BestofParkland-2018WinnersEdition

Serving Up the Second Helping of

est B of the Parkland

201 8

Winners’ Edition Daily Journal | dailyjournalonline.com

Contents 5

10

Automotive 5 6 7 8 9

Dealer Mechanical Collision Tire Winners’ List

Beauty and Self 10 11 11 12

DaySpa/Nail Salon Hair Salon Barber Shop Winners’ List

Bridal and

13 Special Occasion 13 14 15 15

Boutique Catering Florist Winners’ List

Dining and

16 Restaurants 21 24

16 17 18 20

BBQ Coffee Wait Staff Winners’ List

21 22 22

Jewelry Shoe Winners’ List

Fashion

Favorites 23 24 25 25

Annual Festival Place to take Kids Live Music Venue Winners’ List

2 | Best of the Parkland 2018

Fitness/Sports

26 and Recreation 26 27 28 28

Golf Course ORV Dealer Firearms/Hunting Winners’ List

29

Healthcare

32

Home and Farm

36

Seniors

38

Services

42

Shopping

29 30 31 31

Pharmacy Eye Doctor Dentist Winners’ List

32 Apartment Community 33 Furniture 34 Flooring 34 Farm Supply 35 Winners’ List

36 37 37

38 39 40 41

42 43 44 47

Assisted Living Hospice Winners’ List

Bank Legal Services Real Estate Winners’ List

Grocery Convenience Specialty Shops Winners’ List

All Photos taken by staff or used with permission.

Best of the Parkland

G R A N D n o i p m Cha

O

f the many businesses voted for in the Best of the Parkland contest, one stands out as the clear local favorite.

Sweet Things Sweet Shop received 798 votes, more than any other entry in any category.

Sweet Things was bought by Nichole French and her mother in October 2013.

“It was an existing business when we purchased it,” she said. “It’s been in business in Ste. Gen. for over 30 years. We’re the fourth owners of it, and so it was a candy store when we purchased it.”

The store offers a wide variety of candy including fine chocolates, holiday-themed candies, chocolatecovered gummy bears and lots of other goodies.

It was last fall when French and her mother made what she describes as “a big shift” and began carrying a lot more kid’s toys and books.

“For the last four years it was a gift store, candy store — that kind of thing,” she said. “Then I woke up

one day and I said, ‘This is not what I want to do. I want to sell toys and fun things.

I actually have a degree in early childhood education, so selling home décor doesn’t really appeal to me — but children’s books have always been ‘my jam.’”

According to French, the store has a great customer base and is growing all the time.

“Obviously, with it having been

Photo By: Because of His Love Photography Used with permission from Nichole French

around as long as it has, we get a lot of repeat customers,” she said. “We see people that I only see twice a year and they’re always shocked every time they come in and I still remember them. I may not remember their name, but I remember their face and the candy they like.”

Champion Continued on Page 4 Best of the Parkland 2018 | 3

Champion Continued from Page 3 French recalled what happened when a family walked into the store several weeks ago.

“I recognized the guy instantly,” she said. “I told him, ‘We don’t have your orange creams, but we do have your seesaw caramel truffles.’ He said, ‘Oh my gosh, how did you remember me? It’s been like a year since we’ve been in here’ and I said, ‘Yeah, but you look the same and I figured you were still looking for the same candy.’”

Asked what she likes most about running the Sweet Things Sweet Shop, French said, “I really enjoy getting to hang out with some of our regulars that we have.

Obviously new customers are fun to meet because you learn all kinds of random stuff from people. It’s just nice to see regular people all the time — and I mean, what’s not to love about candy?”

Sweet Things is located at 242 Market St. in Ste. Genevieve.

Best

nd

rkla of the pa

2018

Thank You

For all the support for this section from the staff of

General Manager - Melissa Bellew, Editor - Doug Smith, Media Manager - Cody McGee, Graphic Designers Lisa Pruitt Rob Barnes Sales Associates Lawana Starkey, Charles Politte, George Easley, Donny Cheatham, Michelle Menley, Kayleena Jones, Stories and Art Contributed by: Doug Smith, Teresa Ressel, Kevin Jenkins, Renee Bronaugh, Shawnna Robinson, Jacob Scott, Alan Kopitsky, and Tori Kemper.

To get additional copies or for more information about the Best of the Parkland please contact the Daily Journal at 573-431-2010.

4 | Best of the Parkland 2018

o t u A Best Auto Dealer W

hen it’s time to purchase a new or used vehicle it’s always important to work with a dealer who can offer a wide selection, fair pricing, customer financing and service after the sale.

With all of the top-of-the-line automobile dealerships that can be found in the Parkland, there’s no need to travel to St. Louis or Cape Girardeau to buy a car. While the area has a wide variety of places to buy a new car or truck, the following are the top three dealerships chosen by our readers.

Taking the top prize as Best Automotive Dealer for the second year is Auto Plaza Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram in Farmington.

It was a little over six years ago that co-owner Joe Pettus and a partner bought what used to be Talbert Ford in De Soto. Next, they purchased the Ford dealership in Fredericktown once it became available. The pair was later approached by Chrysler who asked them to put in a dealership in De Soto.

“Then Crown Motors in Farmington became available, as well as their Chevrolet store in Marble Hill, and then the Ford store in

Ste. Genevieve,” Pettus said.

“So, we bought all three of those in November 2016.”

Pettus said he credits the Auto Plaza Group’s success largely to customer satisfaction.

“We want every one of our customers to be satisfied,” he said.

“One of the biggest ways we try to do that is through our pricing structure.”

Pettus explained that the Auto Plaza Group doesn’t just sell cars and trucks in the Parkland, they sell them around the state and out of state as well.

For Auto Plaza Chrysler Dodge Jeep Ram, it’s more than just selling a new or used car — it’s providing service beyond the sale

and having a strong community presence.

Over the last several years it has held “Horsepower For Hope” to raise funds for Camp Hope, a 170acre farm in St. Francois County that gives wounded veterans and active duty combat-wounded soldiers a chance to participate in outdoor activities with dignity.

Sam Scism Ford Lincoln Finishing as first runner-up in the category is Sam Scism FordLincoln, located at 5019 Flat River Road in Farmington. The family-owned dealership has been in business since 1937.

Turner Chevrolet – Cadillac Rounding out the top three spots is Turner Chevrolet-Cadillac, located at 1005 E. Main St. in Park Hills.

Best of the Parkland 2018 | 5

Best Repair-Mechanical V

oted best in the Automotive Mechanical category, Wade’s Auto Service, located at 228 E Harrison St. in Farmington, is a complete auto and truck repair center.

Established in 2015, it was started as a second location for Propst Auto Service in Festus.

“My business partners and I decided to open a second location in my hometown of Farmington,” said owner Derek Wade. “We noticed a need for honest and quality auto repair in the area. We believe that with our more than 60 years of experience we can bring that to Farmington and the surrounding area.

“We work on both foreign and domestic, gas and diesel. Our services range from oil changes and state inspections to engine and transmission replacements. We also provide complete computer and electrical diagnosis along with reprogramming. I have been an automotive technician for more than 13 years. I am a graduate of Wyoming

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Technical Institute and an ASE certified technician.”

Business hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Call 573-664-1302 for more information.

Andy’s Garage Runner-up is Andy’s Garage, located at 5976 Maple St. in Park Hills. It specializes in diesel repair, performance, lift kits, tires and wheels. Call 573-4312626 Impressive Auto Service Second runner-up is Impressive Auto Service, located at 112 S. Division St. in Bonne Terre. It’s open from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Best Repair-Collision

W

inning top honors in the Auto Repair Collision category is American Metal Collision & Restoration, located at 10121 Business Park Drive in Mineral Point. The veteran-owned and operated company serves all of the Parkland and Southeast Missouri.

Andy Webb and Chad Conway are coowners of the business that is a combination automotive body, customization and restoration shop.

“We opened up here in September of 2016,” Webb said. “We do full collision repair and framework; hail repair, paintless dent removal, vehicle detailing and do full restorations on classic cars, as well as touchups and modifications to them. We also work with all insurance companies.

“Our technicians have over 100 years of combined experience. As one of the Midwest’s premiere collision and restoration shops, our customers can depend on our fast, friendly service for their auto collision, resto-

ration and custom paint needs.”

Hours are 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information call 573-436-1734.

Brad Wooten Auto Body Runner-up in the category is Brad Wooten Auto Body, located at N. Main St. in Ironton.

Dale Mosier Auto Body & Sales Inc. Second runner-up goes to Dale Mosier Auto Body & Sales Inc., located at 201 Mulberry St in Park Hills.

2017

We have been in the business of providing excellent Mexican dishes to our loyal customers for over seven years.

Best

arkland

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Come visit us at one of our locations; Granite City, IL Farmington, MO.

612 Walmart Dr., Farmington, MO

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Being part of our community and treating our customers as family is what we do each time we open our doors for business.

Best of the Parkland 2018 | 7

Best Tire Shop W

hen it comes to tires, Ron’s Tire Center doesn’t turn anyone away, they service every size tire from wheel barrels to skidder tires.

Winner of the Best Tire Shop in the Parkland, Ron’s Tire Center Owner Ron Boyd said they are family owned and operated and are third generation tire people.

“We have been here for nearly 40 years, since 1982, and we are full service when it comes to tires,” said Boyd. “We do tires from the small to the large.

Some companies don’t do that, but we do. We do them all the way up to a skidder tire and all the way down to a wheel barrel tire.”

Boyd says he treats people the way he would want to be treated. He stressed that it’s about word of mouth and reputation.

“It’s great to have been nominated and voted best in the Parkland,” said Boyd. “We appreciate it and thank

Thank You Parkland!

2017

Best

arkland

of the p

June 1 - 3 8 | Best of the Parkland 2018

our people for voting for us. We had no idea we were in the contest.”

Boyd said they have a nice facility for the customers with Wi-Fi, tables, chairs and TV while they wait, because sometimes it can take a while.

“They can come in and have lunch while they are getting their tires on,” said Boyd. “We try make our customers as comfortable as possible while they are here.”

Boyd said not only do they do in-house work, they also come to the customer. He added they have service trucks with the capabilities to help customers who are roadside.

Ron’s Tire Center is located at 1001 East Karsch Boulevard in Farmington.

Taking second place this year is Chad’s Tire & Auto in Park Hills and Premier Tire and Auto, off US 67 between Park Hills and Desloge, came in third.

Automotive

W I N N E R S Auto Dealer 1 Auto Plaza Group

Auto Repair (Mechanical) 1 Wade’s Auto Service

Oil Change Service 1 AccuTune&Lube

2 Sam Scism Ford Lincoln 2 Andy’s Garage 3 Turner Chevrolet-Cadillac Parts 3 Impressive Auto Service

2 Auto Plaza CDJR Farmington 3 Premier Tire & Auto

Auto Parts Store 1 O’Reilly Auto Parts

Battery Store 1 Ellis Battery

Tire Shop 1 Ron’s Tire Center Inc

2 Autozone 3 Ellis Battery

2 Interstate All Battery Center 3 Plaza Tire Service

2 Chad’s Tire & Auto 3 Premier Tire & Auto

Auto Repair (Collision) 1 American Metal Collision & Restoration LLC

Car Wash 1 Auto Spa Speedy Wash

2 Brad Wooten Auto Body 3 Dale Mosier Auto Body & Sales Inc

2 Park Hills Auto Spa 3 Middle St Car Wash - Farmington

Thanks to our customers for voting and 24 years of service

Consider it Done, Consider it Done Right Best of the Parkland 2018 | 9

y t u a e B and

Self

Best Day Spa/Nail Salon D

aily Journal’s readers gave the recognition of top Day Spa/Nail Salon to The Boulevard in Farmington in the “Best of the Parkland” contest.

How did “The Boulevard” come about the name?

“We went through a remodel in 2009 and decided it would be best that we put everything under one name,” Owner/General Manager Todd Young said, “and we decided on ‘The Boulevard’ since we’re on the only boulevard in St. Francois County.”

10 | Best of the Parkland 2018

The Boulevard originally opened in 1996 as a tanning salon called Sensational Tans and was also offering massage therapy at the time.

When the Rosedale Plaza on Karsch Boulevard opened, the tanning salon moved – adding a hair salon in a back portion of the building called “Trimmers” and bringing about the name change for the full-service salon/spa/tanning.

Young said The Boulevard offers everything in the line of beauty.

“We have a full service salon that offers massage, pedicures, manicures, acrylic nails,” he said. “We have an esthetician that does body waxing or hair removal. She does facials, chemical peels. We also do eyelash extension with Nova Lash eyelash extensions.

“We pride ourselves in being a one-stop shop. Whatever your beauty needs are, we try to offer. That way you can come and

get it all done.”

Additionally, The Boulevard was also named tops in the Massage Therapy and Tanning Salon divisions as well.

The staff includes three in the spa, five in the salon and three working with the tanning salon. The Boulevard is open Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

The Boulevard is located at 423 W. Karsch Boulevard. For more information, call 756-1327 or visit theboulevardspa.com.

Receiving second place was Beth Francis Esthetics and receiving third place was L&V Nails.

Best Hair Salon K

atie Harris is proud of her business, Xtremes Salon, and the 14 stylists working there.

And, there’s a lot of what the salon offers that helped lead to readers voting Xtremes tops in the Hair Salon category.

Harris is in her second year of owning Xtremes Salon, which has been located at 1400 S. St. Joe Drive in Park Hills for seven years.

The salon offers all the hair services one would expect, plus manicures, pedicures and waxing.

Harris said the salon will soon offer microblading – a semi-permanent treatment for eyebrows.

There are a couple of unique services offered by Xtremes, Harris said. One is the “traveling stylist” for wedding parties who travels to the venue for a $35 fee.

The salon offers hours of 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday through Friday and 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturdays. Walk-ins are welcome from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on those days, with Monday reserved for appointments only.

There’s free coffee and popcorn, plus vending machines for something to snack on while there.

“We’re here all the time,” she said. “It’s like we’re on call.”

Harris has been a hair stylist for 11 years and said she worked at State Beauty Supply before coming to work at Xtremes Salon. After six months at the salon, the former owner offered to sell the salon to Harris after she commented how great the business was and that the owner should expand.

Best Barber Shop

“She said, ‘we can’t, but I’ll sell it to you,’” Harris said.

And now, two years later, she’s glad she did.

Runner-up in the Hair Salon category was Ooh La La Salon, followed

by D’Vine Hair Salon as second runner-up.

J

ohn Sherrill is a Desloge native and a barber for 14 years.

And, those years have been spent at his barbershop, aptly named “Johnny’s Barber Shop” this year’s “Best of the Parkland” in the Barber Shop category of the “Beauty & Self” division.

Sherrill said customers can expect the usual services found at a barbershop – plus a little more from time to time.

“On occasion, I’ll have guys come in and pick guitar in the shop,” he said. “We may have a guy come in and play and sing. It’s a fun place to hang out.”

Johnny’s Barbershop is located

at 101 N. Desloge Dr. in Desloge. The hours are 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturday. The phone number is 431-7484.

The barber shop named runnerup in the category is Farmington Barber Shop, followed by Trendz Hair Salon as second runner-up.

Best of the Parkland 2018 | 11

Beauty and Self

W I N N E R S Barber Shop 1 Johnny’s Barber Shop

Massage Parlor 1 The Boulevard

2 Farmington Barber Shop 3 Trendz Hair Salon

2 Out of Body Massage 3 Body Focus Massage Therapy, LLC

Day Spa/Nail Salon 1 The Boulevard

Tanning Salon 1 The Boulevard

2 Beth Francis Esthetics 3 L & V Nails

2 Better Tan at Better Bodies 3 Malibu Tan

Hair Salon 1 Xtremes Salon

Tattoo Parlor 1 Liberty Tattoo

2 Ooh La La Salon 3 D’Vine Hair Salon

2 Artisan Ink 3 Rockstar Tattoo Studio

Thanks For Voting for us Best of Special

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l a d i r B Special and

n o i s a c c O

Best Bridal Boutique T

aking the top honors in Bridal Boutiques is Special Memories in Leadington. Known for its experience in matching women with the perfect dress, they have been fulfilling wishes for 29 years.

They have more than 500 bridal gowns in stock and 700 prom gowns. Tuxedos, bridesmaid, mother’s dresses, alterations and even a reception hall on-site makes this bridal boutique a onestop shop for any occasion.

The staff use their experience and knowledge to make the experience of choosing a dress an easy one, and pride themselves on “just knowing” what will look good on you.

Second place went to downtown Farmington’s White Weddings.

The Bridal Shoppe came in third.

Background image by Simpli Photography

Best of the Parkland 2018 | 13

Best Catering T

hee Abbey Kitchen at the Arcadia Valley Academy creates made from scratch meals using ingredients in their rawest form in order to make tasty dishes. That attention to detail landed them in the number one spot for Catering.

Their dishes are created without preservatives and everything is prepared fresh including their famous cinnamon rolls. Thee Abbey says it uses only the finest ingredients in every dish and also makes homemade ice cream for their own ice cream shop.

Thee Abbey takes fresh to an extreme by grinding their own wheat kernels to make the whole wheat flour for their bread. While the process may be time-consuming it results in a menu voted straight to

the top.

Coming in second was Bow Tie Catering from Desloge. 12 West Bar & Grill and Dexter Bar-B-Que tied for third.

HO WAH 573-756-8882

Established in Flat River (now Park Hills), Missouri in 1985 and expanded to Farmington in 1991.

Family owned and operated, Ho Wah prides themselves in delighting the palates of the American samplers with it’s unique blend of northern and southern Chinese styles of culinary art.

Allen and Ann Pang - Owners

14 | Best of the Parkland 2018

We appreciate all of our dedicated customers and thank you all for your continued service and your votes for The Best Chinese cuisine in the Parkland.

2017 Winner of Best Chinese Food

Best Florist B

utterfields Florist was named the Best Florist of the Parkland.

A part of the community for more than 100 years, they continue to fulfill the needs of the community.

They pride themselves on quality

flowers, speedy deliveries and a wide variety of choices.

They are currently preparing for Mother’s Day and try to offer special deals during all major holidays to make choices easier for customers. While flowers are what they

are known for, they also offer a variety of gifts.

Changing with the times they have added an online ordering system making it easier and more convenient to order arrangements and have them delivered.

Taking second place is Ike’s Florist, a family owned business that has been in the area for 30 years. The Flower Cottage in Bonne Terre placed third.

Bridal and Special Occasions

W I N N E R S

Bridal Boutique 1 Special Memories

Photographer 1 KC Photography

2 White Weddings 3 The Bridal Shoppe

2 Lyndsey Paige Photography 3 Kim’s Captured Memories

Catering 1 Thee Abbey

Wedding Venue 1 The Barn at Lone Eagle Landing

2 Bow Tie Catering 3 12 West Bar & Grill 3 Dexter Bar-B-Que

2 Thee Abbey Kitchen/Arcadia Academy 3 Chaumette vineyards

Florist 1 Butterfields 2 Ike’s Florist 3 The Flower Cottage, Bonne Terre Best of the Parkland 2018 | 15

g n i n i D and

s t n a r u a Rest

Best Barbecue S

ugarfire Smoke House in Farmington has been named Best BBQ in the Best of the Parkland and the owners and staff couldn’t be more excited.

Sugarfire Co-Owner Patrick Johnson said the business started in St. Louis approximately four years ago by his cousin who trained under Emeril in Vienna.

“He went to culinary school in France and had several restaurants in St. Louis,” said Johnson. “His buddy was a butcher, so he learned to do that and decided he wanted to do barbecue. He opened a barbecue place in Olivette and it took off.”

Johnson said they decided to do everything in-house and rely more on cooking know-how rather than what they had done in the past with other places.

“We found ways to market differently and try to use all local products,” said Johnson. “We shy away from Coke and Pepsi, we use Excel, a family owned company in Breese, Illinois founded in 1936 when their great-grandfather caught a bank robber and used the reward money to start a soda company. It’s all non-caffeinated and they use cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup.”

The location in Farmington just opened on Jan. 28.

Sugarfire Head Chef Ethan Parker said they try to work with locals as often as they possibly can and any local product they can use they will. Johnson added if they can find anybody local with a quality product they will give them their business.

“It’s also not the appearance of the people, it’s the quality of their character when it comes to employees,” said Johnson. “We have people who work here with man buns, blue hair and tattoos. We tell them to joke with

16 | Best of the Parkland 2018

the customers and have fun to help relax people.”

Johnson said they do weird specials every day and anyone who works there can come to him with their ideas and they will try it.

“Our chef wanted to do a French toast burger, so we did it,” said Johnson. “I think that is one of the things that sets us apart, even as a franchise we have so much wiggle room that we can actually do anything. I have worked at other restaurants where they have employees shy away from trying the food. It’s a kitchen, how are you going to sell good food if you don’t try it? We feed our employees before every shift, we feed them breakfast in the morning and that is whatever the line guys think.”

Dexter Bar-B-Que came in second place this year and Big Dick’s BBQ took third place.

Best Coffee W

hen the Parkland wakes up to go to work, the first order of business for many is to grab a cup of coffee to jumpstart the workday. There are plenty of places to get a morning cup in the area, but a few businesses have made it their goal to provide the best coffee around, and it hasn’t gone unnoticed by the people of the Parkland.

Wise Grounds was named Best Coffee in the Parkland for the second year in a row Wise Grounds Coffee Shop, located off the lobby of Farmington’s Belgrade State Bank branch, has made quite a splash for coffee drinkers across the Parkland.

Wise Grounds first began serving beverages in 2009, the initial intent being to provide an additional luxury to those banking at Belgrade State Bank. Wise Grounds Manager Lindsey Johnson explained they are a unique entity since they are inside Belgrade State Bank off Karsch Boulevard. It immediately became a

hit for Parkland residents.

“We serve customers from all over the Parkland area. I have people come from Potosi, Desloge, Farmington of course and Ste. Genevieve,” said Johnson. “We just get customers from all over the Parkland that come to us and they are coming over here for work or just passing through.”

Johnson said they do have a drive-thru and that is Coffee Continued on Page 19

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573-880-7500 Best of the Parkland 2018 | 17

Best Wait Staff T

his year’s Best Wait Staff Award goes to El Tapatio.

Serving the Parkland with three locations, the friendly, happy, upbeat staff has shown the community what great service is all about in the Parkland.

El Tapatio opened its first restaurant in Farmington in 1991 at their original location and then moved to a newer building seven years ago.

Farmington El Tapatio Manager Alberto Rizo said they have their original wait staff they started with all those years ago.

“We started with them and are still with them,” said Rizo proudly. “They won’t leave because we take care of them. In turn they take care of the customers, we make sure they do.”

Rizo had no idea they were even

part of the contest and was even more surprised they had placed in the top three for Best Wait Staff.

“Thank you to everyone who voted for El Tapatio,” said Rizo. “I don’t know what to say. I am surprised. We really try to take care of our customers and there are a lot of restaurants in the area.”

El Tapatio opened up their Park Hills location in 2003 and co-owner Alonso Lara said they have been there for 15 years serving the community.

“We try to do the best on the service, quality service, quick service and fresh food,” said Lara. “We have fresh food because that is where it starts, in the kitchen and goes out from there. We try to train our employees the best they can so they

Desloge

Park Hills

can give quality service to the community.”

He wanted to thank the community for thinking so highly of them.

El Tapatio has been in Desloge for three and a half months and has seen a lot of community support since they opened their doors.

Desloge El Tapatio Manager Gustabo Rizo said they have had a good response from the community and pride themselves on a family-friendly environment.

“We have a good wait staff and they treat everyone really well,” said Rizo.

“They are very friendly, too. Everyone who comes in seems to be happy.”

Coming in second place is Hub’s Pub and Grill in Bonne Terre, and third place went to Carla’s Café in Bismarck.

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Coffee Continued from Page 17

AUDUBON’S

probably where they do 90 percent of their business.

She added people can also walk in and they have four Grill & Bar and Hotel Audubon tables where they can come in 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. to sit WHERE THE PAST MEETS THE PRESENT and enjoy coffee, a muffin and free Wi-Fi. “You don’t have to be a Belgrade customer to utilize the coffee shop. I do get that question a lot,” said Johnson.

“People pull up and say ‘I am not a Belgrade customer, can I order something?’ We are here to serve everyone, not just Belgrade customers.”

Johnson said Belgrade customers love that they have a coffee shop because they can sit and enjoy coffee and a muffin while they bank.

She said they have a full line of expresso drinks, along with regular drip coffee. She said they always have regular, decaf and a flavor on brew every day.

Johnson said they also promote one of their specialty beverages every month and they plan to do something 9 N. Main- Ste. Genevieve, MO fun for May the 4th, which will be a Star Wars-themed (573) 883-2479 drink. They will also have specials to promote the www.audubonstegen.info schools as well. audubonsgrillandbar@gmail.com Coming in second this year is Coljac Artisan Café with locations in Farmington and Desloge, and Arcadia Valley Roasting Company took third place.

Woven into the storied history of Ste. Genevieve, MO, this century old building nestled in the heart of the historic district, offers a unique dining experience unlike any in the area. Featuring family friendly to chef crafted menu items, private dining availability, catered events, craft beers, and the finest wine selection in the region.

In June of 2018, we will once again offer boutique style lodging featuring old world charm with modern amenities. Enjoy nearby wineries, nature hikes, historic buildings, festivals, or just a romantic escape. Audubon’s is truly a place to renew old friendships and create new memories!

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Best of the Parkland 2018 | 19

Dining and Restaurants

W I N N E R S Bakery 1 Thee Abbey Kitchen/Arcadia Academy 2 Krak N Jaks 3 MAB Cupcakes Bar Food 1 Hub’s Pub and Grill 2 Lady Di’s Shamrock 3 Dew Drop Inn Bartending 1 Hubs Pub and Grill 2 12 West Bar & Grill 3 Twin Oaks BBQ 1 Sugarfire Farmington 2 Dexter Bar-B-Que 3 Big Dick’s BBQ Breakfast 1 The Factory Diner 2 Carla’s Cafe 3 Huddle House

Coffee 1 Wise Grounds Coffee Shop 2 ColJac Artisan Cafe 3 Arcadia Valley Roasting Company Deli Sandwich 1 BOGO Sandwiches 2 Ole Tyme Pantry 3 Jimmy Johns Dessert 1 Lix Frozen Custard 2 General Custard’s Re-Treat 3 Catfish Kettle Restaurant Diner 1 The Factory Diner 2 Catfish Kettle Restaurant 3 Carla’s Cafe Ethnic Food 1 El Tapatio 2 HoWah Chinese Restaurant 3 Pad Thai Kitchen

Brewery/Winery 1 Twin Oaks 2 Chaumette Vineyards & Winery 3 Crown Valley Winery

Family Dining Restaurant 1 Catfish Kettle Restaurant 2 El Tapatio of Farmington 3 Carla’s Cafe

Burger 1 Hunt’s Dairy Bar 2 Sugarfire Farmington 3 Carla’s Cafe

Fast Food Restaurant 1 Hunt’s Dairy Bar 2 BOGO Sandwiches 3 Culver’s

Chicken Wings 1 Buffalo Wild Wings 2 Shamrock Restaurant & Lounge 3 Hubs Pub and Grill

Fine Dining Restaurant 1 12 West Bar & Grill 2 The Depot Fredericktown 3 Colton’s Steak House & Grill

20 | Best of the Parkland 2018

Ice Cream/Custard 1 Lix Frozen Custard 2 General Custard’s Re-Treat 3 Old Village Mercantile Creamery Lunches 1 BOGO Sandwiches 2 Hunt’s Dairy Bar 3 Ole Tyme Pantry Pizza 1 Imo’s Pizza 2 Mario’s Italia 3 Cicis Salad 1 Pasta House Co 2 Cicis 3 Panera Bread Steak 1 Colton’s Steak House & Grill 2 Olympic Steakhouse 3 Shamrock Restaurant & Lounge Vegetarian Selection 1 Panera Bread 2 Pad Thai Kitchen 3 El Tapatio of Farmington Wait Staff 1 El Tapatio 2 Hubs Pub and Grill 3 Carla’s Cafe

n o i h s a F Best Jewelry Store D

iamonds and More is going on 15 years of business. Owner Tom Boatright said the store is in the “memory” business – both future and past.

Adding to the memories for Boatright and the employees is the designation of “Best Jewelry Store” in the “Best of the Parkland” as voted on by Daily Journal readers.

There’s something for everyone and every taste, including a full line of bridal jewelry, with custom one-of-akind designs.

The store has two jewelers on site – allowing for in-store repairs to keep past memories for future generations.

“We repair memories here,” Boatright said. “We appreciate every memory that comes in. It could have been grandma’s only ring she had. When you get it back, it looks like brand new.

“You get to see it like grandma did for the first time.”

And the on-site jewelers allow for most repairs to be the same day – whether it’s an heirloom or a piece of costume jewelry.

“We appreciate the value it meant to you,” he said.

Boatright said customers drive up

from Piedmont, Viburnum and other towns in the area – dropping their jewelry off at the store for repairs as they run other errands in town.

Another unique service at Diamonds and More is the estate case – two on each side of the store as you enter.

“We have over 1,000 pieces of previously enjoyed jewelry,” he said. “It doesn’t have to be antique. There are antique pieces up there over 50 years. But, if your husband got you something and you didn’t like it – you can trade it in for something you want to wear.”

Store hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Monday through Friday – with Boatright deciding to take Saturdays off after becoming a grandfather eight years ago. In December the store is open 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday for holiday

shoppers.

The store is located at 419 W. Karsch Boulevard. The phone number is 573-747-0088. See more about the store at diamondsandmorejewelers.com.

Coming in as first runner-up in the Jewelry Store division is Krekeler Jewelers, followed by Belle Ever After Boutique as second runnerup.

Best of the Parkland 2018 | 21

Best Shoe Store W

hen it comes to stepping out on the right foot, voters in the “Best of the Parkland” chose Famous Footwear as the top shoe store in the Fashion division.

Located at 749 Market Street in Farmington, the store offers a wide variety of shoes for men, women and children – from popular athletic styles to the latest fashions in footwear.

According to the website, famousfootwear.com, the store is part of Caleres Inc. a diverse portfolio of global footwear brands. Caleres, Inc. has headquarters in St. Louis and is formerly known as Brown Shoe Company. The website states, “combined, these brands help make Caleres a company with both a legacy and a mission. Caleres’ legacy includes more than 130-years of

craftsmanship, a passion for fit and a business savvy, with a mission to continue to inspire people to feel good … feet first.”

Brands found at Famous Footwear include Nike, Converse, Vans, Sperry, Madden Girl, Skechers, ASICS and more.

The Farmington store is one of more than 1,000 stores nationwide, as well as online at Famous.com.

Using the phrase “Step Forward”, the company also gives back to the community and notes 19 years of supporting the March of Dimes, raising more than $15 million to help fund research to prevent premature births and birth defects ac-

cording to the website, caleres.com.

The company has also given more than $20 million to the St. Louis community.

The store is open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Monday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Sunday.

Runner-up in the shoe store category was Payless, followed by Glik’s as second runner-up.

Fashion

W I N N E R S Children’s Clothing 1 Laura Belle Boutique 2 JCPenney’s 3 Glik’s

Men’s Clothing - Formal 1 JCPenney 2 Special Memories 3 White Weddings

Jewelry Store 1 Diamonds & More 2 Krekeler Jewelers 3 Belle Ever After Boutique

Shoe Store 1 Famous Footwear 2 Payless 3 Glik’s

Men’s Clothing - Casual 1 JCPenney 2 Glik’s 3 Dress 2 Impress

Women’s Clothing - Casual 1 Queen Ann’s Lace Boutique 2 Belle Ever After 3 The Giving Tree Boutique

22 | Best of the Parkland 2018

Women’s Clothing - Formal 1 Special Memories 2 White Weddings 3 JCPenney

s e t i r o v Fa Best Annual Festival T

aking top honors was Downtown Farmington’s Country Days. The annual community festival has been held for the past 40 years on the first full weekend in June. It includes a parade, amusement rides, vendors, a car show and concerts.

Sponsored by the Farmington Regional Chamber of Commerce since its beginning in 1978, the three-day event has grown to be the most popular festival in the region, bringing in thousands of people to the Parkland area.

Many are drawn to the festival because of the music. Over the years, attendees have been treated to some of the biggest names in country mu-

sic including Dolly Parton, the Oak Ridge Boys, Sawyer Brown, Sam Hunt, Keith Urban while he was a member of the trio “The Ranch” and even Blake Shelton.

This familyfriendly festival offers something for all ages including amusement rides, corn dogs and funnel cakes.

This year’s Country Days will run from June 1-3 carrying the theme of “There’s No Place Like Home.”

Taking second place was the Terre Du Lac Fall Festival. Coming in third was the Desloge Labor Day Picnic.

Best of the Parkland 2018 | 23

Best Place to take Kids L

ocated off Highway Y in northern St. Francois County, Critter Lane Petting Zoo, a 10-acre self-guided, walk-through zoo, took top honors as the Best Place to Take the Kids.

It offers guests the opportunity to get close to animals and have a safe hands-on experience.

Animals such as sheep, goats, badgers, camels, donkeys, eland antelope and many more can be found at the zoo. Admission is $6 per person with children 2 and under free, It includes a bounce house and playground area for kids, a parakeet encounter and a 45foot bridge to see the koi fish and mute swan. Guests also have the

option to purchase feed for all the animals.

The zoo welcomed a new member this year, George the zedonk.

George is a mixture of a donkey and zebra and is a must-see.

Spring time also brings with it new

Roller Rinks, Indoor Bumper Cars, Bounce Houses, Arcade Games, Mini-Golf, Bowling and so much MORE! y Par ty Bir thda vailable! es A Packag par ty NOW! our Book y

Farmington Family Fun Center (573) 756-6161 765 Weber Rd Farmington, MO

Bonne Terre Family Fun Center (573) 358-5007 111 Old Orchard Rd Bonne Terre

24 | Best of the Parkland 2018

babies and the zoo is waiting for baby swans to hatch.

Elephant Rocks State Park finished in second place and Farmington Water Park came in third.

Best Live Music Venue H

ub’s Pub and Grill took top honors as the Best Live Music Venue in the Parkland.

Located at 10 N Dover St. in Bonne Terre, they first opened up in 2007 as a bar, but since then have added a kitchen, volleyball courts, paved their parking lots and done several renovations.

They offer live acoustic music every Friday night and have live bands every Saturday night with a ladies night and karaoke every Thursday.

The restaurant side of the business is family-friendly and nonsmoking.

Coming in second is the 180-acre winery Twin Oaks Vineyard. The Woods took third place.

Favorites

W I N N E R S Best Annual Festival/Event Best Natural Attraction 1 Country Days 1 Elephant Rocks State Park 2 Terre du Lac Fall Festival 2 Johnson Shut-Ins State Park 3 Labor Day Picnic Campground 3 Pickle Springs Natural Area Best Live Music Venue 1 Hubs Pub and Grill Best Place to take the Kids 2 Twin Oaks 1 Critter Lane Petting Zoo 3 The Woods 2 Elephant Rocks State Park 3 Farmington Water Park Best of the Parkland 2018 | 25

s t r o p S / s Fitnes and ation

Recre

Best Golf Course T

he people of this area know what they like. For the second straight year voters chose Crown Pointe Golf as the Best Golf Course in the Parkland.

Golf Digest concurred with local voters, giving the course a 4-star rating.

Crown Pointe was designed in 1993 by renowned course designer Gary Kern, whose philosophy for the 45-plus courses he’s designed is contemporary design in the classic style.

Crown Pointe is a links-style, par 72 course located between Farmington and Park Hills. It has zoysia fairways and bentgrass/poa greens.

The course can be as challenging as the golfer desires with five sets of tee boxes.

The quality of the course, its high rating and affordability make Crown Pointe a great value. It has weekday, senior, twilight, and replay rates for even more value.

There are also membership opportunities to individuals, seniors and families. All memberships offer 14-day priority tee times, pro shop discounts, 19th Hole discount, driving range discount, and unlimited golf cart use.

26 | Best of the Parkland 2018

The 19th hole Bar & Grill is a great place for lunch or a refreshment before or after a round of golf, or even if you are not playing golf at all. It is located near the pro shop and offers a full bar and all Crown Valley products including beer and wine.

Upstairs are banquet rooms and event spaces, which can accommodate up to 250 people.

Crown Pointe Golf Club is located at 4215 Hunt Rd., Farmington. The phone number is 573-756-6660. To book a tee time,

get membership information, learn more about catering services, and more go to http://crownpointegolfclub.com/ The first runner-up is Fourche Valley Golf Club, and second runnerup is Pallo’s Par 3.

Best Off-Road Vehicle Dealer M idwest Sports Center loves its customers, and the feeling must be mutual, because it was voted the Best Outdoor Recreational Vehicle Dealer in the Parkland.

“We roll out the red carpet to our customers,” Owner Josh Harris said. “That’s our motto.”

Midwest Sports Center opened in 1995 and there are 18 full-time employees.

The business website says: “We’re big enough to cover the broad range of equipment needs you may have, yet small enough to greet you on a first-name basis and take care of your unique needs. Our goal at Midwest Sports Center is to provide quality products and service at an affordable price.”

Midwest offers more than 20 brands of ATVs, boats, side by sides and lawn mowers.

Harris says with the power of the internet, Midwest Sports Center serves the local area and beyond.

“A guy is coming from Chicago to pick one up today,” he said.

Midwest also has a huge service department.

Midwest Sports Center is open

Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday. It is located at 124 Walker Dr. in Farmington. The phone number is 573-756-7975 and the website is www.midwestsportscenter.com The first runner up is Leadbelt PowerSports, and the second runner up is Rural King.

Best of the Parkland 2018 | 27

Best Firearms/Hunting C

edar Falls Tactical was chosen as the Best Firearms/ Hunting Retailer in the Parkland because it offers everything a customer could want at a good price with great service.

Cedar Falls Tactical offers a wide variety of firearms as well as archery and accessories to meet your tactical or recreational needs. When they say they offer nearly every manufacturer from “A” to “Z,” they are not joking.

From Alpha Dog Silencer and America Pioneer Powder to Zeiss and Zero Bravo, there are literally thousands of products on the Cedar Falls website www.cedarfallstactical.com Owner Ben Minkel started the business in Bonne Terre in October of 2008. It didn’t take long for the business to outgrow its first location, necessitating a move to Park Hills.

More business expansion led to a move to Farmington, and then, three years ago, a move back to Bonne Terre at its current location at 3519 Cedar Falls Rd. The phone number is 573-756-0100.

“We grew each time,” Minkel said.

He currently has 15 full and parttime employees.

The latest expansion included the purchase of the Fishin’ Hole in Farmington.

“We’re moving the business to the Bonne Terre location in early May,” Minkel said. “We will carry a full line of tackle and live bait.”

They do all kinds of service and have a machine shop on site. They carry

archery supplies, firearms, knives, ammo, magazines, parts and gear, and more.

They are a law enforcement dealer for several companies.

Check out all Cedar Falls tactical has to offer. The business is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday.

The first runner-up is Rob’s Guns, and the second runner-up is Arcadia Sporting Goods.

Fitness/Sports and Recreation

W I N N E R S

Best Bait/Tackle Selection 1 The Fishin’ Hole 2 The Tackle Box 3 Barney Bait

Fitness Club/ Full Fitness Gym 1 Better Bodies of Mo., Inc 2 Universal Fitness 3 Essential Fitness

Crossfit Gym 1 Elemental CrossFit 2 573 Fitness 3 Better Bodies of Missouri Inc

Golf Course 1 Crown Pointe Golf Club 2 Fourche Valley Golf Club 3 Pallo’s Par 3

Firearm or Hunting Retailer 1 Cedar Falls Tactical 2 Rob’s Guns 3 Arcadia Sporting Goods

Outdoor Recreational Vehicle Dealer 1 Midwest Sports Center 2 Leadbelt PowerSports 3 Rural King

28 | Best of the Parkland 2018

e r a c h t Heal Best Pharmacy P

arkland Health Mart For 13 years, Parkland residents have had a local name to depend on when it comes to filling their prescriptions. Parkland Health Mart got its start in Desloge in 2005 and has since grown to include four stores in Fredericktown, Ironton, Desloge and the newest location in Farmington.

“I think we’ve got all the bases covered when it comes to all the areas around St. Francois, Iron and Madison County,” said Business Manager Debbie Hamby.

Hamby says Parkland Health Mart has seen such success because of their genuine, local approach to the pharmacy business with names and faces that locals can get to know and trust.

“I think people love Parkland Health Mart because we always remind people that we are truly locally-owned,” Hamby said. “Our owners were born and raised here and they work in our stores. So if you have a problem, you can go straight to the top immediately because you can find an owner in one of our stores.”

Additionally, Hamby said the business works hard to employ individuals with a good mix of phar-

maceutical know-how and personal interaction skills.

“We also like to have fun,” she said.

“You can always find us on social media and we’re always doing fun stuff — being silly with videos and doing giveaways. People love free stuff and we deliver that.

“We try to make the pharmacy fun. It’s not one of the things that you usually think about as being a fun thing to have to deal with, but we try to make it as fun as we can.”

Hamby said the staff at each Parkland Health Mart also works to save their customers money in ways that might not be immediately apparent.

“We also work really hard behind the scenes to save people money,” she said. “We know that every dollar counts, so if we can find you a coupon or alternative that’s cheaper

we will always try to do that and people really appreciate it.”

A new Parkland Health Mart location is in the works, to be located on Desloge Drive.

Walgreens The first runner-up best pharmacy is Walgreens, with locations in Desloge, Farmington and Bonne Terre.

Country Mart, Park Hills The second runner-up best pharmacy is Country Mart in Park Hills.

Best of the Parkland 2018 | 29

Best Eye Doctor F

or the patients of Complete Vision Care in Leadington it is clear to see why the eye specialists were named the Best in the Parkland.

The practice was started in 1966 in downtown Park Hills, and has been at its current Leadington location since 2001. Dr. Derek Wiles, who joined the practice in 2011, said the business has built a reputation by caring for one patient at a time.

“We put an emphasis on providing the best patient care with the latest diagnostic technology available right here in the Parkland,” Wiles said. “We treat a wide array of eye problems from routine problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, trouble with near vision called presbyopia, cataracts, glaucoma,

macular degeneration, keratoconus or irregular corneas.

In addition to treatment for a wide array of optical issues, the staff at Complete Vision Care can help patients and customers find the perfect frames and lens combination.

“Our optical staff is very friendly and very helpful,” Wiles said.

“They’ll guide you to the best frame for your face and they’ll go over the best lens options for you.”

With a legacy of more than 50 years of serving the Parkland’s vision needs, it’s no surprise that voters chose Complete Vision Care as the best optical care location.

“I think one reason why people might have voted for us is because of our outstanding customer service and our attention to detail when looking at their eye problems patients and eye care needs.”

Thanking our loyal over the last 15 years!

Karen Melton, Au.D., CCC-A Doctor of Audiology

620 Walton Dr Farmington

David Shepard Hearing Instrument Specialist

1185 Scenic Dr Herculaneum

990 Park Dr Ste. Genevieve

573.747.4719 636.642.0128 636-642-0128 30 | Best of the Parkland 2018

The Complete Vision Care team is made up of Drs. Mark Kahrhoff, Derek Wiles, Christopher Brenon, Evan Williams, John Crane, Cathy Radakovic and Edward Jarka, with locations in Leadington, Festus and Webster Groves.

Precision Eye Care The first runner-up is Precision Eye Care in Farmington, which has served Southeast Missouri for over 30 years.

Burd’s Eye View, PC The second runner-up best eye specialist is Burd’s Eye View, PC in Farmington.

Best Dentist or many a trip to the dentist means anxiety and discomfort. For Dr. Peter Urling at Show Me Dental in Farmington, named the Best Dentist in the Parkland, those are the factors that he and his staff have worked to reduce and eliminate.

Urling, a native of Arizona, moved to Missouri, merging offices with a friend.

“A buddy of mine came here and actually had this practice before I came and merged with him. We merged our offices, then he went out to Colorado to be closer to family.

We wish he would have stayed, but such is life.”

Show Me Dental office first opened over 40 years ago and was long operated in downtown Farmington.

F

Urling and his family moved to Ste. Gen. in 2012 and opened an office there before merging with Show Me Dental in 2014.

Six months ago the office moved to Valley Creek Drive, where Urling completed the renovations himself. After living in several states, Urling said he feels like he’s found a place to call home. He loves that his practice gives him a regular schedule so he can spend time with his family.

Urling’s passion for the work of dentistry is superseded by his passion for people and making them feel at ease.

Show Me Dental accepts a wide vari-

Healthcare

ety of insurances.

A virtual onestop-shop, Show Me Dental can provide dentures, implants, braces, fillings, crown and bridges and cleanings. A new machine allows for one-day crowns, with all of the molding and crafting being done in-house.

The first runner-up best dental service is Karsch Family Dental, located at 214 W Karsch Boulevard.

The second runner-up best dental service is Michael Wiley Gentle Dental, located at 819 East Main Street in Park Hills.

W I N N E R S Audiology/Hearing Specialist 1 Miracle Ear 2 Audiology & Hearing Center 3 Heartland Hearing

Pediatrician 1 Clauss Karin L MD 2 Kidz Biz Pediatrics 3 Dr. Danielle N. Carron, MD

Chiropractor 1 Complete Care Chiropractic 2 Desloge Chiropractic Health 3 Potosi Alternative Health Care Mike Henson

Pharmacy 1 Parkland Health Mart Pharmacy 2 Walgreens 3 Country Mart- Park Hills MO

Dentist 1 Show Me Dental 2 Karsch Family Dental-Farmington MO Dentist 3 Michael Wiley Gentle Dental Care

Physical Therapy 1 Farmington Sports & Rehab 2 Midwest Orthopedic Pain and Spine 3 Axes Physical Therapy

Eye Doctor/Eye Specialist 1 Complete Vision Care 2 Precision Eye Care 3 Burd’s Eye View, PC

Primary Care Physician 1 Andrea Fisher NP 2 Dr. Brett Dickinson 3 Douglas W Rose, FNP Best of the Parkland 2018 | 31

Homaned

Farm

Best Apartment Community F

or the second year in a row Liberty Landing Apartments has been named the Best Apartment Community in the Parkland.

Priding themselves on being the newest apartment community in Farmington their centralized location leaves residents just a hop, skip and jump away from Parkland Hospital, Farmington High School, the civic center and the Farmington Water Park.

They are within walking distance of gas stations, grocery stores, restaurants, shopping and downtown Farmington. They are also just a short drive from U.S. 67, city and state parks, several golf courses and local wineries.

Liberty Landing Apartments Manager CJ Peterson feels their management, reputation and being the nicest, newest complex in the area is what makes them the Best of the Parkland.

“We have been here for three years now and some of the buildings are only two years old,” said Peterson.

“We offer a weight room, tanning bed, swimming pool and barbecue grills. Right now we are basically full and only have two units available.

Typically we have a waiting list.”

32 | Best of the Parkland 2018

Liberty Landing offers large one bedroom, one bath and two bedroom, two bath apartments that feature striking contents within their open concept floor plans. Their fully-equipped kitchens showcase custom cabinetry, a kitchen island and ceramic tile flooring.

Residents will find a spacious dining and laundry room. They can enjoy the comfort of a large bedroom(s) with ample closet space and revel

in the luxury of an oversized living room, with their own private patio with exterior storage.

As an extension to their home, the Liberty Landing Clubhouse has stateof-the art amenities with a 24 hour fitness room, private tanning, business center and a resort-style swimming pool. The complex grounds offer a community pavilion, barbecue grills, an onsite laundry facility and optional carports.

Coming in second this year is Hilltop Apartments & Rockwood Condominiums and taking third place is Butterfield Village.

Best Furniture Store H

efner Furniture and Appliance was named as the Best Furniture Store for the second year in a row. The several-acre building offers four showrooms with elaborate displays of furniture that would appeal to any style.

Hefner’s Furniture and Appliance Assistant Manager Jerrod Gordon said the owner, Slug Hefner, likes the store to be more of a destination stop than a furniture store, which is why they have all the toys and knick-knacks around the store.

“He prefers that it be a family store, so you could bring in the whole family,” said Gordon. “He is focused on customer service and recently we have been trying to get into the community of Farmington. We are pretty involved in Park Hills because that is where we are located, but we do have a Farmington address.”

Gordon explained that the items on display are Slug’s toys and his favorite is probably the Metropolitan. He

also has his Harley Fat Boy there and an Excalibur downstairs. He trades a lot with people in the community, so anything that catches his fancy he likes to bring in to put on display.

Gordon said they try not to be pushy.

“Once we give them a tour we will leave them to look around and they can come up to find us if they need help,” said Gordon. “We don’t like to haggle anyone who comes in. Some like to look and others like to shop.”

Gordon said they are very pleased the community can see them as the best and will continue to strive to provide a great experience for customers. He stressed it’s an honor to be recognized for their hard work and effort.

Patsy’s Furniture in Park Hills took second place and Willette Home Furniture & Appliance in Bonne Terre came in third place.

Our Community is...

Thanks for Voting.

the “best of” the best!

We’re always here to help with your home improvement projects.

Thank you for Voting and thank you for your continued support!

FARMINGTON 4162 Overall Rd. 573.756.4718

Best of the Parkland 2018 | 33

Best Flooring Store N

amed the Best in Flooring, Busenbark Flooring and Granite has been in business for nearly 70 years. It began in 1941 when Leslie Busenbark began laying and finishing hardwood floors, along with inlaid vinyl, while he was a general contractor.

Since then the business has grown and now offers more than one million square feet of in-stock inventory including any type of flooring, granite and window treatments.

Steve Spence with Busenbark said they sell trailers in addition to the flooring. They work a 100-mile radius every day.

Busenbark Flooring and Granite is more than just a flooring and countertop specialty store, they are experts in flooring, countertops and

design. Their staff is extensively trained and completely dedicated to delivering customer satisfaction backed by the most solid warranties in the floor and countertop business.

Busenbark Flooring and Granite’s worldwide buying power guarantees low prices on thousands of quality flooring and countertop products.

Busenbark is not only located in Farmington, but also in Columbia and the stores have been family owned and operated for three generations. This ensures a truly unique level of personalized service and expertise that customers can’t find anywhere else.

Their goal is that customers find exactly what they want and that their shopping experience leaves them feeling truly confident in their purchase and choice in Busenbark Flooring and Granite.

Coming in second this year for Best of Flooring Store is Carpet One Floor & Home, and third place goes to Flooring System.

Best Farm Supply F

or the second year in a row Rural King has been named as Best Farm Store in the Parkland and welcomes visitors by encouraging them to come in enjoy a free bag of popcorn and cup of coffee on them.

Rural King Store Manager Richard Lewis said their home office is in Matoon, Illinois and they have been around for 60 years. He explained they are opening about 10 new stores every year and they are up to 110 stores now.

“Farmington has been very good to us and we try to help out Farmington at the same time,” said Lewis. “Our client is the farmer, we try to provide 34 | Best of the Parkland 2018

the workwear for them and feed for their animals. We have been in Farmington for three years now and the community has been very favorable. Overall it has been a good response from everybody.”

When asked what was most popular, Lewis said definitely the feed and guns along with the pet department, too.

“The chicks are very popular with the kids,” said Lewis. “They love to come in and see the live animals we have in the store.”

Lewis said he is really thrilled about being named in the contest and that his employees take care of the customers the best they can, which shows.

Rural King locations have an outstanding product mix with items such as livestock feed, farm equipment, agricultural parts, lawn mowers, workwear, fashion clothing, housewares and toys. You never know what you will find at your local Rural King and that’s why every trip is an adventure.

Their friendly staff is dedicated to serving everyone’s needs and can help them find whatever they’re looking for.

They pride themselves on providing every day low prices along with being the industry leader in product knowledge and customer service.

Coming in second place was Miller Feed and Pet, and third place went to Peterson’s Farm Supply.

Farm and Home

W I N N E R S Apartment Community 1 Liberty Landing Apartments 2 Hilltop Apartments & Rockwood Condominiums 3 Butterfield Village

Flooring Store 1 Busenbark Flooring & Granite 2 Carpet One Floor & Home 3 Flooring System

Appliance Store 1 Lowe’s Home Improvement 2 Menards 3 Gifford Ace Hardware & Lumber

Furniture Store 1 Hefner Furniture & Appliance 2 Patsy’s Furniture 3 Willette Home Furniture & Appliance

Farm Supply 1 Rural King 2 Miller Feed & Pet 3 Peterson’s Farm Supply

Home Builder 1 Nichols Construction LLC 2 Stan Heberlie Construction Inc 3 Craig’s Roofing

• • Thank You • • Thank You • • Thank You • • Thank You ••

It is an honor to be Best of the Parkland

We Love Our Customers

• • Thank You • • Thank You • • Thank You • • Thank You •• Thank You ••

• • Thank You • • Thank You • • Thank You • • Thank You •• Thank You ••

Home Improvement Store 1 Menards 2 Lowe’s Home Improvement 3 Plummer’s ACE Hardware

We want to thank each and everyone of you who took the time out of your day to vote for us.

We are proud to have our community support us like they have for over 51 years!!

Farmington

510 Potosi St., Farmington, MO 573-756-5762 “We take care of all your building needs.”

Locally owned and operated Best of the Parkland 2018 | 35

• • Thank You • • Thank You • • Thank You • • Thank You ••

Seniors Best Assisted Living F

armington Presbyterian Manor was voted the Best Assisted Living Facility in the Parkland, and it’s easy to see why.

Offering freedom and flexibility to meet the varied and changing needs of its residents, Farmington Presbyterian Manor offerd a wide range of care including independent living, assisted living, shortterm rehabilitation and healthcare with skilled nursing.

Since 1962, Farmington Presbyterian Manor has developed a variety of senior care options, including independent living, assisted living, memory care, health care and skilled nursing.

It is located at 500 Cayce Street, just a few blocks from downtown Farmington.

Residents can stay as busy or relaxed as they desire. Farmington Presbyterian Manor offers a fitness program, educational events, games, and a calendar full of social and recreational activities. There is also restaurant-style dining, a hair salon, library and chapel.

Farmington Presbyterian Manor is a retirement community and, as such, residents must be 65 or 36 | Best of the Parkland 2018

older. It is a petfriendly community.

Also, if a loved one has a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s or another form of dementia, he or she will benefit from placement in a memory care neighborhood, specifically designed to support the needs of individuals with memory loss.

The day-to-day operation of Farmington Presbyterian Manor is led by a leadership team of dedicated professionals who bring a wealth of experience and specialized expertise to their positions.

That team includes Executive Director Jane Hull, Marketing and Sales Director Anne Allen, Health Services Director Peggy Bland, Health Services Assistant Director Talisha Brooks, Environmental Services Director

Shane Bone, Activity Director Carol Winch, Administrative Services Director Dana Nicholson, Assisted Living Director Kaye Wallen, Social Service Director Rachel Campbell, Chaplain Vernon Wayne Leftridge, and Dining Services Director Dena Dotson.

The first runner up in the Assisted Living Category is Ashbrook. The second runner up is Meadowbrook Residential Care.

Best Hospice Care S

erenity HospiceCare was chosen the “Best of the Parkland” for Hospice Services.

Director of Marketing Ursula Warren says Serenity employs 45 people and is proud to be the only independent, non-profit, faith-based hospice care facility in the area.

Serenity HospiceCare has been caring for people since 1989, making it the most experienced hospice care provider in the area. Many of Serenity’s employees have 15 or more years of experience.

Located at 5272 Flat River Rd. in Park Hills, Serenity HospiceCare serves St. Francois County, Iron County, Washington County, Madison County, Perry County, Ste. Genevieve County, Bollinger County, parts of Reynolds County and parts of Jefferson County.

A registered nurse and a CNA are assigned to each patient. Each has been trained and is supported by

a team of experienced specialists in end-of-life care.

Services offered include comfort care, grief services, Carter’s Clubhouse (a place for grieving children to share their experience), and veterans services.

Shelley Layton is the executive director at Serenity HospiceCare.

Gayla Sisk is the director of social services, Pastor Scott Edgar is the director of spiritual care, and Jenna Firehammer is the volunteer manager.

The first runner-up is Preferred Hospice of Missouri and the second runnerup is Kindred Hospice.

Seniors

W I N N E R S Assisted Living Community 1 Farmington Presbyterian Manor 2 Ashbrook 3 Meadowbrook Residential Care

Senior Independent Living Community 1 Presbyterian Manor 2 Southbrook Manor 3 Ashbrook

Hospice Services 1 Serenity Hospicecare 2 Preferred Hospice of Misssouri 3 Kindred Hospice

Skilled Nursing 1 Farmington Presbyterian Manor 2 Southbrook 3 St Joe Manor

Rehabilitation Center 1 Farmington Sports and Rehab Center 2 Southbrook Manor 3 Camelot Best of the Parkland 2018 | 37

s e c i v r e S Best Bank F

or 112 years, Belgrade State Bank has been serving Parkland customers, adding new locations across the area throughout its long history.

According to its website, Belgrade State Bank was started in Belgrade in 1906 by John and Ed Walton and W.W. Turner, first operating in a side room of the Belgrade Mercantile Company.

For more than 40 years the bank was operated out of the same onestory building on Main Street in Belgrade, until the current Belgrade location was constructed in 1957. Less than 20 years later in 1974, the bank expanded to include its second location in Caledonia.

Twelve years later the bank was

38 | Best of the Parkland 2018

again expanded to Potosi, at the time holding $19 million in assets. The bank’s assets would increase to $50 million in the next six years.

In 1997 a fourth office was opened in Desloge. At the turn of the century, the bank’s total assets surpassed $100 million.

The newest Belgrade State Bank location was opened in 2001 in Farmington on Karsch Boulevard and was subsequently renovated in 2009 to include Wise Grounds Coffee shop and a second story for offices.

After all of Belgrade State Bank’s success and growth, it remains a familyowned business that truly serves the Parkland every day.

“We’re honored to be a finalist for Best Bank Services for the second year in a row,” said Belgrade State Bank

President & CEO Jon Turner. “We strive to provide great products and services while treating our customers the way we would want to be treated. Thank you to all who voted for us, and congratulations to the other award winners.”

First State Community Bank The first runner-up for best banking services is First State Community Bank, with locations across the region including Bonne Terre, Desloge, Farmington, Fredericktown, Ironton, Park Hills, Potosi, Terre Du Lac and many more.

Unico Bank The second runner-up for best banking services is Unico Bank, with locations across the region, including Bismarck, Desloge, Farmington, Irondale, Park Hills and Potosi.

Best Legal Services sity (now Missouri State University) before attending law school at the St. Louis University School of Law. Duffe started a small office in Farmington, and now the rest is history.

“The main reason I do this is to take care of my kiddo,” she said. “I raise her in the community, we’re part of the community and pretty dedicated to the community.”

Working as an attorney involves becoming acquainted with people during strange and strenuous times in their lives, especially in Duffe’s case as she primarily handles criminal and divorce law.

“[The Best of the Parkland Contest] was a fun thing, just reaching out and saying, ‘Hey, vote for us!’

And telling our client base and people on social media to vote for people who we’re in business with and have relationships with.”

Having worked abroad, Duffe said it’s important to remember that people in a rural community often cannot afford the same legal fees as clients in a larger metropolitan area, which is why she said her office’s fees are kept at a modest rate.

The first runner-up for best legal services is Marler Schrum Law, with offices in Farmington, Potosi and St. Louis.

The second runner-up for best legal service is Harris & Harris Attorneys at Law, P.C., located in Park Hills.

I’ll Do the 1136B N. Desloge Dr. Running For You Desloge MO 573.747.8099 573.327.8300

CELL OFFICE

F

inding yourself in court is generally a less-than-ideal situation, for a variety of reasons. The legal intricacies and costs involved may seem insurmountable, which is why it’s important to have a lawyer who is understanding of your position in and outside the courtroom.

Voted Best Legal Services, Cira Duffe, owner of Duffe Law in Farmington, first realized she was cut out to be an attorney as a child.

A graduate of Arcadia Valley High School, Duffe went to school at Southwest Missouri State Univer-

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We are dedicated to achieving results and providing exceptional service. If you are in the market to buy orsell a home, we’ve helped hundreds of families reach their real estate goals, and we want to help you too!

Whether you are buying or selling, contact us today 573-327-8300, we have full time agents eager to help you! #vickycrockerrealty

Best of the Parkland 2018 | 39

Best Real Estate V

icky Crocker was voted this year’s Best Realty Agency in the Parkland.

Crocker’s start in real estate came after she ran out of upward possibilities in her previous career, causing her to start looking for a new gig to give herself more ownership of her income.

She had worked at Walmart for 28 years and had reached the cap on the company’s pay scale. After being encouraged by a friend to give real estate a shot, Vicky started selling properties while working at Walmart for another three years before becoming a full-time agent.

In 2013, Vicky started her own firm with the central idea of providing the most professional, thoughtful service possible.

“I think our reputation for professionalism is one of the biggest things,” Vicky said. “We get a lot of compliments on our professionalism.

We have a lot of repeat business and a lot of satisfied people that send us more clients.”

When asked what her favorite part of the business was, Vicky said “Making deals. I’m all about making deals.”

Vicky’s motto, “I’ll do the running for you,” speaks worlds about how she runs her business and treats

her clients. By taking the headache out of the property-buying process and by treating her clients as she would like to be treated, Vicky has established a reputation in the Parkland as one of the top realtors around.

With an office at 1136B N. Desloge Dr. and online presence at www.vickycrocker.com, Vicky has made the process of getting in touch with her incredibly simple.

First runner-up in the realty agency category this year is RE/ MAX Best Choice, an agency with offices in Farmington, Terre Du Lac, Herculaneum, Festus and St. Louis.

Second runner-up is Coldwell Banker Hulsey, an agency which has served the Parkland for more than 60 years.

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Services

W I N N E R S Bank Services 1 Belgrade State Bank 2 First State Community Bank 3 Unico Bank

Phone and Screen Repair 1 Ellis Battery 2 The iPhone Doctor 3 Interstate All Battery Center

Cleaning Service 1 Servpro of Farmington 2 Perfect 10 Cleaning, LLC 3 Fit to be clean

Print Shop 1 Minuteman Press Printing & Copying 2 Mineral Area Office Supply 3 OfficeMax

Computer Repair 1 Hensco Technologies Inc 2 Mineral Area Office Supply 3 OfficeMax Daycare/Preschool 1 Mrs. Thrasher’s Advanced Learning Center 2 The Little Learners Academy 3 The Learning Tree Preschool and Daycare

Real Estate Agency 1 Vicky Crocker Realty 2 RE/MAX Best Choice 3 Coldwell Banker Hulsey Veterinary Service 1 Veterinary Clinic Of The Mineral Area 2 Animal Medical Ctr of Park Hills 3 Weber Road Veterinary Clinic

Financial Planning Services 1 Belgrade Financial 2 Reese Financial Group 3 First State Community Bank Auto • Home • Business • Life • HeALtH

Hotel 1 Hampton Inn Farmington 2 Holiday Inn Express & Suites Farmington 3 Madison Inn Lodge

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Insurance Agency 1 Blankenship Insurance Agency 2 State Farm-Amanda Shipman Agency 3 Bates Insurance Legal Services 1 Duffe Law, LLC 2 Marler Schrum Law 3 Harris & Harris Attorneys At Law, P.C. Pet Services 1 Ultimutt Cuts 2 4 Paws Grooming Farmington MO 3 Veterinary Clinic Of The Mineral Area

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Visit us at BessInsurance.com Best of the Parkland 2018 | 41

g n i p p o Sh Best Grocery y Store C

ountry Mart has been a proud part of the Parkland for many years and is wellknown for its wide selection of groceries, household products and other sundry items, as well as a focus on customer service provided by its friendly employees.

This is the second year that area residents have selected Country Mart as the Best Grocery Store in the Parkland.

Perhaps it’s Country Mart’s bakeries filled with specialty cakes, artisan breads and other mouthwatering goodies that once again prompted readers to vote for the store. On the other hand, it could be because of their freshly prepared deli foods and salads or their large selection of fresh produce.

Maybe it’s because of the variety of restaurant-quality USDA Choice and Prime meats or the friendly, small town feel of Country Mart stores that put them in the number one spot.

Each store in the region is slightly different from the others, but every County Mart is 100 percent employee-owned and seeks to deliver top quality products at a fair price. The grocery chain’s store

42 | Best of the Parkland 2018

brand, Best Choice, carries a 100 percent customer satisfaction guarantee. If you’re not fully satisfied you can return it to the store for a full refund with no questions asked.

Whatever your family’s needs — whether you’re looking for name brands or its store brand — you’re sure to find it at one of the Parkland Country Marts conveniently located in Park Hills, Bonne Terre, Farmington, Potosi, Fredericktown and Ste. Genevieve. There is also a Town & Country Supermarket, part of the same chain, located in Ironton.

Most stores are open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week.

ALDI Finishing as first runner-up is ALDI Food Market, located at 787 Maple Valley Drive. The store is open from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Saturday.

Schnucks Rounding out the top three is Schnucks, located at 942 Valley Creek Drive. It’s open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and from 6 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Friday and Saturday.

Best Convenience Store A

fter its first-place finish last year in the Best Convenience Store category, River Mart in Park Hills managed to do it again.

Owned by Paul Bauman, the store’s original location was on the banks of the Flat River. In 2010, Bauman’s wife Theresa stepped in and took the business over. Describing herself as a “rookie,” she’d been a dance teacher and the previous owner of two dance studios. She had worked for Parents as Teachers and was a mom.

Theresa had also previously worked for a cigarette company that put her into a lot of convenience stores, giving her an idea of what made for a good store. Once she took over running River Mart, she began making big changes. She started

holding her employees to a higher standard and some chose to leave.

The store began experiencing great success — to the point where it was almost impossible to get on or off the previous location’s parking lot. It became obvious that a new location was needed.

Paul suggested moving the store up the street to the intersection of East Main Street and Flat River Drive, and in August 2014 the new River Mart opened its doors.

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River Mart is located at 300 N. Flat River Drive in Park Hills and 300 N. Desloge Drive in Desloge.

Coming in as first runner-up is Rhodes 101 convenience stores with five locations in the Parkland.

Third runner-up is C-Barn, with a number of locations throughout the Parkland.

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Best Specialty Store T

he Parkland offers shoppers a wide variety of locally-owned specialty shops — from natural health foods and unique gifts to carefully crafted custommade products including soaps, jewelry and some of the best homemade bread and baked goods you’ll ever put in your mouth. The first place winners from each of eight cities in the Parkland, along with “other in region,” are included below.

F

armington

Chosen Best Specialty Store in Farmington, Old Tyme Pantry is located at 5200 Highway D in Farmington. The quaint country store is a great place to find quality deli meats or a fresh sandwich made on homemade bread baked fresh onsite. Afterward, customers are invited to enjoy the fresh air while relaxing on the porch.

You’ll find a wide range of wonderful gifts available at the store where visitors can choose something special for the holidays or a special birthday gift for a friend.

Stop in to see Old Tyme Pantry’s high quality outdoor furniture.

You’ll find traditional, Adirondack, and mission-style furniture made 44 | Best of the Parkland 2018

with love and care by the store’s experts.

Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Closed Sunday and Monday. For more information, go to http://oletymepantry.com or call 573-747-1761.

D

esloge

The Giving Tree, located at 1136 N. Desloge Drive, was named by the store’s owner, Ashley Harrison, for the popular children’s book by the same name.

This year it was selected by voters as the Best Specialty Store in Desloge.

With its own distinctive style and community spirit, the store brings together shopping and giving back by donating 10 percent of each month’s sales to a local charity.

The store offers children’s and women’s clothing, accessories, jewelry, specialized soaps, lotions, candles and more. In keeping with the spirit of giving back, Harrison only buys merchandise for the store from vendors that are also charitable-minded companies.

Directly across the street from Lix Frozen Custard, the store is open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. To contact the store, call 573-327-8455 or look for its Facebook page.

P

ark Hills/ Leadington

Taking top honors for Best Specialty Store in Park HillsLeadington is Queen Anne’s Lace Boutique. Housed inside a bright turquoise blue building in Park Hills, the store offers a unique collection of clothing, home décor and handcrafted items that include one-of-a-kind jewelry designed by owner Iris Richardson.

The artist, designer and entrepreneur started selling her jewelry on the side as a way to make ends meet. As demand for her designs grew, what began as a side venture eventually grew into a full-time business.

Richardson eventually bought the building and invited her best friend, professional hair stylist Alicia Eden, to be her partner and share the space, which houses the Ooh La La hair styling salon alongside the boutique.

Queen Anne’s Lace is located at 1421 E. Main St. near Columbia Park and is open from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays and Saturdays, and from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday through Friday. To contact the store, call 573-327-9888, look for it on Facebook or visit Richardson’s Etsy shop at www.etsy.com/ shop/irisqueenanneslace.

Specialty Continued on Page 45

Specialty Continued from Page 44

B

onne Terre

The Flower Cottage, located at 24 S. Allen St., is a full-service florist and gift shop that has taken the community by storm — and is the Best Specialty Store in Bonne Terre.

Opened in December 2012, the store is a great place to check out silk and fresh arrangements, wreaths, unique jewelry, knits, handmade decor, vintage finds and more.

The florist is complemented by its customers for helping them find gorgeous gifts; creating beautiful arrangements and taking care of special occasions, such as weddings, birthdays, anniversaries and funerals.

The store is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. Call 573-631-3241 for more information.

S

day-themed candies; chocolate-covered gummi bears; sour cream and onion flavored crickets; lollipops “as big as a Frisbee,” jawbreakers “the size of a baseball,” and more.

Gift buyers will also be pleased with the assortment of handmade bracelets designed by co-owner Joy French, purses, wallets, candles and melters, handmade baskets and other items available.

Sweet Things is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and every other Sunday from 12:30 to 3:30 p.m. To contact the store, call 573-883-7990, look for it on Facebook or visit squareup.com/market/ stegencandy.

te. Genevieve

Anyone with an insatiable sweet tooth will want to visit Ste. Genevieve’s Best Specialty Store — Sweet Things Sweet Shop — located at 242 Market St. in the historic district.

Sweet Things is a candy and gift store offering a wide variety of delectables and confections, including fine chocolates; holi-

F

redericktown

Greens Flea Market, voted the Best Specialty Store in Fredericktown for 2018, is a family-owned and operated business located at 8512 Highway 67 in Fredericktown.

What can shoppers find there? Well they’ve got artificial flowers, tools, sheets, sunglasses, flashlights, home décor, toys, purses, jewelry, canvas bags, work gloves, socks, flags, candles and lots of other “miscellaneous stuff.”

“We opened our doors in October 1984,” said Dorothy Green, who with her husband Rick, co-owns the store. “When we first started in business in 1981, we were selling at flea markets from the back of a truck.

We went down to Poplar Bluff on Fridays and up to Desloge on Saturdays, then we’d come down to Jim’s Flea Market in Fredericktown.

“We just decided we were tired of being outside after three years, so this building had been sitting here and we’d been watching it the whole time and decided to buy it. All these years later we still strive to bring our customers great deals with a friendly smile.”

Store hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday. Call 573-270-1042 for more information.

Specialty Continued on Page 46 Best of the Parkland 2018 | 45

Specialty Continued from Page 45

P

otosi

Voted 2018’s Best Specialty Store in Potosi, Miss Kim & Co., located at 118 E High St, is a boutique that’s garnered a lot of attention since it opened its doors in 2012.

“We have apparel, lots of gifts, jewelry and home décor,” said Kim Smith, owner. “We started out just local, then I’d say in the past two years we’ve jumped that hurdle. We’re getting people from St. Francois County, Jefferson County — just about everywhere.”

According to Smith, she believes the store received “best of” in its category because of the wide variety of merchandise sold there at a reasonable price point.

“I try to keep good prices and sell trendy clothes,” she said. “I go to market to try to keep up on all the trends.”

Miss Kim & Co. is open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Tuesday through Saturday. Call 210-6721 for more information.

I

ronton, Arcadia, Pilot Knob

Carrying on a family tradition started by her grandmother and handcrafted soap maker, Debra Hendron has created her own niche in Ironton with the Arcadia Valley Soap Company.

The store has once again been selected as the Best Specialty Shop in Arcadia, Ironton and Pilot Knob.

With an onsite “soap lab” in the back of her store, Hendron has been creating herbal products and handmade soap for more than 40 years. Her store features a large variety of beautifully-colored soaps — scented and fragrance-free, lye-based, lard-based or vegan — along with soap sachets, aromatic mist sprays, bath bombs and other products.

The Arcadia Valley Soap Company is located at 119 S. Main St. in Ironton’s historic downtown and is open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday through Saturday, or by appointment. To contact the store call 573-546-7627 or checkout its Facebook page. Online shoppers can visit www.ArcadiaValleySoap.com and select customer pick-up to save on shipping. Orders can also be delivered.

O 1421 E Main St. Park Hills (573) 430-4050

60 S. Third St. Ste. Genevieve (573) 984-9888

• Women’s Clothing • Handmade Jewelry • Purses • Shoes • Baby Clothing • Home Décor • Lots of unique handmade items •

www.shopqal.com 46 | Best of the Parkland 2018

ther Regions

The Old Village Mercantile, located at 219 S State Highway 21 in Caledonia, takes people back to a simpler time and is an experience for the whole family. That must be the reason people voted it the Best Regional Specialty Store for 2018.

The historic building was built in 1909 and is today well known for its antiques and homemade goodies.

The store features, gifts, fudge, an antique gallery, a coffeehouse and candy that kids of all ages will enjoy.

The Old Village Mercantile is the only business to survive time intact and in all of its original splendor. The rest of the historic district is preserved as homes, shops, and restaurants.

Call 573-7793907 for information and store hours.

Shopping

W I N N E R S Antique Store 1 Reed’s Relics 2 Old Village Mercantile 3 Antique Treasures

Specialty Shop (Bonne Terre) 1 The Flower Cottage 2 The Fancy Crow 3 Cutt-N-Sew Quilt Shop

Specialty Shop (Ste Genevieve) 1 Sweet Things Sweet Shop 2 Queen Anne’s Lace 3 Belle Ever After Boutique

Beer/Liquor Selection 1 214 Liquor 2 Schnucks Farmington 3 The Tackle Box

Specialty Shop (Desloge) 1 The Giving Tree Boutique 2 Urban Farmgirl Desloge 3 K&A Games

Thrift Store 1 Goodwill Retail Store of Farmington 2 Dress 2 Impress Resale 3 Old Time Flea Market

Butcher/Meat Department 1 Ruble’s Meat Market LLC 2 Mercille’s Meat Market 3 Farmington Meat & Processing

Specialty Shop (Farmington) 1 Ole Tyme Pantry 2 Earth Mother Health Foods 3 Southern Sins Boutique

Convenience Store 1 Park Hills River Mart 2 Rhodes 101 Stop 3 C Barn

Specialty Shop (Fredericktown) 1 Green’s Flea Market 2 The Mustard Seed Mercantile 3 Brooklynn Avenue

Fabric/Sewing Craft Store 1 Hobby Lobby 2 Mad Monk’s Fabric Warehouse 3 The Painted Chair

Specialty Shop

Grocery Store 1 Country Mart 2 ALDI 3 Schnucks Farmington

Specialty Shop (Other Regions) 1 Old Village Mercantile 2 Green’s Flea Market 3 The Tackle Box

Pet Supply Store 1 Rural King 2 Petco Animal Supplies 3 Shy’s Feed & General Merchandise

Specialty Shop

Produce 1 ALDI 2 Crystal and Richard’s Produce 3 Schnucks Farmington

Wal-Mart Location 1 Desloge Walmart 2 Farmington Walmart 3 Fredericktown Walmart

(Ironton/Arcadia/Pilot Knob)

1 Arcadia Valley Soap Co. 2 Cedar House 3 Green Thumb Plant Sales

(Park Hills-Leadington)

1 Queen Anne’s Lace Boutique 2 Antique Treasures 3 Not Just Comix Specialty Shop (Potosi) 1 Miss Kim & Co 2 Reed’s Relics 3 Elegant Affair Boutique Best of the Parkland 2018 | 47