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Last Updated:
Mar 19th, 2008 - 07:43:02 |
Best Specialty Grocer
Westborn Market
With three beautiful and bountiful locations to serve the greater Detroit area in Dearborn, Livonia and Berkley, Westborn is nothing short of a haven when it comes to gourmet specialty foods and the freshest of produce, much of which is organic. Just walking into Westborn, any visitor immediately recognizes that they've arrived at a grocer that prides itself on both quality and quantity, the two aspects of grocery shopping that we all obviously want but rarely get to enjoy. Even a glance at the picture above offers you a look into their unmatched selection of fresh, colorful fruits and vegetables. And when there’s no time to cook dinner but you want to enjoy a meal at your own table, Real Detroit readers stop into Westborn for their decadent array of prepared food items.
Whether they be soups, salads or sanwiches — all of which are actually quite popular with our own staff come lunch-time — or Westborn's more intricate prepared items, which stem from full chicken dinners to expertly prepared seafood, marinated steaks or mouthwatering vegetarian fair, it's clear that Westborn has everyone in mind, no matter your hankering. Kenyatta O. of Berkley wrote on his ballot that, "everytime I stop at Westborn, which is probably about once a week, I always pick up some flowers for my wife — hey, I can't cook, but I can still pick up some food from someone that can and try to be romantic at the same time, right?" Well, Kenyatta, I think that Real Detroit readers answered your question with a resounding, "YES!" as the votes poured in to support Westborn.
Not to gush too much, but it's evident that Westborn really does strive for the best. They pride themselves on the fact that they aren't just a grocer, but that they offer stunning party trays, fresh fruit baskets (which make for a very thoughtful gift) and they can also cater any event you can throw at them. But what might really set them apart is the fact that ... get ready for this ... they deliver! So, next time you go grocery shopping, need some flowers or don't have time to make dinner, just stop by one of Westborn's impressive market locations. Beware, you're probably going to be there for a while, and you're probably going to leave with more than you expected, but we promise you won't regret a thing! | RDW
More info: westbornmarket.com
Best Store For The Rock Star
Showtime Clothing
Looking like a rock star is no easy task. At Showtime, your task will not be any easier with the amount of choice you have. Who knew it could be that hard to match skintight leather pants to snakeskin boots? Getting lost among the racks of Showtime is like a lesson in the fine arts of rockin’ out with your cock out. The awesomely absurd, the radically cool and the sprinkling of bodacious accessories add to the madness. After all, the rock stars and entertainers already know what everyone else is about to find out — there is absolutely no comparison when it comes to Showtime Clothing.
Best Indie Bookstore
John K. King Used & Rare Books
The most interesting, innovative books are usually the ones you’ve never heard of. That’s where John King Books comes into play. With three metro-Detroit locations, John King is home to millions of rare and used books that are ready to jump off the shelves and into your hands. The staff act as walking human databases, anxious to help you find that rare medical anatomy log or perhaps an original printing of a John Irving classic. Skip the juggernaut dealer, John King has it all ... and more!
Best Eyewear Chain
See
Fashionable eyewear for the masses is the name of the game for Birmingham-based retailer See. If you haven’t heard the buzz already, See is a little piece of Hollywood in Birmingham, as countless celebrities have rocked See brand shades all over the film world and for the paparazzi-ridden red carpet. Are you ready to join the upper echelon of fashion, style and modern touch all wrapped up in affordable frames?
The Real Best of Detroit 2008
Shop, Drop & Roll
Best Skate Shop: Modern Skate & Surf
Doods, you know what’s up — the place to go for everything truck, wheel and board is Modern Skate & Surf. For the past 29 years, Modern has served as a one-stop shop for anyone who lives and dies by the rules of the asphalt. Don’t be afraid if you’re fresh to the sport — the knowledgeable customer service Modern offers makes the most novice of questions seem sensible. Grip tape? Check. Wax on the curb? Check. Mad shred skills? No guarantees, bro…
Best Snowboard Shop: Modern Skate & Surf
When the skate park loses gnarly points to Michigan’s crisp snow, you can switch up that same skate gear for a snowboard and wicked apparel. Modern carries every brand from Burton to K2 to Forum, so you’ll always have an option of which board you wish to shred upon. And don’t worry about impressing the ladies at the bunny hill — Modern’s prices will keep you decked out in fresh Winter gear while keeping a few bucks in your pocket to spend on some hot cocoa back at the cabin.
Best Ski Shop: Boyne Country Sports
Strap up those skis and head north, young man! Boyne Country Sports is waiting for you with some of the finest deals around. Fresh snow calls for crisp gear — style points are still counted while you ski — and with the uber professionalism of Boyne Country, you’ll find everything you need to keep you warm and ready for the slopes.
Best Watch Selection: Metals In Time
Divine intervention? More like elegant selection. The watch ties every outfit together, and at Metals In Time, you’ll find the perfect watch for every piece of clothing in your closet. From contemporary and innovative designs to classic and regal, there is something here for both the ladies and the gentlemen at prices that will not leave you stumbling out the door. If you are looking to add some stylish jewelry to your equation, Metals In Time is ready to help you along.
Best Place To Buy Fetish Gear: Noir Leather
For over 25 years, Noir Leather has been the place to go for the sexually adventurous. In fact, it is the only place you can find whips, chains, leather, lube and an extensive collection of bondage equipment under one roof in the state of Michigan. So if breaking down the sexual barriers of the bedroom is your dish, then Royal Oak’s most erotically eclectic shop should definitely be on the menu.
Best Health Food Store: Good Food Co.
Yum! The trend of independently owned grocery stores has reached its peak as people try and conform to the ways of a healthy lifestyle. Good Food Co. has been able to set itself apart for the past 24 years by offering 100% organic produce, preservative free and low-carb foods. The layout and design of the store is charming and comfortable, with plenty of options to quench the taste buds of even the most seasoned foodies. Say hello to a whole new echelon of flavor and taste at Good Food Co.
Best Independent Furniture Store: Italmoda
Comfort and style — two principles that Italmoda brings together with flawless composure. Italmoda prides itself on supplying metro Detroit with a lush array of art deco and contemporary furniture designs from top European and Italian designers. The prices won’t make you ponder taking out a second mortgage either. Regardless of what you choose from Italmoda to spice up your living quarters, walk away assured that you’ve just been exposed to the world of modern classic furniture by the stateliest of dealers.
Best Car Audio Store: Mickey Shorr
If you’re looking to explore a new level of lush soundscapes in your ride, Mickey Shorr is ready to go the distance. Since 1967, Mickey Shorr has been the shop to go to for a trustworthy job, well-tagged with a fair price and sealed with solid customer service. Did we mention they carry about every brand known to man and are equipped to do any job you can think of? Looking to hook your iPod straight to your audio deck? Looking for an enclosure for your subwoofer? With 16 metro-Detroit locations, you’re never too far from a Mickey Shorr that is ready to make your head bob to the beat.
Best Appliance Store: ABC Warehouse
ABC Warehouse is the only appliance store with character and personality. Maybe it’s their "no frills" approach to selling appliances right out of the warehouse, or perhaps the clever commercials featuring president and CEO Gordy Hartunian’s "Gordyisms." The knowledgeable staff is warm and friendly — it’s more like having a conversation about the best available deal rather than being sold on something that’s not quite right for you. Simply put, walking into ABC Warehouse is like no other shopping experience around in the industry — and the money left in your wallet when you walk out is like no other deal in town. “There’s nothin’ like a good deal,” wrote in Joel M. of Beverly Hills, “and this is the best place to find them.”
Best Place To Buy A Cell Phone: Wireless Toyz
It’s no great wonder why Wireless Toyz stands out in a world of gizmos and gadgets — they kinda rule. The wireless world can be one of confusion and intimidation, and the last thing you want is a pesky salesman cluttering up the picture with half-hearted pitches and schemes. At Wireless Toyz, you never really worry about that sort of thing. You come in, smile at the huge selection of goodies for your cell phone or PDA and ask all the questions you need — that’s what Wireless Toyz is here for.
Best Store To Find Obscure DVD/VHS: Thomas Video
Funnily enough, the eccentric Thomas Video resides in one of the most average American towns — Clawson, Michigan. But once you walk through the door of this movie rental utopia, you enter another world — a universe of bizarre Japanese cinema, cult classics that even the cult has yet to hear of and aisles upon aisles than run the gamut from major release to art house chic. If you are looking to expand your knowledge of the cinematic world, Thomas Video should be the first stop on your journey.
Best DVD Rental: Netflix
In the beginning of the "DVD direct to your doorstep" revolution, there was no competitor that stood out amongst the rest — until Netflix blazed the path. With low prices and a warehouse filled with over 90,000 titles that range from blockbusters to art house to foreign, Netflix is clearly supreme when it comes to DVD rental home delivery — and our readers can't get enough.
Best Record Store To Witness A Live Performance: Rock-A-Billy’s
Most record stores prefer to keep their music concealed in a CD case, shrink-wrapped and subdued until a customer takes it home and unleashes the magic within. Not Rock-A-Billy’s. To complement a superb collection of music, Rock-A-Billy’s regularly holds in-store signings and performances, with the likes of Rise Against and …And You Will Know Us By the Trail of Dead stopping by in the past to rock out. We thank you, Rock-A-Billy’s, for carrying on a retail tradition that is sorely missed.
Best Place To Find Electronic Music: Record Time
Most folks attest that Detroit is the international capital of house and techno. If that’s true, then Record Time is king. Since 1983, Record Time has comfortably fit the role of the one-stop-shop for everything break-beat, bass bump and straight funk. Truly a DJ's favorite treasure trove, it can be overwhelming as you search through the endless supply of instrumental and rare synth-filled vinyl that might bring together any track or mix. With the Ferndale location closing within the next few months, leaving the Roseville shop all by itself, it is almost an obligation that you get up and dance your way to check out the amazing selection of electronic music that Record Time offers ... while you still have a chance.
Best Place To Buy Vinyl: Record Time
You spin me right 'round, Record Time, with your bitchin’ vinyl collection. Your soulful Motown hits, your bodacious hip-hop paradise and all the odds and ends right on the timeless, fan favorite format: smooth, black vinyl. You are a dying breed, Record Time! But there is a large sector of the general public that thanks you for keeping the dust off their turntables with some of the sweetest sounds this side of the Rouge River.
Best Record Store For A History Lesson: The Record Collector
Snuggled away in the vibrant streets of Ferndale, Record Collector is one of the last places on the face of the planet that still sells awesome cassettes and compact discs that will stroll along with you as the nostalgia kicks in. Everything you loved (and still do) is stacked on the shelves within. You won’t be able to walk away without learning a little something about music that used to make you move, and music that soon will.
Best Place To Buy Music No One’s Ever Heard Of: Street Corner Music
Looking for something fresh? Looking to break the wave of banality the radio has been torturing your ears with? Look no further — Street Corner is here to overload your senses with something you’ve never heard before … but will surely love. Although Street Corner specializes in hard to find R&B, jazz and blues, a little bit of everything for everyone is in stock and waiting to free your ears from the tyranny of the same ol’ boring tunes. "Killer used CD section!" wrote Chuck M. of Southfield.
Best Indie Record Store: Dearborn Music
Dearborn Music is not just one of the last independent record stores still well and alive in the metro-Detroit region — it’s a rock ‘n' roll emporium. Not only will you find a massive selection of independent releases, but you’ll be blown away by the wide range of rock posters, clothing, novelties and house wares all under one roof. It’s like a rock ‘n' roll flea market without amputated veterans.
Best Chain Music Store: Best Buy
You may not agree with this, but what other major retail chain sells a wide range of music for about twelve bucks out the door? The download/upload way of life is fine and all, but when you want to feel the packaging in your hands and spend hours staring at the art work, Best Buy is one of the last major chains that sells music at respectable prices (in a highly competitive market) and still maintains a level of coolness. Rock on, Best Buy, you corporate stud! "Sure it's big, but they have a lot of music and still offer some really competitive prices," wrote Holly K. of Farmington Hills.
Best Place To Buy An Engagement Ring: Tapper’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry
Tapper’s Diamonds and Fine Jewelry is setting itself up to leave behind a legacy for all jewelry stores in its path to follow — absolute perfection, just like the diamonds they sell. When you find yourself in the position to create a legacy of your own by bringing that special someone even closer, the burning question of "will you marry me" might just resonate with a bit more gusto with a Tapper’s diamond ring in your pocket.
Best Jewelry Store: Astrein's Creative Jewelry
Rich and Gary Astrein, the brothers behind Astrein's, know what it means to run the gamut of the finest jewelry around. The custom creations they proudly stand behind are elegant showcases of the right way to do platinum, yellow and white gold. Not to mention the flora and fauna of classic and contemporary designs that shine beautifully from the displays within their Birmingham paradise. Just looking? No problem. But the philosophy of Astrein's just might have you walking away with a little something.
Best Eyewear Boutique: Optik Birmingham
It’s an understatement to say that Optik in downtown Birmingham has the most extensive collection of untouched vintage shades and glasses (can you say Emilio Puccis?) in metro-Detroit. Complemented by European designs and a contemporary flare, Optik has put together a catalogue that few can rival: Beausoleil, Freudenhaus and Markus T all make appearances on the shelves of this independently owned circus of sight. Regardless of your personal style or eye sight needs, Optik is available for custom scripting and has a little something for everyone, whether it is fiercely contemporary or fantastically retro.
Best Independent Shoe Store: Sundance Shoe Outlet
Ferndale is home to so many independent retailers that break the mold that it's no surprise Sundance Shoe Outlet resides in the bustling suburban town. With styles for the dressed up business man on the go to the woman who wants to enjoy a night on the town to the kid who is ready to jump into a puddle of mud, Sundance is your place for footwear that matches your every mood and need. "Our family always supports independent stores," wrote in Leah W., "and Sundance has something for everyone."
Best Shoe Selection: Sole Sisters
Women love shoes. This is not only a comedian’s oldest standby, but a true fact. When the lovely ladies of metro-Detroit step into Sole Sisters, that love for footwear is amplified and multiplied until love is no longer a description of emotion, but rather a type of heel. Amazing selection, eclectic styles and price tags that let you walk away with several pairs — and handbags, too! Ladies, what are you waiting for?
Best Place To Buy Club Wear: House of Chants
House of Chants is without a doubt the best place to pick up some hot threads before hitting up the club. Who else in town carries Triple 5 Soul, J. Lindeberg, Diesel and more for both boys and girls under a singular roof? You’ll need to look good under the bright lights of the dance floor, and when you’re rocking styles from House of Chants, there is only one place you can end up — in the VIP, broseph.
Best Thrift Store: Mother Fletcher’s
Walking into Mother Fletcher’s is like walking through a bright purple door into a closet filled with stacks upon piles upon heaps of the funkiest one-of-a-kind threads you will ever find on the face of this pleasantly thrifty planet. And, of course, in the true fashion of thrift shopping, a small amount of dough will go a long way — just like that last sentence.
Best Place To Find Used Vintage Clothes: Lost & Found Vintage
Don’t act like you don’t know — after Lost & Found Vintage found a new home, the vintage nation received a wake up call. With new finds brought in every week, you’ll never have to think of an excuse to stop by. Chantelle of Ferndale wrote in, "if I had the cash, I'd buy everything and anything that fits."
Best Place For Designer Finds: Tender
Tender is responsible for bringing some of the most influential European and American collections to our area. Tender prides itself on combining some of the hottest fashions in clothing, shoes and handbags to a city that's starved for something new, chic and absolutely fierce (though classy!). Thanks for feeding our haute couture hunger, Tender.
Best Menswear Selection: Incognito
Ultimate style and fashion is a rather lofty choice of words, but when you’ve got constant foot traffic of good vibes and good people in and out of your shop’s doors, they might be the only words that can describe Incognito. Since '82, Incognito has molded itself to surf the waves of fashion until it found its perfect medium — the hippest of fashions from NY to L.A. ... and the best damn sunglasses in town.
Best Women's Boutique: Shapes
See article in City Beat
Best Women’s Denim Selection: Rear Ends
Let’s be honest for a minute — there’s nothin' like a great pair of butt-huggin' jeans, right? Right. And if you’re lookin’ for the perfect fit, which any woman knows can be just as hard as finding the right guy, look no further than the denim haven located on Orchard Lake, Rear Ends. Lauren G. of Ferndale wrote in, “It’s a 25 minute-drive, but for their service and selection, I’d easily drive an hour-and-a-half during rush hour.” Now that’s dedication.
Best Men’s Denim Selection: Caruso Caruso
It came as no surprise after all votes were tallied-up that in the category of Best Denim for Men was Birmingham’s long-standing boutique Caruso Caruso. Sure, they have all a woman would ever want as well, but when it comes to their selection of denim, men who want to wrap their legs and butts in only the best jeans available head over to see Lennon Caruso, or any of their well-trained (and attractive) staff. With brands like Monarchy, Diesel, AG, Citizen, True Religion, Rock & Republic and many more, Caruso Caruso continue to find themselves sitting atop the list of boutiques in the metro-Detroit area as their stock is continually changed up to ensure their clientele aren’t just keeping up with the trends, but staying a couple steps ahead, which for many out there is what it’s all about. And though they are your premier seller of jeans, Caruso Caruso also carry a wide variety of hip accessories (hats, belts, sun glasses, etc.) as well as a stunning collection of jackets, button-downs and T-shirts. Make note: their spring collection has just started to ship and it’s lookin’ hot … as usual. There’s no other boutique like Caruso Caruso out there, so if you’ve yet to make a visit, do so soon, and be sure to try on some jeans — you’ll definitely find a pair you’ll love.
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