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2012 HomeWorld

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Best of Shopping

Best Jeweler
Best Mall/Shopping Center
Best Retail Clothing Store
Best Sporting Goods Store
Best Boutique Shopping
Best Thrift Store

A diamond's a diamond's a diamond — or is it? Frankly, jewelry stores are all about the sales staff: These aren't used cars they're selling. Know thy stuff and be real with us, guys. Don't guild the lily, people. We know all that glitters is not necessarily for us. These three places know what we're looking for and do it right.
1. James Free
2. Stafford's
3. Jared's

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Best Mall/Shopping Center

This time of year they're all nightmares, but if parking weren't an issue and we had an unlimited budget, and there were no crowds and we didn't have to work ... Still, where else are you going to get a good, healthy dose of holiday spirit? On the Internet?
1. Fairfield Commons
2. Dayton Mall
3. The Greene

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Best Retail Clothing Store

Don't wait for a sale, because you don't have to. Kohl's is always running specials, and its offerings are exactly what we want when we don't want much in terms of out-there styles and fancy duds. We like our retail dependable and simple with a few well-placed surprises, and these three fit the bill.
1. Kohl's
2. Macy's
3. Elder-Beerman

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Best Sporting Goods Store

Where else can you go in for a pair of new soccer socks and come out with a four-man tent and tetherball set? Sporting goods stores are playgrounds for those who like their leisure-time activities preceded by a bit of shopping. You needed a new sports bra anyway.
1. Dick's
2. Gander Mountain
3. Tuffy Brooks

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Best Boutique

Ah, so there is a market for high-end, New York-ish stuff we see on the bods of the folks who populate People magazine. This is where you go when it's time for something truly special, something that may not be one of a kind, but certainly isn't one in a million.
1. The Blueberry Cafe
2. Joli
3. Ashley and Hilary — TIE FOR 3RD
3. Suggestive Somethings — TIE FOR 3RD

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Best Thrift Store

There's no such thing as a bad thrift store, because there's always something to buy and it'll hardly ever cost more than $5. Where does all this stuff come from, and how does a silk Armani suit get into the giveaway pile? Don't ask, just shop, and be prepared to spend some time.
1. Goodwill
2. Valley Thrift
3. Salvation Army — TIE FOR 3RD
3. Village Discount Outlet — TIE FOR 3RD

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Best Bookstore

Excuse us, but to which Books & Co. do you refer? They're both awesome, and the Town & Country store has served us well for decades. The new Greene store is earning its share of fans; its two stories make us feel like we're in the big city. So many good bookstores, so little time.
1. Books & Co.
2. Barnes & Noble
3. Borders

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Best Record Shop

What's a record? Two of these places remember the vinyl days well; CD Connection made us realize how much music can be jammed into a little space. Best thing about these stores is that the folks hired to man the counter and stock the shelves love music and are happy to share.
1. Gem City
2. CD Connection
3. Dingleberry's

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Best Health Food Store

Once again, Esther Price didn't make the cut, no matter how many times we hear that dark chocolate is good for you. Health Foods Unlimited and GNC are specialty stores; at Trader Joe's you can get a nice bottle of cheap wine to wash down all those nasty vitamins.
1. Health Foods Unlimited
2. GNC
3. Trader Joe's

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Best Car Repair

This is like deciding between a broken arm and a broken leg — it's all bad when your car's in the shop. There are places, however, that make the whole tragic experience less trying than we've come to expect, and we'd like to thank them, in writing, like we want our estimates.
1. AAMCO
2. Grismer
3. Goodyear — TIE FOR 3RD
3. Muffler Brothers — TIE FOR 3RD

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Best Hair Salon

If we don't look good, they don't look good, but look how good we look! We do our best, but our stylists deserve some credit because without a good haircut and some exclusive, just-for-our-hair-type products, we'd all look like Bob Dylan on a bad day.
1. Mark Phillips
2. Michael's
3. Square One

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Best Spa

Frankly, anyplace that does the dirty work of feet, fingers and pores tops our list of favorite places, and the variety of services offered makes for some fun comparison shopping — if you've got the money, they've got the time.
1. Michael's
2. O'Ney's
3. Hausfeld's Spa

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