Best New Store

Polka Dots

Running her own specialty shop – gifts and accessories – was a dream for Jackie Pickering, although it took a while to fulfill.

An Ohio native, Pickering has been in Savannah for 23 years. She worked in retail – even managed a fashion store – through college, but once she got her teaching certificate, she pursued her other passion. From 1996 to 2008, she taught in Chatham County schools.

Polka Dots opened in Whitemarsh Center just 16 months ago, and Pickering has yet to look back.

“I knew I was opening at the worst time ever, but something just felt right,” she says. “The space felt right. My daughter was working at a retail store downtown that was closing, and I was able to buy some fixtures. I didn’t have a clue what I was doing.

“I have a huge respect for people that own a business, because it’s a lot. Right now, I deal with probably 80 vendors. It’s a lot to keep up with, but I enjoy it. I don’t regret it for a minute.”

That’s because Polka Dots has amassed a large, loyal following of customers, many of whom know Pickering by name.

It’s a bright, sunny storefront, and it’s packed with knick–knacks, apparel, cards, soaps and candles, picture frames, stationery, and pretty much everything in between.

This is how I look at it: I want people to be able to come in here and buy a gift for anybody,” Pickering explains. “The only age group that we really haven’t addressed is the kids, the Wal–Mart age. Where they’d rather have a Wal–Mart gift card, or a toy kind of thing. I don’t do toys.

“We have hostess gifts, birthday gifts, we carry a very large line of collegiate stuff – the nicer collegiate gifts, like pottery, wine glasses, ice buckets, all the Tervis tumblers. I think a part of the success is we’ve got a lot of good named things – Vera Bradley, of course, ElizaB flip–flops. The Mud Pie baby clothes. We sell the heck out of the men’s belts with the fish borders.”

Men, she says, “are afraid of the store a little bit, because it seems so girly. But we have a lot of stuff that appeals to men, too. Plus it’s an easy gift–buying thing. We have gifts in all price ranges. You can come in here and get a little five–dollar gift, we’ll wrap it up cute, ready to go. Probably the most expensive thing we have is maybe $200.”

The staff at Polka Dots, including Pickering’s daughter Haley, have been there since the start. Which, of course, adds to the feeling of community.

“I like retail, I like the people, I like all that, and I knew that we needed a gift store out here,” Pickering says. “I don’t like the backroom stuff – my happiest day is when I’m out there selling.

“My ickiest day is when I’m in the back. So I do a lot of my ordering at home on the computer – I don’t know when I sleep – so that I can be out there. I’m sad when I hear that so–and–so was here, and I didn’t see them.” — BDY

Runner–up: See Jane

Best Furniture Store

Best Window Display

24e

This locally–owned store is a Broughton Street landmark and a work of art in and of itself. Don’t forget to check out the expansive and way–cool second floor.

Runner–up, Furniture: Rooms to Go

Runner–up, Windows: Primary Arts Supply

Best Military Discount

Lowe’s

10 percent military discount - all day, everyday, for active–duty military, National Guard and reserve, retiree and disabled service members, and their families.

Runner–up: Home Depot

Best Video Rental Store

Blockbuster

About to mark its tenth year, Blockbuster has inked month–long exclusivity deals with three of Hollywood’s biggest studios.

Runner–up: Home Run

Best Bookstore

Barnes & Noble

Get a Starbucks, spend an afternoon.

Runner–up: Books A Million

Best Musical Instrument Store

Portman’s Music Superstore

Now with four total stores statewide, Portman’s offers a wide range of instruments to own in addition to band rental instruments and lessons.

Runner–up: AMR

Best Music Store

Best Buy

Still the number–one choice for those who aren’t downloading everything.

Runner–up: FYE

Best Cigar/Tobacco Shop

Ye Olde Tobacco Shoppe

Smoking ban? Who cares about a stinking smoking ban?

Runner–up: Savannah Cigars

Best Lawn & Garden Store

Hester and Zipperer

A beloved locally–owned institution since 1922, with locations on Wilmington Island and Skidaway Road.

Runner–up: Home Depot

Best Motorcycle/Scooter Dealer

Savannah Harley-Davidson

Buy American!

Runner–up: Southeast Motorcycle Superstore

Best Place to Buy a Used Car

Best Place to Buy a New Car

Grainger Honda

This welcoming place on Chatham Parkway is a solid and perennial winner year after year in this category.

Runner–up, Used: Southern Motors

Runner–up, New: Vaden

Best Auto Repair

Savannah Tire

They seem to have the whole car–fixin’ thing down pat.

Runner–up: Dixie Motors

Best Toy Store

Toys–R–Us

A perennial winner in this category.

Runner–up: Kids Ahoy

Best Daycare

Maggie’s Morning School

Who says nothing good ever happens on Abercorn?

Runner–up: Calvary Daycare

Best Art/crafts store

Primary Arts

You don’t have to be an art student to enjoy their two floors of whimsical and complete shopping fun.

Runner–up: Michael’s

Best Eyewear Store

Lenscrafters

From hipster rims to Palin frames, you can get ’em here.

Runner–up: Iris Optical

Best Women’s Clothing

Best clothing boutique

BleuBelle

A solid winner in this category nearly every year.

Runner–up, Women’s: Terra Cotta

Runner–up, Boutique: Red Clover

Best Men’s Clothing

J. Parker’s

Every woman crazy ’bout a sharp–dressed man...

Runner–up: Urban Outfitters

Best Thrift/Vintage Store

Goodwill

This pillar of the community has seen a new renaissance with the economic downturn. Where else to find quality at these prices?

Runner–up: Civvies

Best Shoe Store

Globe Shoe Co.

This local favorite is one of Broughton’s most hallowed institutions.

Runner–up: Aldo

Best Jeweler

Levy Jewelers

A longtime local institution.

Runner–up: Zia

Best Costume Store

Acme Costumes

Halloween is like Christmas to these guys.

Runner–up: Party City

Best Novelty Store

Sunset Novelties

A clear win in this increasingly competitive category.

Runner–up: Jokers

Best Antiques

Jere’s Antiques

An intrinsic Savannah institution in a town already known for antiques.

Best Grocery Store

Publix

A focus on cleanliness and customer service seems to pay off every year for Publix.

Runner–up: Kroger

Best Gourmet Grocery Store

Fresh Market

A cornucopia of cool gourmet items on the southside.

Runner–up: Brighter Day

Best Health Food Store

Brighter Day

One of Savannah’s most cherished and long–lived institutions.

Runner–up: Fresh Market

Best Lighting Store

Circa

This repeat winner anchors the Downtown Design District

Runner–up: Pace

Best Cleaning Service

Merry Maids

A clean house is a great stress–reliever. The last luxury you should skimp on.

Runner–up: Carmen’s Cleaning

Best Shopping Center

Oglethorpe Mall

If foot traffic is any indication, not much of a recession going on here.

Runner–up: Twelve Oaks

Best Florist

John Davis

They do balloons, too!

Runner–up: Kiwi Fleur

Best Pawn Shop

Welsh Pawn Shop

Now with four locations, including one in Rincon.

Runner–up: Port City

Best Hotel

Bohemian

There’s no shortage of well–appointed digs to drop by whether you’re visiting Savannah or a local trying to find a spot for out of town guests to spend a night or two, so it certainly says something that this newcomer has taken the title of Best Hotel.

From the same minds that brought us the Mansion to Forsyth Park a few years back, the Kessler group certainly hit another home run with the Bohemian. Its rooftop bar, with its unparalleled views of the river, immediately won the hearts of locals, while its nautically themed rooms and spectacular service has kept visitors enamored as well.

“It is a premier location, overlooking the Savannah River, and the components we put in place seemed to gel immediately with that setting,” says Chris Coyle, the General Manager of the Bohemian. “It certainly lent itself to having a lot of exposure from the local traffic, the tourist traffic and destination travelers to Savannah.”

Even though their staff makes it look easy sometimes, Coyle is quick to point out how much time and effort it took, from the restoration of the building to the design and staffing.

The biggest challenge, according to Coyle, is getting everyone on the staff to focus on maintaining the desired level of quality.

“That’s always an inherently difficult piece to opening a hotel, beyond the hours you put in and the time it takes to do it,” he explains. “We were successful at that within the first 90 days of operation.”

Next week, the Bohemian celebrates its 10–month anniversary of being open. So far as the future is concerned, Coyle says fans of the Bohemian will continue to see “everything they’ve come to expect and more.” – PR

Runner-up: AVIA

best b&B

Ballastone

This perennial winner continues to raise the bar.

Runner–up: Gastonian

Best Pet Store

PetSmart

Your one–stop shop for all your friendly companion’s needs. Don’t forget they have fish too.

Runner–up: TailSpin

Best Pet Boutique

Tailspin

This popular place has moved to Habersham Village and hosts regular low–cost vaccine and microchip clinics.

Runner–up: Top Dog

Best Pet Grooming

Barka Barkstar Pet Salon and Resort

Seven thousand square feet of boarding, four big play yards, live webcams coming soon... Rover won’t ever want to come home. Also playing a big role in collecting pet hair to help the Gulf oil spill.

Runner–up: Diva Dogs

Best Lawyer

Best Local TV Commercial

Mike Hostilo, Savannah’s Best Lawyer, is the man behind the rapper.  Literally.

“Mike fights for the people/And this is true/If you can’t come to Mike/Mike’ll come to you./Do yourself a favor/But listen to me/Call 748–6453.”

So goes the rap song on Hostilo’s latest TV ad, winner of Best Locally Produced TV Commercial.  Hostilo is a personal injury attorney whose practice specializes in motor vehicle related injuries.

With ads on local television for almost ten years, Hostilo was no stranger to TV watchers before his rapper ad began airing in February, but his often serious public image is decidedly “upbeat” in the newest TV spot.

While a solidly built guy in a hoody and news cap raps Hostilo’s office phone number,  a grinning Hostilo himself pops in and out of the background, head bopping to the beat, dressed in jeans, an untucked white shirt, a blazer, no tie, and reflector shades.

Despite his high profile in the media, Hostilo is a down–to–earth guy who believes in customer service.  “I’m not afraid to get my hands dirty.  I’m not afraid to answer the phone.

The self described “type A” personality says that the most common feedback he gets from clients is that “I’m the guy who will call you back. I’m the guy you can get on the phone.”

A University of Georgia graduate, Hostilo earned his law degree at Atlanta Law School while working full time in an Atlanta law firm.  He’s lived in Savannah since 1992.

“I’m super organized, and I’m a hard worker.  I think that’s what makes us successful.”

He got the idea for the rapper ad from extensive online research.  In search of a rapper, he called longtime friend Ricky Willis, a catering manager at Armstrong Atlantic State University.

“He called me to see if I knew anyone who could rap,” says Willis.  “I told him I’m a rapper.”

Hostilo gave Willis the main points he wanted made in the ad.  Willis came up with the lyrics and their ad agency came up with the beat.

The TV spot began running on February 1.  “Not a day goes by that someone doesn’t call about it,” says Hostilo.
“It’s probably the single most risky business move I’ve ever made,” says Hostilo, “but it’s a home run.” — RWG

Best Law Firm

Hunter MacLean

Seven of their attorneys were recently named as Rising Stars for 2010.

Runner–up: Tate Law Group

Best Real Estate Agency

Mopper–Stapen

This longtime Savannah institution is weathering the downturn in style.

Runner–up: Keller Williams

Best Realtor

Don Callahan

Owner of his own real estate group as well as having an affiliation with Keller Williams, Callahan moved here from Key West in 1997 and hasn’t looked back.

Runner–up: Amanda Hancock

Best Moving Company

Two Men and a Truck

This franchise–based company has locations in Pooler and Richmond Hill.

Runner–up: American Moving and Storage

Best Bicyle Store

Quality Bike

This friendly shop on Montgomery Cross Road keeps the wheels turnin’.

Runner-up: Bicycle Link

Best Homebuilder

JT Turner

This homebuilder has survived the market downturn in a relatively copacetic manner.

Runner–up: Fred Williams

Best Cellphone Company

Verizon

A consensus that their network seems to be better in this area is driving Verizon’s repeat wins in this category.

Runner–up: AT&T

 

Best Bank

Wachovia

During a time when banks are almost universally reviled, Wachovia keeps customers happy with an emphasis on more personal service.

Runner–up: Suntrust

Best Rental Car Agency

Enterprise

This perennial winner wins accolades for professionalism.

Runner–up: Hertz

Best Taxi Service

Yellow Cab

When you need a helping hand getting where you need to go.

Best Place To Work

SCAD

Now well into its third decade, the Savannah College of Art and Design is expanding not only its physical presence, with campuses in Atlanta and Hong Kong, but in events serving the community as well. Somebody’s gotta do all that work, and they seem to like it.

Runner–up: Gulfstream