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Dancing Cranes Salon & Apothecary
According to co-owner Suzanne Huffman, Dancing Cranes stands apart due to its "focus on the individual."
"We have a holistic philosophy of working with our clients and our staff and the community," Huffman said.
The salon specializes in natural, plant-based hair care and coloring, and hopes to offer clients "a very relaxing and peaceful environment."
"They've come to expect more of an experience," Huffman said of her patrons. "It's like getting away from the outside world of stress and pressure. It's the opportunity to relax and be pampered."
• WHERE: 146 S. Kalamazoo Mall.
• HOURS: 10 a.m.- 8 p.m., Tuesday-Thursday; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. Wednesday-Friday; 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday.
• CONTACT: (269) 344-1343. www.dancingcranessalon.com.
FIRST RUNNER-UP
Idun Spa Salon
General Manager Tricia Pecora said the salon prides itself in its knowledgeable stylists, who are "always training, always growing, always striving in their field."
"We see what's out there and we take it up a notch," Pecora said. The Salon also earned first runner-up in the Best Day Spa category. Contact: 100 W. Michigan Ave. (269) 567-7675. www.idunspasalon.com.
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Tromblay Salon and Gallery
The walls of this full-service salon are covered with local art, and it also features a boutique with a wide range of clothing and gifts. "We're in a great old historical building," co-owner Susan Trombley said. "It's a really good environment."
Contact: 627 S. Burdick St. (269) 383-4300. www.tromblay.com.
Coachlite Cutters
This barbershop located inside the Westnedge Avenue Meijer has been in business for 44 years, offering what Manager Cinda Seaton calls a "very precise, clean haircut."
"We do a lot of clean-up around the ears, even nose hairs," Seaton said. "Barbers are trained to do that in school and cosmetologists aren't."
Seaton said that Coachlite has a "very dedicated clientele," many of whom have been patronizing the barber shop for over 30 years.
"We have customers who got their first hair cut here and are still coming back," Seaton said.
• WHERE: 5121 S. Westnedge Ave., Portage.
• HOURS: Monday -Friday 8 a.m. -7 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Contact: (269) 344-9007.
FIRST RUNNER-UP
Sport Clips
Denisa Darsow, manager of the West Main Street location, said the barber shop prides itself on its "MVP service," which includes a shampoo, haircut, and face and shoulder massage. Sport Clips also features televisions at each station that play sports all day.
Contact: 5304 W. Main St., Kalamazoo, (269) 345-2700; and 7101 S. Westnedge, Portage, (269) 329-2412. www.sportclips.com.
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Jim's Barber Shop
Jim Buist offers over 40 years of barber experience, and said that clients can also expect some lively "political commentary" when they come in the shop.
Contact: 507 W. Vine St., Kalamazoo. (269) 345-5926.
Woodward's Garage
Woodward's will "work on anything that has wheels on it and do everything but body work," said Ron Penny, owner of the garage established in 1927.
Penny said the business' success is simple and straightforward: "We just try to take care of people and be honest and fair."
Penny, whose sons are the third generation of his family to work at Woodward's, said after about 40 years in the auto-repair trade there is one thing drivers need to know about keeping their cars on the road.
"They just have to do their maintance work regularly,"
• WHERE: 201 E. Alcott St.
• HOURS: 7:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays to Fridays.
• CONTACT: 345-7690. www.woodwardsgarage.com.
FIRST RUNNER-UP
Flying Dog Garage
Opened in 2007, import repair specialist Greg Minnick said he named his shop for "my liking for dogs and a desire to give my business a name that is different, memorable."
Contact: 2597 Brackett Ave. 345-6780. www.flyingdoggarage.com.
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Furr Auto Service
"Our philosophy is to create long-term customers," said Steve Leversee, service manager of Furr Auto, which was established in 1968.
Contact: 2009 Portage St., Kalamazoo. 345-0522.
Discount Tire
With 721 stores in 20 states, Discount Tire calls itself the world's largest independent tire retailer.
The company, founded in 1960 in Ann Arbor, has three stores in the Kalamazoo area.
Its "little old lady" icon -- from a long-running TV commercial in which a elderly woman throws a tire through a Discount Tire storefront window -- recently appeared on the hood of a Nascar race car.
• WHERE: Multiple locations.
• HOURS: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
• CONTACT: www.discounttire.com.
FIRST RUNNER-UP
Belle Tire
Belle Tire, founded in 1922 in Detroit, has grown to more than 80 stores in Michigan. It has three stores in the Kalamazoo area.
Contact: Multiple locations. www.belletire.com.
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Kazoo Tire Co.
Kazoo Tire, which has been in business for 18 years, works on wheels, batteries, alignments, brakes and shocks, in addition to tires, owner Dave Foley said.
Contact: 8012 Shaver Road, Portage. (269) 327-2587.
Uncle Ed's Oil Shoppe
The Battle Creek-based chain of oil-change stores was founded in 1982 and is now the largest independently owned chain in Michigan, with 29 stores. Known for changing your oil while you sit in your vehicle, Uncle Ed's offers a variety of maintenance services, including oil and filter changes, fluid top-offs and filter replacements.
• WHERE: Multiple locations.
• HOURS: Vary by location.
• CONTACT: Seven locations in the area. www.uncleedsoil.com/locations/aspx.
FIRST RUNNER-UP (tie)
Pennzoil 10 Minute Oil Change
The family-owned and -operated chain of three oil-change stores has been in business in the Kalamazoo area for 15 years, said Paul Sturak, who owns the stores with his brother, Mark.
Contact: 2450 Sprinkle Road and 5054 Ninth St., Kalamazoo; 8524 Portage Road, Portage. www.pennzoil.com; enter ZIP code and click "Installers."
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Wal-Mart
The world's largest retailer offers its Tire & Lube Express at 10 area locations.
Contact: www.walmart.com; search "oil change" and enter ZIP code.
Pet Vet Family Pet Care Center
The Pet Vet Family Pet Care Center began in 1983, and has five veterinarians serving cats and dogs, as well as bunnies, hamsters, and the occasional rat.
The clinic also offers boarding, surgeries, and out-patient care. Pet Vet veterinarian Kathryn Sutphen said that the clinic provides excellent customer service, well-trained employees, and a "clean and organized" environment.
"We spend a lot of time educating our staff," Sutphen said.
• WHERE: 229 S. Drake Road.
• HOURS: 7 a.m.-7 p.m. Mondays - Fridays, 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturdays.
• CONTACT: (269) 382-6200. www.petvetkalamazoo.vetsuite.com.
FIRST RUNNER-UP
Oakwood Animal Hospital
According to manager Tabitha Collins, Oakwood Animal Hospital specializes in orthopedics and is one of the only clinics to provide clients with emergency care.
Contact: 2009 Whites Road. Kalamazoo. (269) 349-1831. www.myvetonline.com/website/oakwoodah.
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Milwood Animal Clinic
It offers preventative and medical care for small animals, including birds and exotic pets. Manager Barbara Disney explained that the clinic also offers training and animal behavior classes.
Contact: 5942 Lovers Lane, Portage, (269) 342-9865. www.milwoodvet.com.
Paris Cleaners & Laundry
Paris Cleaners & Laundry has been in business since 1903, and offers a wide variety of services, including dry cleaning, wedding dress preparation and restoration, cleaning of household items such as drapes, curtains, and table linens, and leather and fur cleaning.
According to co-owner Elaine Weidenaar, Paris Cleaners & Laundry is also the area's leading cleaner of fire-damaged garments and household items.
"A lot of times people don't get back into their home for a long time, so we store their things for them until they get back into their home," Weidenaar said.
Weidenaar said that Paris Cleaners' experience and size sets it apart from other dry cleaners in the area.
"We're not so big that it's too overwhelming to deal with each individual," Weidenaar said, "yet we're not so small that we can't offer all of the services."
• WHERE: 508 W. Crosstown Parkway.
• HOURS: 7 a.m.-6 p.m. Mondays-Fridays; 8 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturdays.
• CONTACT: (269) 343-1565. www.pariscleaners.com.
FIRST RUNNER-UP
Portage Cleaners & Laundry
Portage Cleaners & Laundry is the only dry cleaner in Southwest Michigan to offer GreenEarth technology, which owner John Winterburn said is "good for the environment and good for your clothes."
Contact: 2025 W. Centre St. Portage, (269) 329-6932 and 8111 Portage Road, 327-1411. www.pariscleaners.com.
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Neighborhood Cleaners
Manager Michael Wespinter explained that Neighborhood Cleaners offers full-service dry cleaning and shirt laundry, a route delivery service, and a unique price structure -- shirts are cleaned for $1.89 and most other items run $4.29.
Contact: 425 W. Milham Ave., Portage. (269) 324-0558.
M Spa Salon & Day Spa
Owner Michelle Mott said it's M Spa's "state of the art facility" that gives in an edge over other area spas.
"We try to consistently offer the newest services available in the industry," said Mott, who listed microexfoliation, light treatment therapy, and non-surgical facelifts as some of M Spa's newest technologies.
In addition, M Spa offers a full-service hair salon, a nail department, massage therapy, body wraps, vichy shower treatments, and hydrotherapy baths. M Spa also accommodates bridal parties and offers day and half-day packages. Mott said that M Spa, which opened 10 years ago, also offers a very relaxing atmosphere for the consumer.
"I had it built around the ideas of spas I'd seen out west," Mott said. "A lot of clients comment that they feel like they're not in Michigan, but that they're in a bigger city."
M Spa also carries a wide range of products from Pandora Jewelry, Aveda, Bumble and Bumble, L'Occitane, and Pevonia.
• WHERE: 2276 E. Centre Ave., Portage.
• HOURS: 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesdays and Fridays; 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesdays and Thursdays; 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturdays.
• CONTACT: (269) 327-MSPA. www.m-spa.com.
FIRST RUNNER-UP
Idun Spa Salon
Idun Spa Salon, which also placed First Runner-Up in the Best Hair Salon category, offers unique services such as the "Peditini" and the "Rita on the Rocks", where clients can drink martinis and margaritas during their pedicure service.
Contact: 100 W. Michigan Ave. (269) 567-7675.
SECOND RUNNER-UP
The Greenery Day Spa
Emily Lemnen, owner of The Greenery Day Spa, said that the spa offers "a very serene, relaxed environment," and is also the leading anti-aging center in the area.
Contact: 9153 East D Ave., Richland. (269) 629-0009. www.greeneryspa.com.
VanderSalm's-Flipse Flowershop
According to owner John VanderSalm, VanderSalm's-Flipse sets itself apart because it "strives to excel in its extremely good service and high quality."
VanderSalm is a fourth-generation florist, whose great-grandfather raised celery and pansies at the shop's current South Burdick Street location. VanderSalm said that the business focuses on employee teamwork, and is known for its geraniums in the spring and its poinsettias in the fall.
"Because we're a small grower we can pay more attention to different sizes and higher quality, rather than the big growers who are growing for the mass market and the supermarkets," VanderSalm said.
• HOURS: 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Mondays through Saturdays.
• WHERE: 1120 S. Burdick St., Kalamazoo.
• CONTACT: (800) 232-7134. www.kalamazooflorist.com.
FIRST RUNNER-UP
Schafer's Flowers Inc.
According to co-owner Charles Schafer, Schafer's Flowers Inc. offers more than 200 varieties of fresh flowers daily, and prides itself on service and high quality.
Contact: 3274 Stadium Drive, Kalamazoo. (800) 760-7050. www.ftdfloristonline.com/schafersflowers.
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Sofia Floral
Sofia Floral offers a wide range of tropical flowers and also installs silk floral arrangements and holiday decor for businesses. "Design-wise we are a bit more contemporary and unusual," general manager Gina Masterka said.
Contact: 100 W. Michigan Ave. Kalamazoo. (269) 567-7676. www.sofiafloral.com.
Walgreens
Walgreens has seven pharmacies in the Kalamazoo area, some of which offer 24-hour pharmacy service.
The nation's largest pharmacy chain, with more than 6,400 stores in 49 states, was founded in Chicago in 1901.
By 1929, the chain had grown to 525 stores, and it has continued its growth. Today it is a $59 billion company.
Among Walgreens' services are the Prescription Savings Club, which will fill 400 generic prescription medications for $12 for a 90-day supply.
• WHERE: Seven locations in the Kalamazoo area.
• HOURS: Vary by location.
• CONTACT: www.walgreens.com.
FIRST RUNNER-UP
Meijer
All 185 of the Grand Rapids-based grocery chain include pharmacies, which offer free antibiotics and prenatal vitamins to customers with prescriptions.
Contact: Four stores within 20 miles of downtown Kalamazoo. www.meijer.com.
SECOND RUNNER-UP
Oakwood Plaza Pharmacy
With more than 30 years as the Winchell neighborhood's local pharmacy, Oakwood Plaza Pharmacy is carrying on a tradition of personal service and trust, pharmacist Dan Grasseschi said.
Contact: 3017 Oakland Drive. (269) 381-3020.