

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.”



PHYSICAL THERAPY
BEST
Northern Rehab Physical Therapy Specialists
ONE OF THE BEST Doctors of Physical Therapy Wylde Physical Therapy and Wellness
PHYSICIAN
BEST
Ilaxi P. Patel, DO
ONE OF THE BEST Shakeel Ahmad, MD
Dhaval N. Thakkar, MD










HEALTH & WELLNESS

PODIATRIST
Shane M. York, DPM
ONE OF THE BEST
Adam W. Bryniczka, DPM
Thomas S. Dwyer, DPM
RETIREMENT CENTER/ ASSISTED LIVING
BEST Oak Crest
ONE OF THE BEST Barb City Manor Retirement Home Grand Victorian of Sycamore
WOMEN’S HEALTH BEST Northern Rehab
YOGA/ PILATES BEST Kishwaukee Family YMCA
ONE OF THE BEST Midwest Sportsplex The Greenhouse Yoga














GARDEN
HOUSE & HOME - RETAIL
HARDWARE/
ONE OF THE BEST 35:35 Makers Collective & Vuur Lont Candle Co Cracker Jax
Stran’s Garden Center & Landscaping



PAINT/WALLPAPER
Delano’s Home Decorating
ONE OF THE BEST Main Street Painters Splash Of Color Inc.














































































BARBER SHOP
In & Out Cuts - DeKalb
ONE OF THE BEST In & Out Cut’s - Sycamore Upscale Fadez
BEAUTY
SALON BEST Honey Aura Studio
ONE OF THE BEST Mane Strain The Vault Salon
COSMETICS/SKIN CARE
BEST Honey Aura Studio
ONE OF THE BEST Flawless Touch - Sycamore The Vault Salon
DAY
SPA BEST Dana’s Day Spa
ONE OF THE BEST Honey Aura Studio Studio One Salon & Spa
DRY CLEANERS
BEST Greenacre Cleaners
ONE OF THE BEST Sycamore Cleaners V.I.P. Cleaners
NAIL
SALON BEST Honey Aura Studio
ONE OF THE BEST Dana’s Day Spa Pro Nails
PHOTOGRAPHER BEST lindsayrae.me
ONE OF THE BEST JenMadden4 Photography Samantha Kjell Photography
PRESCHOOL/DAYCARE
BEST Little Lambs Preschool of Immanuel Lutheran Church
ONE OF THE BEST Little Spartans Early Learning Program St. Mary Preschool Sycamore
TATTOO/BODY PIERCING
BEST KM Studio
ONE OF THE BEST DeKalb Tattoo Company Proton Tattoo













• Transportation
• A pet-friendly community











BANKS/FINANCIAL
MORTGAGE BROKER


































































































PRODUCE/FARMERS
SWEET TREATS (CANDY/
SPECIALTY
























































