Best of Eugene 2008-2009: Retail Therapy
Best New Business
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| Best new business: A Healing Space |
1. A Healing Space 380 W. 3rd Ave. 343-1887.
2. The Green Store 500 Olive St. 344-1530.
3. tie:
Dawn Baby Salon 1355 Willamette St. 870-0561.
Emerald City Skates 23 E. 11th Ave. 607-1856.
It’s like one-stop shopping for body and mind. A Healing Space brings together massage therapy, chiropractic, naturopathy, acupuncture and holistic medicine like flower essences and energy-based healing. It also offers meditation groups and opportunities to find more inner peace. And it takes insurance. What more could you ask for from a new Eugene business?
Best Bike Shop/Repair
1. Paul’s Bicycle Way of Life 234 W. 6th Ave., 344-4150; 3870 W. 11th Ave., 343-2250; 152 W. 5th Ave., 344-4105; 2480 Alder St., 342-6155.
2. Collins Cycle Shop 60 E. 11th Ave. 342-4878.
3. Hutch’s Bicycle Store 960 Charnelton St., 345-7521; 2100 Main St., Springfield, 741-2453.
Paul Nicholson’s uniquely Eugene bike shops have been an institution here for three decades. Paul and his savvy staff are truly dedicated to advocating for bikes as a way of life. As a city councilor, Nicholson was one of the strongest advocates for cycling the city has ever had. If you drive, give the planet a break and go buy a bike at Paul’s. If you bike, Paul’s will sell you some tires at a fair price, with a side of free tofu.
Best Outdoors/Recreation Store
1. McKenzie Outfitters 849 E. 13th Ave., 485-0557; 566 Olive St., 343-2300.
2. Joe’s Sports, Outdoor and More 1030 Green Acres Rd. 343-1666.
3. Berg’s Ski and Snowboard Shop 367 W. 13th Ave. 683-1300.
Best Independent Bookstore
1. Smith Family Bookstore 768 E. 13th Ave., 345-1651; 525 Willamette St., 343-4717.
2. Tsunami Books 2585 Willamette St. 345-8986.
3. J. Michael’s Books 160 E. Broadway. 342-2002.
Best Record/CD Store
1. CD World 3215 W. 11th Ave. Suite B. 683-6902.
2. House of Records 258 E. 13th Ave. 342-7975.
3. CD/Game Exchange 30 E. 11th Ave. 302-3045.
Real music freaks should schedule a serious chunk of time for browsing at CD World. This local business is not only large enough to keep an amazing selection in stock, but they feature a permanently rotating wall of new releases, showcase local musicians, host live performances and even let you preview any of their pre-opened, promotional CDs (of which there are, like, thousands upon thousands) before you buy. Oh, and they do special orders, too. Fans of world music and jazz can feel at home alongside the emo kids and metal heads at this West 11th business; the staff is simultaneously knowledgeable and welcoming of all who continue to build music collections in real life rather than online.
Best Food Producer
1. Lone Pine Farms www.lonepinefarms.com
2. Nancy’s Cultured Dairy and Soy / Springfield Creamery www.nancysyogurt.com
3. Groundworks Organics www.groundworkorganics.com
Ooh, Lone Pine. You’re only open through Halloween, so it’s kind of tough for you to win this just now, but we’ll remember you come May and your grand reopening. For those heading out on River Road toward Junction City, Lone Pine makes an excellent stop with its piles and piles of yummy berries, beans, squash and peppers — in season, of course — and the extras, from the Pumpkin Patch to the Corn Maze to u-pick flowers. Plenty of fun for kids, who can pan for “treasure” in the new mining display, and for adults, who will hunt for the best peaches, apples, tomatoes and oh so much more.
Best Environmentally Friendly Business
1. Down to Earth 532 Olive St., 342-6820; 2498 Willamette St., 349-0556.
2. The Green Store 500 Olive St. 344-1530.
3. Sundance Natural Foods 748 E. 24th Ave. 343-9142.
In a city littered with eco-friendly adv-ocates, almost every local store can claim at least one enviro-friendly product or practice, but year after year it’s Down to Earth that
takes our Best Environmentally Friendly Business award. Is it the earthworm cast-ings? The Seabird Guano? The Fiestaware or the cool candles? We don’t know, but we do know that Down to Earth faced a little more com-petition this year as newcomer Eugene’s Green Store fought its way into second place with “planet-friendly products.” Calling
itself a “small, environmental department store,” it sells backpacks with solar panels to power your iPod, hemp clothing and green products for the home from cleaning products to lighting.
Best Boutique/Clothing Shop
1. Deluxe 1331 Willamette St. 686-0205.
2. Sweet Potato Pie 20 E. 11th Ave. 344-8810.
3. Shag Boutique 1016 Willamette. 344-7424.
Deluxe is the kind of shop where you uncover things that, even if you never expected to love them quite so much, quickly make their way into your regular garment rotation. It’s also home to perfectly worn-in (not too stiff, not too thin) jeans, sparkly red Dorothy shoes you grab from a sidewalk bin for five bucks, a wide variety of dresses and co-owner (and Best Crafter winner) Mitra Chester’s own creations. Just try to resist the jewelry — much of it made by local artists — at the counter, the piles of sale stuff, the variety of used and repurposed clothing for men and women. If we could ask for one thing from Deluxe, it’d be, in a word, more. More space! More clothes! More Chester-created things! You can’t have too much of an affordable, stylish good thing.
Best Kids’ Stuff Store
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| Best kids’ stuff store: Bambini |
1. Bambini 205 W. 5th Ave., 485-1222; 2864 Willamette St., Suite 200, 302-1555.
2. Elephant’s Trunk Valley River Center, 345-8697; 248 E. 5th Ave., 342-8548.
3. Eugene Toy & Hobby 32 E. 11th Ave. 344-2117.
Kids grow fast, but paychecks don’t. So when your kid needs bigger duds, our readers say Bambini’s is the place to go for sweet, gently used baby goods, eco-friendly and locally made wooden toys and a kids’ playgroup all under one roof. The store’s two Eugene locations also sell new baby and toddler shoes, organic cotton diapers and boutique clothing, so your precious bundle can be earth-friendly from head to toe. Plus, one location’s next to an ice cream shop. Tasty!
Best Pet Stuff Store
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| Best pet stuff store: Mini Pet Mart |
1. Mini Pet Mart 974 W. 6th Ave., 344-9603; 2636 Willamette St., 345-3399; 2775 River Rd., 688-8619; 1999 Main St., Springfield, 744-0665.
2. Healthy Pet 2777 Friendly St., 343-3411; 252 W. 7th Ave., 302-6279.
3. Wags! Dog Emporium 485 Coburg Rd., Suite G. 338-8801.
When we walked into the Mini Pet Mart on 6th Avenue, the first thing we noticed was that it didn’t smell. Most pet supply stores stink, so that was a plus. We also noticed that it had a large selection of toys, chew things, bones, brushes and organic food for pets (and their owners) that are into stuff like that (i.e. most of them). But what struck us most about Mini Pet Mart is that it sells cigarettes. Or, as one voter put it, “They got smokes!” Kitty litter and Lucky Strikes — that’s pretty cool.
Best Downtown Business
1. The Kiva 125 W. 11th Ave. 342-8666.
2. Down to Earth 532 Olive St., 342-6820; 2498 Willamette St., 349-0556.
3. Harlequin Beads & Jewelry 1027 Willamette St. 683-5903.
Best Personal Indulgence Provider
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| Best new business: A Healing Space |
1. Gervais Salon & Day Spa 248 E. 5th Ave., 345-1312; 301 W. 5th Ave., 334-6533.
2. Bello Day Spa 2746 Shadow View Dr. 345-0551.
3. Pearl Day Spa & Hydrotherapy Clinic 1375 Pearl St. 683-3377.
Gervais Salon and Day Spa is one of the most delightful smelling businesses in town. Patrons who step through the door of this stylishly landscaped green building find themselves immediately surrounded by botanical fragrances wafting from the sumptuous products used to pamper bodies and soothe souls. Far beyond a basic hair and nail salon, Gervais’ full service day spa also offers massage, body wraps, UV-free tanning, facials, waxing and make-up. Those who seek beauty and relaxation and also value the benefits of natural products will love Gervais not only for the rejuvenating atmosphere but for its exclusive use of Aveda, a brand committed to plant-based body care that is healthier for people and the Earth.