Best Place To Buy Couture Clothing - Complex

With two levels and 6,000 square feet, Complex was bound to be the best place to buy at least something and we are certainly not surprised our readers picked this downtown Birmingham shop as their favorite place to pick up something couture. The shop is actually more similar to a mini-mall with several pop-up shops that sell everything from games and gadgets to home décor and books. There are even beautiful selections of high-end accessories like handbags (think: Romy Gold, Heather Belle and Sir Alistair Rai) and a dazzling selection of women's scarves. Hoping to become what Fred Segel is to Los Angeles, the folks over at Complex carefully selected the designs sold at the store, and they're looking to offer more than just a sale, but rather a concept of a culture where beauty, design and style are perfectly synonymous.

Best Store To Open in the Last Year - Rust Belt Market

If you haven't yet made it out to the Rust Belt, really, what are you waiting for? This living market is open every weekend and it's always chock-full of vendors selling highly curated and, most often, handmade collections. This isn't a flea market or consignment shop, for those who have never been, it's a space for business incubation and a real-life Etsy. Founders Tiffany and Chris Best promote the idea that artists should have a permanent space to sell their wares, rather than just the occasional art fair, and thus Rust Belt Market came to fruition. Using the old Old Navy storefront on 9 Mile in Ferndale, the married couple renovated the space into a place where not only can crafters, collectors and bakers actually meet their customers in face-to-face transactions, but local musical acts could be spotlighted as well, with a center stage built just for them.

Best Store for the Bachelor - Dolce Moda

Although this Royal Oak boutique stocks fashions for both men and women, it's the fresh, cutting-edge styles and European brands that prompted our pick as the best store for a bachelor. The clothes stocked by this store are the some of the same brands worn by celebrities like Justin Timberlake, Brad Pitt and Coldplay's Chris Martin, none of whom happen to be single, but all of whom seem to be pretty smooth when it comes to picking up the ladies. In short, they don't just sell clothes at this exclusive shop; they sell a lifestyle – and a cool one at that. The store exudes that essence that we've found to be the best bet for any bachelor looking to pick up the highest class of ladies and head back to his personal smush room.

Best Snowboard Shop - Modern Skate and Surf

After opening in their first store in Royal Oak in 1979, this alternative sports shop has had quite a few milestones. In 1981 they became one of the first 30 stores in the world to sell inline skates. In 1986 they hosted an event with Tony Hawk that drew over 5,000 people. In '95 they held their fourth annual "Great State Skate" that drew Olympians, professionals and almost 1,000 competing and recreational skaters. In '99 they opened their indoor skate park in Ferndale, and Team Modern unveiled the new Ford Focus at the North American International Auto Show. In 2002, Modern opened a new 25,000 square foot indoor skate park in Grand Rapids and in 2012 Real Detroit Weekly readers voted them the Best Snowboard Shop in Southeast Michigan. Not bad, Modern Skate and Surf, not bad at all.

Best Place to Buy Women's Jeans - Caruso Caruso

For most women who aren't Victoria's Secret models, the perfect pair of jeans is often mysterious and elusive. The just-right rise, the forgiving waistband, the exact amount of stretch, the well-fitting rear and the floor-dusting length hardly ever seem to amalgamate themselves into one pair of shining, shimmering immaculate pants. But if that perfect pair does exist, you will find it at Caruso Caruso. The sublime combination of reasonable prices and honest-to-goodness salespeople who eat, breathe and sleep denim seem to create the perfect atmosphere to coax your favorite pair out of the woodwork. From stuff you just won't find at the mall to designer collections, this place will certainly never leave you wanting more. Even if you're just in the market for a cute, soft cotton tee, this denim heaven has got you covered.

Best Local Detroit T-Shirt Store - Funky 7

Now this place is fun. A little quirky, a tad hippy-dippy and always smelling at least a little bit like incense (they've got a great selection of the stuff, at an even better price), they're exactly the kind of place you'd hope to find in their super-trendy neck of the woods on Main in Royal Oak. And while there are plenty of places these days vending Detroit-themed memorabilia, it's rarely at prices as good as these. They've got shirts, hats and various other wearable goods with prints of everything from vintage-style Detroit logos to more modern stuff and a great stock of band and celebrity merch (i.e. Kenny Powers, The Hangover, Bob Marley and the Ramones). They've also got cards, pins, gloves and a whole host of other things you'll find yourself browsing through for hours. Can't find what you're looking for? They're more than willing to order it for you. Now that's customer service.

Best Specialty Market - Westborn Market

Oh, Westborn Market, how we love thee. Let us count the ways. There's your delicious deli with fully cooked, ready to serve main courses. There's your uh-maze-ing olive bar, always completely stocked with a varying medley of stuffed concoctions. There's your build-your-own salad station, your soups du jour (perfect for a quick lunch!), your fresh produce, your wonderful (and aforementioned) flower shop, your stock of Michigan-made favorites, beer, wine (you even have a sommelier!!) and oh, so much more. But as always, its not just what you put on your shelves, Westborn Market, or even in your deli cases, but the people you've got running the show that really have launched your shop to the top of our Best Of lists. Your friendly and attentive staff, at all three metro Detroit locations, are the kind of folks that keep us coming back.

Best Eyewear Boutique - Optik

Why is Optik so cool? Because, hands down, there is no other place like it. Not only do they sell plenty of contemporary frames, they also deal in never-before-worn vintage specs from all the way back to the 1920s. Their '50s to '70s style and truly one-of-a-kind purses are another great reason to check out this Birmingham storefront when you're looking for accessories no one else will be sporting. Even if you're not shopping, this place is downright cool to hang out in. From the great overhead music to the Charlie Harper prints lining the walls, this isn't your typical eyewear emporium. Still not convinced this is your one-stop shop for out of the ordinary accessories? How about if you told you eccentric celebrities like Lenny Kravitz and David Bowie found this place to be carrying just what they were looking for?

Best Head Shop - Jungle Room

With a great staff, a fantastic location, an ever-increasing variety of glass works and hard-to-find papers, this is the head shop of head shops. In fact, we're quite sure Snoop Dogg would endorse this as his shop of choice if he still (openly) smoked or lived anywhere near Michigan. And while we consider them king of all things cannabis, that's not all this Birmingham shop specializes in. Along with their gonge gear, they sell home furnishings, rugs and statues of Asian deities, amongst many other things.

Best Hydroponics Store - Hydro Spot

Hydro stores having popping up pretty much everywhere since it became popular to grow your own fruits, veggies and herbs (that, and since medicinal marijuana became legal). And since we're friends – we're friends, right? – we just wanted to let you know, this is the place to go for anything and everything you'll need to grow whatever it is you're growing indoors. Located conveniently on Michigan Avenue in Warren, they not only have a huge in-store stock, but you can also purchase their wares online.

Best Art Supplies - Utrecht

What started with two brothers looking for quality art supplies in New York back in 1949 sure has grown. Brothers Harold and Norman Gulamerian just wanted the best, so they started importing linen from overseas. It was these brothers who first developed acrylic gesso paints, and they continue to mill them in Brooklyn, making them an American company to be proud of. Today, their supply business has expanded exponentially, making them what you've voted to be the best place to find everything art-related.

Best Bike Shop - Ferndale Bikes

Jon Hughes loves bikes. No, Jon Hughes is bikes. Which is why he's the perfect owner and operator of the best bike shop around. He's not just looking to make a sale. He's looking to make a bike person out of you. And he'll be damned if he doesn't. He started selling bikes at 12, so don't question his knowledge of anything on two wheels. Whether you're just looking for something for a cruise around town, or you're a BMX pro, this is your one-stop shop.

Best Car Audio Store - Car Tunes

With quality products, professional installation and great pricing, it's no wonder Car Tunes was voted the best place to buy a car stereo in southeast Michigan. Way back when they got started in 1977, people just wanted a better sound when they were blasting Led Zeppelin. Now, not only will they have Kanye and Jay-Z sounding like they're performing in the backseat, they can also tint your windows, fix your iPod, install a remote starter and so much more!

Best Bookstore - Barnes & Noble

Even if they weren't the only major American chain bookstore still thriving, we're pretty sure you'd still find them to be the best. With their huge selection of books, magazines, college texts, DVDs and music for incredibly competitive prices, we're glad this print business hasn't found itself under water. And because their stores are not only upscale but well-kept, they're the perfect place to grab some Starbucks and relax with your favorite book. (For the record, we use the hell out of our Membership, and it's saved us quite a few bucks, so take it from us!)

Best Comic Book Store - Detroit Comics

Abandoning the idea that stores hawking DC, Marvel and Dark Horse need to look and smell like rank basements where only the comic elite can shop was Brian Kelly's premise for opening Detroit Comics. He and his wife created a space that's not only bright and inviting, but a place where anyone and everyone can enjoy the captivating world of comics. Located not in Detroit proper, but rather Ferndale, the couple has succeeded in creating an environment novices and lifelong fans alike can enjoy.

Best Core Skate - Refuge Skateboard Shop

Run by a man who's been skating since the Stone Age, this is the kind of place you get not only bonafide gear, but a real experience. Owner, operator and sole salesman Eric Ziembowicz has been hawking skate stuff for almost 11 years now and his business has expanded from just selling hardware, shirts and (speaking from experience) some pretty sweet kicks. He also prints his own line, hosts skating competitions and holds in-store shows. This is a man who's all about community.

Best Eyewear Selection - SEE

SEE eyewear doesn't carry your average, run-of-the-mill specs. You won't find the eyewear on their shelves in a major optical chain, or even your hometown optician's office. You see, each and every piece of eyewear in their store has been hand-selected and picked for its personality and traits that make it something special. But we're sure that's not the only reason you voted them tops, Detroit. They also edit their prices the way they edit their stock, giving all their customers hip without the rip.

Best Farmer's Market - Royal Oak Farmers Market

Since they've had almost 90 years to perfect the model, it's no wonder that Royal Oak has the best farmer's market around. Way back in 1925, the operation started as a truck market on the corner of Troy and 4th. Two years later a building was erected to hold the market, and since 1997, it's been run solely by the city. Operating on Friday and Saturday throughout the farm season, and Saturday only from January through April, farmers are allowed to sell only foods they have grown. Buy local, Detroit!

Best Flea Market - Dixieland

Flea markets are fun. We can all agree on that, right? There's cool stuff, great deals and plenty of interesting people. Dixieland is no exception. As the oldest flea market in Oakland County and with over 250 vendors, they won't guarantee you'll find what you're expecting, but they will make sure you don't get whatever you've found anywhere for cheaper. And with shops hawking jewelry, music, instruments, coins, comics, western wear and so much more, you never know just what you'll find.

Best Gift Shop - Scout

If you've been to Scout and you don't want to live there, there's seriously something wrong with you. This eclectic and well-decorated shop has everything from candles to kids' stuff, and from old-fashioned flasks to all things Jonathon Adler. They have picture frames, clocks, jewelry, perfume, books and probably a thousand other trinkets that you'll have as much fun giving as the receiver will have getting. Even if you're just looking for something for yourself, head into Scout. The least you'll come out with is a smile.

Best Healthy Food Store - Whole Foods

It's not always easy trying to figure out exactly what's in your food. And though we all know we should be conscious of what we're eating these days, sometimes it's just too much work. Thanks to Whole Foods, we can all rest a little easier that what we're ingesting has at least some inherently good qualities. Dedicated to selling the best natural and organic foods since 1980, the Whole Foods folks are passionate about not just cleaning up our bodies, but the planet at well.

Best Independent Furniture Store - Bright Ideas

We're guessing you know what's so fun about this family-owned furniture store, since you picked them as the best in southeast Michigan. But we're going to reiterate anyway. Run by the Smith family since 1974, Bright Ideas doesn't have crazy store-wide clearance sales that have you worrying you didn't get the best price when you stopped in on a Tuesday afternoon and impulsively bought a three-piece sectional and matching end tables. Their everyday prices are their best prices.

Best Independent Grocery Store - Holiday Market

As independent markets go, how could you pick any other place over Holiday? With fresh produce, grindable coffee, a full deli, a great sushi and pre-made salad selection, the waking-life dream known as pumpkin whip (seriously, it's eat-it-with-your-fingers good), amazing customer service and all your daily grocery needs, we think (and we're not just partial because its Royal Oak location is so close to our office) you've chosen the perfect place as your favorite independently-owned place to buy food.

Best Jewelry Store - Astrein's

Any girl in southeast Michigan who says she hasn't been ogling the engagement rings at Astrein's is telling you a bold-faced lie. Their collection of modern, yet timelessly elegant designs is captivating and downright enviable. But gorgeous wedding bands aren't the only thing this fine retailer carries that will have women and men alike salivating for some diamonds. They also have collections of earrings, bracelets and timepieces in both name-brand and custom designs.

Best Lingerie Store - Lover's Lane

As they say, couples who play together stay together. And for all the toys, dress-up clothes and other sensuous supplies you may need to keep your relationship kicking, there really is no other place to go but Lover's Lane. Carrying everything from female enhancers to Halloween costumes to romantic gifts and so much more, this store is fully dedicated to keeping not only your love life, but your sexual health, in tip-top shape.

Best Local Bookstore - John King Books

If King Books isn't famous world-wide, it's certainly the state's superstar of used bookstores. King's been in business since 1971, when after a short stint at a New York college, John decided to realize his dream of becoming a professional rare bookseller. What started in Dearborn later moved to the Michigan Theatre and then occupied various office spaces across Detroit has now settled into three locations: a magnanimous four-story on West Lafayette in Detroit proper, a smaller location on Cass and King Books North in Ferndale.

Best Local Independent Clothing Designer - Fotoula Lambros

Creating even one design that flatters every woman who puts it on is no easy feat. And if we'd never heard of or seen anything made by Ms. Lambros, we'd probably think it impossible. However, this up-and-coming designer has done her best to prove us wrong by creating not just one design, but whole collections that are not only universally flattering and utilitarian, but smart and beautiful, as well as socially and ecologically conscious. And she's a sweetheart. Nicely done, Fotoula!

Best Sterling Silver Selection - Mount N Repair

This Birmingham gem is probably the best place to find sterling silver anything and everything because that's pretty much all they sell (okay, okay, they do also have a small selection of amber and turquoise jewels). The store's packed with cases upon cases of silver bracelets, necklaces, earrings and watches in styles as easy as just-something-simple to excitingly ornate. Plus, not only do they sell jewelry here, but they also fix and clean it as well.

Best Local Retail Salesperson - Angie Yaldoo at Incognito

What makes this young lady the best when it comes to retail sales? Well, we're pretty sure it has something to do with the fact that the store manager is also a stylist as well as a merchandiser and an assistant buyer. That, and she's got spunk. And her willingness to help every customer find exactly what he or she is looking for? Well, you're not going to find anything better than that.

Best Mall - The Somerset Collection

As Midwesterners, we love malls. There's just something about that department-store smell that stirs our blood and keeps us warm all winter long. So when we think of Somerset, the crowned head of suburban retail, we can do no more than to bow down in esteemed reverence. Packing a one-two punch of a north and south wing, this deity of department stores has over 180 stores ranging from Build-A-Bear to Louis Vuitton.

Best Men's Boutique - Carl Sterr

We're not sure how often men like referring to the stores they shop in as "boutiques," but we're pretty sure most dudes would be willing to make an exception for this place. Specializing in upscale, fine-quality goods for men only, this Birmingham shop is intimate, friendly and just crawling with cashmere. Their reputation for carrying the best in suits, pants and shirts is impeccable, and their 50-percent off sales are not to be missed.

Best Piercing Shop - Pangea Piercing

Top two reasons why we think you, our readers, voted Pangea as the best place to get pierced: 1. They are really clean. By changing their gloves several times during your piercing, the technicians can pretty much ensure you'll never get infected. By anything. Ever. 2. They are really cool. By making everyone who comes in, from never-been-pierced-before moms to totally-covered-in-tattoos dudes, they treat you with the care and respect you'd hope for from someone who's about to punch a hole in your body.

Best Tattoo Shop - Signature Tattoo

We think you'll agree when we say we find it very important that the people who are permanently altering our bodies should probably be at least somewhat nice about it (and talented doesn't hurt either, right?). Well, the dudes slinging ink at Signature are more than just nice; they're some of the best artists in the Midwest. The cherry on top? Pricing is amazing at this Ferndale shop. And if the names Mark Heggie and Dan Rick don't mean anything to you, you probably haven't done enough research to deserve a tattoo yet.

Best Place for Designer Finds - Regeneration

Like a Plato's Closet on steroids, this Ferndale fixture buys clothes from patrons looking to part ways with those impulse buys they want to forget ever happened. And with a team trained to pick only the best of designer duds for resale in the store, there would have to be a pretty big kink somewhere in the chain for shoppers to miss out on any gently-worn and deeply discounted labels. Luckily, there is no such kink.

Best Place for Designer Shoes - Pink Pump

Pink Pump patrons, we all know what happens after walking through those Main Street storefront doors: Shoeicide. Packed to the teeth with brands like L.A.M.B., Jessica Simpson, Hunter, Go Max, Minnetonka, Raina and Steve Madden, you will be hard-pressed to get out of this store without spending every last dime reserved for rent on your debit card. And now that they have their own clothing line? Oh, girl...

Best Place to Buy a Wedding Ring - Tappers

At 15, Howard Tapper was selling gold watches at E.L. Rice and impressing his supervisors with his uncanny salesmanship. At 25, he felt his ten years of experience in the jewelry business was enough for him to open his own store. When he sold his car to raise money to buy his first store, there was no way he could know what his dream would one day become: a highly successful multi-generation family business.

Best Place to Buy a Wedding Dress - Roma Sposa

Before opening her Birmingham storefront, shop owner Anna Castaldi-Roselli ran her own bridal business back in her hometown – Rome. She's known the world over as one of the best wedding and evening wear designers because of her simple take on elegance, her distinctive touches and her classic attention to detail. But not only is she gifted when it comes to design, her retail savvy is what truly makes her the best. The stylish and petite proprietor personally escorts every bride-to-be through Roma Sposa.

Best Place to Buy Men's Jeans - LA Tags

We can't think of anything worse than a man in bad pants. So fellas, if there're too many pleats or a place to hold your hammer, consider your package in retirement because there aren't many ladies out there willing to look past such aesthetic atrocities. So, if the aforementioned attributes are some you find on what you were considering your "stylish" slacks, no worries. Utica's L.A. Tags is sure to have some dungarees you and the ladies will be digging.

Best Place to Find Home Décor - Leon & Lulu

Located in an old skating rink in Clawson, this store is, hands down, the coolest ever. With everything from funky furniture to creative cookery, from quirky gifts to kitschy toys, from funny hats to unique accessories and literally everything in between, we're more than obliged to agree with our voters when they say this is the best place to pick up something super fab and extra funky to keep your digs from getting too frumpy.

Best Place to Find Local Flavor - Rustbelt Market

Maybe it's all the locally made goods packed under one roof, maybe it's the local musicians that play on its center stage, maybe it's the local southeastern Michiganders that founded and run Rustbelt, or maybe its just that our locale is the only one around crazy enough to buck the status quo and say "Screw the mall." Whatever it happens to be, there is nothing you'll find more of at Rustbelt Market than local love, and that's got a whole lotta flavor.

Best Place to Find Music Equipment - Guitar Center

Founded in 1959, this chain is the largest music retailer in the world, with 223 stores in the U.S. alone. And although we all know bigger doesn't always mean better, in this case it means the best. With damn near everything anyone doing anything with music could ever possibly, even in their dreams, ever need under one roof for a great price, you'd be crazy to go anywhere else.

Best Place to Shop the Latest Trends - Incognito

For the past 30 years Incognito has been – quite conspicuously, we might add – located on the corner of Fourth and Main. In those past three decades of business they've been bringing Royal Oak shoppers cutting-edge fashions in clothes, shoes, accessories and eyewear. And though they might have started out selling hammer pants and anything Madonna-related, they're not the type to get stuck in a time warp – they've got a grasp on changing trends, even from day to day.

Best Record Store - UHF

Great selections, tremendous organization, friendly staff and super-fun in-house concerts add up to one hell of a record store, and we're guessing those are just some of the reasons why you, our faithful readers, chose UHF as your favorite place to pick up some vinyl. Owned by the folks next door at Lost & Found, this place has a similar concept: great design, top-notch customer service and a killer stock of both vintage and modern finds.

Best Shopping Experience - Partridge Creek

There's just something about being able to walk your dog around an open-air mall while you shop for that perfect pair of summer sandals, right? There's kind of no other experience like it. Add to that 90 distinct stores, a TV court, free Wi-Fi, pop jet water fountains, bocce ball courts and a 30-foot fireplace and we're starting to wonder why anyone in Michigan shops anywhere else.

Best Ski Shop - Don Thomas Sporthaus

The longer you live in Michigan, the more you realize you've got to find at least one thing to like about cold weather, or you'll never make it through the blustery six months we call a Midwest winter. Luckily, Don Thomas has aided us in adding a few things to our list. By stocking great brands, along with offering a wide range of ski services, we think we like shopping for ski supplies as much as actually hitting the slopes. Schwing!

Best Sneaker Store - Burn Rubber

If you're looking for a business model where your company is constantly evolving without ever losing sight of its original purpose, you might want to borrow some schematics from the young men who run Royal Oak's Burn Rubber. After buying and renovating the West Fourth Street shop, Rick Williams and Ro Coit have found they've had to change with the game to stay in it. But that hasn't stopped them from staying connected to their original purpose: bringing hard-to-find kicks to the masses, and remaining some of the most down-to-earth dudes while doing it.

Best Flower Shop - Westborn Market

As you'll soon find, we love Westborn Market. Love, love, love. So we were thoroughly overjoyed when we found our readers had voted them the best in not one, but two categories. So as we all know, we love stores that are more than willing to work with us, which is why we're guessing you picked Westborn as the best flower shop around. Not only do they have a wide array of fresh-cut blooms to choose from, but they also arrange and deliver bouquets and baskets. And for those of us who aren't quite sure what we're doing when it comes to floral arrangements, the professionals here are full of fresh ideas on exactly what to put together for all your wedding, holiday and Just Because occasions.

Best Store for the Rock n' Roll Star - Showtime Clothing

A genuine gem of Detroit, this place is packed to the teeth with the type of threads you won't find at the mall. They've been dressing Detroit rockers since 1989, as their slogan goes, and it's easy to see why. Their unique merchandise, mixed with rough-around-the-edges-but-totally-loveable proprietor Dan Tartarian and his uncanny ability to find exactly what you're looking for (even if you didn't know you were looking for it), makes them the kind of diamond in the rough you just can't afford to pass up.

Best Streetwear - Double Up

Sneakerheads, rejoice! If you haven't yet found this jewel of a streetwear store (literally, it is shiny in there) here's your wake-up call. An independently run shop, they sell the kind of kicks you've been ogling online, trying to get up the nerve to type in your credit card number even though you've never tried them on. And they don't just sell awesome, even hard-to-find, shoes. They're also fully stocked with shirts, jackets – heck, even cardigans, hats and laptop cases.

Best Vintage Store - Lost and Found

This store isn't just rife with vintage finds from every decade, it's also a pretty awesome space. The Royal Oak location is huge for a downtown storefront and it's even got two levels. And while in most vintage stores, you might have to eyeball it when it comes to sizing, there are dressing rooms where you can try on any of their mint-condition, gently-used pieces. Aside from one-of-a-kind clothes, they've also got a pretty stellar collection of shoes, jewelry and sunglasses.

Best Watch Selection - Lucido Fine Jewelry

With a selection including Tag Heuer, Raymond Weil, Michele and Tissot, we don't think you'll second-guess our choice for the best place to find a great timepiece. And since the folks over at Lucido take their job seriously, we'd like to thank them for it. Their upscale showroom isn't stomped around by pretentious salespeople who couldn't care less about you if you aren't wearing name-brand everything. Rather, they're the kind who help you find the perfect piece while making you feel right at home.

Best Women's Boutique - Shapes

If you've never stopped into this downtown Royal Oak store, just wait, 'cause we're bursting at the seams (Get it? Get it?) to tell you about it. Not only do they carry super-trendy pieces from unique labels and even Michigan designers – you know, the kind all your friends will just GIRL OUT over when you wear it for your night on the town – but they also make original, custom wedding and prom dresses and even original movie costumes.

Best Dispensary - Depot Town

It's pretty clear the people at Depot Town love what they do (wouldn't you?). But what we really love about this Ypsi dispensary is their general tenacity and spunk when it comes to sharing their joy with the rest of Michigan. Because they feel everyone deserves the same quality of life, they're bringing patients the best of the best when it comes to all things Mary Jane, including not just great bud, but tinctures, edibles, concentrates, topicals, paraphernalia, cleaners and so much more.

Best Appliance Store - ABC Warehouse

That Gordy is just so funny, isn't he? And while we all giggle when he dresses up like a genie or the faceless deep voiceover guy says something really dopey, the deals at this Michigan-based electronics warehouse are no laughing matter. Gordon Hartunian founded the company in 1964 in Pontiac, and since then his fleet has expanded to 58 stores across Michigan, Ohio and Indiana. So, aside from great advertising, what's helped this chain grow and grow and grow over the past 48 years? Great deals, certainly. Locations galore, sure. But we think what makes this the first place we think to head to for that new TV or microwave is their sales staff. The friendly and informed people at ABC aren't only willing to cut you a great deal, but they'll meet you at the door to do it.

Best Sporting Goods Store - Dunham's

Is there a better place to go for local sports apparel, memorabilia and accessories? And do you even need a Plan B for all your sports equipment? Don't bother. Dunham's has become synonymous in metro Detroit for having the best selection of all things sports since 1937. Factor in that their headquarters is in Waterford, and you'll quickly realize why they're not just the best, but they're also a hometown favorite.