Hollymead Town Center
964-9213
petsmart.com
Runner-up:
Pet Food Discounters
607 Woodbrook Ct.
974-6060
Talk about happy accidents: Sir Isaac Newton, who discovered the principles of gravity, also invented the cat door. That’s just one of the things you’ll find at Petsmart. Readers agree it’s the best spot in town to find what you need—from food to toys to, yes, cat doors—for your furry friends. Pet Food Discounters, on 29N, stocks eats for dogs, cats, birds, and the like.
1797 Hydraulic Rd.
973-4900
wholefoods.com
Runner-up:
C’ville Market
221 Carlton Rd.
984-0545
cvillemarket.com
We probably should have been a bit more specific when we said “local grocery store,” because while Whole Foods is indeed inside city limits, it’s not locally owned. Still, its appeal is undeniable—a commitment to natural foods free of growth hormones or processed ingredients; full-service butchers and fish mongers; a wood-fired pizza oven; and even an outdoor patio with free Wi-Fi. It’s hard to argue with that. Over on Carlton Road, C’ville Market stocks fresh local produce and gourmet groceries.
311 E. Market St.
305 Rivanna Plaza
Dr., Suite 102
964-9463
marketstreetwine.com
Runner-up:
Trader Joe’s
Stonefield Shopping Center
974-1466
traderjoes.com
For nearly 30 years, Market Street Wineshops have served as not only the best place to buy wine (there’s more than 1,200 wines in stock), but also to learn about it, through weekly tastings, newsletters, and occasional events led by owner Robert Harllee. As for newbie (to Charlottesville and to this category, that is) Trader Joe’s, you really can’t beat a bottle of two-buck Chuck (which is actually three-buck Chuck these days, but who’s counting?) when you’re looking for a buzz on the cheap.
Barracks Road Shopping Center
984-0461
barnesandnoble.com
Runner-up:
Daedalus Bookshop
121 Fourth St. NE
293-7595
The Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., contains 28 million books and has 532 miles of shelving. If you’re looking to build your own collection, readers say there’s no better place to start than Barnes & Noble, where you can find everything from self-help tomes to cookbooks. At Daedalus on the Downtown Mall, get lost in three floors of used books—vintage included!
570 Broomley Rd.
295-1183
ivynursery.com
Runner-up:
Fifth Season Gardening Co.
900 Preston Ave.
293-2332
fifthseasongardening.com
During the 1600s, tulips were so valuable in Holland that their bulbs were worth more than gold. The craze was called tulip mania, or tulipomania. You can find the valuable flowers (and more!) at Ivy Nursery, where readers have been going to outfit their garden for 38 years. At Fifth Season, find rows and rows of gardening (and even home-brewing) supplies.
3 Elliewood Ave.
293-3367
raggedmountainrunning.com
Runner-up:
Blue Ridge Mountain Sports
Barracks Road Shopping Center
977-4400
brms.com
Ralph Sampson, at 7’4”, is the tallest player to ever be inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame. And you know what they say about tall men, right? …They have a hard time finding clothes. Ragged Mountain doesn’t exactly specialize in extra (extra, extra) large clothing, but readers know that for a custom fit, all they have to do is ask. Owners Mark and Cynthia Lorenzoni value customer service above all else. It’s how they’ve stayed in business for more than 30 years. At Blue Ridge Mountain Sports, readers find everything from camping gear to hiking boots.
601 W. Main St.
295-4797
shenaniganstoys.net
Runner-up:
Alakazam
100 E. Main St.
971-1717
alakazamtoys.com
It takes 63′ of wire to make a slinky. There are no hard and fast facts about how long it takes a child to get it all unraveled and tangled up, but we’re guessing it’s not long. Kids are tricky that way. But it’s no bother at Shenanigans, where little ones are encouraged to test the merchandise. In fact, owner Kai Rady will often test out the products right alongside them. At Alakazam on the Downtown Mall, find puppets, educational toys, and a large collection of miniature figurines (so cute!), plus a joke of the day displayed on a chalkboard outside.
225 E. Main St.
979-6366
thinkrockpaperscissors.com
Runner-up:
Caspari
100 W. Main St.
817-7880
casparionline.com
When you think of stationery, you think of friendship—people writing to each other across land and sea, sharing hellos and thank-yous and catching up. Take, for instance, Nellie Beaven and Daphne Morgenson, pen pals in England who wrote to each other for 80 years beginning in 1933. RPS owners Dani Antol and Heather Haynie haven’t been friends for quite that long, but their bond manifests itself in the great work they do at their Downtown shop. At Caspari, find invitations, thank you cards, and stationery in artful designs.
See more:
DOWNLOAD: A custom map from Rock Paper Scissors for your welcome bag!
941 Preston Ave.
293-8171
martinhardwareinc.com
Runner-up:
Crozet Hardware
5783 The Square (Crozet)
823-4381
facebook.com/crozethardware
If it’s true that the average wood frame house uses between 20,000 and 30,000 nails of varying types and sizes, then Martin Hardware, readers say, is the place to go for supplies. For folks outside of the city, Crozet Hardware has what they need.
1043 Millmont St.
995-2453
blueridgecyclery.com
Runner-up:
Blue Wheel Bikes
941 Second St. NE
977-1870
bluewheel.com
Before getting into the bike business, Blue Ridge Cyclery owner Shawn Tevendale was a paramedic. Once he fell in love with cycling, he was hooked, and has been a sponsored athlete for eight years, with experience in road biking, cyclocross, and endurance mountain biking, so he understands comfort and lightweight performance on a bicycle. That’s why readers put BRC in the top spot this year. In second place, Blue Wheel Bikes never disappoints, with 40 years in the biz.