Best of Erie 2017

The best is here — and whether it's just around the corner or clear on the other side of town, you'd better believe it's not far. A panoply of terrific people, places, and things call Erie home, a fact qualified by your nominations. Now, after several weeks of polling, the most impressive of the bunch have been quantified by your votes. The categories cover everything from antiques to automobiles and ales to athletic clubs. If your favorite did not win (indicated by bold italics), chances are it at least made the top three (also listed) — if not, there's always next year (please participate in the nominations and the vote!) We extend our gratitude to all those who logged into eriereader.com over the past few months and our congratulations to the winners. Thank you for all that you do to enhance and elevate our city.

GOODS & SERVICES

Best Car Dealership

Bianchi Honda

Humes

Champion Ford

Best Antique or Vintage Shop

Pointe Foure Boutique

Oregon Antique Boutique

Buttons and Bows

Best Jewelry Store

Dahlkemper's Jewelry Connection

Breakiron Jewelers

Glass Growers Gallery

Best Place to Buy Furniture

John V. Schultz

"It's nice to be recognized by the younger generations and the readers of the Erie Reader. Also, our employees worked very hard to make John V. Schultz Erie's top furniture store."

Arthur F. Schultz

Fred's Furniture

Best Comics and Collectibles Shop

Books Galore

Actiontoyman

Kinem's Sports Cards

Best Smoke/Vapor Shop

Smoker Friendly

Erie Vapor Cabana

Hippie and the Hound

Best Chocolate or Candy Purveyor

Romolo Chocolates

Pulakos Chocolates

Stefanelli's Candy

Best Bakery

Art's Bakery

Ye Ole Sweet Shoppe

Icing on the Lake

Best Deli

Wegmans

Teresa's Italian Deli

Tickle's Deli

Best Winery

Mazza Vineyards

Heritage Wine Cellars

Arundel Cellars

Best Place to Get a Six Pack

U Pick 6

Wegmans

Lucky Louie's Beer & Wieners

Best Health Food Store

Whole Foods Co-op

The Juice Jar

Chicory Hill Herbs

Best Tattoo Parlor

Ink Assassins Tattoos & Piercings

Wayward Tattoo Studio

Mid-Town Tattoo

Best Local Graphic Designer

Alice DeGeorge

Mark Kosobucki

Amber Smith

Best Tattoo Artist

Jess Scutella

Jennifer Christina

Eerie Eric

Best Place to Get Pierced

Ink Assassins Tattoos & Piercings

Sacred Piercing

Buddha's Body Art

Best Place to Adopt a Pet

The ANNA Shelter

The Humane Society of NWPA

Orphan Angels

Best Bank

Erie Federal Credit Union

From left to right: Chief Marketing Officer Tom Brennan, 52; CEO Brian Waugaman, 46; Director of Marketing Ron Hickoff, 54; Director of Business Intelligence Eric Brotherson, 34 

"Being fans of the Erie Reader, we are truly humbled and thrilled to be a part of the Best of Erie Awards. There are some excellent financial institutions serving this area, so winning 'Best Bank/Credit Union' for the fourth year in a row means a lot to us," said Brian Waugaman, CEO of Erie Federal Credit Union. "We take our commitment to serving our members, the Erie community and our employees with care and compassion very seriously. A sincere 'thank you' to all who voted Erie FCU for this recognition!"

PNC Bank

Widget Financial

Best Spa

Coventina Day Spa

LECOM Wellness Center Spa

Panache Salon & Spa

Best Beauty Salon

Panache Salon & Spa

Owner: Edna Siegel

"It's a tremendous feeling to win the Best of Erie award. Its great for our business — we strive on education to improve our staff's growth. We are a clientele-friendly environment. Thank you to the Erie community for voting for us."

Famous Hair

Moxi Hair Salon

Best Barbershop

Uncle Nick's

Ruiz Barbershop/Salon

Russo's Barbershop

Best Bike Shop

John Adams Cycling

Danny Adams, 28  and John Adams, 61

"It's great to be recognized as Erie's top cycling business. Just the feeling of people thinking we are doing the right thing is great. We are serving the people of Erie."

Competitive Gear

Lake Country Bike

Best Web Developer

Epic Web Studios

WeCreate

Werkbot Studios

Best Locally Made Product

Smith's Hot Dogs

Romolo Chocolate

Iron Empire Clothing

Best New Business (Within Last Two Years)

Federal Hill Smokehouse

Pop Luck Gourmet Popcorn

Erie Apparel

Best Dog Groomer

Paws 'n Claws

Mud Puppies

Peninsula Pups Doggie Daycare

Best Consignment Shop

The Sassy Peacock

Plato's Closet

Claudine's Consignment

Best Thrift Store

Salvation Army

Goodwill

Erie City Mission Thrifty Shopper

Best Graphic Design Agency

Presque Isle Printing

Presque Isle Designs

Tungsten Creative Group

CULTURE & NIGHTLIFE

Best Local Festival

Roar on the Shore

Erie Art Museum Blues & Jazz Festival

Zabawa Polish Festival

Best Art Event

Arts &  Drafts

Erie Art Museum's Spring Show

Gallery Night

Best Museum

Erie Art Museum

ExpERIEnce Children's Museum

Erie Maritime Museum

Best Performing Arts Space

Warner Theatre

Erie Playhouse

PACA

Best Local Act (Band/Musician)

The Geek Army

Small Town Revolution

Eric Brewer & Friends

Best Local Artist

Jennifer Christina

Evan Everhart

Katie Levan

Best Art Gallery

Glass Growers Gallery

Artlore Studio

Kada Gallery

Best Music Venue

Coconut Joe's

Sherlock's

Basement Transmissions

Best Local Photographer

Sarah Peach

Robert Frank

Paul Lorei

Best Up-and-Coming Band/Musician (Last Two Years)

The Wildeyes

Broke Boland Band

Cult Classics

Best Local Singer

Mckenzie Lee Sprague

Roy Hollis Jr.

Preston Dillemuth

Best Local Musician

Stephen Trohoske

Abby Barrett

Ron Yarosz

Best MC

Charles Brown

Jonny Evans

Tony Facchiano

Best Neighborhood Bar

The Plymouth Tavern

U Pick 6

Jekyll & Hyde's

Best Night Club

Coconut Joe's

Bourbon Barrel

King's Rook Club

Best New Bar or Club (Within Last Two Years)

Voodoo Brewing Company

Sneaky Pete's

408 Bar and Grille

Best Dance Company

Mercyhurst Dance Company

Dance Elite

Long's School of Dance

Best College Bar

The Plymouth Tavern

Cornerstone

Coconut Joe's

Best Sports Bar

Odis 12

Sluggers

Erie Arena Sports Bar

Best Lounge

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Jekyll & Hyde's

Scotty's Martini Lounge

FOOD & DRINK

Best Restaurant

Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro

1201 Kitchen

Mi Scuzi

Best Sandwich Shop

Picasso's

Tickle's Deli

Lucky Louie's Beer and Wieners

Best New Restaurant (Within Last Two Years)

Federal Hill Smokehouse

Co-owners: Ryan Atzert, 37 and Autumn Atzert, 38

"We are really shocked we won. There were a lot of good places in this category. Two years ago I was selling pulled pork out of my backyard and now being voted 'Best New Restaurant' is crazy to me."

The Brew Brothers

Thai Eatery

Best Place to Get Seafood

Smuggler's Wharf

Joe Root's

Pineapple Eddie Southern Bistro

Best Romantic Restaurant

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Mi Scuzi

1201 Kitchen

Best Chef

Jean Paul, 57, (Pineapple Eddie)

"When I moved to Erie, my sister in-law said, 'Jean, we will help you open a restaurant' due to Erie having a few family restaurants. It's been an amazing ride so far."

Dan Kern

Darrell Knopfel (Sneaky Pete's)

Best Bar Food

Odis 12

The Plymouth Tavern

U Pick 6 locations

Best Local Coffee Shop

Brew Ha Ha

Coffee Culture

Out of The Grey

Best Food Truck

The Que Abides

Ernie's

Sticks and Bricks

Best Breakfast

Summerhouse Cafe

The Breakfast Place

The Original Breakfast Place

Best Patio

The Sloppy Duck

Smugglers' Wharf

Calamari's

Best Brunch

Summerhouse Cafe

Cloud 9

Voodoo Brewery

Best Place to Get Ice Cream

Sara's

Whippy Dip

Creamland

Best Local Brewery

Voodoo Brewery

Erie Brewing Company

Lavery Brewing Co.

Best Locally Made Beer

Voodoo Love Child (Voodoo Brewery)

Railbender (Erie Brewing Co.)

Dulachan (Lavery Brewing Co.)

Best Place to Get Vegan or Vegetarian Food

Whole Foods Co-op

Juice Jar

Like My Thai

Best Place to Order a Steak

Texas Roadhouse

Firebirds

Longhorn

Best Place to Get Barbecue

Federal Hill Smokehouse

Three B Saloon

Dickey's Barbeque Pit

Best Burger

Max & Erma's

The Brewerie at Union Station

Calamari's

Best Pizza

John's Wildwood Pizzeria

Stevo's

Blaze

Best Wings

Odis 12

One Way Inn

Park Tavern

Best Sushi

Chopstix

Wegmans

1201 Kitchen

Best Asian Restaurant

Chopstix

Golden Wok

Like My Thai

Best Italian Restaurant

Mi Scuzi

Colao's

La Bella

Best Mexican Restaurant

El Canelo

Torrero's

El Amigo Mexican Grill

Best Mediterranean or Middle Eastern Restaurant

Casablanca

Petra

Habibi Mediterranean Cuisine

Best Late-Nite Menu

Panos

Jekyll & Hyde's

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Best Dessert

Icing on the Lake

Cloud 9 Wine Bar

Coffee Culture

Best Indian Restaurant

Tandoori Hut

Curry Point LLC

Dawat Restro

Best Thai Restaurant

Like My Thai

Thai Eatery

Khao Thai

PEOPLE & PLACES

Best Radio Station

Happi 92.7

In the photo, left to right: Samm Adams, 26, Music Director; Ryan Maloney, 25, Promotional Director; Shari McBride, 57, Program Director 

Star 104

93.9 The Wolf

Best Radio Personality

Jessica Curry

Sammy Stone

Shari McBride

Best TV Personality

Sean Lafferty

Craig Smiley

Emily Matson

Best Yoga Studio

yogaErie

LECOM

Plasha Yoga Studio

Best Politician

Ryan Bizzarro

John Persinger

Kathy Dahlkemper

Best Poet

Marisa Moks-Unger

Chuck Joy

Robert Hass

Best Filmmaker

John C. Lyons

Jesse Olszewski

Len Kabasinski

Best Place to Work

Wegmans

Erie Insurance

LECOM

Best Tourist Attraction

Presque Isle State Park

Waldameer Park

Erie Zoo

Best Local Actor

Shawn Clerkin

Jesse Olszewski

Chris Bucci

Best Local Actress

Emily Olszewski

Adele Crotty

Kelly Rodland

Best Non-Profit or Charity

The ANNA Shelter

Erie Zoo

Sisters of St. Joseph Network

Best Landmark

US Brig Niagara

Perry Monument

Asbury Woods Nature Center

Best Bartender

Molli Jane

Brittany Stowe

Chris Pace

Best Place to get Lectured to

Tom Ridge Environmental Center

Mercyhurst University

Jefferson Educational Society

Best University

Penn State Behrend

Gannon University

Mercyhurst University

Best Fitness Club

LECOM Medical Fitness

Tyler Travis, 39 

"Our mission is to prevent illness through healthy living and physical activity. We are driven to be the resource for our community that exercises medicine."

YMCA

Planet Fitness

Best Athletic Competition

Beast on the Bay

LECOM Health Challenge

Erie Marathon

Best Bowling Alley

Greengarden Lanes

Eastway Lanes

Rolling Meadows

Best Team to Root for

Erie Otters

Erie Seawolves

Eerie Roller Girls

Best Golf Course

Whispering Woods

Peak Upper Course

Erie Golf Club

Best Local Entrepreneur(s)

John and Matt Schultz

Co-owners: Matt Schultz, 41, John Schultz, 50

Lisa Heidelberg

Tom Kennedy