Readers' Choice Awards
READERS' CHOICE AWARDS
Best of the Jamestown Area awards honor local businesses,
JAMESTOWN — Voters cast 42,411 votes for individuals, businesses and others in the 16th annual Best of the Jamestown Area awards, sponsored by The Jamestown Sun.
The number of votes cast shows the great interest in the annual awards, said Rob Keller, publisher and advertising director of The Jamestown Sun.
"Thank you to the community and the businesses for supporting the publication," he said.
People placed their nominations for the awards in October on The Jamestown Sun's website at www.jamestownsun.com and through The Jamestown Sun print edition. There were 6,003 nominations were received. Final voting for the winners was conducted in November. In both rounds of voting, physical votes in the newspaper were combined with electronic votes on www.jamestownsun.com.
Keller congratulated those who placed in the top 3 for Best of the Jamestown Area, and
thanked the businesses that won in various categories for expressing their appreciation for their support in this publication. He also thanked those who took the time to vote.
Jamestown Sun staff tabulated the vote. Winning businesses receive a certificate identifying them as a top vote-getter in the Best of the Jamestown Area. Those certificates can be seen displayed at many businesses in the community.
This year's Best of the Jamestown Area includes businesses and individuals who have been honored before along with new winners. This publication spotlights those who have won the praise of the general public in the Jamestown area.
Keller said the Best of the Jamestown Area is a tradition that will continue.
"This is our 16th year and every year it grows in popularity," he said. "We'll continue to do our part to make sure the results are accurate and the businesses are recognized appropriately."
Jamestown Sun image
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
The Best Retail Store in Jamestown, according to the voters, goes to T.J. Maxx at the Buffalo Mall.
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun Taco John's was voted the Best Drive-Thru in the Best of the Jamestown Area for 2024.
Cash Wise Foods named Best Grocery Store
BY KATHY STEINER The Jamestown Sun
JAMESTOWN — Cash Wise Foods was chosen Best Grocery Store in the 2024 Best of the Jamestown Area contest.
Cash Wise Foods was also voted the Best Meat Department and received secondplace awards for Best Bakery and Best Liquor Store.
“I think it's an honor just to be nominated, right, because … people choose us,” said Sarah O'Heron, store director, Cash Wise Foods in Jamestown. “But we’re delighted that we got first place in Grocery Store. I think our culture and our store with our guest focus, we're treating everybody like family, really really helped boost our guest experience and they noticed.”
She said it was a “great honor” for Cash Wise Foods to be chosen by the voters as Best Grocery Store.
“We strive to be the best and I think with this new remodel that we just went through we really looked at our guest surveys and what the people wanted,” O’Heron said.
Coborn’s Inc. opened a Coborn’s in Jamestown in May 2012, O’Heron said. In December 2014, they reformatted it to Cash Wise Foods, which offered lower prices, she said, and changed to a more big box look.
Cash Wise Foods works to provide a personalized shopping experience for guests, says Sarah
“Over the last … five years or so our leadership team went back to the market surveys in our community to reevaluate our guests and community needs, making small changes and adjustments to how we merchandise product, how we can leverage our guests’ experience and service which included taking out the self-checkouts to make a more personalized shopping experience,” O’Heron said. “And then in 2022, that’s when all this started, thinking about the remodel, the leadership team saw an opportunity to invest in this whole campus, the whole (Park) plaza.”
received four awards in the 2024 Best of the Jamestown Area contest including Best
The remodeling project began in August of 2023 with the addition of a fuel station and resurfacing of the parking lot.
“And then once we did that we went into the mall area,” O’Heron said. “... we did a new expanded liquor store, we added a Caribou Coffee with drive-thru and then we expanded the grocery store mostly with the fresh departments, just offering more fresh products for our guests. And then we are connected to Ace (Hardware).”
She said it’s a “one-shop campus” with the addition of Ace Hardware, a franchise
CASH WISE FOODS: 5
It is such an honor to be recognized for something I am so passionate about. My endless gratitude goes out to my friends, family and clients. Without them this would not be possible. Thank you for voting for me two years in a row and making me feel like a big deal around here. You guys are the “Best of the Best.”
Kathy Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
O'Heron, store director. The business
Grocery Store.
of Coborn's, the parent company of Cash Wise Foods.
The grand reopening of the site was on Sept. 25, O’Heron said.
“There's still some opportunities in this, what used to be a big shopping mall area,” she said.
O’Heron said before the remodeling project, Cash Wise Foods employed 40 people. With the remodeling project, it added 35 more jobs at Cash Wise.
“It was a significant accomplishment to open our Caribou (Coffee), we had to have a certain amount of people hired,” she noted.
Caribou Coffee is a one-stop shop where people can get hot coffee, cold drinks, sandwiches and bakery items, O’Heron said.
“Everything’s available drive-up, in store or through the order-ahead app,” she said.
With the Caribou Coffee app, people get points as they spend money for free drinks, bakery or sandwiches, she said. They also offer a birthday drink during your birthday week.
BEST MEAT DEPARTMENT
O’Heron said the meat department is guest focused.
“The people that run the service case, everything is always fresh and as soon as somebody walks up, even if they don't look like they need help, they are there to offer help,” O’Heron said. “And then they take it a step further. Not only do they answer questions about meat cuts or how to cook things but they give them recipes.”
She said she thinks that’s what stands out with their meat department.
“They don’t just hand you over the steaks,” she said. “They help you figure out what other things you're going to put on your plate. … What other ideas go good with it. I think that's what stands out the most is they just do a great job with helping the guests, not only what they need but giving them ideas on how to cook it, things to add to it.”
SECOND IN BEST LIQUOR STORE
O’Heron said the new liquor store, which was moved to the east side of the building, is more inviting and open with improved lighting.
“We added a bunch of cooler doors for more selection and more variety,” she said.
The new liquor store is almost double the size of the previous one, she said.
“... they also have a high-end section, which we never carried before. So we have a nice higher end where you have the expensive liquors and champagnes for those special moments in people’s lives that they want to celebrate,” O’Heron said.
SECOND IN BEST BAKERY
O’Heron said the staff in the bakery department is “passionate” and the cakes stand out at Cash Wise Foods.
“Our cake decorator, she takes the time to really know, ask the questions to our guests what they're expecting,” she said. “She really appreciates pictures and ideas like that on what they want and she goes above and beyond to satisfy that.”
The bakery department employees have been with Cash Wise Foods for a long time, O’Heron added, saying they’re also very knowledgeable and are willing to give out samples of new products and speak about them.
Cash Wise Foods is open from 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week. Caribou Coffee is open from 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week
Ace Hardware is open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.
O’Heron said Coborn’s is a family-based company.
“And our company values align well within the Jamestown community that we’re part of and we continue to invest and support each other in the community,” she said. “And we obviously value our guests as well as my entire Cash Wise Team. Our team is passionate and dedicated to exceed our guests’ expectations each visit. My team
are your neighbors, they’re your friends, they’re your family and it’s not a skill you can just teach or train. The culture of our store and within our team comes alive on the sales floor and through our guests’ shopping experience.”
She thanked the community for the votes that resulted in four awards in the Best of the Jamestown Area.
“We thank the community for staying with us during some interesting construction moments this past year,” she added. “We just value them coming in every day. We’re as committed to them as they are to us for all their shopping needs."
ksteiner@jamestownsun.com | (701) 952-8449
The 2024 Best of the Jamestown Area awards winners list
BEST HARDWARE STORE
Menards
ACE Hardware
MAC'S Hardware
BEST DOWNTOWN BUSINESS
Gun & Reel Sports
Fred's Den Corner Bar
BEST MEAT DEPARTMENT
Cash Wise Foods
Hugo's Family Marketplace
Trappers Meat & Supplies
BEST BOUTIQUE
Hand Pick'd Boutique
Little Cactus Company
Simply Dweh Boutique
BEST CONVENIENCE STORE
M & H Gas Station (tie)
Casey's (tie)
Cenex
BEST RETAIL STORE
T.J. Maxx
Lifestyle Appliance & Entertainment Center
5 Below
BEST APPLIANCE STORE
Lifestyle Appliance & Entertainment Center
Menards
Aaron's Rent to Own
BEST THRIFT STORE
Bufftown Bargains
Nita's Attic
Goodwill
BEST FLOORING / CARPET STORE
Valley Flooring
Goldade Flooring
LaValle Flooring
BEST GROCERY STORE
Cash Wise Foods
Hugo's Family Marketplace
Walmart
BEST LIQUOR STORE
Cork & Barrel
Cash Wise Liquor
Bottles & Jugs
BEST SPORTING GOODS STORE
Dunham's Sports Gun & Reel Sports
Walmart
BEST CAR DEALERSHIP
R.M. Stoudt Inc.
Wilhelm Chevrolet GMC
Lloyd's Toyota
BEST AUTO SERVICE/REPAIR
Xtreme Auto Repair
R.M. Stoudt Inc.
Wilhelm Chevrolet GMC
BEST AUTO TECHNICIAN
Devin Schumacher (Xtreme Auto)
Caleb Johnson (R.M. Stoudt Inc.)
Glenn Schulz (Lloyd's Toyota)
BEST SALESPERSON AUTO
Brian Bertsch (R.M. Stoudt Inc.)
Johnny Jerome (Wilhelm Chevrolet GMC)
Brett Stockert (Wilhelm Chevrolet GMC)
BEST BODY SHOP
Klein's Collision Center
Wilhelm Chevrolet GMC
R.M. Stoudt Inc.
BEST DIESEL MECHANIC
Devin Schumacher (Xtreme Auto)
Kevin Hanson (Quality Truck & Ag Repair)
Joshua Dockter (Doc's Mobile Repair)
BEST TIRE SHOP
Northwest Tire
Hanson Tire
Les Schwab Tire Center
BEST OIL CHANGE
Pit Stop Express Lube
Quick Lane Tire & Auto Center
Northwest Tire
BEST CHILD CARE SERVICES
Little Puddle Jumpers
Jacie & Callies Daycare
Explorers Academy
BEST HAIR SALON
White Orchid Beauty Bar
Reflections Salon
Etc Salon
BEST HAIR STYLIST
Catie Keller (Reflections Salon)
Renata Schaffer (White Orchid Beauty Bar)
Ashlyn Schmeichel (ShearAshlyn)
BEST BARBER
Caitlin George (Roughneck Men's Grooming)
Ryan at Faded
Donnie Tahran
BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT
Beth Keller (RE/MAX Now Jamestown and Valley City)
Erin Musland (RE/MAX Now Jamestown and Valley City)
Sally Domke (RE/MAX Now Jamestown and Valley City)
BEST PLUMBER
Jamestown Plumbing Heating and AC
Heartland Heating & Cooling
Mackke Plumbing & Heating
BEST CLEANING SERVICES
Total Clean
Complete Cleanliness LLC
ServiceMaster of Jamestown
BEST BANK
Gate City Bank
First Community Credit Union
Unison Bank
BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR
Paul Witthauer
Katie Archambeau
CJ Hager
BEST INSURANCE AGENT
Nick Bruns (Nodak Insurance Co.)
BEST OPTOMETRIST
Dr. Alex Looysen (Looysen I Care)
BEST PHYSICIAN
Dr. Bradly Skari
Dr. Mandy Sorlie
Dr. Rachel Wanzek
Scott Sandness
Leo Ryan
Steven Ottmar
BEST ELECTRICIAN
Scott's Electric
Advantage Electric
Tom’s Electric
Natasha Harr (Bell Insurance)
Michelle Weatherly (Harty Insurance/Uinsurance)
Dr. Briana Bohn (Professional Eyecare Centers)
BEST ATTORNEY/LAWYER
Nill Construction
Building Professionals
BEST CAR WASH
BEST GENERAL CONTRACTOR
Hometown Improvement construction
Super Wash
Exxon
BEST CARPET CLEANING
ServiceMaster
Complete Cleanliness
Jetstream Car Wash & Gas
Stokkeland Carpet Cleaning
Dr. Douglas Frohlich (Professional Eyecare Centers)
BEST CUSTOMER SERVICE
Smile Studio
Karien at Professional Eyecare Centers
Katie Archambeau (US Bank)
BEST HOTEL/MOTEL
Fairfield Inn & Suites
Gladstone Inn & Suites
Hampton Inn & Suites
BEST HEATING & AIR CONDITIONING
Jamestown Plumbing Heating and AC
Heartland Heating & Cooling
Mackke Plumbing & Heating
BEST KITCHEN & BATH REMODELER
Home Design Center
Hometown Improvement
H & H Holdings
BEST NAIL SALON
Perfectly Polished
London Nails
Love Nails
BEST PET GROOMER
Positive Grooming -
Meranda Williams
Grooming By Ally
Kona's Edge
BEST VETERINARIAN
Dr. Dawn Entzminger
Dr. Barb Looysen
Dr. Melissa Schlecht
BEST PHOTOGRAPHER
Happy Mermaid Images
Christine Fieber Photography
Kiella Lawrence Photography
BEST TREE REMOVAL
Z's Trees
Triple C Tree Services
Northern Tree Service
BEST BAR
Spirits Bar & Grill
Fred’s Den Corner Bar
BEST HAPPY HOUR
Fred’s Den
Buff Bar & Lounge Corner Bar
BEST GAMING/BINGO
All Vets Club
Fred's Den Buff Bar & Lounge
BEST TAP BEER
Jonny B's Brickhouse
Fred's Den
Spirits Bar & Grill
BEST MARGARITA
Paradiso Mexican Restaurant
Hondo's Hideaway
La Carreta
BEST SOUP
The Depot Cafe
S&R Truck Plaza All Vets Club
BEST BAKERY
Whisk 'N Crumb Bakery
Cash Wise Foods
Until The Last Bite
BEST PIZZA
Jonny B's Brickhouse
Papa Murphy's Domino’s Pizza
BEST BURGER
Hondo's Hideaway
Spirits Bar & Grill
Shady's
BEST FRIES
Hondo's Hideaway
McDonald's
Smoke Time BBQ
BEST DRIVE-THRU
Taco John's
Dairy Queen
McDonald's
BEST COFFEE SHOP
Knight and Day Coffee
Plantation Coffee Bar
Babb's Coffee House
BEST MEXICAN FOOD
La Carreta
Paradiso Mexican Restaurant
Taco Bell
BEST STEAK
Davoni's
Frontier Fort
Buffalo Grill
BEST BREAKFAST
Hondo's Hideaway
S&R Truck Plaza
The Depot Cafe
BEST WINGS
Hondo's Hideaway
Spirits Bar & Grill
Jonny B's Brickhouse
BEST DESSERT
Dairy Queen
Babb's Coffee House
Paradiso
BEST SANDWICH OR SUB
Hondo's Hideaway
Quiznos
Subway
BEST RIBS
Gettin Sauced
BBQ & Catering
Frontier Fort
All Vets Club
BEST RESTAURANT
Hondo's Hideaway
Spirits Bar & Grill
Buffalo Grill
BEST FOOD VALUE
Hondo's Hideaway
All Vets Club
Spirits Bar & Grill
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
in Jamestown.
Winners
CONTINUED FROM 7
BEST WAIT STAFF
Hondo's Hideaway
Spirits Bar & Grill
Buffalo Grill
BEST LUNCH
Hondo's Hideaway
Chopsticks Express
Spirits Bar & Grill
BEST CATERING
The Grateful Plate
Hidden River Acres
Gettin Sauced BBQ & Catering
BEST TAKE OUT
Chopsticks Express
Hondo's Hideaway
Spirits Bar & Grill
BEST BARTENDER
Adam Grizzly Lang (Corner Bar)
Quin Gilbertson (Corner Bar)
Jade Biloff (Corner Bar)
BEST RESTAURANT SERVER
Darci Redmann
(Hondo's Hideaway)
Madison Tompkins (Spirits Bar & Grill)
Christopher Ross (Spirits Bar & Grill)
BEST ENTERTAINMENT VENUE
Bison 6 Cinema
Hidden River Acres
Spiritwood Resort
BEST FESTIVAL
Jamestown Kite Festival
Fishing For A Cause Downtown Arts Market
BEST LOCAL EVENT
Buffalo Days
Fishing For A Cause
Smile Studio Giving Back Concert
BEST OUTDOOR EVENT
Jamestown Kite Festival
Fishing For A Cause
Smile Studio Giving Back Concert
BEST PLACE FOR A KID'S BIRTHDAY Party Crashers
The Story Nook
Bison 6 Cinema
BEST HEALTH & FITNESS CLUB
Two Rivers Activity Center
New Age Fitness EGYM at Apex
BEST ASSISTED LIVING FACILITY
SMP HealthAve Maria Eventide Jamestown Roseadele
BEST HEARING AID SERVICE
Terri Qual
Doug Schauer
Marissa Leese
WINNERs: 11
BEST DESSERT
John M. steiner / The Jamestown sun Dairy Queen maintains the Best Dessert in Jamestown with many cool sweet treats to choose from. Dairy Queen opened in its new location on Business Loop West and now serves breakfast and has a convenient drive-thru.
CONTINUED FROM 10
BEST CHIROPRACTOR
Matthew Goehner
Blake Hochhalter
Rock Solid Chiropractic
BEST DENTIST
Orn Dentistry
Downtown Dental
Dr. Jason Braun
BEST EYE CLINIC
Professional Eyecare Centers
Looysen I Care
Lifetime Vision 20/20
BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST
Cassie Stoppleworth (Oasis Massage)
Brooke Bruce (Apex)
Cathy Anderson (Target Touch)
BEST PERSONAL TRAINER
Matt Odin - (New Age Fitness)
Brooke Johnson (TRAC)
Dawn Moran (New Age Fitness)
BEST PHARMACY
The Medicine Shoppe
White Drug (Hugo's Family Marketplace)
White Drug (10th Street)
BEST PHYSICAL THERAPIST
Cody Champagne (Jamestown Regional Medical Center)
Apex Physical Therapy
Mollie Merriam (T&K Pediatric Services)
BEST CAMPING LOCATION
Lazy Fish at Pelican Point Spiritwood Resort Lakeside Marina
BEST LOCAL PARK
McElroy Park
Klaus Park Meidinger Park
BEST LOCAL AREA GOLF COURSE
Hillcrest Golf Course
Memorial Park Country Club, LaMoure County
Jamestown Country Club
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun A legendary icon in Jamestown, Gun & Reel Sports was once again voted the Best Downtown Business.
Spirits Bar & Grill voted Best Bar, receives other honors
BY MASAKI OVA
The Jamestown Sun
JAMESTOWN — Spirits Bar & Grill
was voted Best Bar in the 16th annual Best of the Jamestown Area awards and took second and third in a number of other categories.
Eric Nordstrom, co-owner of Spirits Bar & Grill along with Ron Voller, said the bar is set up nicely.
“It looks good, it’s clean, has plenty of seating and a wide variety of beverages,” he said.
Spirits Bar & Grill was voted second for Best Burger, Best Wings, Best Restaurant and Best Wait Staff. Spirits also placed third for Best Tap Beer, Best Food Value, Best Lunch and Best Takeout.
Madison Tompkins and Christopher Ross also placed second and third, respectively, for Best Restaurant Server.
“They both have extremely good work ethic, are personable, likable and always serve with a smile,” Nordstrom said.
He said Spirits wait staff understands what customers want and need. He said they are polite, courteous and friendly.
Best Bar and was also in the running for many other Best of the Jamestown Area awards, including Best Restaurant and Best Wait Staff.
“We just have great staff,” Nordstrom said. “We strive for putting the best team together in every department.”
Spirits’ menu includes burgers, wings, pizza, salads, wraps and appetizers.
“We source the best products that we can,” Nordstrom said. “We buy never-frozen beef.”
He said the staff makes the wings and other products such as fried pickles and pizza rolls daily.
Nordstrom said Spirits uses the best products and is able to keep the prices reasonable.
“We’re just being fair to the customer, fair to everybody,” he said. “Our portions are I think on the heavier side.”
Spirits has 17 TVs for customers to watch athletic events, including NFL Sunday
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
Madison Tompkins serves lunch to patrons at Spirits Bar & Grill. Spirits Bar & Grill was voted
SPIRITS: 13
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun Eric Nordstrom, co-owner of Spirits Bar & Grill, talks about why the establishment has been successful.
Brad Skari, MD Mandy Sorlie, MD Rachel Wanzek, MD Doug Schauer, AuD
CONTINUED FROM 12
Ticket, along with almost every streaming app. He said Spirits also streams University of Jamestown games.
“The staff's always accommodating no matter where you're sitting at in here, you can see it on multiple TVs,” Nordstrom said.
He said his top priorities are cleanliness, quality of food and products and customer service.
“Cleanliness is just the most important to me,” he said.
He said Spirits has gotten a lot of support from the community.
“Since we opened, our numbers, our traffic has not decreased since day one,” he said.
mova@jamestownsun.com | (701) 952-8454 SpiritS
Spirits opens at 11 a.m. daily. The kitchen is open from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily. The bar is open from 11 a.m. to midnight Sunday through Thursday. The bar is open from 11 a.m. to 2 a.m. Friday and Saturday.
Some of the best lunch and food values can be found at
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
Spirits Bar & Grill in Jamestown.
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
Major retailer Menards was voted the Best Hardware Store by voters.
Bison 6 Cinema chosen
Best Entertainment Venue
BY KATHY STEINER
The Jamestown Sun
JAMESTOWN — The Bison 6 Cinema received two awards in the Best of the Jamestown Area contest: first in Best Entertainment Venue and third in Best Place for a Kid's Birthday Party.
Placing second and third in Best Entertainment Venue were Hidden River Acres and Spiritwood Resort, respectively.
Placing first and second in Best Place for a Kid’s Birthday Party were Party Crashers and The Story Nook, respectively.
"I was kind of surprised with the birthday party nomination," said Cory Keim, owner of Bison 6 Cinema. “The (Best) Entertainment Venue … it was a lot of competition and there's a lot of great places and we're glad that we got it, we’re proud of it. It goes back to the employees, the employees are the ones that make it what it is."
Bison 6 Cinema has 15 to 20 employees, he said. It opened in June 2011 in the Buffalo Mall, with six screens in individual theaters.
“They're all different sizes …,” Keim said. “The biggest one is 210 seats down to 77 seats (smallest theater). …”
The theaters have digital cinema and stadium seating, he added.
The Bison 6 Cinema has adapted during changing times, Keim said. The industry has weathered numerous changes, from the invention of color television to VHS tapes, DVDs, Blue Ray, streaming and COVID, he said.
The Bison 6 Cinema took steps to continue operating during COVID and through other issues, Keim said.
“First of all, it was tough because the film companies weren't releasing movies to the theaters. There was very few,” he said. “A lot of them went to streaming. Then there was a writer's strike, (and) an actor's strike that held back a lot of movies. We didn’t have any movies or products to play. … We just kind of cut back on payroll and watched our budget and held in there and was hoping for something better.”
He said since COVID, “it's been a tough four years. A lot of theaters have closed across the country. And we just kept plugging at it. But Wednesday (Nov. 27) was our biggest Wednesday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 28).”
The Friday after Thanksgiving was its third busiest of all Fridays and the Saturday after Thanksgiving was its second-busiest Saturday ever, he said.
"It was a big shock to everybody (theater analysts), everybody expected it to be busy but not record-breaking busy,” he said. “It was just a phenomenon, I guess. And hopefully, this is a sign of the future. We're optimistic that this weekend (during Thanksgiving) is the start of what we believe is a full-on charge into the future."
BISON 6: 15
Kathy Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
Cory Keim, owner of the Bison 6 Cinema in Jamestown, says he had record attendance of moviegoers during the Thanksgiving holidays. The business was selected first in Best Entertainment Venue and third for Best Place for a Kid's Birthday in the Best of the Jamestown Area awards.
Bison 6
CONTINUED FROM 14
Keim said going to the theater is more than “just going to the movie.”
“It's an event. It creates stories,” he said. “It provides an escape for a few hours and immerses yourself in another world. Big screen, big sound, sit back, relax, turn your phone off, turn your day off and enjoy the show.”
A number of good movies are expected during the holiday season, Keim said, including “Sonic the Hedgehog 3,” “Mufasa: The Lion King,” and “A Complete Unknown,” on Bob Dylan’s life.
Bison 6 Cinema sells gift cards that can be used at the box office and concessions. They sell free popcorn T-shirts for $25 each. A person purchasing the T-shirt gets a free small popcorn for the year when attending a movie and wearing the shirt, which has the names of the movies coming out that year, Keim said. A portion of each T-shirt sale is given to a charitable cause each year, he said.
PRIVATE PARTIES, OTHER EVENTS
Bison 6 Cinema also offers private parties and other events.
Birthday parties are available at 10:30 a.m. Saturdays, he said, and are popular. The children attending the party have a movie showing from one of those currently
available, and each child gets a kid’s pack with a drink, a scoop of popcorn and candy. The cost is $13 per child and they don’t charge a facility fee, he said. There’s a table set up in the theater as well where they can bring presents, a birthday cake or pizza. The party has to conclude by 1 p.m., he said.
“It's great for the parents because everybody’s contained in one theater,” Keim said.
Birthday parties for adults are also available.
The Bison 6 Cinema also provides private Christmas parties with movies it is currently showing.
“Everybody gets a small pop and small popcorn for a price,” Keim said. “And I’ve had meetings in the theaters. If a person wants to rent out the theater just for educational meetings or whatever.”
Theaters are available for corporate business meeting events including seminars, training, product launches, speaking engagements and team building, other events and worship services.
“Thanks to everybody for voting and hopefully see them at the movies,” Keim said.
For more information, call 701-252-5688.
ksteiner@jamestownsun.com | (701) 952-8449
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
Bakers Sara Cooksey, left, and Kelly Waldo, hold pans of fresh baked goods they made at Whisk 'N Crumb Bakery in Jamestown. Waldo is the owner of the award-winning Best Bakery that she and her daughter operate together.
Gate City Bank voted as Best Bank
BY MASAKI OVA The Jamestown Sun
JAMESTOWN — Gate City Bank was voted as the Best Bank in the 16th annual Best of the Jamestown Area awards.
“We are just so honored,” said Nikki Hatfield, assistant vice president and senior customer service and sales supervisor at Gate City Bank. “We definitely strive to serve our community, and when they recognize and feel that we're an important part to them as well, it just means so much to us, and we look forward to serving them in the same capacity in 2025 and keep raising the bar.”
First Community Credit Union and Unison Bank took second and third, respectively.
Hatfield said Gate City Bank strives in “customer obsession.”
“One of the things that I'm also passionate about aligns with that where we go above and beyond experiences for our customers by delighting, enhancing, personalizing their experiences from beginning to end,” she said. “I think that really sets us apart.
GATE CITY BANK: 17
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
The staff at Gate City Bank earned the Best Bank award for the Best of the Jamestown Area awards.
Gate City Bank
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We strive to get to know our customers as individuals and create a unique experience for them from start to finish every time.”
Hatfield said the staff from tellers to loan officers and the business relationship manager interact with different people every day. She said the staff works really hard daily to create good experiences for the bank’s customers.
“Seeing that the community feels very passionately about the service that they receive and the commitment that we have to them means a lot to them,” she said.
Gate City Bank employees also spend time volunteering in the community.
For example, Michelle Neumiller, assistant vice president and senior mortgage loan officer, is a Jamestown Rotary club member who helps with Camp Rokiwan, serves on the Jamestown Regional Medical Center Foundation Board and helps serve lunch at Jamestown Middle School, among others.
Kelsey Hoium-Johnson, senior customer service representative, is the secretary and treasurer for Prairie Paws Rescue and volunteers with the Jamestown Parks and Recreation District.
Jacque Erickson, treasury management consultant, is a member of Jamestown
Kiwanis and a Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce ambassador.
Hatfield volunteers with A Moment of Freedom and is a Safe Shelter board member.
“We find different ways that we can plug ourselves in with our passions that we each have to ensure that we're serving our community beyond the walls of the bank,” Hatfield said.
Hatfield said Gate City Bank supports and encourages its employees to volunteer.
She also said Gate City Bank has the best customers.
“If we could turn around and vote for the best, we would say Jamestown customers are the best as well,” Hatfield said.
BEST FESTIVAL AND BEST OUTDOOR EVENT
“Everybody is so friendly when they come in and when they give us a call, they often tell us, “You’re the first that we thought of.’ It's nice that we're a tight community and Jamestown isn't huge so we're able to know our customers really well.”
mova@jamestownsun.com | (701) 952-8454
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
The 30th annual Kite Festival won the Best Festival and Best Outdoor Event for the 2024 contest.
READERS' CHOICE AWARDS
Hondo's Hideaway takes first in 10 categories
BY MASAKI OVA The Jamestown Sun
JAMESTOWN — Hondo’s Hideaway took first in 10 categories in the 16th annual Best of the Jamestown Area awards including Best Restaurant and Best Wait Staff.
“It’s been great to have such a welcome from the community and a lot of support,” said Darci Redmann, general manager of Hondo’s Hideaway. “We have a lot of people that continue to come here all year-round.”
Owner Lucas Dockter said Hondo’s operates with a small staff.
“In the summer, the restaurant at the most operates with seven people,” he said. He added that some staff members have worked multiple shifts in a day at Hondo’s.
Hondo’s Hideaway is located at Jamestown Reservoir and has a variety of breakfast, lunch and dinner options.
Redmann said Hondo’s success is a team effort.
“It’s not just like the people up front are a team whereas the people in the back are a team,” she said. “Everyone works together cohesively.”
Dockter said sometimes a server will help the cooks in the kitchen when there are a lot of orders.
“They move to where it is so we don’t have customers waiting and we don’t have long ticket times when we’ve got big crowds out here,” he said.
Along with taking the top spot for Best Restaurant and Best Wait Staff, Hondo’s got first for Best Breakfast, Best Burger, Best
HONDO'S: 20
Darci Redmann, general manager of Hondo's Hideaway, was voted the Best Restaurant Server. Hondo's
Best of the Jamestown Area awards, including Best Restaurant.
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
Hideaway won 10 awards in the
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
The crew at Jetstream Car Wash & Gas has once again earned the Best Car Wash in Jamestown for 2024.
Fries, Best Wings, Best Sandwich or Sub, Best Lunch and Best Food Value. Hondo’s also got second for Best Takeout and Best Margarita.
Redmann was also named Best Restaurant Server.
“It is very humbling and I really appreciate it,” Redmann said. “I could not do my job as efficiently as I can without the support of my coworkers. There is a lot that goes into serving outside of taking an order and bringing the food. It’s connecting with your guests. It’s anticipating their needs.”
She said Hondo’s is always changing. For example, staff will try out new items for the menu.
“Sometimes it’s an entirely new menu we will put out,” she said. “Other times it’s just toying with things as far as the special is concerned.”
Redmann said Hondo’s staff likes to get feedback from customers before adding items to the menu.
“We listen to our guests on feedback and try to make the ordering process as easily tailored as possible,” she said. “Putting out a different menu as frequently as we do just really keeps things new and exciting.”
Dockter said Hondo’s will source another product or remove it from the menu if it isn’t up to par.
“We are always trying to push ourselves to a better ingredient or a better item for the guest,” he said.
Redmann said the staff focuses on food quality.
“If we make something and we aren’t sure about that, we let our staff know,” she said. “Talk to your table, let them know, we decided to remake it.”
Dockter said Hondo’s also has larger portions for food. For example, he said Hondo’s serves a half-pound burger and customers get a generous portion of french fries.
“We realize it's a lot of families that are coming out of here, and budgets are tight for families, so we try and keep our prices reasonable,” Dockter said. “Since we started, I don't think we bumped up prices hardly at all. On the flip side, prices have increased for us so we've just been lucky to do that because we've had support from the community. The more people that we can serve, the easier it is for us to keep our prices low as well.”
Hondo’s also did more takeout orders this past year and is working on online ordering in the near future, Dockter said.
“But, we always want to focus on guests in house too,” he said.
Redmann said Hondo’s gets a lot of traffic from Interstate 94 thanks to positive reviews on Google.
“You'll see people that are just traveling through and they'll be like, ‘I'm on my way to wherever, I've got a meeting or something,’” she said.
Dockter said he appreciates the customers who support Hondo’s. He said customers come to the restaurant in a great mood.
“That's a big deal for us,” he said. “It's like they're happy to see us. We're happy to see them.”
Redmann said it’s a joy to get to know the repeat customers as well.
“Being able to start seeing some of your guests grow a family and watch that from the sidelines is one of my favorite things about this,” she said.
Hondo’s is open from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. on Friday and from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 5 to 8 p.m. Saturday and Sunday. The hours are expected to change in January, and Redmann said Hondo's hours are updated on Google and its Facebook page.
From May through September, Hondo’s is open from 4 to 10 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Sunday.
“Our hours are very volume based,” Redmann said. “We don't typically close early, but we are known to stay open later in our off time.”
She also said Hondo’s is available for private booking.
“When we're closed, we are more than happy to open the doors and have groups come in,” Redmann said. She said she needs a headcount so she can staff the business accordingly.
mova@jamestownsun.com | (701) 952-8454
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun} Hondo's Hideaway was voted to have the Best Burger and Best Fries in Jamestown.
Masaki Ova / The Jamestown Sun Lucas Dockter, owner of Hondo's Hideaway, talks about why Hondo's was voted first in 10 categories for the Best of the Jamestown Area awards.
Lifestyle Appliance & Entertainment Center named Best Appliance Store
BY KATHY STEINER The Jamestown Sun
JAMESTOWN — Lifestyle Appliance & Entertainment Center received two awards in the 16th annual Best of the Jamestown Area awards. The business received first in the Best Appliance Store category and second in Best Retail Store.
Owners Toni and Colin Wegenast said they were honored that the voters appreciated them.
“I think it's awesome that the community recognizes what we do, having the service after the sale, and just the different things that we're involved with (in the community),” Colin said.
Toni noted that the Best Retail Store award was new for the business and exciting to get.
“It just goes to show you that our guys, from our sales guys up front to our delivery guys to our service guys, they all do a great job for our customers and us,” Colin said. “We really appreciate what they do for Lifestyle and for our customers. They have great product knowledge.”
Lifestyle Appliance & Entertainment Center carries all major household appliances, mattresses, hot tubs and Big Green Egg grills.
“We do have the accessories that go with a lot of the appliances we sell also,” Toni added, including chemicals for hot tubs and filters for refrigerators.
They carry products they believe in, she said.
“We try to stock stuff that we'd be comfortable putting in our own homes ... we try to give people a nice variety of products and the companies that have been around a long time," Colin said. "We have the technical knowledge to work on them. Our services guys are all trained to work on all the stuff we sell.”
Service after the sale is an important part of the business, they said.
The Wegenast family has owned Lifestyle Appliance & Entertainment Center for more than 47 years, since the summer of 1977 when LeRoy Wegenast purchased the business. Son Colin and his wife, Toni, now own the business, with a third generation, Noah, Colin and Toni’s son, also working there.
The Wegenasts are active in civic organizations as well.
Toni is a member of Kiwanis and serves on its board of directors; serves on the Safe Shelter Board of Directors and Executive
LIFESTYLE: 24
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
Lifestyle Appliance was named the top appliance store for the 2024 Best of the Jamestown Area contest.
BEST TAKEOUT
BEST CAMPING LOCATION
Our team thanks Jamestown for their support! We take pride in treating our patients and their families.
Thanks again
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
The Lazy Fish at Pelican Point was voted the Best Camping Location in the area. The fishing and other water recreational activities on Jamestown Reservoir as well as the landscape scenery of rolling green hills and trees are shared by the happy campers.
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
Chopsticks offers Chinese food and was voted the Best Takeout for 2024.
LifestyLe
CONTINUED FROM 22
Committee, on the Jamestown Community Foundation Board of Directors, is a past president of the Jamestown Area Chamber of Commerce, El Zagal Ladies Auxiliary member, Make-A-Wish North Dakota wish granter and All Vets Club volunteer.
Colin serves on the First Community Credit Union Board of Directors, is a member of the El Zagal Mystics and James Valley Shrine Club, and serves on the Jamestown Masonic Foundation.
“Community involvement is a huge deal to us because without the community support, we wouldn't be here, so we try to give back and support the community as much as we can as well,” Toni said.
Their community involvement is also possible due to their employees, Colin said.
“Right now we have great employees that allow us the ability to go do stuff outside of work for community,” he said.
Lifestyle Appliance & Entertainment Center employs 11 full-time people including Toni and Colin. The business is open from 8:30 a.m.
BEST LOCAL EVENT
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun Buffalo Days was voted the Best Local Event for the many fun-filled activities including a parade.
to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and can be reached at 252-8111.
Toni said they “thank the community for their continued support and their trust in us."
"We plan to be here for a long, long time," Colin said.
ksteiner@jamestownsun.com | (701) 952-8449
hardworking crew at Scott's Electric was voted the Best
BEST ELECTRICIAN
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
The
Electrician for 2024.
BEST LOCAL PARK
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
McElroy Park was voted the Best Local Park in Jamestown. The park is home to baseball and softball fields, playground equipment, picnic shelters and acres upon acres of land to walk, run or play. It is also host to state tournaments and the annual Buffalo Days event in July.
A new store in Jamestown, Bufftown Bargains, was named the Best Thrift
is located in the southwest part of town.
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
Store. Bufftown Bargains
VOTED #1 CAR WASH
Thank
John M. Steiner / The Jamestown Sun
Klein's Collision Center again won the Best Body Shop in Jamestown in the Best of the Jamestown Area.
Better banking starts with the best customers. We’re proud and honored to have been named the Best Bank in Jamestown for three years in a row! Visit GateCity.Bank/Jamestown to see how we continue to bring our best to this community.
701-293-2400 • 800-423-3344 Member FDIC
