo is one of the last brick-and-mortar, locally owned camera stores in Central California. “We have it when you need and want it,” he says.

PLANT AND GARDEN STORE: From the best selection of plants in the area to evening events with food trucks and creative classes, Gazebo Gardens has it all. Pictured here are Aaron Buchheim, Brian Guerrero and Dianna Shafter.

Plant and Garden Store

1 Gazebo Gardens 3204 N. Van Ness Blvd. (559) 222-7673 gazebogardens1922.com Gazebo Gardens — once an outpost on the outskirts of Fresno — is today a busy green space in the heart of the city. The nursery helps home and commercial landscapers transform their properties in this unique climate by growing handpicked species that will thrive in the San Joaquin Valley. “We are real plant nerds — if it’s for sale here, chances are we’ve tried it out in our gardens at home first to make sure it works,” owner Scott Miller says. Gazebo Gardens also provides expert landscape, building maintenance and janitorial care to commercial properties throughout the Valley. “We are very proud of our track record maintaining the largest, busiest shopping centers in the county,” Miller says. History burnishes the standing of Gazebo Gardens in the community. It opened in 1922 at Van Ness Boulevard and Shields Avenue, making it the oldest continuously operated nursery in the Valley, Miller says. Today, Gazebo Gardens is a popular destination on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings when the nursery hosts a beer garden with food trucks and live music. Nearly 150,000 people visited the beer garden in

2018. “When I first started mowing lawns over 30 years ago, I never could have predicted we’d end up taking care of shopping centers and running a music venue,” Miller says. “We’re all just so happy and grateful that the road has led us to where we are today.”

2. Belmont Nursery 7730 E. Belmont Ave. (559) 255-6645

inventory covers many manufacturers. Some of them are Entegra, Genesis, Grand Design, Holiday Rambler, Jayco and Keystone. One customer wrote on RV Country’s website: “We really enjoyed purchasing our RV from you and we love it. Thank you for your professionalism.” Another customer wrote: “There was no pressure, no spam emails, no spam phone calls. They simply gave me the information that I needed to make my decision.” RV Country was previously known as Paul Evert’s RV Country. But Evert retired after 57 years and passed leadership to his business partners. “Paul requested the name be changed and all agreed on RV Country,” says Charlie Power, the vice president and director of operations for RV Country. “RV Country continues to bring an impressive track record in sales and customer service.” RV Country lost one of its service buildings in a February 2018 fire, but the dealership’s employees pulled together and business went on as usual, Power says. Deals continue to be made and three new buildings are going up. “Not much has changed if you think about it,” Power adds. “Yes, a name change and a few new buildings, but the employees are still the same, and they’re selling and servicing the same great products and helping families enjoy the good life.”

2. Camping World 3672 S. Maple Ave. (855) 772-8275 rv.campingworld.com/dealer/fresno-california

belmontnursery.com

3. Willow Gardens Nursery 10428 N. Willow Ave., Clovis (559) 299-5402

3. RVs For Less 14334 CA-41, Madera (559) 822-7848 rvs4lessca.com

willowgardensclovis.com

RV Dealer

1 RV Country 3633 S. Maple Ave. (559) 486-1000 rvcountry.com Buying from RV Country is a way to build family memories while hitting the road to see California and the rest of America. The Fresno dealership sells motor homes, travel trailers, tent trailers, fifth wheels and toy haulers. Some recreational vehicles have luxury appointments that include game systems, flat screen TVs and touch screens to control the inside environment. RV Country’s

Shopping Center

1 River Park Blackstone and Nees avenues, Fresno shopriverpark.com River Park shopping center’s motto is “where shopping, food & fun meet work & play,” and that pretty much sums up the 23-year-old north Fresno center. Bordered on the west side by Blackstone Avenue and on the east by Highway 41, River Park boasts more than 100 shops, eateries, health and beauty service businesses and service businesses spread over slightly more than 100 acres. In 2018, River Park intensified its efforts to host events and entertainment

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Shopping throughout the week, says Tracy Kashian, the vice president of marketing and public relations. “We wanted to make sure we had something going on all the time so people can get used to going to River Park and having something to do.” Do you like salsa or swing dancing? Mondays are your day, with a rotation of dance offerings throughout the month — including hip hop when the month contains a fifth Monday, Kashian says. Seniors Club is on Wednesdays, with a variety of activities that include a Walking Club, Tai Chi, free coffee and discounts. River Park now hosts farmers markets twice weekly, on Tuesdays and Saturdays. And for those who want to focus on fitness, there are several free activities: yoga on Friday mornings and High Fitness and boot camp on Saturday mornings. “The Shops at River Park is trying to be the spot where if you’re not really sure what to do, head over there because there’s something always happening,” Kashian says. Retailers are benefiting from the increase in foot traffic from visitors, she says. “Even if they’re not shopping that night, at least they’re there, they’re seeing the stores and they’ll come back another time.” What sets River Park apart from its competitors? Kashian says safety is a high priority since many businesses are open later at night. “We have the movie theater, we’re entertainment, we’re outdoor and we’re shopping — we’re the mix of all of those together. You can do all of it or one portion of it. “We work really hard at keeping our shopping center clean and up-to-date. We’re always looking for what Fresno wants, and we try to bring it to our center.”

2. Fig Garden Village Palm and Shaw avenues shopfiggardenvillage.com

3. Fashion Fair Mall 645 E. Shaw Ave. (559) 224-1591 fashionfairmall.com

Spa Dealer

1 Homecrafters Spas & BBQ 70 E. Herndon Ave. (559) 435-7727 homecraftersspas.com Homecrafters Spas & BBQ believes face-to-face time with customers is cru-

People’s Choice cial. “We spend time discovering if the customer is looking for therapy, relaxation, escape, connection or entertainment, all of which can be found with owning a Marquis Spa,” says Andy Hebert, the owner of Homecrafters. Marquis Spas are made in the United States, and they’re known for quality construction plus advanced technology and hydrotherapy. Marquis Spas has participated in more than 800 Make-AWish spas, and Homecrafters has worked with the local chapter of Make-A-Wish for the last 18 years. Homecrafters has more than 20 different spa models in its showrooms, and it also has qualified staff to help customers determine the perfect size, shape and accessories to fit their needs. But Homecrafters’ customer service does not end there. “We can do backyard site checks for spa placement as well as help design backyard products, including outdoor kitchens, fire products and patio covers — all custom built by us,” Hebert says.

2. Jacuzzi Premium Spas 6630 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 261-0326 jacuzzifresno.com

3. Energy House 122 E. Bullard Ave. (559) 432-1500 energyhousefresno.com

Specialty Gift Store

1 JR’s Sports Collectibles 4249 W. Shaw Ave., Suite 103, Fresno (559) 277-3536 605 W. Herndon, Suite 800, Clovis (559) 575-8250 OK, how cool is this? JR’s Sports Collectibles sells team color moccasins. Fans of the National Football League can slip into comfortable moccasins that are scarlet (49ers), blue (Rams) and black (Raiders) and are adorned with team logos. Moccasins with other teams’ color schemes and logos (including the Giants, Dodgers and Warriors) also are available. “Awesome,” one person wrote on Facebook. JR’s is always up to date with its merchandise. So it’s no surprise that the store quickly had T-shirts and caps to commemorate Fresno State’s 2018 Mountain

SHOPPING CENTER: River Park is the People’s Choice winner for Best Shopping Center. It is easy to see why. The center comprises shops, entertainment venues and restaurants and even hosts a weekly farmers market. West football championship. Parents can accessorize their children’s rooms at JR’s. The store has pillow cases, curtains, rugs, bedding, trash cans, wall posters, wall clocks and more with a child’s favorite team from the NFL, Major League Baseball and the National Hockey League. JR’s is owned by John Rosales, who also goes by JR. He started out more than 20 years ago selling merchandise inside a tent and today he has the largest independent sports store in California. The Fresno and Clovis locations have a combined 11,400 square feet. “We are excited to announce we are launching our online store this spring,” Rosales says. The web address will be shopjrsports.com.

2. Hallmark Gold Crown Multiple locations hallmark.com

3. Foundry Collective 601 Pollasky Ave., Clovis (559) 960-2538 thefoundrycollective.myshopify.com

Sporting Goods Store

1 Dick’s Sporting Goods Multiple locations (877) 846-9997 dickssportinggoods.com

There’s really no physical activity that DICK’S Sporting Goods doesn’t cater to. Because even with 730 stores nationwide, its customer-centric slogan is a mantra to operate by. “At DICK’S, we believe in putting our customers at the center of everything we do,” says Aaron Pisk, DICK’S Sporting Goods Central Valley Community Marketing Manager. “This mindset has allowed us to provide three key differentiators to customers: convenience, expert advice and selection.” Customers can find equipment and gear for their basketball, baseball and camping needs — as well as those that aren’t mainstream, including Spike Ball, KanJam and croquet. Even more, DICK’S offers services such as GAIT analysis and baseball glove steaming for additional customer convenience. Its website and app are great resources for those who want to browse DICK’S extensive product lines, as well as delivery and in-store pickup options. See, creating a superior customer experience is of utmost importance, and that includes providing an assortment of top-notch, exclusive products that meet the needs of today’s consumer. DICK’S offers a number of private label brands, including the female-focused CALIA by Carrie Underwood and golf brands like Walter Hagen, Maxfli and Tommy Armour. These brands are designed inhouse by DICK’s Sporting Goods experts, explains Pisk, to assist in its goal of giving consumers premium products at an affordable price point. “DICK’S Sporting Goods is excited and grateful to be recognized as ‘Best Sporting Goods Store’ for the 2019 Fresno Bee People’s Choice Awards,” he adds. “We

A CUSTOM PUBLICATION OF THE FRESNO BEE

Shopping are lucky to be apart of such a great community and look forward to helping serve our athletes and customers in the future seasons!”

2. REI 7810 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 261-4168

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People’s Choice 2. America’s Tire Company Multiple locations americastire.com

3. Costco Multiple locations costco.com

rei.com

2. Big 5 Sporting Goods Multiple locations

Used Car Dealer

big5sportinggoods.com

Tire Dealer

CarMax 7180 N. Palm Ave. (559) 490-6501

1 Les Schwab Multiple locations lesschwab.com Les Schwab Tire Centers are so focused on customer service they will patch a reparable flat for free even if it’s not their tire. The company also offers a number of free services with the warranty on its new tires. Those services include old tire disposal, tire rotation, tire re-balancing, air checks and road hazard protection. “We aim to make everyone who walks into a Les Schwab store a customer for life ...” says J.B. O’Neal, area manager of South Central California and manager at Fresno’s West Shaw Avenue location. Employees are valued, too. Many have worked for Les Schwab for decades, and the company’s policy is to promote from within the ranks. “Our employees are at the center of what we do and the reputation we have built, and we’re proud to employ more than 7,000 of them across eight states,” O’Neal says. Les Schwab Tire Centers also believe good corporate citizenship. In Dinuba, for example, the company has helped raise more than $120,000 for three academies at Dinuba High School that help prepare students for college and careers. Les Schwab believed in such core values when he started his business in Prineville, Oregon, in 1952. He passed away in 2007. Today, Les Schwab Tire Centers can be found in 480 communities in California and other western states. “Les believed in treating customers like family and investing in our communities to help create places where we all can thrive,” O’Neal says. “We keep Les’ vision at the heart of everything we do and continue to celebrate his legacy in our work, which we’re honored to see the community of Fresno appreciates.”

carmax.com Visiting a dealership can be stressful. The moment you step foot onto the lot, you’ve been targeted — an associate is going to try their darnedest to make a sale. Well, that is unless you’re at your Fresno CarMax. The 25-year-old used car retailer decided to create a new type of car-shopping experience for customers, implementing a more ethical, fair and haggle-free culture that has helped CarMax become the country’s largest company of its kind. And with 40,000-plus CarMax Quality Certified cars in its inventory and a total of 190 stores nationwide, this philosophy has definitely found its audience. For one: People like knowing they’re purchasing a reliable, safe vehicle. CarMax’s Clean Title Guarantee and 125-plus point inspection requires every vehicle sold at CarMax meet its thorough inspection, which includes everything from checking the proper operation of all engine components and systems to leaks, corrosion and excessive wear. No cars are sold to customers as is, and typically undergo an average 15 hours of renewal work by its team of ASE-certified mechanics. To add another layer of transparency, every vehicle comes with a free vehicle history report so you know exactly what kind of life the car led before finding you. And CarMax aims to help make that process easier, too. Customers can browse through models online, the CarMax Shoppers app or at one of its locations to find the best car that meets their needs with its personalization filters that alert you when it’s found a match. Additional tools such as CarMax’s car payment calculator and prequalification process can narrow down which vehicles are within your specific budget. Throw in a test run and in-person meet-and-greet with the car you’re interested in purchasing, and CarMax has surely won your

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A Nationally Recognized & Award Winning Green Medical Spa

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Shopping business, right? Punch the brakes — it’s not quite done yet. CarMax’s experienced associates don’t work on a commission-basis, allowing them to find you the best car for you with no hidden strings attached. The prices you see online are the same as in the lot. And by working with multiple financial institutions, drivers are bound to find a financing option that’ll get you on the road in no time.

2. Selma Auto Mall 2755 Auto Mall Drive, Selma (559) 896-5000 selmaautomall.com

3. Honda North 750 W. Herndon Ave., Clovis (559) 377-6055 hondanorthdirect.com

Watercraft Dealer

1 Bohner Lacefield Marine 10740 CA-41, Madera (559) 431-0336 blmboats.com Bohner Lacefield Marine is making a splash in the Central Valley. It was opened by Emil and Elizabeth Bohner in 1939. Today, the family-owned and -operated dealership sells new and pre-owned boats from companies like Tigé Boats, White River Marine Group and Monterey Boats. Ryan Lacefield, the general manager for Bohner Lacefield Marine, says the dealership “couldn’t be more excited” to launch Tracker Off Road in the spring/ summer. The on-site service department employs certified technicians who are experienced with parts and accessories for various companies, as well as repairing fiberglass and upholstery. The dealership also offers indoor and outdoor storage for boats.

2. Clawson Motorsports 6334 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 435-5020 clawsonmotorsports.com

3. Clovis Marine 2475 N. Fordham Ave. (559) 291-5737 clovismarine.com

People’s Choice

Wedding and Formal Attire

Wine Selection

Women’s Clothing

BevMo 7639 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 431-2626 1095 Herndon Ave., Suite 101, Clovis (559) 472-7871

Macy’s Multiple locations

Little Black Dress Boutique 1731 W. Bullard Ave., Suite 128 (559) 439-2032 littleblackdressprom.com The one-stop shop for dresses, wedding gowns and menswear for formal occasions is Little Black Dress Boutique in northwest Fresno. Keri Frazier is the owner behind the boutique, which opened at Bullard and West avenues in 2012. Four years later, she expanded the inventory to include wedding gowns and menswear — courtesy of Jim’s Formal Wear, the largest rental company in the United States. Frazier says wedding gowns cost less than $1,200 — with the average price at about $900. The bridal party is also set with dresses for bridesmaids, the mother-of-the-bride and the flower girl. The hot colors for 2019 are coral and lavender, Frazier adds. The average price for prom and formal dresses is $159. As for menswear, the latest styles include three colors of brocade tuxedo jackets. Frazier also takes pride in helping the community. The boutique is part of the Dream Dress Drive — a partnership between the Assistance League of Fresno and The Cinderella Project. Last year, more than 250 prom and formal dresses were donated to local underprivileged junior and senior girls in high school. To hear about deals and promotions, follow the boutique on Instagram and Facebook @LittleBlackDressFresno.

2. Madeleine’s Bridal Boutique 457 Pollasky Ave., Clovis (559) 299-2619

bevmo.com Wine tasting is about more than wine. It’s an experience. And lucky for us, BevMo! has locked into this thinking, working to transform each neighborhood store into a fun, informational destination for customers with every visit. The No. 1 specialty beverage retailer on the West Coast, BevMo! prides itself on a wide assortment of alcohol-infused goods — its aisles filled with the latest selection of big brand and locally crafted wines from around the world. Need a gourmet snack to pair with said wine? No problem. How about glassware to-go? You’re covered. Not sure what else your vino experience needs? Well, the store associates definitely do. BevMo!’s in-house connoisseurs are on hand to assist with product information, wine recommendations and party-planning advice so your event — no matter the size — goes off without a hitch. Still, BevMo! goes a few steps further. The retailer provides same or next-day delivery for all of your wine requests, and partners with customers to find and provide the perfect wine that complements your unique event. It also brings the party to its own locations, pouring the BevMo! team’s new and old favorites into customers’ glasses at its wine tasting events each week. To top it off, BevMo!’s free membership program, ClubBev!, sweetens the deal by giving members access to limited-release products, exclusive events and more.

2. Costco Multiple locations

madeleinesbridalboutique.com

costco.com

3. David’s Bridal 455 E. Shaw Ave. (559) 230-2748

3. Sam’s Italian Deli & Market 2415 N. First St. (559) 229-9346

davidsbridal.com

samsitaliandeli.com

macys.com Macy’s, the largest retail brand of Macy’s Inc., serves customers coast-to-coast and internationally through approximately 650 stores, online at macys.com and through the Macy’s shopping app for mobile devices. Established in 1858, Macy’s is an iconic brand, delivering fashion and affordable luxury through powerful assortments of the best brands. Women’s clothing runs the gamut from activewear to dresses, jeans, lingerie, sweaters and swimwear to wear to work. Women’s sizes include juniors, maternity, plus sizes, petite and petite plus. Popular brands include Alfani, Calvin Klein, Eileen Fisher, Free People, INC International Concepts, Lauren Ralph Lauren, MICHAEL Michael Kors, Nike, Style & Co, Tommy Hilfiger and more. Women can also find shoes, handbags and jewelry to complement their new outfit. According to The Edit on macys.com, pastels are back for 2019. Pair pastels with more pastels for a one-two punch that makes a striking monochromatic statement. Look for clean silhouettes to keep your look simple, smart and balanced. Play a game of fashion mix-andmatch to refresh your look with brands such as Vince Camuto, Calvin Klein, INC International and Karen Kane.

2. Ooh La La 1305 N. Willow Ave., Suite 140, Clovis (559) 297-7770 7725 N. Via Del Rio (559) 439-7770 iloveoohlala.com

3. Nordstrom Rack 7883 N. Blackstone Ave. (559) 440-0111 nordstromrack.com

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