Goods & Services
Readers’ choice
Beers Books
Sacramento’s oldest used bookstore has been buying, selling and trading with other book lovers since 1936. In its airy new location on S Street, the store has stretched out, with more space for new and used books; a cafe with free Wi-Fi; and a big, slinky bookstore kitty.
Photo By Larry Dalton
Best local optical shop
Styleyes
2231 J Street, (916) 448-2220, www.styleyes.biz
2. Eyes on J
928 J Street, (916) 447-3000, www.eyesonj.com
Best vintage clothing
Olipom
formerly at 1306 1/2 19th Street; moved to 1115 21st Street
2. Cuffs Urban Apparel
2523 J Street, (916) 443-2881, www.cuffsurbanapparel.com
Best men’s clothing
Men’s Wearhouse
various locations, www.menswearhouse.com
2. Macy’s
various locations, www.macys.com
Best women’s clothing
Macy’s
various locations, www.macys.com
2. Nordstrom
various locations, www.nordstrom.com
Best children’s clothing
Target
various locations, www.target.com
2. Le Petit Paris
1221 19th Street, (916) 446-3639, http://lepetitparis.us
Best grocery store
Safeway at S and 19th streets
1814 19th Street, (916) 492-9967
2. Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op
1900 Alhambra Boulevard, (916) 455-2667, www.sacfoodcoop.com
Best bookstore: local
Beers Books
915 S Street, (916) 442-9475
2. Time Tested Books
1114 21st Street, (916) 447-5696
Best bookstore: chain
Borders
various locations, www.bordersstores.com
2. Barnes & Noble
various locations, www.bn.com
Best farmers’ market
Sunday farmers’ market under the freeway
Eighth and W streets, www.california-grown.com
2. Wednesday farmers’ market at Cesar Chavez Plaza
10th and J streets, www.california-grown.com
Best antique store
Antique Co.
2100 X Street, (916) 457-1099
2. 57th Street Antique Mall
875 57th Street, (916) 451-3110, www.57thstreetantiquemall.com
One of my favorite places is the SF (Shun Fat) Supermarket in Pacific Plaza at 65th Street and Stockton Boulevard. The selection of fresh seafood is huge. The produce is excellent and very inexpensive. Each visit yields surprises, from the self-serve bins of kim chi to the growing selections of Indian and Malaysian foods. I live in the Southside Park co-housing, which means I sometimes have to cook dinners for large groups on a very tight budget, and the bargains at SF Market make that possible. I’m told that “Shun Fat” does not mean “avoid fat.” It means “prosperity” in Cantonese, and the T is silent, so the correct pronunciation is “soon fa.”
—Sam Delson
<hr>Best home furnishings: local
Háus by David Randall
2512 J Street, (916) 448-4100, www.hausbydr.com
2. J Evans Furniture
2321 J Street, (916) 441-3211
Best home furnishings: chain
Ikea
700 Ikea Court in West Sacramento, (916) 371-4532, www.ikea.com
2. Z Gallerie
545 L Street, Suite 1011, in Downtown Plaza; (916) 442-2299; www.zgallerie.com
Best car dealer: new
Niello Auto Group
various locations, www.niello.com
2. Maita Toyota
2500 Auburn Boulevard, (800) 640-6248, www.maitatoyota.com
Best car dealer: used
CarMax
1450 Eureka Road in Roseville, (916) 782-2404, www.carmax.com
2. John L. Sullivan Chevrolet
700 Automall Drive in Roseville, (916) 782-1243, www.johnlsullivanchevrolet.com
Best record store: local
The Beat!
1700 J Street, (916) 446-4402, http://beatsacramento.com
2. UnitedState
1014 24th Street, (916) 444-7230, www.unitedstateonline.com
Best record store: chain
Tower Records
various locations, www.towerrecords.com
2. Dimple Records
various locations, www.dimple.com
Best video-game store
GameStop
various locations, www.gamestop.com
2. EB Games
various locations, www.ebgames.com
Best video rental
Blockbuster
various locations, www.blockbuster.com
2. Hollywood Video
various locations, www.hollywoodvideo.com
Best local Web site
MidtownGrid.com
http://midtowngrid.com
2. The Ballroom of Sacramento
www.sacdance.com
Best bank
Wells Fargo
various locations, www.wellsfargo.com
2. Washington Mutual
various locations, www.wamu.com
Best shoe selection: local
Shoefly
2418 K Street, (916) 443-4200, www.myshoefly.com
2. Sole Shoes & Accessories
2421 1/2 J Street, (916) 442-4710, www.sole-shoes.com
Olivia Coelho’s involvement in the arts community is one of the best things going on in Sac right now. Whether it’s via the Sellout Buyout events, her store or her work through the Crocker, Olivia’s enthusiasm and support for artists in this town makes her such a great asset. I know I speak for a lot of folks when I say that I can’t wait for the new Olipom to open its doors.
—Dani Kando-Kaiser
*Olipom has moved to 1115 21st Street.
<hr>Best shoe selection: chain
<b>Nordstrom </b><br>Looks like the classy women clicking through Arden Fair and the Roseville Galleria in strappy heels got together this summer and voted Nordstrom the best chain store for shoes—though we suspect their love for “Nordi’s” might have something to do with the store’s famous shoe sales, which put more of those works of art within grasp.
Photo By Larry Dalton
various locations, www.nordstrom.com
2. Macy’s
various locations, www.macys.com
Best hotel
Hyatt Regency Sacramento
1209 L Street, (916) 443-1234, http://sacramento.hyatt.com/hyatt/hotels/index.jsp
2. Sheraton Grand Sacramento Hotel
1230 J Street, (916) 447-1700, www.starwoodhotels.com/sheraton
Best bed and breakfast
Amber House Bed & Breakfast
1315 22nd Street, (916) 444-8085, www.amberhouse.com
Inn at Parkside
2116 Sixth Street, (916) 658-1818, www.innatparkside.com
2. Sterling Hotel
1300 H Street, (800) 365-7660, www.sterlinghotel.com
You make me think of a time long past when steam emanated from the arteries of this great city. Hardworking men and women built your engines and maintained your tracks and sent your trains to every corner of our nation carrying our valley’s bounty. You are my grandfather’s and my reason for being, my long-lost spirit. Someday your legacy will rise again, and we will all worship your glory.
—Ian Merker
<hr>Best jewelry store
Guzzetta & Co.
805 Howe Avenue, (916) 924-9666; 1850 Douglas Boulevard in Roseville, (916) 783-5890; www.guzzettaco.com
2. Fantasia Jewelry Center
1831 P Street, (916) 443-4343
Best pet supplies: local
Western Feed & Pet Supply
various locations
2. Pet Department Store
4747 J Street, (916) 455-5161
Best pet supplies: chain
PetSmart
various locations, www.petsmart.com
2. Petco
various locations, www.petco.com
Best tattoo shop
The Exotic Body
807 30th Street, (916) 447-OUCH, www.exoticbody.com
2. American Graffiti Tattoo
1219 19th Street, (916) 443-7778; 104 Church Street in Roseville, (916) 772-8282; www.americangraffititattoo.com
Best body art
The Exotic Body
807 30th Street, (916) 447-OUCH, www.exoticbody.com
2. Sub Q Body Piercing
714 K Street, (916) 446-9777
Best hair salon
Lush Salon & Spa
2000 I Street, (916) 447-5874, www.lushsalon.com
2. Mellow Me Out
various locations, www.mellowmeout.com
Best hair stylist
Moji at Hair by Moji
(916) 802-4139
2. Arianna Cruz at Mellow Me Out CSUS
600 J Street, (916) 278-4530, www.mellowmeout.com
Best spa
<b>Mellow Me Out</b> <br>Mellow Me Out swept many of the spa awards this year, proving that you can turn a foot soak into a tropical vacation with nonalcoholic margaritas and some chips and salsa. Just looking at the menu of services makes us imagine traveling to Thailand for massages and to Europe for facials.
Photo By Larry Dalton
various locations, www.mellowmeout.com
2. Veronica’s Day Spa
3330 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 731-5678, www.veronicasdayspa.blogspot.com
Best tanning salon
California Sun Centers
various locations, (916) 789-1034, www.casuncenters.com
2. Raez Bode’ Craze
5640 J Street, (916) 457-5185, www.raezbodecraze.com
Best plastic surgeon
No clear winner
Best dentist
Dr. Pamela DiTomasso & Associates
2619 J Street, (916) 443-5677
2. Dr. Scott Snyder
2525 K Street, Suite 301; (916) 443-3572; www.sacfamilydental.com
Best photography equipment
Pardee’s Cameras
3335 El Camino Avenue, (916) 483-3435, www.pardeescameras.com
2. Camera Arts
712 57th Street, (916) 736-3084, www.cameraarts.net
Best electronics selection
Fry’s Electronics
4100 Northgate Boulevard, (916) 286-5800, www.frys.com/sacramento.html
2. Best Buy
various locations, www.bestbuy.com
Best home builder
JTS Engineering Consultants
1808 J Street, (916) 441-6708
2. BP Weiand Homes
(530) 308-5008, www.bpweiandhomes.com
Best shopping mall
Arden Fair
1689 Arden Way, (916) 920-1167, www.ardenfair.com
2. Downtown Plaza
547 L Street, (916) 442 4000, http://westfield.com/downtownplaza
Best boutique
DV8 Boutique
2612 J Street, (916) 444-1388
2. Dara Denim
2404 K Street, (916) 444-1188; 5540 Douglas Boulevard in Granite Bay (opening in October), (916) 444-1188; www.daradenim.com
Best pet groomer
PetSmart
various locations, www.petsmart.com
2. Launder Dog
2600 Alta Arden, (916) 979-WASH, www.launderdog.com
Best kennel/doggy day care
<b>Cha Cha’s</b> <br>Doggie Daycare Doggy birthday parties? Daycare complete with field trips to the river? Sleepovers—with pillow fights? Sacramentans have decided that their pooches are as fun-loving as their kids, and Cha Cha’s agrees, giving socialized, immunized dogs a chance to play together through every day their owners are away.
Photo By Larry Dalton
910 57th Street, (916) 739-6303, www.chachasdaycare.com
2. Wag Hotel
1759 Enterprise Boulevard in West Sacramento, (916) 373-0300, www.waghotels.com
Best maternity shop
AKA Mom
3412 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 451-2229, www.akamom.com
2. Kismet Maternity
5704 Elvas Avenue, (916) 451-0600, www.kismetmaternity.com
Best manicure/pedicure
Mellow Me Out
various locations, www.mellowmeout.com
2. LA Woman Nail Salon & Boutique
2636 Fair Oaks Boulevard, (916) 489-4244
Best florist
Relles Florist
2400 J Street, (916) 441-1478; 801 Howe Avenue, (916) 920-4911; www.rellesflorist.com
2. Twiggs Floral Design Gallery
3250 J Street, (916) 441-2302
Best interior designer
Don Sherwood at Háus by David Randall
2512 J Street, (916) 448-4100, www.hausbydr.com
2. No clear second-place winner
Best masseuse
Lila Reynolds at The Magic of Touch
The Ballroom of Sacramento, 6009 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 737-7929, www.sacdance.com.
2. Roshawnda Simpson at Mellow Me Out on Fulton Avenue
1120 Fulton Avenue, (916) 482-2772, www.mellowmeout.com
Best chiropractor
Dr. Lance Casazza at Casazza Chiropractic
2825 J Street, Suite 245; (916) 447-2200; www.sacramentochiropractic.com
2. Dr. Darrick Lawson at The Healing Touch Chiropractic
1507 21st Street, Suite 301, (916) 447-3344; 8680 Greenback Lane, Suite 110, in Orangevale, (916) 988-3379; www.drdarricklawson.com
Best ticket broker
Ticketmaster
various locations, www.ticketmaster.com
2. Mysactown.com
www.mysactown.com
Best Realtor
Lyon Realty
various locations, (866) 596-6466, www.golyon.com
2. Coldwell Banker
various locations, (800) 797-1771, www.coldwellbanker.com
Best real-estate agent
Holly Williams
RK Real Estate & Mortgage; 729 Sunrise Avenue, Suite 600, in Roseville; (916) 773-1244; www.rkhomes.com
2. Stephanie Baker
Coldwell Banker; 730 Alhambra Boulevard, Suite 150; (916) 341-7875
2. Olivia Darzell
Lyon Real Estate; 2580 Fair Oaks Boulevard, Suite 20; (916) 806-8190; www.sodarzell.golyon.com
2. Brian McMartin
McMartin Realty, 2031 K Street, (916) 447-1600, www.mcmartinrealty.com
Best auto repair
All Foreign Auto Repair
2400 Fulton Avenue, Suite D; (916) 488-9090
2. Honest Engine
various locations, www.honestengineonline.com
Best car wash
Harv’s Car Wash
1901 L Street, (916) 446-0129, www.harvscarwash.com
2. Scrub Boys Car Wash
1731 Broadway, (916) 446-3700; 5431 Folsom Boulevard, (916) 731-4323
Best cell-phone provider
Cingular Wireless
various locations, www.cingular.com
2. Verizon Wireless
various locations, www.verizonwireless.com
Best transportation alternative
Bicycling
2. Light rail
More Guides » Best of Sacramento
Sacramento, I love you!
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Published on 09.28.06