Our Town Favorites 2022

Your Favorites In Over 250 Categories Revealed!!

Congratulations!

With over 18,000 votes and more than 250 area businesses, places, people and events nominated, Our Town Magazine is proud to announce the finalists and winners of the 2022 FAVE Awards! Congratulations to everyone nominated and for the incredible support our community has shown these amazing businesses.

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OU R TOW N FAV E S

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THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR READERS FOR VOTING FOR YOUR FAVORITES IN OVER 250 CATEGORIES. WITH OVER 18,000 VOTES AND HUNDREDS OF ENTRIES, WE’RE PROUD TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR TOWN’S FAVORITES. CONGRATULATIONS TO ALL OF THE WINNERS AND FINALISTS!

CULTURE & RECREATION FAVORITE LOCAL ANNUAL EVENT

HOGTOWN CRAFT BEER FESTIVAL

Hogtownbeerfest.com At the Hogtown Craft Beer Festival, guests can enjoy live music from local bands, great beer from Florida craft breweries and brewpubs; and food from Gainesville-area restaurants all while learning more about the amazing diversity of beer produced at the local and regional levels.

FINALISTS: Rosé Gala Ultimate Scale Truck Expo FAVORITE LOCAL ARTIST

DESIGN BY JESSANNE

Designbyjessanne.com Jessica Anne is a Gainesville-based mixed media artist who specializes in fine art and fine handcrafts. Her free-flowing style is inspired by a deep love of nature and a background in geology and geography as her work combines both science and art through paint-play and media experimentation.

FINALISTS: That Henna Girl Samm Wehman Art

FAVORITE LOCAL BAND

UNCLE MORTY’S RHYTHM CREAM

FAVORITE LOCAL BOWLING ALLEY

SPLITZ OF GAINESVILLE

Facebook.com/rhythmcream Uncle Morty’s fulfills all of your Rhythm Cream needs as they’re a soul, R&B and rock cover band based out of Gainesville, complete with a full horn section and specializing in party and danceable music.

FINALISTS: Pasture Prime Whiskey Jones

1301 NW 76th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606 Aside from earning acclaim as a 30-lane bowling alley with three styles of the sport, Splitz also features a 40-game Arcade Alley, which has the World’s Largest Connect Four, Lazer Runner laser tag and a sports bar and grill – ensuring they offer something for everyone.

FINALISTS: Alley Gatorz Bowling Center

FAVORITE LOCAL BIKE TRAIL

FAVORITE LOCAL CAMPING SPOT

GAINESVILLEHAWTHORNE STATE TRAIL

3400 SE 15th St., Gainesville, FL 32641 On this historic railbed turned greenway, you’ll find native plants and wildlife; diverse scenery and backyard Florida culture. Overlooks and stops of interest tie together a rich story of small railroad towns, locomotives and human activity along this corridor.

FINALISTS: San Felasco Hammock Preserve State Park Hawthorne Bike Trail

GINNIE SPRINGS OUTDOORS, LLC

7300 NE Ginnie Springs Road,

High Springs, FL 32643 From a tent by the river to full electric and water hook-ups for your RV, Ginnie Springs Outdoors has got you covered. Camp like a champion with over 200 wooded acres and spring-side tent sites right at your disposal.

FINALISTS: Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park and Campground Suwannee River Rendezvous Resort

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DON’T WAIT UNTIL IT’S TOO LATE! WE HAVE THE RIGHT PEOPLE AND EQUIPMENT TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR NEEDS.

FAVORITE LOCAL CORPORATE EVENT/PARTY VENUE

1908 GRAND

215 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601 1908 Grand is Gainesville’s newest event venue in one of its most historic buildings. Originally built in 1908, it has undergone a full renovation to be restored to its original grandeur while adding modern conveniences and beautiful design.

FINALISTS: Pinspiration Gainesville The Wooly FAVORITE LOCAL FARMERS MARKET

HAILE FARMERS MARKET

5213 SW 91st Terrace, Gainesville,

FL 32608 Take a stroll down the tree-lined streets of the Haile Village Center to browse for groceries, prepared food and handmade gifts, then continue on for more shopping or brunching at the Village Center’s locally-owned shops and restaurants.

FINALISTS: Alachua 441 Farmers Market Newberry Farmers Market FAVORITE LOCAL GOLF COURSE

TREE CARE SERVICES

STUMP GRINDING DEBRIS REMOVAL SMALL LOT CLEAN-UP CRANE WORK AND MORE!

Residential & Commercial | Fully Licensed & insured

352-472-2465 DaughtryTreeService.com

IRONWOOD GOLF COURSE

2100 NE 39th Ave., Gainesville,

FL 32609 Named by Golf Digest as one of the best places to play, Ironwood Golf Course has an outstanding layout sculptured around century-old pines and shimmering lakes. The contoured fairways and strategically placed bunkers offer every level of golfer a tremendous opportunity to test your skills.

FINALISTS: Turkey Creek Golf Course Hawkstone Country Club

FAVORITE LOCAL LIMO/BUS SERVICE

A CANDIE’S COACHWORKS, INC.

6916 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32607 A Candies Coachworks is a family-owned service that has been in the transportation business for over 30 years and they pride themselves on using the fabulous Prevost H-Series Deluxe motor coaches as well as their excellent safety rating due to their staff and training programs.

FAVORITE LOCAL LIVE MUSIC VENUE

HEARTWOOD SOUNDSTAGE

619 S Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601 Gainesville’s own Heartwood Soundstage is a state-of-the-art recording studio, video production facility and intimate performance venue built by musicians for music lovers and music makers.

FINALISTS: High Dive One Love Café FAVORITE LOCAL MUSEUM

FLORIDA MUSEUM OF NATURAL HISTORY

3215 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32611 From permanent displays like Florida Fossils or Land and Northwest Florida to rotating exhibits like Science Up Close: Fantastic Fossils and Our Changing Climate: Past and Present, the Florida Museum of Natural History has been providing educational experiences to guests since 1939 when certain collections – in a previous locale – opened to the public.

FINALISTS: Harn Museum of Art Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo

FAVORITE LOCAL MUSICIAN

NED STEWART

Facebook.com/dimlightsband Ned Stewart is the singer and lead guitarist for the three-piece band Dim Lights – a Gainesville favorite that specializes in musical genres like Americana, Country and Bluegrass.

FINALISTS: Ralph Hilliard Chelsea Oxendine FAVORITE LOCAL NEIGHBORHOOD

CAPRI

4412 NW 36th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32605 Capri is a resort-style pool neighborhood in northwest Gainesville. Homes in this walkable suburban neighborhood were built between 1996 and 2003 and are within a 30-minute drive or less to everything in Gainesville.

FINALISTS: Haile Plantation Tioga

FAVORITE LOCAL NON-PROFIT

GRACE MARKETPLACE

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO GO SWIMMING

GINNIE SPRINGS

3055 NE 28th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32609 GRACE is a one-stop homeless resource center serving Gainesville and Alachua County providing helpful and effective services for anyone experiencing or at risk of homelessness. By taking care of basic necessities day to day, GRACE empowers individuals to reclaim control over their lives and recover from unfortunate circumstances.

FINALISTS: St. Francis House Junior League of Gainesville

7300 NE Ginnie Springs Road, High Springs, FL 32643 Take a dip and explore the wonders of Ginnie Springs’s seven springs. Swimming and snorkeling in the crystal clear 72-degree water is fun year round, but when the Santa Fe River clears, snorkeling in the river may reward you with glimpses of large gar, bass, mullet, catfish, turtles and many other critters.

FINALISTS: Ichetucknee Springs Hart Springs Park

FAVORITE LOCAL PAINT & SIP ART STUDIO

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO HAVE A BIRTHDAY PARTY

CORKS & COLORS STUDIO

3415 W University Ave.,

Gainesville, FL 32607 Corks & Colors is an independent art studio giving Gainesville a place to create since 2010 and is a great place for anybody to embrace their artistic side – no matter what age or skill level. Create on your own or come to a class.

FINALISTS: Pinspiration Gainesville Painting with a Pit

O2B KIDS SUPERCENTER

7383 SW 17th Road, Gainesville,

FL 32607 Just bring the cake, they’ll do the rest! Choose from four themed 90-minute parties complete with party favors, engaging activities and a birthday t-shirt for your party child. They provide all the decorations, place settings and even the invitations.

FINALISTS: Pinspiration Splitz of Gainesville

Thank you for your voting for us and your continued support!

Alachua Flowers & Tuxedo Rentals

alachua-flowers-and-tuxedo-rentals.business.site Like us on Facebook | 352-339-6290

14520 Main Street, Alachua JULY/AUG 2022

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FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO PEOPLE WATCH

DEPOT PARK

874 SE 4 St., Gainesville, FL 32601 Splashing in the Blue Grotto or strolling along the promenade; enjoying a picnic in the pavilion or visiting the Cade Museum; grabbing a snack at Pop-A-Top General Store or a beverage at Box Car Wine & Beer Garden – whatever it is, there’s always an adventure at Depot Park.

FINALISTS: Celebration Pointe High Springs Brewing Company

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO TAKE VISITORS

RELAX SALT ROOMS

4936 NW 39th Ave. Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32606 Historic records indicate that humans have long been using natural salt caves for the healing and rejuvenating qualities they possess. The healing atmosphere at Relax Salt Rooms accompanied by soothing music is a natural way to enhance overall physical and mental well-being.

FINALISTS: Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille Paynes Prairie Preserve State Park FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO TAKE YOUR KIDS

DEPOT PARK

874 SE 4 St., Gainesville, FL 32601 Climb, run, slide, spin and experience an exciting custom play area designed to inspire and encourage creativity or splash in the blue grotto inspired by the underwater caverns in Central Florida complete with waterfalls, ground jets, water cannons and hidden fossils.

FINALISTS: Santa Fe College Teaching Zoo Florida Museum of Natural History

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FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO TAKE YOUR PARENTS

RELAX SALT ROOMS

4936 NW 39th Ave. Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32606 Located in Gainesville, Relax Salt Rooms’ goal is to help with breathing and skin issues using salt therapy. Salt rooms provide natural therapeutic pulverized salt where occupants are able to passively breathe it in.

FINALISTS: Pinspiration Gainesville Butterfly Rainforest at the Florida Museum of Natural History Kanapaha Botanical Gardens FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO WORSHIP

CHRIST COMMUNITY CHURCH

1603 SW 122nd St., Gainesville,

FL 32607 Christ Community Church was founded in 1997 here in gator country. What began as a small group meeting in rented spaces throughout a growing city grew into a vibrant congregation located in west Gainesville.

FINALISTS: The Rock of Gainesville Canvas Church Queen of Peace Catholic Community FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS VENUE

BEN HILL GRIFFIN STADIUM

157 Gale Lemerand Dr.

Gainesville, FL 32611 Ben Hill Griffin Stadium, or “The Swamp” as it’s affectionately known, was originally built in 1930 and has since expanded its capacity to now seat up to 88,548 fans, which makes it the largest football stadium in the state of Florida.

FINALISTS: Alfred A. McKethan Stadium (UF Baseball Field) O’Connell Center

FAVORITE LOCAL WEDDING RECEPTION VENUE

1908 GRAND

215 N Main St., Gainesville, FL Built in 1908, this newly restored and renovated historic gem offers the perfect mix of character and charm combined with modern elegance and luxury. From the breathtaking chandeliers in every room of the building to the luxurious bridal suite, a backlit onyx bar in the upstairs ballroom, a large outdoor patio, state of the art house sound and lighting, and every spectacular detail in between, you won’t want to miss the opportunity to host your big day here.

FINALISTS: Sweetwater Branch Inn Lodging and Events Langan Acres LLC

EATS FAVORITE “BEST-KEPT SECRET” RESTAURANT

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 Located in Haile Plantation, That Bar and Table’s menu includes classic American dishes, their famous burgers, brunch and changing specials.

Grab a bite in their casual, family-friendly dining area; a cold drink at the bar and pub area or bring the pup along for a meal on the dogfriendly patio.

FINALISTS: The Paper Bag Fehrenbacher’s Artisan Sausage FAVORITE LOCAL AMERICAN FOOD

SPURRIER’S GRIDIRON GRILLE

4860 Steve Spurrier Way,

Gainesville, FL 32608 Spurrier’s partners with local companies to bring the best of the best ingredients and products within their walls. From meat and produce to cheese and honey, they have current partnerships with Opus Coffee, First Magnitude Brewery, Wainwright Dairy, Hawthorne Creek Creamery, Traders Hill Farms and many others.

FINALISTS: The Top Local Provisions

FAVORITE LOCAL BAKERY

FAVORITE LOCAL BURGER

FAVORITE LOCAL BBQ

UPPERCRUST PRODUCTIONS

4118 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville,

FL 32605 Uppercrust is an artisan bakery that makes all its products from scratch and presents them the day they are baked. Uppercrust also showcases specialty artisan products. These foods, stationery, gift ideas and wines are specially curated by the Uppercrust team to complement their homemade offerings.

FINALISTS: The Bakery Mill Vine Sourdough Bakery FAVORITE LOCAL BAR FOOD

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 Truffle cheese fries, Cajun boiled peanuts, knockout shrimp and Asian crispy fried ribs offer a unique twist to bar food. If you’re interested in more of the classics, That Bar and Table also serves up chili cheese fries, fried mozzarella, fried pickle chips and nachos.

FINALISTS: Crafty Bastards Restaurant Loosey’s Downtown Gainesville

TOP HOG BBQ

14128 W Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669 Top Hog takes the time to make their recipes with love and their BBQ is made in small batches to make sure that everything ordered is fresh and up to customers’ high standards. They keep their smoker running all day – and night – to make sure they’re serving the freshest meats no matter what time you come in: lunch or dinner.

FINALISTS: David’s BBQ & Catering Sonny’s BBQ FAVORITE LOCAL BRUNCH/ BREAKFAST

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 Powdered sugar-dusted beignets served with a side of raspberry coulis; loaded home fry bowls; jumbo buttermilk biscuits and chorizo and egg two-bite tacos, you can’t go wrong with a brunch stop at That Bar and Table. Kick up your breakfast game with bottomless mimosas or an iced Irish coffee.

FINALISTS: 43rd Street Deli & Breakfast House Maple Street Biscuit Company

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 Get exactly what you’re craving with That Bar and Table’s build-your-own burgers. Choose from the base of Angus beef, roasted veggie, the impossible burger or chicken sandwich and pile on the toppings with everything from the classic lettuce, tomato and pickles, to more niche toppings like queso fresco, jalapeno aioli or an over-easy egg.

FINALISTS: Crafty Bastards Restaurant Mac’s Drive Thru FAVORITE LOCAL CATERER

TOSH EVENT GROUP, LLC

12 W University Ave. Gainesville,

FL 32601 Homemade menus. So many choices. So much to eat. It`s all good. From breakfast to dinner; Horsd`ouevres to make-your-own station; vegan to gluten-free; Tosh Event Group has the handcrafted food & drink to feed your meeting, wow your guest and make your event sparkle. They also offer daily catering in the Gainesville and Ocala areas to feed your team every day.

FINALISTS: Dos Mamas Catering Everyday Amore

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FAVORITE LOCAL CHEF

SARAH WOLF (THAT BAR AND TABLE)

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Celebrating years in the Gainesville area!

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2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100,

Gainesville, FL 32608 The core of what makes That Bar and Table a local favorite is the incredible, mouthwatering food prepared by the restaurant’s dedicated chefs like Sarah Wolf, who was named Our Town readers’ favorite local chef.

FINALISTS: Briton Dumas (Embers Wood Grill) TJ Kantor FAVORITE LOCAL CHICKEN WINGS

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 At That Bar and Table, guests can choose a base of 8, 12, or 16 wings to toss in one of 14 different sauces like sriracha-cilantro-lime-garlic, dijon molasses, Asian barbeque, butter garlic parmesan or savory ranch dry rub.

FINALISTS: Copper Monkey West Gator’s Dockside Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL CHINESE FOOD

MR. HAN’S RESTAURANT

6944 NW 10th Place, Gainesville,

FL 32605 From classic Chinese favorites like steamed dumplings, egg rolls and wontons, to more unique menu items like South African lobster tail, weeping willow chicken and phoenix and dragon soup, Mr. Han’s Restaurant is a Gainesville favorite and a foodie’s best-kept secret.

FINALISTS: Yummy House Bamboos

5753 SW 75TH S

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FAVORITE LOCAL CHOCOLATE/ CANDY STORE

THORNEBROOK CHOCOLATES

2441 NW 43rd St. Suite 21,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Nestled in the Thornebrook Village Shopping Center, locally owned and operated Thornebrook Chocolates has been providing unique gifts and assorted hand-dipped confections since 1985.

With milk, dark and white-chocolate coatings accompanied by a variety of fillings, Thornebrook has something for every chocolate enthusiast.

FINALISTS: Kilwins Sugar Refined FAVORITE LOCAL COFFEE/ COFFEEHOUSE

CYM COFFEE CO

5404 NW 8th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32605 The CYM Coffee Co. serves some of the best coffee, tea, and pastries around. A relaxed, stirring place where Gainesvillians come to get in a “cymplified” state of mind.

FINALISTS: My Happy Place on Main Patticakes at Tioga FAVORITE LOCAL DELICATESSEN

THE PAPER BAG

5750 SW 75th Court, Suite 20, Gainesville FL 32608 Casual shouldn’t mean stale food options. Great taste is the name of the game, and The Paper Bag is committed to stepping up to the plate and are dedicated to providing fresh options for their customers. Relax on the sunny patio or at their bar-style seating; enjoy your favorite beer and wine along with free wifi.

FINALISTS: Dave’s New York Deli Fehrenbacher’s Artisan Sausage

FAVORITE LOCAL DOUGHNUT

HALO POTATO DONUTS (TOWER FOOD TRUCK)

7107 NW 4th Blvd. Gainesville,

FL 32607 Halo Potato Donuts is an independently owned and operated donut company specializing in potato donuts, which are a cross between a yeast and cake donut – light like yeast, yet dense like cake. Cinnamon sugar, maple glaze, Florida buckeye, lemon blueberry and cinnamon roll – you can’t go wrong with any flavor.

FINALISTS: Donut Connection Joyfully Baked FAVORITE LOCAL FAMILY RESTAURANT

MR. & MRS. CRAB

3246 SW 35th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32608 Mr. & Mrs. Crab’s hand-held seafood integrates American country taste with traditional Szechuan spices to create a unique flavor. What makes Mr. & Mrs. Crab even more unique is the ability to create your very own customized seafood boil.

FINALISTS: That Bar and Table Crafty Bastards Restaurant

FAVORITE LOCAL FINE DINING

EMBERS WOOD GRILL

3545 SW 34th St. Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608 Embers Wood Grill provides a fine dining experience through their extensive menu featuring chef specialties, USDA prime beef entrees, succulent seafood, an assortment of desserts like lemon layer cake, banana foster cheesecake and flaming crème brûlée as well as a lengthy list of wines and cocktails.

FINALISTS: Prime & Pearl Mark’s Prime Steakhouse FAVORITE LOCAL FIRST DATE SPOT

CINTRÓN - A FLORIBBEAN RESTAURANT

2441 NW 43rd St., Gainesville, FL 32606 With an assortment of savory sandwiches; unique appetizers like Floribbean eggrolls or shrimp and passion fruit ceviche; main dishes like mango-mustard glazed salmon or mojo roasted chicken and signature cocktails like the key lime pie martini or orange blossom special, Cintrón is the ideal first-date spot.

FINALISTS: Alpin Bistro Embers Wood Grill

FAVORITE LOCAL FOOD TRUCK

VEGAN GATOR FOOD TRUCK

Facebook.com/VeganGatorFoodTruck Vegan Gator is a plant-based concept with a passion for delicious vegan food. They feature vegan artisanal burgers and tasty smothered fries made from locally sourced ingredients and house-made sauces.

FINALISTS: Cilantro Tacos Filipino Flavors FAVORITE LOCAL HANGOVER FOOD

THAT BAR AND TABLE

2725 SW 91st St. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32608 From the chicken biscuit sandwich, which features fried buttermilk chicken on a fresh buttermilk biscuit with honey butter and home fries, to the breakfast burger served on a buttermilk biscuit and topped with a sunny-side up egg, wrapping up with the loaded home fry bowl packed with chorizo, cheddar, queso fresco and eggs over cheddar cheese grits, That Bar and Table’s weekend brunch specials are the pinnacle of hangover food.

FINALISTS: Impulse Gainesville Crafty Bastards Restaurant

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FAVORITE LOCAL HIBACHI/JAPANESE STEAK

YAMATO JAPANESE RESTAURANT

526 NW 60th St., Gainesville, FL 32607 Pork dumplings, agedashi tofu and sushi rolls – Yamato has it all. From assorted platters, traditional Japanese cuisine, teppan yaki and more, Yamato is Gainesville’s favorite Japanese steakhouse and hibachi restaurant.

FINALISTS: Samurai Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar Rock N’ Roll Sushi Jonesville FAVORITE LOCAL ITALIAN FOOD

FAVORITE LOCAL PIZZA

Piesanostogo.com Whether you are looking for a quick lunch or a dinner destination to meet up with friends & family, Piesanos is your place. Celebrate life’s most memorable moments with delicious dishes whether in their dining room or yours.

FINALISTS: O Sole Mio Cucina Italiana Pomodoro Café

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LAS MARGARITA’S

4405 NW 39th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32606 Don’t let the name fool you, Las Margaritas isn’t just a venue for sipping tasty cocktails – they offer the best Mexican food in town. Whether you’re craving tacos, enchiladas, quesadillas, fajitas or another flavorful favorite, you’ll find the best authentic Mexican food at Las Margaritas.

FINALISTS: Nopal by Cintrón Linda Vista

PIESANOS STONE FIRED PIZZA

DRY SALT THERAPY

FAVORITE LOCAL MEXICAN FOOD

FAVORITE LOCAL MEDITERRANEAN FOOD

GYRO PLUS

1011 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601 From beef, Greek or veggie gyro sandwiches to baba ghanouge, falafel and tabbouleh, all of which take a backseat to mouthwatering cashew, pistachio, walnut or almond baklava, Gyro Plus is a favorite hangout for unforgettable Mediterranean food.

FINALISTS: Zoës Kitchen Taziki’s Mediterranean Café

PIESANOS STONE FIRED PIZZA

5757 SW 75th St., Suite 101,

Gainesville, FL 32608 The only thing better than pie is pizza pie and Piesanos Stone Fired Pizza knows how to make the best with freshly made dough baked golden brown and loaded with delicious toppings, you can’t stop at just one slice and with three locations around Gainesville, you don’t have to.

FINALISTS: Satchel’s Pizza Blue Highway a Pizzeria FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT OVERALL

MR. & MRS. CRAB

3246 SW 35th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32608 Mr. and Mrs. Crab offers a diverse range of juicy seafood, including shrimp, oysters, blue crab, snow crab, crawfish, clams, mussels, Dungeness crab, and lobster!

FINALISTS: That Bar and Table Crafty Bastards Restaurant

FAVORITE LOCAL RESTAURANT PATIO

CINTRÓN - A FLORIBBEAN RESTAURANT

2441 NW 43rd St., Gainesville, FL 32606 What better way to enjoy the Floribbean vibes than enjoying a drink and a meal outside. Cintrón has a spacious patio space featuring several umbrella-canopied tables.

FINALISTS: One Love Café Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille

FAVORITE LOCAL RIBS

ADAMS RIB CO.

FAVORITE LOCAL STEAKHOUSE

EMBERS OF FLORIDA

6500 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 8181 NW 39th Ave. Suite 100, Gainesville, FL 32606 Bangkok Square is a family-owned restaurant specializing in flavorful and traditional Thai food including a rainbow of curries, noodles and fried rice as well as unique desserts like sticky rice with Thai custard, lychee and Thai donuts.

FINALISTS: Tup Tim Thai Restaurant and Sushi Bar Eim Thai

FAVORITE LOCAL SUSHI

FAVORITE LOCAL VEGETARIAN/ VEGAN FOOD

FUJI SUSHI

14218 W Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669 Sushi’s in their name so it’s no surprise that Fuji Sushi is an expert at making the best in town.

From classic offerings like tuna and California rolls to more specialized concoctions like the Mexican roll and bagel roll, Fuji Sushi can curb any sushi craving.

FINALISTS: Dragonfly Sushi & Sake Ichiban Sushi

FAVORITE LOCAL SEAFOOD

FAVORITE LOCAL TACOS

3246 SW 35th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32608 Customize your seafood experience at Mr. & Mrs. Crab and enjoy seafood boils your way.

After cooking your food to perfection, the chefs place your food and choice of seasoning in a specially-designed seafood boil bag, which helps trap the heat and amazing flavor.

FINALISTS: Northwest Grille Wahoo Seafood Grill

BANGKOK SQUARE

3545 SW 34th St. Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608 Named as one of the Top 10 Steakhouses in Florida by Bestthingsfl.com, Embers Wood Grill offers a fine-dining experience like no other.

Grilled over a hickory, pecan and cherry wood grill and hand cut and fully trimmed in-house, Embers’ USDA prime beef is the star of the menu.

FINALISTS: Mark’s Prime Steakhouse Prime & Pearl

2109 NW 13th St., Gainesville, FL 32609 With “ribs” in the center of their name, Adam’s Rib Co. knows how to make the best. Slow smoked, slathered in sweet sauce and packed with flavor from pecan, black jack and hickory-infused woods, Adam’s Rib Co. has the best southern-style barbeque ribs in Gainesville.

FINALISTS: Top Hog BBQ 4 Rivers Smokehouse

MR. & MRS. CRAB

FAVORITE LOCAL THAI FOOD

CILANTRO TACOS

15551 NW US Hwy 441, Alachua, FL Cilantro Tacos was founded through a passion for great food and serving others.

A family-owned business, they think of their patrons, as familia, and pride themselves in the quality, freshness, & vibrant flavors of their food as every meal is prepared fresh and made to order.

FINALISTS: Nopal by Cintrón Sublime Tacos

VEGAN GATOR FOOD TRUCK

Facebook.com/VeganGatorFoodTruck From veggie burgers like the vegan cowboy with braised barbeque jackfruit and crispy onion straws or the “siikedelic mushroom” topped with sautéed mushrooms, mushroom gravy and vegan white cheese sauce to the side of loaded fries like white truffle and rosemary or swamp fries with Cajun seasoning, buffalo and cheese sauce, Vegan Gator Food Truck can satisfy your meatless cravings.

FINALISTS: The Top Nopal by Cintrón FAVORITE LOCAL WINE SELECTION AT A RESTAURANT

EMBERS OF FLORIDA

3545 SW 34th St. Suite A, Gainesville, FL 32608 In addition to having two certified wine experts on staff, Embers has over 420 wine selections in stock, 30 different wines by the glass and an extensive bar list featuring ports and sherries. So whether you’re a wine newbie or an aficionado, Embers has the best selection to choose from.

FINALISTS: Prime & Pearl Tipple’s Brews & Wine

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FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN ALACHUA

EL TORO MEXICAN RESTAURANT

15202 NW 147th Drive, Suite 1100,

Alachua, FL 32615 El Toro is a family-style restaurant with the best tasting Mexican food in Alachua. Their food is prepared fresh to order and they pride themselves on their award-winning salsa, which has been a regional favorite of North Florida and University of Florida Gator fans for years.

FINALISTS: Conestogas Restaurant Mi Apá Latin Café of Alachua FAVO R I T E R E S TA U R A N T GAINESVILLE

IN

MR. & MRS. CRAB

3246 SW 35th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32608 Seafood lovers rejoice, Butler Town Center’s Mr. & Mrs. Crab – renowned for their createyour-own seafood boils – were named by Our Town readers as their favorite restaurant in Gainesville overall. Cajun, garlic butter or lemon pepper, what are you seasoning your seafood boil with?

FINALISTS: That Bar and Table Crafty Bastards Restaurant FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN HIGH SPRINGS

GREAT OUTDOORS RESTAURANT

65 N Main St., High Springs, FL 32643 Winner of Trip Advisor’s Award of Excellence in 2018 and named favorite restaurant in High Springs by Our Town readers for the second year, The Great Outdoors Restaurant attracts customers with live music, an outdoor patio, dining in the upstairs opera house and delicious food.

FINALISTS: Grady House Bed & Breakfast Bev’s Better Burgers

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FAVORITE RESTAURANT IN NEWBERRY

ROCK N’ ROLL SUSHI JONESVILLE

13005 SW 1 Road Suite 137, Newberry, FL 32669 Rock N’ Roll Sushi is the original American-style sushi restaurant founded on great food and rock ‘n’ roll music. Boasting concepts and flavors that are big, bold, and loud, they’re the only place to experience the rock you love and the rolls you love with the ones you love.

FINALISTS: Stone House Neighborhood Grill Dave’s New York Deli

HEALTH & BEAUTY FAVORITE LASER HAIR REMOVAL CENTER

ACCENT AESTHETICS

4340 W Newberry Road Suite 102, Gainesville, FL 32607 Accent Aesthetics specializes in minimally invasive and non-invasive medical aesthetic procedures like facial rejuvenation treatments and laser hair removal and offers medical-grade skin-care products. Using state-of-the-art techniques, Accent Aesthetics tailors every client’s needs and lifestyle with a treatment plan unique to them.

FINALISTS: Paradise Skin & Body Ideal Image Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL ACUPUNCTURIST

ELIZABETH NOBLES (FLOATING LOTUS THERAPEUTIC SPA AND HEALTH CENTER)

2441 NW 43rd St. Suite 3A, Gainesville, FL 32606 At the Floating Lotus Spa, they seek to help you achieve a healthier state of body, mind and spirit.

The atmosphere they create, the natural products used and the therapists devoted to your service combine to give you a one-of-a-kind experience found only at the Floating Lotus Spa. FINALISTS: Jerrod Fletcher (North Florida Acupuncture) Gainesville Wellness and Performance

FAVORITE LOCAL AESTHETIC CENTER

ACCENT AESTHETICS

4340 W Newberry Road Suite 102, Gainesville, FL 32607 Accent Aesthetics is dedicated entirely to cosmetic procedures. Their board-certified surgeons and a team of aesthetic experts provide an exceptional level of care during your entire experience and specialize in nonsurgical services such as chemical peels, dermal fillers, fibroblast plasma skin tightening, laser hair removal, skin resurfacing and more.

FINALISTS: Glow Bar GNV Pure Aesthetics FAVORITE LOCAL AESTHETICIAN

TAYLOR RODGERS

2441 NW 43rd St. Suite 3A, Gainesville, FL 32606 The Floating Lotus Spa, Gainesville’s unique escape from the stresses of day-to-day life, is located in Florida’s beautiful Thornebrook Village. Indulge yourself in therapies focused on anti-aging treatments & complete wellness at a cellular level.

FINALISTS: Christine Dautel (Accent Aesthetics) Floating Lotus Spa FAVORITE LOCAL AUDIOLOGIST

DR. STEVE PETRAKIS (AUDIOLOGY BY ACCENT)

4340 Newberry Road Suite 301, Gainesville, FL 32607 Dr. Ryan Baker earned his Doctor of Audiology degree from the University of Florida in 2007.

His clinical expertise includes diagnostics and amplification, serving musicians’ hearing needs and promoting the installation of hearing loop systems. He is also certified in Tinnitus Retraining Therapy.

FINALISTS: Dr. Jagadish Swamy (Clearsound Audiology) Dr. Ryan Baker

FAVORITE LOCAL BARBER

JONESVILLE BARBER SHOP

14029 W Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669 Traditional barbershop with a friendly atmosphere located in Newberry. Jonesville Barber Shop offers both traditional and modern haircuts for men, women and children.

FINALISTS: Gents & Co Sliced Barber Shop FAVORITE LOCAL BODY PIERCING SHOP

ANATOMIC BODY ARTS

12 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601 Opened in October 2016, Anatomic Body Piercing was the first, and still, the only body piercing boutique in north central Florida and is the only studio in the region with an all-female staff as well as the only one to carry exclusively quality jewelry made by the finest manufacturers in the world.

FINALISTS: Bodytech Tattooing & Piercing Pizzazz Piercing and Tattoo

FAVORITE LOCAL CBD STORE

FAVORITE LOCAL DENTIST OFFICE

HALO HEALTH SERVICES

8611 SW 92nd Lane,

Gainesville, FL 32608 Halo Health Services provides nutrition, physical fitness and mental wellness guidance to address health and wellness outcomes from all of the many aspects of influence.

FAVORITES: Sacred Leaf Shops Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center FAVORITE LOCAL CHIROPRACTOR

AWAKEN CHIROPRACTIC

5200 NW 43rd St. Suite 507,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Awaken Chiropractic is focused on improving the health and wellness of the entire community, which is why their mission is to provide their patients with chiropractic care and the tools needed to improve overall health and wellness for a lifetime.

FINALISTS: Direct Care Chiropractic Results Chiropractic

EXCEPTIONAL DENTISTRY & SEDATION CENTER

932 NW 56th Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32605 Often referred to as the Ritz Carlton of Dentistry, Exceptional Dentistry & Sedation Center has a Ritz Carlton-trained team ready to exceed even the highest patient expectations and are able to offer advanced dental services in one convenient location.

FINALISTS: Comprehensive Dental Care Dr. Bertram J. Hughes, DMD FAVORITE LOCAL DERMATOLOGIST

CHRISTINA MITCHELL, MD

13575 NW 1st Lane, Suite 10, Newberry, FL 32669 Christina Mitchell, MD, is an accomplished dermatologist with a passion for helping her patients feel great in their own skin. Through her work at Dermatology Specialists of Gainesville in Newberry, Dr. Mitchell is honored to play a role in creating positive change in the lives of those in her care.

FINALISTS: Dr. Robert Skidmore (FL Cancer & Dermatology) Dr. Miranda Whitmer (Gainesville Dermatology, A Forefront Dermatology Practice)

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FAVORITE LOCAL DOCTOR

DR. ALTHEA TYNDALLSMITH, MD

212 NW 135th Way Suite 20,

Newberry, FL 32669 Dr. Tyndall-Smith, who moved to Gainesville in 2013 from York, Pennsylvania, started her career in medicine at York Hospital, one of the oldest community family medicine residency programs in the country. She co-founded Gainesville DPC Physicians in order to spend quality time with her patients and their families.

FINALISTS: Dr. Jennifer McConnell Dr. Della Tuten

FAVORITE LOCAL EYE LASHES SALON

BEAUTY LOUNGE & CO

14128 W Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669 At Hedges Eye Care, their team is dedicated to providing the highest quality eye care to you and your family. Their priority is for their patients to feel welcomed, relaxed, and cared for in a comfortable environment while they strive to help you achieve your best vision and ocular health so that you can live better with better vision.

FINALISTS: Quinn Eye Center Vitreo Retinal Associates

LIV ATHLETIC

1405 NW 6th St. Suite 110, Gainesville, FL 32601 Co-founded in 2016 by microblading artist Nikki Naylor, Beauty Lounge & Co prides itself in using the highest quality tools and products in the industry as well as employing highly-educated artists like Naylor and lash extension and waxing specialist Miranda Bohr.

FINALISTS: Lucid Lash Studio The Brow Queen & Co

1126 NW 2nd St. Suite A Gainesville, FL 32601 LIV Athletic will help you take the guesswork out of staying in shape so you can achieve your fitness goals. With their coaching program, you will confidently exercise, meal plan, and stay committed to your goals, without spending a fortune on a personal trainer.

FINALISTS: AXIS Training Studio Gainesville Health & Fitness – Tioga Center

FAVORITE LOCAL EYEBROW SALON

FAVORITE LOCAL GYM

FAVORITE LOCAL EYE CLINIC

HEDGES EYE CARE

FAVORITE LOCAL GROUP FITNESS

SALON ZIBA (ZIBA DE BEAUTE)

2441 NW 43rd St., Gainesville, FL 32606 Ziba Ahmadi has been perfecting the art of eyebrow threading for over 20 years and has been hailed as the best in Gainesville by her clientele and Our Town readers. Her appointment-only services include threading for the face, arms and legs.

FINALISTS: Beauty Lounge & Co. The Brow Queen & Co.

4620 NW 39th Ave. Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32606 At AXIS – Gainesville’s premier personal training studio specializing in corrective exercise – they believe that movement is medicine, and just like a prescription, the wrong one may make a person worse than when they started! Each client is put through a complete structural evaluation, flexibility test and fitness assessment before any exercise is prescribed.

FINALISTS: LIV Athletic Gainesville Health & Fitness

CELEBRATING

15 YEARS

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AXIS TRAINING STUDIO

(352) 244-0840

FAVORITE LOCAL HAIR SALON

CONFIDENCE HAIR SALON

Christyhenneman.glossgenius.com Confidence Hair Salon is an upscale studio salon.

Founder Christy Henneman dreamed of a salon where clients could have confidence in their salon, stylist and hair care.

FINALISTS: Mirror Mirror Salon Studio, LLC Studio B Hair Salon FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTH FOOD STORE

SUNFLOWER HEALTH FOODS

3424 W University Ave. Gainesville, FL 32607 Locally owned and operated since 1970, Sunflower Health Foods and its knowledgeable staff are there to help you. Whether it’s vitamins and minerals, herbal supplements, sports nutrition or just helping to find what you need, they’re ready to help.

FINALISTS: Ward’s Supermarket Earth Origins Market

FAVORITE LOCAL HEALTHCARE PROVIDER (BUSINESS)

CELEBRATE PRIMARY CARE, GAINESVILLE

919 NW 57th St. Gainesville, FL 32605 Celebrate Primary Care is a Direct Primary Care practice, which means you get more time with your provider. They charge a low monthly fee with unlimited access to care, no copays and discounts on labs, generic medications and radiology.

FINALISTS: Gainesville Direct Primary Care Physicians, LLC Accent Physician Specialists FAVORITE LOCAL HOSPITAL

UF HEALTH SHANDS HOSPITAL

1600 SW Archer Road, Gainesville,

FL 32608 At UF Health Shands, nearly 900 expert UF College of Medicine and community physicians and more than 8,000 skilled nursing and support staff provide comprehensive high-quality patient care from primary care and family medicine to subspecialty tertiary and quaternary services for patients with highly complex medical conditions.

FINALISTS: HCA Florida North Florida Hospital Shands Children’s Hospital

FAVORITE LOCAL IN-HOME HEALTHCARE

OVATION HOME CARE

214 W University Ave. Suite A1, Gainesville, FL 32601 As a locally owned and operated Gainesville home care agency, Ovation Home Care addresses the issues aging seniors face. Their approach to senior care is inspired by the perspective of an experienced occupational therapist and includes pastoral care in addition to the personal care traditionally offered by private duty home care companies.

FINALISTS: Touching Hearts at Home Home by Choice FAVORITE LOCAL LASIK SURGERY CLINIC

EYE ASSOCIATES OF GAINESVILLE

2521 NW 41st St.,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Eye Associates of Gainesville is committed to delivering the highest quality comprehensive eye care for each of their patients, which will minimize your time spent in the office for your visit.

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FAVORITE LOCAL MARTIAL ARTS STUDIO

STAR MARTIAL ARTS

500 NW 60th St., Gainesville, FL 32607 Star Martial Arts is focused on more than teaching students the skills and techniques they need to progress through karate levels.

Their team is there to empower and support students on their journey to unlock their full potential. Through martial arts, they help students build character, leadership skills, and integrity.

FINALISTS: Pro Taekwondo School Okito America

FAVORITE LOCAL NAIL SALON

FAVORITE LOCAL ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON

ENSO: A HEALTHIER NAIL BOUTIQUE

13005 SW 1 Road, Suite 133,

Newberry, FL, 32669 Enso’s mission involves setting a higher standard for the local beauty industry as they strive to create a worry-free ambiance by staffing knowledgeable trained professionals and providing healthier choices for beauty services by using mostly organic and vegan-friendly products.

FINALISTS: Grand Nails Hang Ten Nail Design FAVORITE LOCAL ORTHODONTIST

FAVORITE LOCAL MASSAGE THERAPIST

ALEXANDRA DIAZ (RELAX SALT ROOMS)

4936 NW 39th Ave. Suite A,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Relax Salt Rooms’ treatment room features an intimate salt wall designed to create the perfect setting for massage. Alexandra Diaz, a licensed massage therapist and holistic wellness practitioner, works with you to make sure your massage is tailored to your needs.

FINALISTS: Jude Parfait Cody Yelton

PAPPAS & TAPLEY ORTHODONTICS

DR. HARI PARVATANENI (UF HEALTH ORTHOPAEDICS)

3450 Hull Road, Gainesville, FL 32607 Dr. Hari Parvataneni grew up in Jamaica and joined UF in 2011 and his clinical practice focuses on joint replacement and reconstruction. He has extensive experience and interest in education, mentorship, quality of care innovations, clinical research, enhanced recovery and improved outcomes after surgery and value-based care.

FINALISTS: Dr. Tristan Altbuch (The Orthopedic Center) Dr. Arthur Sharkey, MD (The Orthopedic Institute) FAVORITE LOCAL PEDIATRICIAN

320 NW 76th Dr. Gainesville, FL 32607 At Pappas & Tapley Orthodontics, their goal is to care for all their patients like family and provide the best orthodontic treatment possible. They are dedicated, not only to creating beautiful and healthy smiles but to building honest and trusting relationships with their patients and the community.

FINALISTS: Montini Orthodontics Dr. Dawn Martin (Jacobson & Martin Orthodontics)

Taking care of you like

DR. KATHERYN SARANTOS (ALLIANCE PEDIATRICS)

4627 NW 53rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32653 Dr. Katheryn Sarantos has always had a strong passion for helping others. Coupled with her affinity for medicine, she’s been serving the Gainesville community for almost 20 years. She began her career as a medical student at the University of Florida, where she also completed her residency, focusing on Pediatrics.

FINALISTS: Dr. Ron Emerick (Little Pine Pediatrics) Molly Posa, MD (UF Health Pediatrics – Tioga)

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FAVORITE LOCAL PERSONAL TRAINER

AKELA COLLINS (GAINESVILLE HEALTH & FITNESS)

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE FOR SKIN CARE

ACCENT AESTHETICS

Ghfc.com Akela Collins is a NASM Certified Personal Trainer and NASM Certified Behavioral Change Specialist who wants to show her clients that they truly can achieve anything they set their mind to, wanting them to enjoy the journey and to look back on all they have accomplished with pride.

FINALISTS: Jake Thompson (AXIS Training Studio) Kelvin Jones (Zen Fitness)

4340 W Newberry Road, Suite 102, Gainesville, FL 32607 At Accent Aesthetics, they believe looking your best helps you feel your best. So they share their passion and knowledge to help you feel refreshed, inspired and beautiful – ready to start each day with a fabulous smile and sense of self that radiates confidence.

FINALISTS: Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center Glow Bar

FAVORITE LOCAL PHARMACY

FAVORITE LOCAL RUNNING EVENT

WESTLAB PHARMACY

4410 Newberry Road, Suite A5, Gainesville, FL 32607 With over 100 years of collective experience, Westlab Pharmacy’s team of skilled pharmacists work with prescribing professionals and patients to design customized medications that meet the dosage requirements of the physician and are in a form comfortable and convenient for the patient to use.

FINALISTS: Celebrate Primary Care Publix Super Market at Alachua Market Place FAVORITE LOCAL PHYSICAL THERAPIST

CHRISTINA PETTIE (UF HEALTH REHAB CENTER MAGNOLIA PARKE)

4740 NW 39th Place, Suite D, Gainesville, FL 32606 Christina Pettie is skilled in the spine, vestibular rehabilitation, manual therapy, wheelchair evaluations, aquatic therapy, healthcare management and healthcare. A physical therapist with UF Health Rehab Center Magnolia Parke, Pettie also has an MHA focused in Health Administration from the University of Florida.

FINALISTS: Fyzical Therapy & Balance Centers Gainesville Physical Therapy and Wellness, LLC

HOGTOWN 5K BEER RUN

Climbforcancerfoundation.org Adult runners enjoy delicious craft beer from Swamp Head Brewery at the finish line along with food, root beer for the kids, music and entertainment. There’s something for everyone. Proceeds from the Hogtown 5K Beer Run benefit the Climb for Cancer Foundation, which supports cancer patients and their families at UF Health.

FINALISTS: 5 Points of Life Newnan’s Lake FAVORITE LOCAL SPA

FLOATING LOTUS THERAPEUTIC SPA AND HEALTH CENTER

2441 NW 43rd St. Suite 3A, Gainesville, FL 32606 Welcome to the Floating Lotus Therapeutic Spa and Health Center, Gainesville’s unique escape from the stresses of everyday life. Indulge yourself in therapies focused on anti-aging treatments and complete wellness.

FINALISTS: Relax Salt Rooms Glow Bar GNV

FAVORITE LOCAL TANNING SALON

LAE BEAUTY BAR

618 NW 60th St. Suite I, Gainesville, FL 32607 LAE Beauty’s standard is to provide a fresh, healthy and smart approach for customers to care for their bodies and skin. Since 2008, LAE Beauty has provided services in eyelash extensions, microblading, brows, facials, microdermabrasion, chemical peels, spray tanning - a customer favorite - waxing, tanning and red light therapy.

FINALISTS: South Beach Tanning Company FAVORITE LOCAL TATTOO SHOP

BODYTECH TATTOOING & PIERCING

806 W University Ave, Gainesville,

FL 32601 Bodytech Tattooing and Piercing Inc. was established in 1998 by Wayne Lessard. They pride themselves on a professional, clean, friendly atmosphere, where their clients are their number one priority. Bodytech Tattooing & Piercing provides tattoo services, body piercing, custom tattoos and jewelry to the Gainesville area.

FINALISTS: Anthem Tattoo Parlor Oasis Tattoo Collective FAVORITE LOCAL WAXING SALON

FLOATING LOTUS THERAPEUTIC SPA AND HEALTH CENTER

2441 NW 43rd St. Suite 3A, Gainesville, FL 32606 At Floating Lotus, all of their waxing treatments use all-natural beeswax – an antimicrobial liquid that melts at skin temperature, which makes the hair removal process much more comfortable than ordinary wax. The nourishing vegetable oils, titanium dioxide and zinc oxide give their wax a creamy texture, which soothes the skin as it conditions and heals.

FINALISTS: Red Fern Esthetics Brazils Waxing Center Salon Ziba (Ziba De Beaute)

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FAVORITE LOCAL YOGA STUDIO/ INSTRUCTOR

SEARCHLIGHT YOGA

3501 SW 2nd Ave. Suite O, Gainesville, FL 32607 Located in the beautiful Creekside Plaza, Searchlight features a full schedule of daily classes like spiritual fitness, yin and mindful flow yoga; workshops and special events.

FINALISTS: Yoga Pod SW Yoga Pod NW FAVORITE URGENT CARE

ONESTOP MEDICAL

15652 NW US Highway 441, Suite 2D, Alachua, FL 32615 OneStop Medical’s walk-in clinic and urgent care offer community members an array of medical services relating to injuries, occupational medicine, vaccines, worker’s comp, specific illnesses, CBD and medical marijuana, DOT, labs and x-rays.

FINALISTS: Emergency Physicians Medical Center CareSpot Urgent Care – Gainesville

NIGHTLIFE FAVORITE BURLESQUE PERFORMER

LEVIATHAN ENVY

When it comes to burlesque performances, Gainesville is a hub for unique and colorful performers decked out in sequin, tassel and feather costumes, but among them all, Our Town readers’ favorite burlesque performer is Leviathan Envy.

FINALISTS: Betty Shiraz Lola La Colombe FAVORITE DOWNTOWN BAR

MADRINA’S

9 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601 With thirst-quenching, hand-crafted cocktails like the flamingo pop with passionfruit, ginger and rosewater; the matcha colada with matcha, coconut cream and pineapple; guava the hut with guava, vanilla and lime; and unique daiquiris flavors like carrot, cucumber or banana, Madrina’s is Gainesville’s favorite downtown bar.

FINALISTS: Loosey’s Downtown Gainesville The Leaning Pig

FAVORITE LOCAL BAR TO PLAY GAMES

ARCADE BAR

6 E University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601 The Arcade Bar is three stories of hand-selected arcade games and two full-service bars. The lower level offers pinballs, shooters and fighters with a tiki-style bar; classic arcade games and bubble hockey on the second and skeeball, foosball, classic multicade games and a large full-service bar on the third.

FINALISTS: Blackadder Brewing Company Dave & Buster’s FAVORITE LOCAL BEER (KIND)

FIRST MAGNITUDE: VEGA

1220 SE Veitch St. Gainesville, FL 32601 First Magnitude Brewing Company’s Vega Blonde Ale is a bright, crisp, light-bodied beer with a hint of citrus perfect for stargazing and daydreaming. Aside from being a local favorite, Vega was the 2018 World Beer Cup Silver Medal Winner.

FINALISTS: Swamp Head: Big Nose Blackadder Brewing: Giggling Imbecile

GAINESVILLE’S LEADING DESIGN-BUILD COMPANY

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HOME ADDITIONS

(352) 335-1454

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FAVORITE LOCAL BLOODY MARY

FAVORITE LOCAL DIVE BAR

SHULA’S STEAK HOUSE

CRAFTY BASTARDS RESTAURANT

1714 SW 34th St. Gainesville, FL 32607 Shula’s Steak House’s menus are bursting with fresh ingredients and the most unforgettable flavors including their legacy steak menu and a cocktail menu featuring the Gainesville favorite bloody Mary.

FINALISTS: Blackadder Brewing Company Northwest Grille

4860 NW 39th Ave.,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Crafty Bastards provides the perfect location for those wanting something a little different from the norm. With a fresh, made-from-scratch menu and a selection of craft beer and wine, they aren’t looking to duplicate the place down the road, they’re simply doing what they love and know you’ll love too.

FINALISTS: Mother’s Pub & Grill North Loosey’s Downtown Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL BREWERY

SWAMP HEAD BREWERY

FAVORITE LOCAL FANCY-PANTS BAR

3650 SW 42nd Ave.,

Gainesville, FL 32608 From the finest malts to the most aromatic and flavorful hops available, Swamp Head Brewery uses only quality ingredients in their brewery.

Whether local honey and blueberries or a spice from a local garden, they embrace the natural flavors of the land and share them in their beer.

FINALISTS: Cypress & Grove Brewing Company First Magnitude Brewing Company

MADRINA’S

9 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32601 From flavored daiquiris like banana, strawberry and carrot to mixed drinks like the matcha colada, guava the hutt and disco fizz, Madrina’s is Gainesville’s favorite fancy-pants bar.

FINALISTS: Fluid Lounge Spark at Embers

FAVORITE LOCAL HAPPY HOUR

MARK’S PRIME STEAKHOUSE

201 SE 2nd Ave.,

Gainesville, FL 32601 Mark’s Prime Steakhouse has a goal to create a unique dining experience that will please the palate and soothe the soul. They serve the finest beef, the freshest seafood, premium wines and naturally fresh vegetables.

FINALISTS: Alpin Bistro Local Provisions FAVORITE LOCAL HIPSTER SPOT

THE TOP

30 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601 Since 2000, The Top has catered to vegans, vegetarians and meat-loving carnivores alike while offering over 33 rotating draft lines, and craft cocktails to warm your cheeks. Their overall mission is to serve good food, good drinks and good times.

FINALISTS: Public & General Madrina’s

Call us at

352.559.3050 7420 W. Newberry Rd. Ste B Gainesville, FL 32605

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FAVORITE LOCAL IRISH BAR

LIMEROCK ROAD NEIGHBORHOOD GRILL

FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO KARAOKE

FAVORITE LOCAL MARTINI

SPURRIER’S GRIDIRON GRILLE

9158 SW 51st Road,

Gainesville, FL 32608 Fresh, friendly and local; burgers, beer, ribs and rum; friends and family, all at Limerock Road in the Haile Plantation Village Center.

FINALISTS: Blackadder Brewing Company Mother’s Pub & Grill North

4860 Steve Spurrier Way,

Gainesville, FL 32608 With Wild Roots Pear, lychee syrup, lemon and vanilla simple syrup, the fruity lychee martini at Spurrier’s Gridiron Grille is a local favorite.

FINALISTS: Fluid Lounge The Top

FAVORITE LOCAL MARGARITA

FAVORITE LOCAL PATIO BAR

BOCA FIESTA

232 SE 1st St., Gainesville, FL Boca Fiesta dispenses soda pop, iced tea, coffee and an extensive beer selection as well as fresh-squeezed lemonade, limeade and their local favorite: fresh-squeezed citrus, agave-sweetened margaritas including their house, Boca and Cadillac-style margaritas.

FINALISTS: Nopal Cintrón Las Margarita’s

ONE LOVE CAFÉ

4989 NW 40th St., Gainesville, FL 32606 Founded in 2014 by Juli Denney, this outdoor patio cafe is home to musicians, artists, farmers, local vendors, and the Gainesville community. One Love Café offers spacious outdoor patio seating, a massive pet-friendly field for running, fire pits, a tiki bar, a stage for live music, a full-service bar & more.

FINALISTS: Great Outdoors Restaurant The Keys Grill & Piano Bar

THE QUEEN’S ARM

5323 SW 91st Terrace, Gainesville, FL 32608 The Queen’s Arms is situated at the Village Center of Haile Plantation neighborhood just a couple of miles from Downtown Gainesville. Enjoy a wide assortment of local, national and international beverages that is bound to please any palette.

FINALISTS: University Club Eagles Club FAVORITE LOCAL PLACE TO SEE BEAUTIFUL PEOPLE

CELEBRATION POINTE

4949 Celebration Pointe Ave., Gainesville, FL 32608 From relaxing outside in the beautiful Promenade to shopping for the perfect outfit, the number of amazing things to do at Celebration Pointe is nearly unlimited.

FINALISTS: Tioga Town Center Ember’s Wood Grill

COME IN & Feel the

Supermarket Family Owned & Operated Since 1951

Local Difference

WARD’S FAMILY RAISED BEEF AND LOCAL PORK PASTURE-RAISED ANGUS FROM OUR FARM TO YOUR TABLE.

Fresh baked local in-house bread & bread from local bakeries

515 NW 23rd Avenue Gainesville, FL

Huge variety of options from local coffee roasters

352-372-1741

Ready-to-go vegan wraps and tempeh salads prepared in-house PROUDLY SERVING

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PREMIUM LUNCHMEAT & CHEESES

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Local vegan products Thank you for voting for us!

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FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS BAR

CRAFTY BASTARDS RESTAURANT

4860 NW 39th Ave.

Gainesville, FL 32606 From 60 rotating craft beer drafts and the best happy hours to fresh, from-scratch menu items and board games, the only thing better is watching the game on one of the 23 large TVs at Crafty Bastards Restaurant, Gainesville’s favorite sports bar.

FINALISTS: Gators Dockside Gainesville World of Beer FAVORITE LOCAL TRIVIA NIGHT

BLACKADDER BREWING COMPANY

618 NW 60th St. Suite A,

Gainesville, FL 32607 Since 2016, Blackadder Brewing has been committed to producing authentic and unique beers that push the boundaries of regular brewing styles and categories. They’re proud to serve our customers with only the best, continually crafting each taste until it’s exactly right.

FINALISTS: Gators Dockside Gainesville V Pizza & Side Car Gainesville

OTHER FAVORITES FAVORITE FEMALE MEDIA PERSONALITY

KARA WINSLOW

FAVORITE LOCAL APARTMENT COMPLEX

THE FLATS AT TIOGA TOWN CENTER APARTMENTS

Karawinslowmakeupartist.com Kara Winslow’s work as a freelance on-location makeup artist has been seen on MTV, CNN, MSNBC, FOX News, Oxygen Network and HSN. She’s worked with Olympic athletes, politicians and more as well as on major ad campaigns for AT&T, AXE, Speedo, Gatorade, UPS, Proctor and Gamble and more.

FINALISTS: Paige Beck Lisa Sacaccio

105 SW 128th St., Newberry, FL 32669 The Flats at Tioga Town Center are designed to combine urban style living with small town charm.

The Flats at Tioga Town Center offer residents a superbly appointed modern living space all within walking distance from a variety of convenient and upscale shopping, a premiere fitness center, restaurants and numerous professional services.

FINALISTS: Hunters Crossing Apartments Huntington Lakes Apartments

FAVORITE LOCAL AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAM

FAVORITE LOCAL ATTORNEY (PERSON)

O2B KIDS

O2bkids.com Every elementary school child who wants to investigate the mysteries of science, explore technology, plant a garden, make a movie, paint a picture, sing a song, write a story, choreograph a dance, toss a ball, laugh, learn or play with their friends will love O2B Afterschool.

FINALISTS: Sonshine Day Preschool Sun Country Sports Center

JOHN ROBERTS

7 E Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala, FL 34470 A graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, John Roberts has over 15 years of valuable experience working in the GainesvilleOcala Area. He focuses his practice on Family Law, Probate, and Estate Planning.

FINALISTS: Gary Fernandes Jr. John Kelly

Invested in financial clarity.

At Thrivent, we believe money is a tool–not a goal. As a holistic financial services organization, and a membership-owned fraternal organization, providing financial advice, investments, insurance, banking and generosity programs, we are committed to helping you achieve financial clarity.

We are here to help provide the guidance you need to live the life you want.

North Central Florida Group 352-226-8000 connect.thrivent.com/ north-central-florida-group Connect with us: 28304 R3-21

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FAVORITE LOCAL AUTO REPAIR SHOP

AUTO ER

2383 SW Archer Road, Gainesville, FL 32608 Auto ER focuses on automotive repairs, collision repairs, and new tires. They have three locations in Gainesville, FL, each with its own specialties, and a fourth in Newberry, FL. All of which are dedicated to providing the best service possible.

FINALISTS: Continental Imports City Auto Repair FAVORITE LOCAL AUTOMOTIVE SALESPERSON

RUSSELL PEREZ

1007 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601 Russell Perez is a Gainesville native and finance specialist with Motory Group, Gainesville’s go-to dealership for used automobiles with finances available for people with all ranges of credit. Perez’s work in the automotive industry won him recognition among voters as their favorite automotive salesperson.

FINALISTS: Jerry Lipiec Bob Cousins (Southeast Car Agency)

FAVORITE LOCAL CLEANING COMPANY

FAVORITE LOCAL BANK

DRUMMOND COMMUNITY BANK

3436 W University Ave.,

Gainesville, FL 32607 At Drummond, their mission is to provide their customers with the very best banking services and sound business decisions all while giving back to the Florida communities they serve. To you, they may just be a bank, but they’re a bank that wants to help you and your money grow.

FINALISTS: Ameris Bank Bank of America Regions Bank FAVORITE LOCAL CARPET CLEANER

CLEAN ZONE

Cleanzoneclean.com Since 1997, Clean Zone has been providing customers with a fresh-rinse alternative by using Green Seal Certified, Procyon pre-conditioners on carpets along with a chemical-free, super-heated rinse to extract any soil or other contaminants, which is all part of their motto: More Green, More Clean.

FINALISTS: The Best Restoration Dreyer’s DKI

NATURAL SHINE CLEANING

Naturalshineclean.com Natural Shine’s goal is to improve the lives of their clients by promoting ways of healthy living – starting with using all-natural cleaning products in homes and places of work. They hope you’ll feel safer with nontoxic products and that having a clean home will improve you and your family’s well-being.

FINALISTS: Mini Maid Gainesville Turnover Specialists FAVORITE LOCAL CONTRACTOR

SCHERER CONSTRUCTION

2504 NW 71st Place,

Gainesville, FL 32653 Founded in 1984 by Clark Scherer, Scherer Construction started out of a garage, with a truck, and a vision: to deliver quality projects that exceed customer expectations by providing a seamless construction experience. Today, Scherer Construction continues to fulfill that vision and has expanded their services to reach beyond the typical needs of their customers.

FINALISTS: Atlas Homes and Renovations Invoke Construction, LLC

Gift Certificates Available

Acupuncture | Anti-Aging Facials | Far Infrared Therapy | Sauna | Therapeutic Massage

Floating Lotus Spa

Please Stop in: We offer half-hour complimentary BioMat sessions on a massage table to destress and revitalize. Also a chair is available to try! All spa massage therapies are performed on a BioMat.

Thornebrook Village | 2441 NW 43rd Street, Suite 3A www.floatinglotusspa.com | 352-378-8125 | email: fls@floatinglotusspa.com

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MM #18362

FAVORITE LOCAL CREDIT UNION

CAMPUS USA CREDIT UNION

Campuscu.com CAMPUS serves over 125,000 members from all over the world. As a not-for-profit cooperative, they are owned by their members. Profits are returned to member-owners in the form of no- and low-fee financial services and best-ofmarket rates on deposits and loans.

FINALISTS: Radiant Credit Union VyStar Credit Union FAVORITE LOCAL DANCE STUDIO

DOXA DANCE STUDIO INC.

2441 NW 43rd St.,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Founded in 2004, Doxa Dance Studio offers high-quality instruction in a positive environment.

With a passion for dance and a heart for worship, Doxa provides a full array of classes for students of all ages and abilities.

FINALISTS: Cameron Dancenter Pofahl Studios

FAVORITE LOCAL DOGGY DAYCARE/ BOARDING

FAVORITE LOCAL DAYCARE

O2B KIDS

O2bkids.com Programs include preschool, afterschool, summer camp and unprecedented family membership. While the O2B Kids programs and facilities vary by location, their commitment to enrichment variety, engaging play and lifelong learning are present at them all. ​FINALISTS: Sonshine Day Preschool Education Station and Preschool FAVORITE LOCAL DOG GROOMER

CAMP RUN-A-MUTT

1107 S Main St., Gainesville, FL 32601 Camp Run-A-Mutt groomers are skilled, patient and most importantly, they love dogs! Dogs who get groomed while at Camp get to play right up until their appointment time.

Most dogs enjoy the one-on-one attention and their groomers know that tired dogs are more relaxed and easier to groom.

FINALISTS: Doggie Styles Pelusa’s Pet Grooming

CAMP RUN-A-MUTT

1107 S Main St. Gainesville, FL 32601 Camp Run-A-Mutt is the premier cage-free doggie daycare and boarding paradise.

Their services include daycare, boarding, grooming and obedience classes. Their camp is beautiful, fun, safe and supervised 24/7 and features over 11,000 square feet of indoor and outdoor play area for dogs to romp, play and socialize.

FINALISTS: Pet Paradise Gainesville Archer Road Pet Resort FAVORITE LOCAL ELECTRICIAN

DEL SOL ELECTRIC

3515 NW 12th Ave., Gainesville, FL 32605 Del Sol Electric can handle all your electric needs with their areas of expertise including but not limited to installing or replacing electrical switches and outlets; upgrading wiring panels; providing electrical additions and remodels and offering electrical service upgrades.

FINALISTS: Archer Electric Services Co Ed Dempsey – Dempsey Electric

Creating New Futures For Homeless Women & Families

Our work would not be possible without support from our community.

Thank you for your ongoing support and compassion for those most in need!

St. Francis House, Inc. 413 South Main Street • (352)-378-9079

To donate or learn more visit: stfrancishousegnv.com JULY/AUG 2022

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FAVORITE LOCAL FINANCIAL PLANNER

NORTH FLORIDA WEALTH ADVISORS

2727 NW 43rd St. Suite 1,

Gainesville, FL 32606 As certified financial planners, North Florida Wealth Advisors understand the importance of helping make the best financial decisions for you and your family. They provide their expertise, experience and judgment regarding your financial future.

FINALISTS: Cornerstone Financial Tryssa Pacciulli – Your Financial Legacy FAVORITE LOCAL FLOORING COMPANY

THE FLOOR STORE AT THORNEBROOK

2441 NW 43rd St. Suite 18,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Quality flooring products with a written warranty installed to your complete satisfaction. Their full-service flooring showroom offers a unique and diverse way of providing customers with the latest trends in ceramic, stone, wood flooring, laminate, and carpet.

FINALISTS: The Newberry Floor Store Carpet One Floor & Home

FAVORITE LOCAL HOME BUILDER

FAVORITE LOCAL HOTEL

PRIDGEN HOMES

1252 NW 50th Drive, Gainesville, FL 32605 Pridgen is a family-owned company that has built custom luxury homes in the Gainesville community for decades. They have a heart for quality, an eye for detail and careful craftsmanship that’s valued by their clients, which creates an easy, stress-free experience.

FINALISTS: Red Door Homes of Florida Robinson Renovation & Custom Homes, Inc. FAVORITE LOCAL HOME ORGANIZER

ANGELA BETANCOURT

Simplifyhomeorganizing.com After reading “The Joy of Less, A Minimalist Living Guide” by Francine Jay, Angela Betancourt began implementing the book’s recommendations and formed the skills she needed to turn her passion into Simplify Home Organizing.

GRADY HOUSE BED & BREAKFAST

24042 W US Highway 27,

High Springs, FL 32643 Visit the historic Grady House Bed & Breakfast where morning greets you with a gourmet breakfast beautifully prepared and plated. Enjoy freshly-brewed coffee while you stroll the winding path through the fenced garden full of Florida fauna and a lovely koi pond by the gazebo.

FINALISTS: Hotel Indigo Gainesville Best Western Gateway Grand FAVORITE LOCAL HVAC COMPANY

Daytonheatandair.com Dayton Heating and Air is a small local business that provides Gainesville, Newberry and the surrounding area with premium services like AC repair, replacement, and maintenance at an affordable price.

FINALISTS: Crystal Air Conditioning & Heating Bounds Heating & Air

IT’S TIME TO GET FYZICAL IF: • You are dizzy or experiencing vertigo • You have fallen or fear that you may fall • You want to boost your confidence • You want to improve your strength and endurance FYZICAL will help you • You are tired of living in pain get better and love your • You want to prevent injury life again.

352-240-1136 fyzical.com/gainesville

5201 NW 34th BLVD, Gainesville, FL 124 |

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DAYTON HEATING AND AIR, LLC

Call for a Free Consultation!

FAVORITE LOCAL INSURANCE AGENCY

SCHNEIDER & ASSOCIATES

285 NW 138th Terrace, Suite 100

Newberry, FL 32669 Living in Florida comes with its own unique risks.

That’s why Schneider & Associates’ local agents who are familiar with those risks can help you find the right coverage to protect your family, your home, and your business from everything Florida throws at you.

FINALISTS: Brightway Insurance, The Moffat Agency MC Fernandes Insurance FAVORITE LOCAL INSURANCE AGENT

DAN SHAW (FLORIDA FARM BUREAU INSURANCE)

5700 SW 34th St., Gainesville, FL 32608 Get real, auto, home, life! Dan Shaw helps clients with life insurance and annuity products that are offered through the southern farm bureau life insurance company.

FINALISTS: Kristy Moffat (Brightway Insurance) Shaun McClintic (Schneider & Associates)

FAVORITE LOCAL INTERIOR DESIGNER

THE HOME PLACE

105 SW 140th Court Suite 2, Jonesville, FL 32669 The Home Place is an all-encompassing home interiors store, offering fully customizable products and consultation services to homeowners and trade professionals.

FINALISTS: Quality DesignWorks Decorating with Barbara Inc. FAVORITE LOCAL IT SUPPORT COMPANY

EPIC IT SOLUTIONS

5200 NW 43rd St., Gainesville, FL 32606 Epic IT Solutions was established to provide Information Technology Services to the business community of north central Florida. They work in partnership with current and future clients to provide cost-effective solutions in Information Technology and Communication with plans to build on their expertise to expand into new areas.

FINALISTS: My IT Masters CW IT Solutions

From Breakfast to Dinner, Hors d`ouevres to make-your-own stations, vegan to gluten-free, we have the handcrafted food, drink & décor to wow your guests and make your event memorable!

FAVORITE LOCAL LANDSCAPER

THE MASTER’S LAWN CARE

11417 NW 59th Terrace,

Gainesville, Florida 32653 Since its founding in 2004, The Master’s Lawn Care has proudly served the Gainesville community in areas like lawn service, landscaping, irrigation, pressure washing and lighting while aiming to constantly exceed their client’s expectations by providing quality work and professionalism.

FINALISTS: West Farms Gary Becker Landscape Mai FAVORITE LOCAL LAW FIRM (COMPANY)

FERNANDES & FERNANDES, P.A.

4432 NW 23rd Ave. Suite 9,

Gainesville, FL 32606 At Fernandes & Fernandes P.A., their purpose is to guide clients through every step of their legal process. Through preparation and individual attention, they strive to achieve the best possible results. When it comes to social security disability and personal injury law, they offer their clients a level of advocacy that is second to none.

FINALISTS: Gumminger Law Glassman & Zissimopulos

Full Service Catering

12 W. University Ave, Gainesville (352) 451-4046 tosheventgroup.com

Photos: Barbara Ann Photography

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FAVORITE LOCAL MARKETING AGENCY

PHOS CREATIVE

FAVORITE LOCAL MOVING COMPANY

LATER GATOR MOVING LLC

2131 NW 40th Terrace Suite B, Gainesville, FL 32605 As your digital marketing partner, PHOS Creative will help you discover your unique mission, vision, values and why then help to build a digital brand system through branding, messaging, web design, photography and videography to ensure your business can find and connect with the right people.

FINALISTS: DM Creative Studios Liquid Creative Studio (Gainesville)

9124 SW 51st Road,

Gainesville, FL 32608 Later Gator Moving is a licensed and insured Gainesville moving company that specializes in secure, professional and efficient long-distance, out-of-state moving services. They’re dedicated to delivering your most valued possessions securely no matter the distance.

FINALISTS: UF Mover Guys College Hunks Hauling Junk and Moving

FAVORITE LOCAL MORTGAGE COMPANY

FAVORITE LOCAL NEWS COMMENTATOR OR COLUMNIST

THE MORTGAGE FIRM GAINESVILLE

3669 SW 2nd Ave.,

Gainesville, FL 32607 The Mortgage Firm Gainesville is a local mortgage lender serving homebuyers and homeowners in North Central Florida. They help their clients secure the best loans for their unique situations and specialize in home refinance for those looking to decrease monthly payments.

FINALISTS: AnnieMac Home Mortgage – Gainesville Chris Doering Mortgage

Thank you for voting for us!

GREG CASSIDY

Audacy.com Greg Cassidy has been the executive producer and co-host for 97.3 The SKY since 2017. Before that, the St. Louis-native was featured as the on-air talent for The Rock St. Louis, on The Morning Show with 106.9 The Pulse and 99.1 JOY FM among others.

FAVORITE LOCAL PAINTING COMPANY

COLOR PROS PAINTING, LLC

4133 NW 9th St.,

Gainesville, FL 32609 At Color Pros, their attention to detail sets them apart from the rest. They use only the highest-quality products to ensure your investment is protected. They’re professional, licensed and insured.

FINALISTS: Marty Jones - Color Creators Painting CertaPro Painters of Gainesville FL FAVORITE LOCAL PEST CONTROL COMPANY

116 NW 16th Ave.,

Gainesville, FL 32601 Florida Pest Control & Chemical Co. is Florida’s best source for pest management with 20 locations throughout the state – including one in Gainesville. Their commitment to research and their team of graduate entomologists provides the highest level of advanced pest management training available in the industry.

FINALISTS: Ecopest Termite & Pest Control McCall Service

Tired of wasting your valuable time and money trying to fix your pain and your health?

Do you find that most health care isn't comprehensive and doesn't truly produce the results you're looking for? Dr. Jared did too.

At Results Chiropractic and Wellness, we take a comprehensive approach to health and wellness. Through specific manual spinal and extremity adjustments, soft tissue therapy, posture and movement corrective exercises, nutrition, and supplementation, our patients are able to restore their health and vitality. Contact us today!

352-244-8892

1330 NW 6th Street Suite C-1 •

Mon, Wed, Thurs - 9am-12pm, 2:30pm-5:30pm Tues & Fri - 9am-1:30pm Gainesville, FL 32601 Sat & Sun - Closed

Results Chiropractic and Wellness • www.theresultschiropractor.com

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FLORIDA PEST CONTROL

FAVORITE LOCAL PHOTOGRAPHER

ADRIENNE FLETCHER PHOTOGRAPHY

Women.adriennefletcher.com Adrienne Fletcher Photography is a boutique portrait studio that looks to empower women of any age and body type through the medium of photography by creating experiences that leave women feeling confident, valued, beautiful and seen for who they are.

FINALISTS: Magnolia Lane Photography Catching Memories Photography LLC FAVORITE LOCAL PLUMBER

QUALITY PLUMBING OF GAINESVILLE

6318 NW 18th Drive

Gainesville, FL 32653 No matter how big or small the project is Quality Plumbing of Gainesville is committed to courtesy, promptness, efficiency and total communication with their customers. They want you to be aware of options, cost and the status of your project at all times. These are the principles on which the company was built.

FINALISTS: Clinton Dykehouse Services LLC Titletown Plumbing, LLC

FAVORITE LOCAL PODCAST

KARA’S LIPSTICK DIARY

Facebook.com/Karas-Lipstick-DiaryPodcast Kara’s friends encouraged her to share her amusing stories of dating, sex and life, so, in the middle of the pandemic, she decided to start a podcast about all the things that entertain her. So grab a cocktail with us and welcome to the hot mess that is Kara’s life as a 40-year-old single makeup artist living in a college town in Florida.

FINALISTS: VetFolio Voice Science and Chill FAVORITE LOCAL POOL COMPANY

FUN STATE POOL SERVICE

3601 NW 97th Blvd.,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Fun State Pools Inc. was founded in 1978 and has been operating for over 40 years. Through the years, they have become North Central Florida’s leading pool builder.

FINALISTS: Southern Escapes LLC Florida Leisure Pool & Spa

FAVORITE LOCAL PRESCHOOL

O2B KIDS

O2bkids.com Teaching children their colors, shapes, letters, letter sounds, numbers and how to count – that’s the easy stuff! It takes time and some repetition – but they’ll learn it all. They will even learn to read and write along the way at O2B Kids.

FINALISTS: Education Station & Preschool Sonshine Day Preschool FAVORITE LOCAL PRIVATE SCHOOL

CORNERSTONE ACADEMY

Cornerstoneacademy.school Cornerstone Academy’s combination of home study and classroom study comprises an educational model that allows parents a high level of responsibility for their children’s education through partnership with seasoned professionals.

FINALISTS: Oak Hall School Millhopper Montessori School

Now Accepting New Patients

At Little Pine Pediatrics, LLC, our skilled team of pediatricians offers comprehensive medical care for infants, children and adolescents. Our courteous and knowledgeable staff works hard from first contact to make every visit to our office positive.

Thank you for voting for us!

Little Pine Pediatrics

Open M-F 8am–5pm Saturdays 9am-Noon 15551 NW Hwy 441, Suite 40, Alachua

386-518-0102 LittlePinePediatrics.com

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FAVORITE LOCAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT COMPANY

KNR PROPERTIES – KRISTEN RABELL

5213 SW 91st Terrace, Suite A-1,

Gainesville, FL 32608 Setting the Standard in Gainesville property management, KNR Properties provides the highest standard of professional management and tenant placement services for investors and homeowners in Gainesville and they work hard to ensure your properties have the best marketing strategy, tenant screening, maintenance and return on your investment.

FINALISTS: Union Properties of Gainesville Contemporary Management Concepts, LLLP FAVORITE LOCAL REALTOR

RIC FAIR – WATSON REALTY GROUP

12921 SW 1st Road Suite 117,

Newberry, FL 32669 Ric Fair is a consummate real estate professional who helps buyers and sellers in North Central Florida and across the globe. A Gainesville native and UF Alum, Ric knows Alachua County and the surrounding Counties like the back of his hand and has a knack for navigating “Titletown”.

FINALISTS: Lisa Baltozer Kristen Rabell FAVORITE LOCAL RESTORATION COMPANY

THE BEST RESTORATION & FLOOR CARE

7230 W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32607 Trust The Best Restoration for all your carpet cleaning, water damage and restoration needs.

Their core cleaning services consist of water cleanup, water extraction, flood damage cleanup, mold remediation, carpet cleaning, upholstery cleaning, area rug cleaning, air duct cleaning and tile and grout cleaning services.

FINALISTS: Southern Restoration & Design Dreyer’s DKI

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FAVORITE LOCAL ROOFING COMPANY

RETEX ROOFING FL

FAVORITE LOCAL SPORTS COMMENTATOR OR COLUMNIST

PAT DOOLEY

9630 NW 235th Terrace, Alachua, FL You protect your family, RETEX protects your home. Quality, integrity and good old-fashioned service are the pillars they thrive on. They offer complimentary estimates on roof replacement and repair; siding; windows, and more.

FINALISTS: Energy Roofing Companies Gainesville True Force Roofing

Gainesville.com Pat Dooley has been at The Gainesville Sun since 1987 and has been the sports columnist since 1994. He takes credit for all of the national titles won by Florida since then.

FINALISTS: Jeff Cardozo

FAVORITE LOCAL SENIOR LIVING COMMUNITY

Thesky973.radio.com Bob Rose is the host of the Bob Rose Show on 97.3 The Sky and has been called the Czar of Talk Radio in North Central Florida. His show takes an uncompromising look at local news and world events and how they impact Ocala and Gainesville.

FINALISTS: Bret Baier Ward Scott Files

HARBORCHASE OF GAINESVILLE

1415 Fort Clarke Blvd.,

Gainesville, FL 32606 HarborChase of Gainesville provides a luxury senior living setting to those looking to enjoy their retirement without worries. Residents in their community enjoy a series of convenient amenities and services such as housekeeping, transportation and beautiful scenery.

FINALISTS: Oak Hammock The Village at Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL SOLAR ENERGY COMPANY

ENLIGHT ENERGY

Enlight.energy/Gainesville EnLight.Energy can work closely with you to adopt solutions that drastically reduce your electric, gas or oil bill; renovate your home to eliminate those energy bills altogether or, if you’re in the market, guide you in buying or building a Zero Energy Home.

FINALISTS: Sunlink Solar Energy Solar Impact

FAVORITE LOCAL TALK RADIO SHOW

BOB ROSE

FAVORITE LOCAL TAX PREPARER

MICHAEL SOLOMON (ACCOUNTING PERSONALIZED INC.)

4210 NW 37th Place Suite 300, Gainesville, FL 32606 Michael Solomon is the lead accountant and owner of Accounting Personalized Inc. In 2012, he graduated from Elon University’s five-year accounting program in three and a half years.

Upon graduation, he was accepted by the North Carolina CPA board as well as the AICPA to be a CPA candidate.

FINALISTS: Fiore Tax Services Kristen Lovano

FAVORITE LOCAL TREE REMOVAL COMPANY

DAUGHTRY TREE SERVICE

26106 NW 3rd Ave.,

Newberry, FL 32669 Daughtry Tree Service has been serving both residential and commercial clients in Alachua County and the surrounding areas since 2001.

Their business philosophy includes being fair and honest with their customers and go above and beyond their expectations while providing quality work.

FINALISTS: Gator Tree Service Sky Frog Tree Service FAVORITE LOCAL TV ANCHOR

PAIGE BECK

Wcjb.com Paige Beck is a West Virginia native who’s been a member of WCJB TV20 since 1989.

She currently co-anchors WCJB TV20’s 5:00 Live, 6:00 Report and the 11:00 PM Nightbeat and was voted by Our Town readers as their favorite local TV anchor.

FINALISTS: Lisa Sacaccio David Snyder

FAVORITE LOCAL VET CLINIC

ALL SPRINGS VETERINARY HOSPITAL

12613 County Road 137

Wellborn, FL 32094 At All Springs Veterinary Hospital, they know your pets are members of your family and they treat them with all the care, dignity and expertise you expect from a veterinary hospital.

Dr. Richard Barker and the hospital staff have been providing loving care to pets in Suwannee County for 20 years.

FINALISTS: Jonesville Animal Hospital Haile Plantation Animal Clinic FAVORITE LOCAL VIDEOGRAPHER

SHORT MEDIA GROUP

Shortmediagroup.com Short Media Group is a content creation company in Gainesville that focuses on providing clients with the perfect creative experience. Every business or individual has a powerful story to tell and they strive to capture each story in a unique way for others to share.

FINALISTS: Innova Leaf Creative Solutions, LLC Digital Peak Productions

FAVORITE LOCAL WINDOW COVERING

BUDGET BLINDS OF GAINESVILLE

3201 SW 42nd St. Suite 4,

Gainesville, FL 32608 Budget Blinds of Gainesville, FL brings the showroom to you, accurately measures your windows, and installs your blinds, shades, shutters and much more.

FINALISTS: Alachua Blind Company A1 Aluminum Enterprises, Inc. FAVORITE MALE MEDIA PERSONALITY

LEWIS STOKES

937kcountry.com Lewis Stokes has been a radio DJ at 93.7 K-Country for over 27 years. Stokes was raised in north central Florida and Gator games have been a way of life since 1979. You can catch Stokes on 93.7 K-Country Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FINALISTS: Bob Rose Mike Potter

COME EXPERIENCE THE CONFIDENCE! Confidence Hair Salon is an up-scale studio salon. From Cuts to Brazilian Blowouts I have all your hair care needs covered! The one on one setting allows for thorough communication giving me the ability to highlight beauty that goes far beyond hair.

New client offer* Mention this ad and receive 10% off your next visit!

352-678-8223

4131 NE 28th Lane Suite 7 Room F

Confidence Hair Salon Confidence_by_Christy Booking site: https://christyhenneman.glossgenius.com/

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FAVORITE METEOROLOGIST

FRESH HEALTHY

SMART

MIKE POTTER

Wruf.com WRUF operates from the University of Florida’s main campus in Gainesville, broadcasting at 98.1 FM, 850 kHz and covers the University of Florida athletics.

FINALISTS: The JOY FM 97.3 The Sky

FAVORITE PROMOTIONAL PRODUCT COMPANY

Sfcollege.edu Joseph Mousel, who receives his Master’s in Science degree from the University of Montana, is a mathematics teacher and a member of the Liberal Arts and Sciences Curriculum Subcommittee at Santa Fe College.

FINALISTS: Dawn Graziani Elizabeth Suda

101 SW 140th Terrace, Suite C Newberry, FL 32669 Hello Branding has hundreds of thousands of items that can be imprinted with your logo or message so you can promote your brand, business, event or cause. Whether you know exactly what you want or need inspiration, they’ve made it easy for you to find the perfect product.

FINALISTS: Bee Print and Design Rad Wear, Inc.

• Full Service Hair: Shampoo/Blowout/ Haircuts/Style/Color/Highlights/Hair Extensions & more!

• Eyelash Extenstions • Lash Lifts • Facials • Microdermabrasion • Waxing •UV Tanning & Spray Tanning: Mystic Spray/Custom Airbrush/ UV Beds

FOLLOW US FOR BEAUTY TIPS AND BOOK YOUR APPOINTMENT ONLINE

LAE Beauty Bar

Gift Certificates Available now!

(352) 331-9693 618 NW 60th St. 130 | OUR TOWN MAGAZINE

JUST OFF NEWBERRY RD NEXT TO BOOKS A MILLION

JULY/AUG 2022

WRUF-FM GAINESVILLE

Wcjb.com Mike Potter, a Key West native and meteorologist with WCJB, has been reporting the weather for the Gainesville-based station since 1992 – appearing on TV20’s Morning Edition and TV20 News at Noon. However, it’s not the first time he worked at WCJB; he was a Weekend Weather Anchor in 1984.

FINALISTS: Jeff Huffman Bill Quinlan TV20

HELLO BRANDING

BEAUTY SERVICES AVAILABLE IN INDIVIDUAL SUITES

FAVORITE RADIO STATION

FAVORITE RADIO PERSONALITY

LEWIS STOKES

937kcountry.com Lewis Stokes is a midday announcer and production director with 93.7 K-Country.

Though he’s a Tallahassee native, he bleeds orange and blue and when he’s not reading, listening to country music or watching a UF game, you can hear him on 93.7 K-Country from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

FINALISTS: Bob Rose Brett Douglas

FAVORITE SANTA FE PROFESSOR

JOSEPH MOUSEL

FAVORITE TV STATION FOR NEWS

WCJB TV20

Wcjb.com WCJB-TV began operation in 1971 and continues to be the only locally produced newscast in the market. The news team prides itself on supporting and sponsoring many local charities and events throughout the market while also bringing viewers the most current and breaking news.

FINALISTS: CBS4 News WUFT-TV Gainesville FAVORITE TV STATION FOR SPORTS

WCJB TV20 / GAINESVILLE CW10

Wcjb.com WCJB brings viewers the latest news around North Central Florida including sports broadcasts by sports director Kevin Wells and weekend sports anchor Chris Pinson.

FINALISTS: WOGX Fox 51 Television

FAVORITE TV STATION FOR WEATHER

WCJB TV20 / GAINESVILLE CW10

Wcjb.com Chief meteorologist Bill Quinlan, meteorologist Mike Potter and weekend meteorologist AJ Willy, bring WCJB TV20 viewers the latest in weather updates. If it’s a cool sunny day or an impending hurricane, WCJB TV20 is Our Town readers’ favorite weather station.

FINALISTS: WUFT-TV Gainesville FAVORITE UF PROFESSOR

DR. BEN WISE

History.ufl.edu Associate Professor Ben Wise is a historian of modern America and specializes in southern history; gender and sexuality and cultural history. He joined the History Department at UF as an Assistant Professor after teaching at Harvard University and holding a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.

FINALISTS: David Baekey Christina Ramos

FAVORITE LOCAL ANTIQUE STORE

SYCAMORE LANE VINTAGE MARKET

25310 W Newberry Road,

Newberry, FL 32669 Sycamore Lane Vintage Market is a community-focused vintage & gift store located in downtown Newberry, FL with a seasonal outdoor market in rural Alachua County. They feature an amazing selection of curated vintage goods & a variety of local makers.

FINALISTS: Painted Table FAVORITE LOCAL ART GALLERY

GAINESVILLE ARTISANS’ GUILD GALLERY

SHOPPING

Union Street Station, 201 SE 2nd Place, Suite 113, Gainesville, FL 32601 Established in 1970 to create a network and market for local artists, the Artisans’ Guild Gallery is among the oldest artist cooperatives in the country. Located in downtown Gainesville and open year-round, the gallery features hundreds of quality, handcrafted works with local flavor.

FINALISTS: Thornebrook Gallery

FAVORITE “BEST-KEPT SECRET” LOCAL RETAILER

FAVORITE LOCAL AUDIO/VISUAL STORE

SUDA’S FITFOOT

Sudasfitfoot.com Suda’s FitFoot is a mobile and online shoe store helping customers live life to the fullest by freeing them from foot and leg pain. They take the hassle out of shoe shopping by offering social-distance appropriate fittings, deliveries, online sales, and pop-up shops where you live, work, and play.

FINALISTS: Life Unplastic Grow Thyme Hydroponics & Supply

ELECTRONICS WORLD

1261 NW 76th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606 Electronics World is your hometown resource for expert design, sales, installation and repair of audio, video, networking and control products and complete turnkey system solutions.

They have extensive experience designing and installing sophisticated solutions that are simple to operate and can customize the project to fit your lifestyle and budget.

FAVORITE LOCAL BICYCLE SHOP

BIKES AND MORE

Bikesandmoregainesville.com Since its founding in 1983, Bikes & More has been a destination shop for quality, timely bicycle repair and service. They outfit riders with bicycles from Raleigh, Felt, Surly and Spot Brand.

FINALISTS: Goodbike Dave’s Bike Shop FAVORITE LOCAL BRIDAL SHOP

THE WEDDING CYCLE

2441 NW 43rd St. Suite 2-D, Gainesville, FL 32606 The Wedding Cycle offers pre-loved fantasy gowns on a real-life budget. Alisha Alsbrook, the owner of the Wedding Cycle, has a background in event planning and in the wedding industry, giving her the ability to provide customers with the knowledge and information to help create the best event possible.

FINALISTS: Allure Bridal Boutique David’s Bridal FAVORITE LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP (NEW CAR)

GATORLAND TOYOTA

2985 N Main St., Gainesville, FL 32609 Gainesville’s Gatorland Toyota dealership opened in 1994, just four years after Gettel Toyota of Bradenton, making them the second Gettel dealership to open. They’ve since grown to have 17 sister stores throughout Florida, but Gainesville’s location is a favorite among locals looking for a new car.

FINALISTS: BMW of Gainesville Gainesville Nissan

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FAVORITE LOCAL CAR DEALERSHIP (USED CAR)

MOTORY GROUP ALACHUA

15850 NW US Highway 441,

Alachua, FL 32615 Motory Group Alachua offers car buyers a virtual showroom of inventory available for purchase.

Their customers can find detailed information about each vehicle, a picture gallery, as well as convenient ways to contact the dealership for more information about that particular vehicle.

FINALISTS: Southeast Car Agency Tomlinson Motor Company FAVORITE LOCAL CHILDREN’S STORE

ALACHUA FLOWERS AND TUXEDO RENTALS

14520 Main St., Alachua, FL 32615 FINALISTS: Lightnin’ Salvage Enterprises Weecycle of Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL CLOTHING BOUTIQUE

MADSON BOUTIQUE

18635 High Springs Main St., High Springs, FL 32643 Madson Boutique is a family-owned women’s boutique in High Springs, FL. They offer styles for everyone’s wardrobe.

FINALISTS: DTE Boutique AGAPANTHUS - Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL COMPUTER REPAIR SHOP

DOG BYTES COMPUTERS INC.

605 NW 53rd Ave. Suite A11b,

Gainesville, FL 32609 Since 1997, Dog Bytes Computers has been providing a wide range of computer sales and computer system services to Gainesville and the surrounding areas. They are proud of their excellent reputation and ability to provide the highest level of customer service.

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FAVORITE LOCAL FLOWER SHOP

ALACHUA FLOWERS AND TUXEDO RENTALS

14520 Main St., Alachua, FL 32615 Alachua Flowers and Tuxedo Rentals creates breathtaking floral arrangements made with quality flowers crafted by experienced designers. They also thrive during prom season with tuxedo rentals and custom-made corsages and boutonnières created to match even the most exotic dress colors.

FINALISTS: Kelly’s Kreations Crevasse’s Florist FAVORITE LOCAL FURNITURE STORE

THE HOME PLACE

105 SW 140th Court Suite 2, Jonesville, FL 32669 Your home, your style. The Home Place brings home furnishings and decor to you including flooring, cabinets, rugs, furniture, window coverings, tile, bedding and more.

FINALISTS: Walker Furniture Planned Furnishings FAVORITE LOCAL GIFT SHOP

MY HAPPY PLACE ON MAIN

14925 Main St., Alachua, FL 32615 From the time you walk in the door, they want you to feel welcomed and appreciated. At My Happy Place on Main, their goal is to create a place for you to visit and when you leave you are a little, yes, you guessed it, happier than when you came in.

FINALISTS: Thornebrook Gallery The Home Place

FAVORITE LOCAL GROCERY STORE

WARD’S SUPERMARKET

515 NW 23rd Ave., Gainesville, FL 32609 Ward’s Supermarket is the only locally-owned and operated grocery store in Gainesville. Their family has been committed to providing the best selection, quality, and prices for more than 50 years and offers a bountiful array of fresh local produce, seafood, meat, baked goods, beer, wine and more.

FINALISTS: Publix Super Market - Market Square ALDI FAVORITE LOCAL HARDWARE STORE

MILLHOPPER ACE HARDWARE

5200 NW 43rd St. Suite 203,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Millhopper Ace Hardware opened in Hunters Crossing Shopping Center in 2011, offering customers personal service, quality products and a convenient experience. Store manager Adam Wilkinson has been with the location since the beginning and if you come often enough you’ll get to know Leo the resident feline.

FINALISTS: Jonesville Ace Hardware Alachua Farm & Lumber Inc. FAVORITE LOCAL HOME DECOR STORE

THE HOME PLACE

105 SW 140th Court, Suite 2, Jonesville, FL 32669 At The Home Place, they are dedicated to providing expert advice and quality products to create a one-of-a-kind design.

FINALISTS: Sisset’s...A Fun Twist on Home & Patio Walker Furniture

FAVORITE LOCAL HOME THEATRE DESIGNER

ELECTRONICS WORLD

1261 NW 76th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32606 Electronics World is your hometown resource for expert design, sales, installation and repair of audio, video, networking and control products and complete turnkey system solutions.

Their interactive showroom features the latest in audio/video and home automation electronics.

FAVORITE LOCAL JEWELRY STORE

BRITTANY’S FINE JEWELRY

2441 NW 43rd St. Suite 24b-2,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Brittany’s Fine Jewelry is your source for the best jewelry collections in Gainesville and North Central Florida. They offer a beautiful selection of designer jewelry including engagement rings, wedding ring sets, necklaces, earrings, men’s jewelry, Florida Gator jewelry and more.

FINALISTS: Lang Jewelry Hayes Jewelry Ltd

FAVORITE LOCAL LIQUOR & WINE STORE

JIGZ LIQUOR

FAVORITE LOCAL MUSIC STORE (ALBUMS)

HEAR AGAIN RECORDS

5192 SW 34th St., Gainesville, FL 32608 At Jigz Liquor, they take pride in providing excellent customer service. They’ll always go the extra mile to ensure their customers get what they need and leave their store satisfied.

They’re continuously working with our vendors and partners to reduce prices and give you the opportunity to try new products all the time.

FINALISTS: Dorn’s Liquors & Wine Warehouse Crafty Bastards Restaurant

201 SE 2nd Ave. Suite 105, Gainesville, FL 32601 Hear Again is an independent record store in downtown Gainesville, FL. Since 2009, they’ve proudly been a source for new and used vinyl.

They receive new vinyl each day and work closely with your favorite labels and then some to ensure that they have the new releases you want when you want them.

FINALISTS: Hoggtowne Music Guitar Center Gainesville

FAVORITE LOCAL MEN’S CLOTHING

FAVORITE LOCAL MUSIC STORE (INSTRUMENTS)

H&M

6419 Newberry Road, Gainesville, FL 32605 H&M at The Oaks Mall in Gainesville offers a broad and varied range that allows customers to find their own personal style at the best price.

The collections are created with H&M’s broad clientele in mind and the aim is to satisfy many different tastes and requirements.

FINALISTS: Men’s Warehouse

HOGGTOWNE MUSIC

2441 NW 43rd St., Gainesville, FL 32606 Hoggtowne Music, which is now located at the Thornebrook Village, is a music store in Gainesville selling musical instruments, instrument repairs and music lessons seven days a week.

FINALISTS: Guitar Center Gainesville

OUR NAME SAYS IT ALL! The original “Quality Plumbers” serving the community since 1984

(352) 377-1009 Quality-Plumbing.com JULY/AUG 2022

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FAVORITE LOCAL NEW OR USED BOOK STORE

BOOK GALLERY WEST

4121 NW 16th Blvd., Gainesville, FL 32605 Book Gallery West started in 1983 on main street as a textbook store, but over time the original owner decided to open a second location that offered books other than textbooks. The second location, on the west side of town, became Book Gallery West and eventually replaced the parent store.

FINALISTS: 2nd & Charles Gainesville Third House Books FAVORITE LOCAL PAWN SHOP

PAWN PRO

25040 W Newberry Road, Newberry, FL 32669 Pawn Pro is a family-owned local business with over 20 years of pawnbroking experience. They offer their customers the best deals and the most money for their merchandise FINALISTS: House of Luxury at Haile Oaks Jewelry FAVORITE LOCAL PHONE REPAIR SHOP

UBREAKIFIX

8181 NW 39th Lane, Gainesville, FL 32606 Your cell phone plays a huge part in keeping you connected, so when it breaks, it can leave you feeling a bit frustrated— and a bit lost. But don’t worry. Just bring it to the trusted team at uBreakiFix in North Gainesville and they’ll have it up and running for you again in no time.

FAVORITE LOCAL TUXEDO SHOP

ALACHUA FLOWERS AND TUXEDO RENTALS

14520 Main St., Alachua, FL 32615 Alachua Flowers and Tuxedo Rentals offers name-brand tuxedo rentals like those from Michael Kors making them Our Town readers’ favorite spot for all their tuxedo needs be it weddings, proms or other formal affairs.

FINALISTS: Men’s Warehouse 134 |

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FAVORITE LOCAL RESALE/ CONSIGNMENT BOUTIQUE

SANDY’S SAVVY CHIC RESALE BOUTIQUE

4148 NW 13th St., Gainesville, FL 32609 The Sandy’s team is passionate about resale and providing an affordable shopping alternative to Gainesville residents and surrounding communities. They are proud to be part of Gainesville’s long history, supported by small businesses and giving material items a second life.

FINALISTS: Valerie’s Loft Consignment Boutique Weecycle of Gainesville FAVORITE LOCAL STORE (OVERALL)

ALACHUA FLOWERS AND TUXEDO RENTALS

14520 Main St., Alachua, FL 32615 Weddings, proms or homecomings, whatever formal occasion you need a floral arrangement, tuxedo, dress or gown for, Alachua Flowers and Tuxedo Rentals has you covered and even offer name brands available for all shapes and sizes.

FINALISTS: Suda’s Fitfoot Grow Thyme Hydroponics & Supply FAVORITE LOCAL THRIFT STORE

PLATO’S CLOSET

3441B W University Ave., Gainesville, FL 32607 Plato’s Closet buys and sells gently used clothes, shoes, handbags and accessories for guys and girls in their teens and twenties. They have all the name brands and styles you love at up to 70 percent less than regular retail prices.

FINALISTS: Weecycle Flashbacks Recycled Fashions

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FAVORITE LOCAL WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE

DOWN TO EARTH

13005 SW 1st Road Suite 123, Newberry, FL 32669 Located in Tioga Town Center, Down to Earth Boutique offers everything from women’s apparel, jewelry and shoes to home furnishings, gifts and candles – a selection that’s given them the title of favorite women’s clothing store.

FINALISTS: Malgorzata’s Flashbacks Recycled Fashions FAVORITE MOTORCYCLE SHOP

GAINESVILLE HARLEYDAVIDSON

4125 NW 97th Blvd.,

Gainesville, FL 32606 Gainesville Harley-Davidson is a family-owned and operated dealership formed in 1993 by Ray and Gail Lytle. After moving to its current location in 1995, with continued dedication to customer satisfaction, the dealership grew in 2003 and again in 2015 with the addition of a pre-owned showroom and dyno tuning room.

From payroll and bookkeeping to expert tax preparation and advice, H&R Block is ready to work for you.

For the year-round services you need and the one-on-one attention you deserve, partner with H&R Block Business Services.

FAVORITE SHOPPING DISTRICT

CELEBRATION POINTE

Call today to make an appointment.

5001 Celebration Pointe Ave. Suite 140, Gainesville, FL 32608 Celebration Pointe is a unique mixed-use development. The number one choice for Gainesville residents and tourists seeking a 24/7 experiential, walkable environment where shopping, dining, playing, living and working coexist. Celebration Pointe is a community where life moments are celebrated.

FINALISTS: Shoppes at Thornebrook Village

14557 NW US HWY 441 ALACHUA, FL 32615 | 386-462-3962 23826 W US HWY 27 HIGH SPRINGS, FL 32643 | 386-454-3800

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HRBLOCK.COM/SMALLBUSINESS Does not include audit, attest or other services for which a license is required. OBTP#B13696 ©2017 HRB Tax Group, Inc.

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