Category: Retail

Glad Rags

1923 Commonwealth Dr.
979-1816
mygladrags.com

Runner-up:
Natalie Dressed
1051 Millmont St.
296-6886
nataliedressed.com

High-end designers and off-the-rack choices abound at this Commonwealth Avenue shop. In fact, “rags” seems a less-than-complimentary term for the type of things you’ll find at this year’s winner. The accessories on offer are a particular draw; the store stocks an extensive collection of sparkles, shoes, and purses. At Natalie Dressed, this year’s runner-up, find a thoughtfully curated selection of clothes and shoes.

Old Navy

Barracks Road
Shopping Center
984-0167
oldnavy.com

Runner-up:
Whimsies
Barracks Road Shopping Center
977-8767
whimsieskids.com

A child will grow at a steady rate of 2″ to 2.5″ per year from ages 2 to 12. In other words, that’s a lot of clothing. Parents know that when they want to buy in bulk, Old Navy is the place to be. For a unique experience—the kind where the store’s owner gets to see your child grow from size 12M to 5T over the years—they head to Whimsies to find quality clothes that can withstand a little wear and tear.

Circa

1700 Allied St.
295-5760
circainc.com

Runner-up:
Consignment House
121 W. Main St.
977-5527
consignmenthouse.net

In 2011, a man from Tulsa, Oklahoma, came to PBS’ “Antiques Roadshow” with five Chinese carved cups made from rhinoceros horn and found out that they were worth more than $1 million. He didn’t find them at Circa (though we can’t be certain they never passed through the doors, knowing how much shuffles through the McIntire Plaza spot), but the point is that you never know what you’ll come across. With more than 10,000 square feet of pure treasure trove, something just as valuable (or, at the very least, meaningful) could be lurking in a corner. In fact, the same goes for Consignment House. The Downtown Mall shop stocks everything from designer furniture (think Eames and Bertoia) to oriental rugs.

See more:

Best Place for Furniture 2013: Circa

Cha Cha’s

201 E. Main St.
293-8553
chachawithme.com

Runner-up:
The Virginia Shop
Barracks Road Shopping Center
977-0080
thevashop.net

Talk about an impulse buy: Richard Burton once bought Elizabeth Taylor a $960,000 jet they had flown in the day before. You won’t find anything like that Downtown favorite Cha Cha’s, but you will find a few other things you can’t live without: quirky kitchen supplies, sparkly costume jewelry, magnets with snarky sayings, and more. At The Virginia Shop, pick up some local flavors—literally! There’s peanuts and other edible items on offer, in addition to higher-end Charlottesville-themed tchotchkes.

Brown Automotive

1357 Richmond Rd.
817-3380
brownautos.com

Runner-up:
Carmax
1448 Richmond Rd.
295-6351
carmax.com

The very first automobile race in the United States was held in Chicago in 1895, with Frank Duryea winning with the average speed of 71.5mph. All of the cars on offer at Brown Automotive reach that speed (and higher!), but the thrill of finding a new ride is second only to speeding down the open road in it. (Safety first though, of course!) And, for all that wear and tear acquired while doing your best Frank Duryea impression, Brown offers free inspections for life with any purchase. At Carmax, browse new and used cars online before even heading onto the lot.

JoS. A. Bank

Barracks Road Shopping Center
244-0015
josbank.com

Runner-up:
Men’s Wearhouse
Charlottesville Fashion Square Mall
29th Place
973-8094
menswearhouse.com

Fitting a suit is a fine science. Shoulder width, chest size, and arm length have to perfectly sync up to ensure that you look less like George Costanza and more like George Clooney when you walk out of the store. Our readers turn to JoS. A. Bank, which has been outfitting wannabe dapper gents for 108 years. At Men’s Wearhouse, get a quality suit for a steal. (Think George Clooney in Oceans 11. Get it? Steal?)