Category: Best of Memphis

Best Culture Tour

You’ve probably seen Tad Pierson’s 1955 beige Cadillac cruising around town. It’s quite likely he’s giving some lucky tourists a personalized tour of Memphis’ music and civil rights landmarks.

“It’s the same year Cadillac that Elvis bought his mama,” says Pierson. “Only hers was pink.” Pierson prides himself on being able to captivate visitors with his knowledge of local culture, from obscure juke joints to Graceland. “I call it ‘anthro-tourism,’” he explains. “It’s what Memphis needs more of. You show off the local culture and it brings money into the local culture at the same time.”

Elvis Costello, Katie Couric, Rufus Thomas, Wilson Pickett, and Ken Burns are just a few of the notable clients that have ridden in the back seat of Pierson’s beautifully restored Caddy since he began his tour business in 1995. But, Pierson, whom Smithsonian Magazine once called “a straw-hatted blues aficionado,” says, “My favorite customers are the ones who’ve been saving to come to Memphis and take part in The American Dream Safari. They appreciate the deeper and more personal experience that we can offer.” — Bruce VanWyngarden

The American Dream Safari, tad@americandreamsafari.com, (901) 527-8870

Best Close Thing

Dr. Jason Martin, a Nashville physician, beat Memphis City Council member JB Smiley Jr. for the Democratic primary for the upcoming governor’s election. While that all seems very Memphis/Nashville, Martin won by fewer than 1,500 votes. 1,500. With this, Smiley — and Memphis — showed some statewide clout. — Toby Sells

Best Porn Preference

When Tennesseans headed to Pornhub last year, they wanted to see “interracial” videos. That’s according to the website’s annual report. The preference gives hope, in a weird way, that maybe our private desires could lead to more public tolerances. It’s a stretch, but a boy can dream. — TS

Best Sea Change

Our city’s problems seem so unbeatable. But a group of dedicated leaders banded together with county officials to reform our money bail system. The groups had to threaten to sue, of course. But the sea change is set in motion and, by next year, pretrial release or detention will be based on fairness, thoughtful judgment, and be more in line with the state constitution. — TS

Best Evolution

For 15 years, Black Lodge Video was a staple on Cooper. The last surviving video store in Memphis went dark in 2014 and began searching for a new home. Now, in their huge space on Cleveland in Crosstown, the Lodge not only offers one of the biggest video collections in the world — 35,000 titles strong — they also have a growing list of video and console games, as well as a newly opened kitchen and bar. The variety of events hosted on their stage, from film screenings to drag shows to armored medieval combat matches, is unequaled in the city. — Chris McCoy

Best Patch-Up

Memphis is hard on auto glass. This is a place where the “road debris” flying at your windscreen can range from gravel to large chunks of other automobiles. When the crack in your windshield finally reaches from one side to the other, Jack Morris Auto Glass will fix you up cleanly and quickly. — CM

Best Fan Group

American sports fans are so boring. Yelling things like “de-FENSE” over and over again at games. Not so with soccer fans, however. Take Memphis’ Bluff City Mafia, the supporters group for 901 FC, who march into the stadium, drums a-drummin, and come up with customized chants and songs for the team and individual players. Brilliant stuff. — Samuel X. Cicci

“Best” Italian Fusion Dish

Can I interest you in some roadside ravioli? Some interstate al dente? I don’t know what to call this dish exactly, but Memphis made national headlines when an 18-wheeler crashed and spilled Bertolli Alfredo sauce all over I-55, and Memphians were left eating plain fettuccine noodles. Mamma mia! — SXC

(Who are the) Best Bar Regulars

On any given weekday, a steadfast group of regulars meets at RP Tracks by 3:30 p.m. sharp to test their wits at Jeopardy. It’s a long-standing ritual of sorts for both customers and employees — some of whom should actually take the stage on the show (looking at you, Paul!). Fran, Shelley, Rachel, Ross, Amanda, Ana, Tory, and others whose names I’m surely forgetting (hey, I’m not the one who’s good at retaining information, as evidenced by my poor trivia skills) gather to flex their knowledge and have a beer with friends — or serve them — while they’re at it. I’d wager it all on a Daily Double to say they’re the coolest crew in town. Cheers! — Shara Clark

Best Food Court Staple

Sometimes I make a special trip to the mall solely to “try chicken.” Those words, which led an unassuming young Shara straight up to China Master to nibble on a hot piece of honey chicken skewered on a toothpick, are now synonymous with the Oak Court Mall. I’m not sure how they do it, but the delectable bits of chicken are super crispy on the outside, juicy inside, and have just the right level of sweetness. Add a couple sides (lo mein and mixed veggies for me), and you’ve got a heaping plate of some of the best and most affordable fare in the city — from a food court! — SC

The Memphis Flyer’s annual Best of Memphis readers’ poll celebrates all things Memphis, and *drumroll please* — it’s time to announce the winners! Memphis has spoken. From restaurants to radio, family fun and festivals, and everything in between, you chose your favorites. Winners with “BOM” next to their name dominated their category. Any ties have also been noted.

This issue was written by Samuel X. Cicci, Shara Clark, Michael Donahue, Alex Greene, Chris McCoy, Abigail Morici, Toby Sells, Jon W. Sparks, Izzy Wollfarth, and Bruce VanWyngarden. It was designed by Carrie Beasley with images by Justin Fox Burks.

Thanks to all of our readers — those who submitted nominations and voted, and those who didn’t. Y’all are the true Best of Memphis. And we thank our advertisers, who make it possible to keep the Flyer free, always.

View this year’s BOM winners at this link.

Best Post-Covid Dog Park
Tobey Dog Park doesn’t have the cool, big-tree shade and hip cachet of Overton Bark or the wide-open spaces and lakes of Shelby Farms Dog Park, but after a months-long COVID shutdown, Tobey Dog Park came back with lush new grass, new seating, a few new plantings, lots of room to run, and a friendly bunch of regulars. It’s become my hounds’ new go-to fave. — Bruce VanWyngarden

Best Place to Pretend Everything is Normal
Let’s face it: The great outdoors is the safest place to be in these scary microbe-laden times, and Overton Park is the escape destination of choice for lots of Memphians. There’s room to spread out on a blanket on the Greensward, if you’re feeling pastoral. You can hike and bike the miles of trails — paved and unpaved — if you want to exercise or just get into nature. You can play a round of woodsy golf on the old Links course, or take your pups for exercise at the dog park. Get out of the house. Breathe. — BV

Best Beach Within Reach
Have you noticed the Mississippi River is lower than it has been in years? Well, it is. And because of that, there are many new places to explore, most of which were underwater a few weeks ago. Who knows what you’ll find or what you’ll see. Get creative. Drive or bike around and check it out. The Big River Crossing is one way to get there. There’s also a huge sandy beach in Shelby Forest park, just north of the boat launch. Pretend you’re in Miami for an afternoon. (Except Miami doesn’t have the occasional bald eagle.) — BV

Best Pandemic Response
Heroes are those who deign to tilt a lance at 2020’s never-ceasing stream of hot, fresh bullshit. Heroes are those Cooper-Young residents who, since the beginning of the pandemic, have fought against it all with a front-yard display of skeletons that’s part social commentary and part salve for the soul. These skeletons have played volleyball, poker, gotten drunk at a bar, and honored the passage of U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. — Toby Sells

Best of MEMernet

(Credit: Ryan’s Shorts | YouTube)

Ryan Hailey is the funniest, hardest-working citizen of the MEMernet this year. His Ryan’s Shorts YouTube channel spews Memphis comedy gold. For proof, look no further than “Memphis Bass Pro Shop Pyramid Party Rock Anthem.”

“When the aliens come down, all they really want to see is the pyramid by the river down in Memphis, Tennessee. Made of glass and some brass, it’ll knock you on your ass. Make your damn jaw drop. What’s that? It’s our Bass Pro Shop.” — TS

Best Neighborhood Stroll (Credit: Shara Clark)

Take time to stop and smell the statues — or, you know, take a picture.

If nothing else, this year has made us all slow down — and that’s not a bad thing. Starting in late March, I began taking more walks in my neighborhood, Normal Station, and around the University of Memphis campus. I’d taken lots of strolls down those streets over the years, but this year they morphed into mediation-in-motion sessions, a break from the work-from-home slog, a mental distraction from COVID stress. Each day, I found new beauty: fresh floral blooms in neighbors’ front-yard gardens, college kids practicing their band instruments in the then-deserted U of M parking garage on Southern (the acoustics were phenomenal), and I even made it a mission to walk and photograph every single Tiger statue around campus. When the world was closed and all we had was home, I grew closer to my neighborhood. I bet you can find similar beauty in yours. — Shara Clark

Best COVID-19 Fighters/Keeping Shit Togetherers

Maybe Alisa Haushalter and Dr. Bruce Randolph weren’t household names in February. But, by now, everyone in Memphis knows that Haushalter, director of the Shelby County Health Department, and Randolph, the Shelby County Health Officer, have led the charge here to keep our collective shit together through this COVID-19 nightmare.

Behind the scenes, they watch the virus data and help form the plan on how to fight it. In front of the scenes, they give Memphians the straight dope on our situation and relentlessly crusade for mask-wearing, social distancing, and hand-washing. — TS

Best Historic Homecoming (Credit: Alex Greene) Booker T. Jones and Carla Thomas

When Booker T. Jones moved away from his hometown, the tensions and turmoil of that time clouded his brow. Recalling that in his just-published autobiography made his show at Crosstown Theater in January especially meaningful. Not only was his son Ted playing guitar, his old friend Carla Thomas and the Stax Music Academy band delivered “B-A-B-Y” with aplomb. — Alex Greene

Best Case of Mistaken Identity
Did you hear that U.S. Representative Steve Cohen bought the New York Mets? Where’s your hometown pride, Steve? Why not buy the Redbirds? Oh, wait. That wasn’t you? Apparently USA Today illustrated a story about billionaire hedge fund manager Steven A. Cohen with a photo of the Bluff City’s Steve Cohen. Dammit, Gannett! — Jesse Davis

Best Artist to Watch

(Credit: Blvck Hippie) Josh Shaw of Blvck Hippie

Local indie band Blvck Hippie recorded a pair of singles, “Bunkbed” and “Rhodes Avenue,” at Sun Studio during quarantine, and the songs have legs. We at the Flyer were early cheerleaders for the band, fronted by singer/songwriter Josh Shaw, but the buzz has gone international, landing the group a sponsorship from Ernie Ball and positive reviews from AFROPUNK, The Daily Indie, and La Blogothèque.

— JD

Best Reason to Break Quarantine
There is no good reason to break quarantine! If you feel sick, stay home! I’m serious! Watch John Carpenter’s The Thing or something. Why do you make me say these things, man? — JD

Best Advertisement

(Credit: Chris Davis | Facebook)

Flyer columnist emeritus Chris Davis recently clapped eagle eyes on what will soon be a legend in Memphis advertising. A huge sign for Drain Cleaning and Repair Co. faced Danny Thomas. Its classic lines read, “who pooted,” “oh, [poop emoji],” and “40 yrs. of straight turd chasin.'” — TS

Best Place for the Most Unlikely Pairing
Have you ever seen something so unlikely that you’re not quite sure what you are actually seeing? Like if you saw that George Takei was cast in the movie The Blind Side — not in the role of Leigh Anne Tuohy, but as Michael Oher — you might just stand there for a moment and go, “Wait. What? Hm. Okay.” Meet Mr. Casas Japanese and Mexican Food Truck. Wait. What? Hm. Okay. The unlikely food pairing is at first perplexing. A Japanese menu on one side, a Mexican menu on the other. Give it some time. You’ll get used to eating your nachos with chopsticks. — Julie Ray

Best Celebration of Memphis by Non-Memphians
The Iris Orchestra comprises players from all over the country. Conrad Tao is an acclaimed New Music composer based in New York. Yet those forces converged when Iris commissioned Tao to write a piece for the city’s bicentennial. Tao’s “Spoonful,” inspired by and incorporating a recording by Charlie Patton, embodied Memphis history in all its unhinged drama, angst, and humor. — AG

Best Wildlife Whisperer (Credit: Sami Harvey) Sami Harvey, wildlife whisperer

Sami Harvey was furloughed from her job at Hilton earlier this year due to the pandemic, but that didn’t keep her down. Harvey set out to save the world, one squirrel at a time. After realizing the need for more licensed wildlife rehabilitators in the Memphis area, she used the downtime to launch Out of the Woods Wildlife Rescue & Rehab from her home in Shelby Forest, where she now cares for injured and orphaned wildlife. The facility — where she treats squirrels, raccoons, foxes, opossums, cryptids, and some birds — houses indoor and outdoor enclosures and enrichment areas, and lots of love. Follow Out of the Woods on Facebook or Instagram (@outofthewoodswildlife) for some of the cutest damn pictures you’ve ever seen, and watch while these sweet little critters grow and heal. — SC

Best Barber Shop

1. 1776 Men’s Grooming Parlor

2. The Kee Barber

3. Gould’s Salon Spa

1776 Men’s Grooming Parlor offers haircuts, beard trims, and kids’ cuts. Serving both Collierville and Memphis, if you are looking for a close cut, fresh fade, or a prestigious pompadour, 1776 will have you “groomed for freedom,” just like their tagline guarantees.

Best Day Spa

1. Gould’s Salon Spa

2. The Well by Pavo

3. Rachel’s Salon & Day Spa

Best Place to Get

a Facial

1. Gould’s Salon Spa

2. The Well by Pavo

3. The Skin Clinics (Germantown)

If you want to step away from reality for a few hours, Gould’s Salon Spa has you covered. Our readers think it’s the best place in Memphis to escape from the stress of the city and melt into relaxation.

Best Place to Get

a Tan

1. Custom Spray Tanning by Bari @ SkinBody Memphis

2. Palm Beach Tan

3. Esthetiques Skin Spa

We all want good skin, but tanning isn’t necessarily the easiest thing in the world. Luckily, SkinBody Memphis has you covered. They are the No. 1 place Flyer readers choose in Memphis for tanning.

Best Hair Salon

Photographs by Justin Fox Burks

Pavo Salon

1. Pavo Salon

2. Verseau Hair Studio

3. Gould’s Salon Spa

Is it their friendly faces? Their talented stylists? Their great service? More than likely, it’s all three that made Memphis choose Pavo Salon as the Best Hair Salon. This high-end salon can do it all while making it look easy.

Best Hair Stylist

★ BOM 1. Erica Richardson, Verseau Hair Studio

2. Angela Windsor-Cummings, Gould’s

3. Jarrad Baker, Hero Sage Salon

They say hard work pays off. Erica Richardson at Verseau Hair Studio was voted Best in Memphis last year and continues her streak. Her commitment to her customers and ability to leave them satisfied make her a cut above the rest.

Best Nail Salon

1. Nail Bar & Co.

2. Gloss Nail Bar

3. Envy Nail Bar

Nail Bar & Co. turns nails into art. While you can go in and get the usual mani and pedi, they also provide personalized nail art. No matter how you want your nails to look, they will create a design to fit your style.

Best Health/Fitness Club

1. Kroc Center Memphis

2. YMCA

Any Body Yoga

3. Any Body Yoga

With your body in mind, Kroc Center was an easy choice for Flyer readers’ Best Health/Fitness Club. Their helpful staff, top-notch fitness equipment, and commitment to fitness provide a great place to get fit.

Best Place to Get Waxed

★ BOM 1. European Wax Center

2. Gould’s Salon Spa

3. The Well by Pavo

With a clean environment and knowledgeable, well-trained staff, the European Wax Center is waiting to spoil you and reinvigorate your skin. Their need to please set them apart in our poll.

Best Specialty Fitness Studio

1. Any Body Yoga

2. Better Bodies Yoga

3. CycleBar

Everybody is welcome at Any Body Yoga. The friendly studio tops the list as the best Specialty Fitness Studio in the city due to its commitment to welcoming all.

Best Medical Aesthetic Spa

1. The Skin Clinics (Germantown)

2. SkinBody Memphis

3. Memphis Laser Clinic

The Skin Clinics set a pretty high bar when it comes to skin care. Providing a wide array of services, they will help you reclaim your beautiful skin.

Best Beer Selection (in a bar)

1. Flying Saucer Draught Emporium

2. Young Avenue Deli

3. Lucchesi’s Beer Garden

The UFO-themed bar Downtown has made its name by having the best beer selection in the galaxy. Frankly, we wouldn’t be surprised if they could even serve up a Romulan Ale or a Pan Galactic Gargle Blaster. Seriously, if anyone could, it would be Flying Saucer. Beam us up.

Best College Hangout

Photographs by Justin Fox Burks

RP Tracks

1. RP Tracks

2. Railgarten

3. Newby’s

Anyone who has spent any time near the University of Memphis campus has popped into RP Tracks for a brew or a bite. It’s the one great uniter between students, professors, and staff. Well, that and maybe getting caught by the train. For excellent BBQ Tofu Nachos and enough beer to float a frat party, it’s got to be RP Tracks.

Best After-Hours Night Spot

1. Alex’s Tavern

2. Earnestine & Hazel’s

3. Paula & Raiford’s Disco

Maybe Granny was right and nothing good ever happens after 2 a.m. But then again, even Granny has been wrong once or twice. So where to go after last call on those nights that just shouldn’t end? Alex’s Tavern. When you need some Rock-Mo’s Chicken Drummies to soak up all that cheap beer? Definitely Alex’s.

Best Nightclub

1. Paula & Raiford’s Disco

2. Lafayette’s Music Room

3. Hernando’s Hide-A-Way

The best option when you want to “dance, dance, dance the night away” has absolutely got to be Paula & Raiford’s Disco. Don’t mind the (sometimes) long line to get inside, because, believe us, it is worth it. Light-up dance floor, signage forbidding drug use, 40-oz. beer, and all the grooviest hits of yesteryear combine to make Raiford’s Memphis’ Best Nightclub.

Best Craft Cocktails

★ BOM 1. Alchemy Memphis

2. The Cove

3. Art Bar at Crosstown Arts

Best Happy Hour

1. Alchemy Memphis

2. The Blue Monkey

3. Babalu

Best Bar

1. Alchemy Memphis

2. Lafayette’s Music Room

3. Art Bar at Crosstown Arts

The mix masters at Alchemy must have found the secret ingredient to a BOM hat trick. With an overwhelming win for Best Craft Cocktails, and wins for Best Happy Hour and the coveted Best Bar title, the tastefully appointed Cooper-Young bar has all the right ingredients for a happy hour hotspot.

Best Gay Bar

1. Dru’s Bar

2. Mollie Fontaine Lounge

3. The Pumping Station

Dru’s is the little neighborhood bar on Madison Avenue with the cool murals outside. They have karaoke, pool, comedy, and drag shows three nights a week. And cold brews served by friendly staff, of course. Like the mural says, Dru’s is “not just a bar, it’s your bar!”

Best Hole in the Wall

1. Earnestine & Hazel’s

2. Alex’s Tavern

3. P&H Cafe

It’s not every hole in the wall that used to be a brothel, or used to host hometown hero Craig Brewer’s famous Heaven and Hell Halloween parties. Or that’s totally haunted, has a long-running jazz night, and serves up a Soul Burger so tasty it’s been known to bring grown men to tears. Maybe that’s why Memphians proudly choose Earnestine & Hazel’s as Memphis’ Best Hole in the Wall.

Best Karaoke

1. P&H Cafe

2. Dru’s Bar

3. The Blue Monkey

The last six or seven months have been a long year. A really long year. But one of the things keeping us going is the thought of karaoke at the P&H Cafe. The mural on the ceiling, the various portraits of Elvis scattered about, the bobcat above the bar — this is the neighborhood dive where you’re always welcome, no matter how off-key your rendition of “Memory” may be. That’s right, we’re singing “Memory” from Cats, and they still serve us. Bless ’em.

Best Place to See Stand-Up

1. Chuckles Comedy House

2. P&H Cafe

3. The Orpheum

In the 14th century, Henri de Mondeville, a professor of surgery, promoted laughter as a post-operative therapy. Laughter, he said, was the best medicine. He’s not wrong. Laughter causes a release of pain-numbing endorphins, and it improves blood flow, too. So get ye to Chuckles for some stand-up comedy and healing humor. Doctor’s orders.

Best Place to Shoot Pool

1. Young Avenue Deli

2. Highpocket’s

3. P&H Cafe

Ah, the Deli. It’s perfectly situated, stumbling distance from all of Cooper-Young. Fuel your pool game with a reuben or a Sam I Am sandwich and a local beer, sidle up to the green-felted table, and slap your quarters down. Chalk up your cue, sip on your brew, and get ready to win this thing. Rack ’em up!

Best Sports Bar

1. Brookhaven Pub & Grill

2. Bayou Bar & Grill

3. Huey’s

This East Memphis hotspot has everything one could ask for in a sports bar. Impressive selection of foreign, domestic, and local brews? Check. Great pub grub? Check — try Brookhaven favorites like the Memphis Melt or the BLTC. All that, and the game is on. Owner Rick Spell says it best: “We serve fun here.”

Best Strip Club

1. Gold Club

2. The Pony

3. Purple Diamond

At the church picnic, Linda served the fried chicken. One man was having trouble deciding what piece of chicken he preferred. Linda helped him out by saying, “Most men prefer thighs and breasts.” For the hottest thighs and breasts in Memphis, see Linda at the Gold Club.

Best Bartender

1. Allan Creasy, Celtic Crossing

2. Morgan McKinney, Bari

3. David Parks, The Cove

Allan Creasy has topped this list many times in his 15 years behind the bar at Celtic Crossing. But he told the Flyer recently that he feels guilty about it. Others are better at mixology than he is, he said, he’s just quick with a pint and a joke. Nevertheless, hordes of Celtic regulars have decried Creasy’s departure but celebrated his new gig raising political cash for Future 901.

Best New Bar

Slider Inn

1. Slider Inn – Downtown

2. Knifebird Wine Bar

3. Bar Keough

Burgers and beer. What more do you need? With their savory sliders and robust drink menu, Slider Inn’s Downtown location tops the list as the Best New Bar in town.

Best Podcast

1. Chris Vernon Show

2. Night Classy

3. Verbally Effective Podcast

Chris Vernon took his popular sports talk show from FM radio to the internet a few years ago. Listeners managed to follow him and make him the top vote-getter for Best Podcast.

Best Columnist

1. Geoff Calkins, Daily Memphian

2. Wendi Thomas, MLK50

3. Michael Donahue, Memphis Flyer

Geoff Calkins is a perennial winner in this category. Leaving the Commercial Appeal and moving to the online Daily Memphian hasn’t hurt his following among Flyer readers. Sports or human interest, Geoff is the best.

Best Reporter

1. Kontji Anthony

2. Joe Birch

3. Jeremy Pierre

Kontji Anthony takes the prize in

this new category. She’s smart, she’s

on top of her game, and she’s on top of the Flyer‘s poll. Get your news clues from Kontji!

Best Radio Personality

1. Ron Olson

2. Drake Hall

3. Gary Parrish

A longtime and much-traveled veteran of Memphis’ radio wars, Ron Olson moves into the No. 1 slot as Flyer readers’ favorite radio personality. Perseverance pays off!

Best Local Radio Show

1. Gary Parrish Show

2. Ron and Karen

3. South Main Soul Club on WEVL

Gary Parrish’s blend of humor, entertainment, insight, and the occasional political opinion has landed him at the top of the radio dial for hosting the Best Local Radio Show.

Best Sports Radio

1. 92.9 ESPN

2. Chris Vernon Show

3. Gary Parrish

It’s clear that Flyer readers think 92.9’s lineup is the best sports programming in town from dawn to dusk — talking Tigers, Grizzlies, SEC, and smack.

Best Radio Station

Justin Fox Burks

WEVL-FM 89.9

★ BOM 1. WEVL-FM 89.9

2. The River 104.5

3. WKNO

Listener-supported and listener-programmed, WEVL takes this category year after year. And this year is no exception. Tune in for an eclectic mix of music — from hip-hop to bluegrass to Celtic.

Best TV News Anchor

1. Joe Birch

2. Kontji Anthony

3. Mearl Purvis

What can you say about perennial Best News Anchor Joe Birch. He’s won this award so many times we ought to name it after him. Congrats for the millionth year in a row!

Best TV Sportscaster

★ BOM 1. Jarvis Greer

Tie 2. Doc Holliday

Jessica Benson

3. Pete Pranica

Jarvis Greer is another of WMC-Channel 5’s year-after-year winners. The former Memphis Tiger has a great attitude and stellar reporting chops, plus that ever-present upbeat hometown spirit.

Best TV Weatherperson

★ BOM 1. Chelsea Chandler

2. Ron Childers

3. Brittany Bryant

Chelsea Chandler steps up to the green screen and talks about the weather better than anybody in town, say our Flyer voters. She’s definitely on the radar these days.

Best Antiques Store

1. Sheffield Antiques Mall

2. Cotton Row Uniques

3. Antique Warehouse Mall

If you just have a short amount of time, you probably still can find something you can’t live without at Sheffield’s Antiques Mall by just going down two or three aisles. If you plan on spending some time, get one of their “grocery” carts. Antiques and other pieces in people’s booths change, so customers find new items every time.

Best Gift Shop

1. Cotton Row Uniques

2. Babcock Gifts

3. The Broom Closet

Best Home Furnishings

1. Cotton Row Uniques

2. Bartlett Home Furnishings

3. The Great American Home Store

Aunt Gladys has everything. Everyone has an Aunt Gladys. What Aunt Gladys doesn’t have is a hand sanitizer tree ornament, a Chewy Vuiton for Puddles, or a Turkish rug stool. Cotton Row Uniques is the Best of Memphis when shopping for gifts and home furnishings for Aunt Gladys (and yourself).

Best Beer Selection (in a store)

1. Buster’s Liquors & Wine

2. Madison Growler and Bottle Shop

3. Joe’s Wines & Liquor

Best Liquor Store

1. Buster’s Liquors & Wines

2. Joe’s Wines & Liquor

3. Kirby Wines & Liquors

It’s official. Memphis finds Buster’s Liquors & Wines intoxicating. Voted the Best of Memphis for best beer selection and liquor store, we couldn’t be hoppier for your un-beer-lievable success. Cheers!

Best Local Athletic Goods Store

★ BOM 1. Outdoors Inc.

2. Fleet Feet Sports

3. Breakaway Running

Best Bicycle Shop

1. Outdoors Inc.

2. Victory Bicycle Studio

3. All About Bikes

For shoes, water vessels, bikes, and everything in between, Memphis goes outdoors with Outdoors Inc. Bike, hike, and launch from the dike geared up from the best local athletic goods store and bike shop.

Best Bookstore

1. Novel

2. Burke’s Book Store

3. Barnes & Noble

What’s the best bookstore for shelf awareness — the place to not only get books, but puzzles, games, crafts, toys, and more? With more stories than the Tower Center, Memphis voted Novel the best bookstore. Let the good tomes roll.

Best Butcher

★ BOM 1. Charlie’s Meat Market

2. The Fresh Market

3. Thomas Meat & Seafood Market

Some places are all meat and no potatoes. Not Charlie’s Meat Market. They’ve got potatoes, too. There’s no mis-steakin’ why Memphis voted this butcher a cut above the rest.

Best Creative Agency

1. Sauce Marketing

2. Archer Malmo

3. Neon Canvas

Oh, you saucy little minx, enticing us with your spicy marketing strategies. You add the most flavor and visual appeal to websites, branding, and growth strategies, according to Memphis Flyer BOM voters. You’re awesome, Sauce.

Best Day Care

for Kids

1. Lindenwood Christian Child Care Center

2. Memphis Jewish Community Center

3. Christ the King Lutheran Church

No kidding, Memphis gave Lindenwood Christian Child Care Center the lion’s share of votes for best day care for kids. With class names for infants to toddlers like lambs, bunnies, and dinosaurs, it’s no wonder they’re the bees’ knees.

Best Event Rental Venue

Memphis Botanic Garden

1. Memphis Botanic Garden

2. Dixon Gallery and Gardens

3. 409 South Main Events

What’s the best place in Memphis to have a wedding, host a party, or plan a meeting? Flyer readers voted Memphis Botanic Garden as the best bloomin’ event rental venue in town. It’s no garden variety space.

Best Farmers Market

1. Memphis Farmers Market

2. Agricenter Farmer’s Market

3. Cooper-Young Community Farmers Market

Vegetables and communities must be grown with care. Maybe that’s why Memphis Farmers Market is the pick of the crop when it comes to farmers markets, by adding herb appeal to Downtown Memphis.

Best Florist

1. Pugh’s Flowers

2. Holliday Flowers & Events

3. Rachel’s Flower Shop

Ah, what pray tell is that pungent

scent of roses and honeysuckle filling the air? It must be Pughy, the world’s only delightfully fragrant skunk, who works so hard for the locally owned Pugh’s Flowers family business. It makes scents that Pugh’s is the Best of Memphis florist.

Best Garden Center

1. Dan West Garden Center

2. Urban Earth Garden Center

3. Midtown Nursery

Since 1952, Dan West’s has been the go-to place for your botanic necessities, whether it’s plants, supplies, or knowledge. What you need to grow and what you need to know is either at the original store on Poplar or the facility out in Eads.

Best Golf Course

1. Windyke Country Club

2. Links at Galloway Golf Course

3. TPC Southwind

As a family-oriented country club, Windyke offers not only a terrific golf experience on three courses, but also dining, tennis, and swimming. There are seasonal events throughout the year, and it’s an ideal place to have a banquet or a wedding ceremony.

Best Grocery Store

1. Trader Joe’s

2. ALDI

3. Superlo Foods

What does Germantown have that Memphis doesn’t? Yep, a Trader Joe’s, although there’s considerable sentiment for the grocery chain to open another location in the Bluff City. Fans love the prices, the white cheddar popcorn, the selection, the customer service … well, you get the picture.

Best Specialty Treat Shop

1. Dinstuhl’s Fine Candies

2. Jerry’s Sno Cones

Tie 3. La Michoacana

Muddy’s Bake Shop + Coffee

There are several locations around town (and Downtown has reopened), and doesn’t your mouth water when we mention cashew crunch, caramel apple, chocolate covered pineapple, cat (and bat) suckers, chocolate playing cards, and chocolate pecan fudge? We don’t need Willy Wonka when we have Dinstuhl’s.

Best Shopping Center

1. Shops of Saddle Creek

2. Laurelwood Shopping Center

3. Crosstown Concourse

The Germantown shopping complex is an elegant place to seek out great fashion, beauty, home, and technology goods, from the trendy to the iconic. And then stop for some coffee or a bite to eat. Its architectural design and singular shops make Saddle Creek a lifestyle center.

Best Hotel

Peabody Hotel

★ BOM 1. Peabody Hotel

2. The Central Station Memphis, Curio Collection by Hilton

3. ARRIVE Memphis

It’s called the historic Peabody for a reason. The “South’s Grand Hotel” has charm, elegance, and a warm hospitality to offer guests, along with ducks and their duckmaster, remarkable shops, and a lounge that has entertained the famous, the infamous, and everyday folks.

Best Law Firm

1. Baker Donelson

2. Nahon, Saharovich & Trotz Personal Injury Attorneys

3. Burch Porter & Johnson PLLC

As one of the city’s best-known firms, Baker Donelson offers trusted counsel, innovative services, an award-winning culture, a wide reach and deep bench of talent, and a powerful commitment to the community. That’s why it’s been a prestigious firm for all of its 130 years.

Best Lingerie Shop

★ BOM 1. Coco & Lola’s

2. Trousseau

3. A Fitting Place

They’re more than happy to mention all of the unmentionables at Coco & Lola’s. They’ll show you two-piece bra and panty sets, two- and three-piece garters, chemises, babydolls, bustiers, and corsets. If there’s anything intimate you haven’t thought of, trust them. They have.

Best Local Bank or Credit Union

★ BOM 1. Orion Federal Credit Union

2. First Horizon Bank

3. First South Financial Credit Union

For some time now, Orion has upped the ante on customer service as well as community involvement. It also has something most credit unions don’t: being cool. Just check out its new headquarters in the old Wonder Bread building near Downtown.

Best Local Fine Jewelry Store

1. Ed Harris Jewelry

2. Mednikow Jewelers

3. Sissy’s Log Cabin

With its large inventory of designer watches, bracelets, necklaces, earrings, and rings, Ed Harris is ready to provide what’s needed for an engagement, wedding, anniversary, birthday, or special occasion. If you’re looking for something elegant and unique, he’s got it.

Best Regional College

University of Memphis

★ BOM 1. University of Memphis

2. Southwest Tennessee Community College

3. Rhodes College

The Tigers are roaring, and it’s not because of their football or basketball teams. The latest issue of U.S. News & World Report now ranks the U of M at No. 126 in its national list of the nation’s “Top Public Universities,” one of only three schools in Tennessee mentioned in that category. What’s more, Memphis made the top-100 in “Top Performers in Social Mobility,” and its engineering program was ranked No. 161 nationwide.

Best Independent School

1. Christian Brothers High School

2. Lausanne Collegiate School

Tie 3. Briarcrest Christian School

St. Mary’s Episcopal School

Academics? Last year, every graduate of CBHS was accepted to college. Athletics? How about 17 different sports and 45 state championship appearances. Combine that with learning based on the Lasallian tradition, low student-teacher ratio, and a school that considers itself a community instead of just a campus, and the Brothers are a winner.

Best Local

Public School

1. White Station High School

2. Snowden School

3. Houston High School

Let’s see: Accomplished teachers, up-to-date facilities, winning sports teams, state-of-the-art equipment for in-person or remote learning, and a record of achievement at every level. It’s easy to see why parents and students picked White Station as the best public school in the Memphis area.

Best Place to

Get Vintage/

Used Clothing

1. Flashback

2. Goodwill

3. City Thrift

“Used clothing”? Oh please, this is like stepping into a vintage department store, packed to the rafters with classic clothes in styles that have remained timeless. And it’s not just clothes — how about lamps, furniture, and other items from times past? We have no idea where longtime owner Millett Vance finds these wonderful treasures, but we’re glad she does.

Best Local Store for Men’s Clothing

1. Oak Hall

2. Dixie Pickers

3. Outdoors Inc.

Best Local Store for Men’s Shoes

1. Oak Hall

2. Outdoors Inc.

3. Breakaway Running

Founded in Memphis in 1859, Oak Hall is one of the country’s oldest family-owned businesses. If you’re looking for the very best designer clothes, shoes, and accessories, combined with a relaxing shopping experience and first-class customer service, look here first. As one of their old advertisements proclaimed, “Oak Hall is the store with more.”

Best Local Store for Women’s Clothing

1. Indigo

2. The Ivory Closet

3. Crazy Beautiful

At first, it seems a bold move to open a boutique that offers mainly denim clothing, but Indigo takes it a step further than just designer jeans. Customers won’t get the blues when they encounter the selection of tops, handbags, shoes, jewelry, and other first-rate accessories.

Best Local Store for Women’s Shoes

1. Joseph

2. Kaufman Shoes

3. Cook & Love Shoes

When the Wexner family opened a tiny shoe store Downtown in 1930, they probably never imagined modern-day customers would consider it one of the top-rated high-fashion stores in Memphis. But if you’re looking for international designers like Louboutin, Prada, St. Laurent, Gucci, and more, this is the place that lets you put your best foot forward.

Best Music Equipment Store

1. Amro Music

2. Memphis Drum Shop

3. Martin Music

Need a guitar so you can become a rock star? Sure, you can buy one here. But if you’d rather play the flute, bassoon, French horn, or even the oboe, you can find those here, too. For anybody who wants to march to the beat of a different drummer, Amro’s the store for you. Oh, and they sell drums, too.

Best Pet Boarding/Day Care

Photographs by Justin Fox Burks

Browndog Lodge

1. BrownDog Lodge

2. Dogs Rule Day Care & School

3. Claridge Spa Pet Resort

Man’s best friend gets Best of Show treatment at BrownDog, where pets are pampered with a private room, bed, flat-screen TV, three walks daily, a real grass yard, and even personal massages. Heck, we’d stay there ourselves if we could.

Best Pet Store

★ BOM 1. Hollywood Feed

2. Three Dog Bakery

3. PetSmart

The “Feed” part of their name is only part of the story. No matter what kind of critter you have, this store has something for them (and you): bowls, collars, leads, treats, toys, medications, beds, crates, cages, kennels, grooming tools, and yes — even pet clothing. If you come home to Mr. Puddles empty-handed, don’t blame us if he lives up to his name.

Best Vet

1. Walnut Grove Animal Clinic

2. The Pet Hospitals

3. Utopia Animal Hospital

Since Dr. Chuck Halford founded Walnut Grove Animal Clinic 27 years ago, he and his colleagues have been taking good care of our furry (and scaly) friends. Our readers chose them because they recognize that our pets are members of our families.

Best Realtor

1. Ashley Onsby, MidSouth Residential

2. Julie Upchurch, McWaters & Associates Realtors

3. Todd “Too Tall” Adams, Keller Williams Realty

The Memphis-area real estate market has never been hotter. Whether you’re looking for a starter home or trying to upgrade your living space, you need someone you trust to represent your interests in a complicated world. Our readers chose Onsby, who works from Arlington to Downtown and all points in between.

Best Home Remodeling Service

1. Two Broke Bartenders

2. Crone Construction

3. RKA Construction

The coronavirus pandemic has upended the lives of millions of people. No one has been hit harder than food service workers. When entrepreneur Taylor Berger’s restaurants closed for lockdown in March, he put displaced bartenders to work providing home services of all kinds. In just a few short months, Two Broke Bartenders has become indispensable to Memphis.

Best Record Store

Goner Records

1. Goner Records

2. Shangri-La Records

3. Memphis Music

Goner isn’t just carrying on the proud tradition of Memphis music retailing, it’s also a record label and center of a music community. This year, they’ve expanded into another realm. Gonerfest, the annual gathering of the punk rock tribes, moved online and included bands from as far away as Auckland, New Zealand, and Berlin, Germany. Goner proves Memphis music’s worldwide reach.

Best Sex Shop

1. Lovers

2. Inz & Outz

3. Romantix

What do you want from a sex shop? Selection and discretion. The Memphis favorite Christal’s has changed its name to Lovers, but they’re still sex-positive Flyer readers’ go-to for lingerie, toys, and novelties. Treat yourself when it’s time to spice up the boudoir.

Best Tattoo Artist

1. Nathan Parten, Trilogy Tattoos

2. Peter Miller, Underground Art

3. Jordan Epperson, Bluff City Tattoo

Tattoo artists have been hit hard in the pandemic. Nathan Parten’s fine linework and creative designs have made him a favorite of the Bluff City inked set. He has recently expanded his pallet by making forays into animation, creating music videos for Louise Page and HEELS.

Best Tattoo Studio

1. Bluff City Tattoo

2. Trilogy

3. Underground Art

Bluff City Tattoo is a relative newcomer on the scene, having only been founded in 2018. But with heavily illustrated Lucero guitarist Brian Venable as a co-owner and front man, they have quickly become a favorite for Memphis Flyer readers looking to make some permanent alterations to the body beautiful.

Best Alternative Smoke Shop

★ BOM 1. Whatever

2. Cloud9 Smoke Shop & Vape Shop

3. Wizards

Best Tobacco/

Cigar Shop

1. Whatever

2. Tinder Box

3. Madison Tobacco

When you’re stuck at home in quarantine, you need to chill. Our readers chose Whatever as the place to go for chillout accessories both basic and exotic. Their profile has been boosted by the legalization of CBD flower and other products. It’s an anxious time, so take the edge off.

Best Place to Buy a Motorcycle

★ BOM 1. Bumpus Harley-Davidson

2. Indian of Memphis

3. Southern Thunder Harley-Davidson

You know the ideal socially distanced activity? Speeding down the highway on a roaring motorcycle! Just try to catch me, COVID! For years, it’s been clear: When our readers are ready to hop on a hog, they hit Bumpus Harley-Davidson.

Best New Car Dealership

1. Jim Keras Subaru

2. Roadshow BMW

3. Wolfchase Honda

The Mayor of Covington Pike wants to put you in a Scubie. Jim Keras has been a trusted name in car sales in the Bluff City for years, and our readers have rewarded the great deals, service, and financing by naming them the Best of Memphis.

Best Used Car Dealership

CarMax

1. CarMax

2. City Auto

3. Smith Imports

Used car sales have boomed during the pandemic. Edmunds reported Americans bought 1.2 million autos in July alone. In our survey, readers chose the convenience and selection of CarMax, the nationwide retailer with a strong online presence.

Best Auto Repair

1. Gateway Tire & Service Center

2. Christian Brothers Automotive

3. Barton’s Car Care

When Flyer readers are in the market for new tires, a tune-up, or other auto repairs and want service that’s convenient and affordable, they hit the road with Gateway.