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DeKalb County’s Finest 2025

Welcome to the 2025 Daily Chronicle’s Reader’s Choice Awards section representing DeKalb County. We call it “DeKalb County’s Finest”! This section announces this year’s winners as voted online by the public in June and July.

There are many challenges that small and medium sized businesses face each year. It is exciting to see the businesses that have kept their dreams alive and found ways to adapt, survive and continue to provide their great products or services to our communities. I think today’s section with the listings of all the winners in the various categories represents just how well local businesses are adapting and meeting today’s consumer needs.

The businesses in DeKalb County help to define us as a community and help to showcase the finest of what DeKalb County has to offer. It is important that we continue to frequent and support all of the businesses of DeKalb County while they work hard to battle through these tough times.

Each year we ask area residents to vote on who they believe are doing a great job of meeting our needs. Today we publish the list of businesses that the public has chosen to represent the various categories. We want to thank all the voters that took the time and made their votes count.

Congratulations to all the winners who placed in this 2025 contest. We look forward to seeing you all display your DeKalb County’s Finest marketing materials to let the public know that you are proud of your business and the employees that make it so exceptional.

Please Shop Local!

- Laura Shaw is the Publisher of the Daily Chronicle and The MidWeek.

2025 DEKALB COUNTY’S FINEST

AUTO BODY SHOP

BEST

Marty & Sons Body Shop

ONE OF THE BEST

Bob Schmidt Body Shop County Line Custom & Collision

AUTO REPAIR FACILITY

BEST

Bockman’s Auto, Truck & Tire of Sycamore

ONE OF THE BEST

Bill White’s C.A.R. Hospital, Inc.

Tom Sparks Auto

CAR WASH

BEST

Ralph’s Car Wash & Detail Center

ONE OF THE BEST Premier Car Wash

Sycamore Express Car Wash

MUFFLER SHOP

BEST

Bockman’s Auto, Truck & Tire of Sycamore

ONE OF THE BEST Bill White’s C.A.R. Hospital, Inc.

Velasquez Performance Exhaust

OIL CHANGE

BEST

Bockman’s Auto, Truck & Tire of Sycamore

ONE OF THE BEST Jiffy Lube Tom Sparks Auto

TIRE STORE

BEST

Blain’s Farm & FleetSycamore, Illinois

ONE OF THE BEST Bill White’s C.A.R. Hospital, Inc.

Bockman’s Auto, Truck & Tire of Sycamore

LIFE IS TOO SHORT TO BE STUCK ON THE SIDELINES.

Northwestern Medicine Orthopaedics provides the comprehensive care you and your family need to get, and stay, active. Our specialists offer orthopaedic and musculoskeletal care, sports medicine, sport-related concussion care and exercise medicine in state-of-the-art facilities. From injury care to joint replacement, our team is located right here in your community, so you don’t have to travel far to get back in the game. And we’re anchored by Northwestern Memorial Hospital, which is ranked No. 11 in the nation for orthopaedic care by U.S. News & World Report, 2024 — 2025.

To schedule an appointment or learn more, visit nm.org/sportsmedicine or call 815.758.0000 (TTY: 711).

BANQUET FACILITY

BEST Faranda’s Banquet Center

ONE OF THE BEST Blumen Gardens Chapel in the Pines Wedding & Banquet Center

BEER GARDEN/

BREAKFAST

ONE OF THE BEST Lalo’s Q Tom & Jerry’s Restaurant

MARGARITA

OUTDOOR DINING

FOOD & DRINK

PIZZA - THIN CRUST

BEST

Sam’s Pizza Sycamore

ONE OF THE BEST Dough Brothers Pizzeria Pizza Villa

RIBS

BEST

Tom & Jerry’s Restaurant

ONE OF THE BEST Lalo’s Q

The Dirty Bird

SALAD

BEST

Tom & Jerry’s Restaurant

ONE OF THE BEST Portillo’s Pub 64

SEAFOOD

BEST

Sorrento’s Restaurant

ONE OF THE BEST Ellwood Steak and Fish House The Flame

SPECIALTY COCKTAILS

BEST

The Grove Tavern

ONE OF THE BEST Pizza Beer Whiskey The Angry Pickle Pub

SPORTS BAR BEST MVP Sports Bar

ONE OF THE BEST Fatty’s Pub & Grille Pub 64

STEAK

BEST

Sorrento’s Restaurant

ONE OF THE BEST Ellwood Steak and Fish House The Flame

SUB SANDWICH

BEST

Tom & Jerry’s Restaurant

ONE OF THE BEST

Cesaroni’s Cafe & Deli McAlister’s Deli

ACUPUNCTURE

Allergies, Aches & Pains

Chiropractic & Acupuncture Center, Ltd.

AUDIOLOGY/

HEARING HEALTH CARE BEST

NIU Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic

ONE OF THE

Hearing Help Plus+ Northwestern Medicine ENT, Allergy and Audiology Sycamore

ALTERNATIVE

MEDICINE BEST Thyme ‘N Again Apothecary

ONE OF THE BEST Balika Balanced Acupuncture Stewart Family Chiropractic

CHIROPRACTOR

BEST

Schram Chiropractic

ONE OF THE BEST

Allergies, Aches & Pains

Chiropractic & Acupuncture Center, Ltd.

Stewart Family Chiropractic

DENTIST

EYE DOCTOR/VISION

HEALTH & WELLNESS

HOSPITAL

BEST

Northwestern Medicine Kishwaukee Hospital

ONE OF THE BEST KishHealth System Physician Group, DeKalb

MASSAGE THERAPY BEST

Allergies, Aches & Pains Chiropractic & Acupuncture Center, Ltd.

ONE OF THE BEST Essence Massage Therapy The Therapeutic Massage Center

MEDICAL CLINIC

BEST

Northwestern Medicine Primary Care Sycamore

ONE OF THE BEST Empower Wellness

OSF Medical Group - Primary Care

ORTHODONTIST

BEST

Collins Dental Group, P.C.

ONE OF THE BEST Grand Dental - Sycamore Sycamore Orthodontics & Pediatric Dentistry

PEDIATRICIAN

BEST

Genesis Pediatric Medicine

ONE OF THE BEST Family First Physicians Kristina Elizabeth Stibitz, MDNorthwestern Medicine

PHARMACY/

DRUG STORE

BEST

Jewel-Osco

ONE OF THE BEST Hy-Vee Pharmacy Meijer Pharmacy

Parent Testimonials

“My child’s teachers are truly exceptional. We loved every bit of this year!”

“He loves every single thing and all activities done at school. A few of his favorites are gym, crafts, Bible stories, and big, smiling greetings from his teachers. Very happy!”

“I think you do an amazing job with the kids. I appreciate all the patience that was given as we navigated a brand new environment.”