It's that time of year again when The Arlington Advocate publishes its Readers Choice Awards.
Before I congratulate Chamber member winners, I'd like to drag out the soapbox from under my desk for two quick exhortations:
1) Whether or not you live in Arlington, the majority of you have businesses located here. Subscribe to the town's paper of record. Then take 10 minutes every Thursday to at least skim The Advocate. Read the letters to the editor to get the pulse of the town. Skim the paper for news that might affect your business like the Mass. Ave. Corridor project. Discover your customers or business neighbors who have been highlighted. Connect with the community where you do business. AND learn when nominations for Readers Choice open, which leads to. . .
2) When nominations for Readers Choice open, you will find a full page nominations form letting you know and telling you what customers need to do to vote for you. Then ASK your customers to vote, either by mailing in the nomination form or by hopping online. Ask them with a small poster by your register, ask them in person, ask them in your email newsletter (don't forget if you use Constant Contact, you can get a great discount when you subscribe through the Chamber).
OK, now the soapbox is back under my desk.
Chamber members were well represented in Community Newspaper Company’s Reader’s Choice Awards 2008 released earlier this month. Congratulations to the following members for Gold, Silver and Bronze Regional Favorites as well as Arlington’s #1 Choices and Honorable Mentions. In alphabetical order by category, the sparklers go to:
Animal Hospital/Clinic: Mill Brook Animal Clinic-Honorable Mention
Antique / Vintage Store: Honorable Mention to Porch/Wardrobe
Appliance Store: R.W. Shattuck and Wanamaker Hardware received Honorable Mention
Bagel Shop: Gold and #1-bagels by Us
Bakery: Silver and #1 to Lakota Bakery and Honorable Mention to Quebrada Baking Co. and Bella Moto Baking
Bar: Bronze and #1-Tryst; with Not Your Average Joe’s -Honorable Mention.
Book Store: Bronze as well as Arlington’s #1-once again, The Book Rack
Breakfast: Honorable mention to Sweet Sue’s
Camera Store: The Gold and # 1 -Cameras, Inc. once again and Honorable Mention-New England Camera
Caterer: #1 in Arlington to Beaujolais CAtering
Children’s Clothing: Honorable Mention Inside/Pink Dolly
Community Bank: Gold and #1 to Cambridge Savings Bank once again with Silver to Citizens Bank and Honorable Mentions to Citizens Bank and Leader Bank
Coffee Shop: Honorable Mention to Quebrada Baking Co.
Consignment Shop: Honorable Mention to Porch/Wardrobe
Dance/Gymnastics School: Once again #1 Choice in Lexington Dance Inn
Day Spa or Massage: Bronze and #1 in Arlington-Horizons Salon and Day Spa
Dentist: The Bronze and Honorable Mention goes to Dr. Barbara Lawnicki
Dinner: Silver to Not Your Average Joe’s with Honorable Mention to Not Your Average Joe’s and Flora
Fine Dining: Bronze and #1 in Arlington to Flora with an Honorable Mention to Tryst and Scutra
Florist: Silver and #1-Ryan’s Florist with Honorable Mention to Derby Farm Flowers & Gardens
Frame Store: Honorable Mention to Play Time and Cameras, Inc.
Furniture Store: # 1 in Arlington-Tall Tree Guild
Garden Store/Nursery: #1 in Arlington-Derby Farm Flowers & Gardens
Gift Shop: Divinity’s Splendour-Glow received Honorable Mention
Hair Salon: Silver goes to Horizons Salon & Day Spa, Creative Expressions receiving Honorable Mention
Hardware Store: Silver and #1- Wanamaker Hardware Inc.; Honorable Mention- R.W. Shattuck Ace Hardware and City Paint
Health Club: Gold’s Gym receiving an Honorable Mention
Home Decorating Store: #1-City Paint with Honorable Mention to Derby Farm Flowers & Gardens
Ice Cream Shop: Honorable Mention to The Chilly Cow
Indian Restaurant: Gold and #1 to Punjab once again
Italian Restaurant: Silver and #1 to Ristorante Olivio and an Honorable Mention to La Buona Vita
Jewelry Store: The Gold and #1-Swanson Jewelers Inc. once again!
Liquor Store: Gold and #1 to Menotomy Beer & Wine; Berman’s Wine & Spirits and Giles Fine Wine received Honorable Mention in Arlington and Woburn
Lunch: Not Your Average Joe’s-Honorable Mention
Manicure/Pedicure: The Gold and #1-Horizons Salon and Day Spa
Mexican Restaurant: Silver and #1 in Arlington-Zocalo Cocina Mexicana
Optical Shop: Gold and #1-Ronald A. Riesz Dispensing Optician (this makes the 7th time that Ron Riesz has been in this coveted spot!)
Pizza Place: Gold and #1 to Za with Honorable Mention to Sabatino’s Italian Kitchen
Retirement Living Residence: Bronze and #1-Sunrise Assisted Living of Arlington
Sporting Goods Store: Holovak & Coughlin and Quadcycles-Honorable Mention
Steak Restaurant: Honorable Mention-Tango
Takeout: Sabatino’s Italian Kitchen-Honorable Mention
Toy Stores: Play Time Inc. received an Honorable Mention
Weight Loss: #1 Choice-Fitness Together
Women’s Clothing Store: We sweep the Arlington awards: #1 Choice-Artwear once again; Honorable Mention to Helena’s and Inside & Co.
In the Northwest of Boston Category
Computer Store: Silver to The Computer Cafe
Hospital: Winchester Hospital received a Silver once again
Place to See Theatre: The Capitol Theatre received the Gold and The Regent received the Bronze
Place for Family Entertainment: The Regent Theatre received a Silver
Kudos to all of you!
