By Nancy Correro
Editor, The Times of SWLA
Decision ’09 -- The Times Original Best Of SWLA 2009 -- Part 1
Our annual reader’s have made their decisions. The Best of Southwest Louisiana is official, and Decision ’09 honors some old favorites, some new favorites, and offers up some pleasant surprises. This year we’ve added some new categories and taken out a few.
Decision ’09 will be revealed in two publications. In this issue we will report the winners in the categories of Shopping & Services, Sports & Recreation, and Local Media. Our May 28 issue will reveal the winners in Arts & Culture, Nightlife, and SWLA Food.
Best Shopping & Services
Best Bank: Cameron State Bank. The annual heated competition between local banks had Cameron State Bank winning by a landslide with our voting readers. Chase Bank placed second this year with Jeff Davis Bank taking third.
Best Credit Union: CSE Federal Credit Union. CSE Credit Union took first place again this year with Calcasieu Parish Employees Federal Credit Union taking second place and Olin Credit Union took third place.
Best Financial/Investment Planning Consultant: Pepe Vasquez, Mallard Investments, CSB.
Vasquez wins yet again! Edward Jones placed second and Bayard Financial took third place.
Best Auto Dealer (New): Billy Navarre. Once again, Billy Navarre ran away with first place for Best Auto Dealer (New). All Star Pontiac, Buick, GMC took second place and Lake Charles Toyota took third place this year.
Best Auto Dealer (Used): Billy Navarre. Billy Navarre was voted Best Auto Dealer (Used) again this year. Auto Plex moved up to second place and Martin Pontiac GMC came in third in Decision ’09.
Best Auto Service: Billy Navarre. Navarre again swept our Decision ’09 with our Best Of voters! Ken Conner’s Service Tire & Auto moved up to second place this year and Ace Automotive took third. Family Auto Service garnered enough votes for an honorable mention.
Best Tire Center: Ken Conner’s Service Tire & Auto. Once again, it was a tough fight this year, but Conner’s came out first in Decision ’09, with Pumpelly’s Tire Center finishing a close second. Sam’s Club placed third. Honorable mention goes to Tom Aday’s Tires, Brakes, & Alignment.
Best Motorcycle Shop: Harley Davidson of Lake Charles. Harley supporters put their favorite in first place again. Honda of Lake Charles made a second place finish and West Bank Bros. took third for Decision ’09.
Best Local Hardware Store: Gayle’s Hardware. For all your gadgets and widgets, you now have three top places to go! Gayle’s Hardware on Ryan Street was voted “Best Of” again this year. Trahan’s Hardware on Common Street took second place again this year. Our third place winner this year is Ferguson Hardware & Supply on Sale Road.
Best Roofing Company: Ferguson Roofing. Decision ’09 voters once again gave Ferguson Roofing top honors, with Poole Roofing placing second. Coming in third is Daughill Contracting. Arabie Roofing and All Purpose Roofing receive honorable mention.
Best Fence Company: Rivers Fence Co., Inc. In this competition, Rivers Fence took first place way ahead of the competition. Coming in second was Nash Fence and Supplies, Inc. and third was Hercules Fence Co., Inc.
Best Rental Store: Grand Rental Station. Grand Rental Station took top honors this year, with Groves Rent Way coming in second. Third place went to Tadlock Rental.
Best Mini-Storage: A-Affordable Storage. A necessity for most households, the mini-storage units are getting quite competitive. This year A-Affordable Storage surprised the competition by taking first place. U-Lock-It is second with our Decision ’09 voters, and U-Lock-It dropped to the third spot from second last year. Honorable mention goes to Assured Mini-Storage.
Best Pest Control: J & J Pest Control. For home protection against invasions of the pesky kind, our readers again selected J & J Pest Control for first place. McKenzie Pest Control moved up to second place with McGinnis Pest Control coming in third.
Best Realtor/Realty Firm: Flavin Realty. Decision ’09 voters gave top honors to Flavin Realty. Safari took second place and Prudential made the list at third place.
Best Insurance Office and Agent: State Farm Insurance, Ronnie Johns. It looks like a full State Farm sweep with Ronnie Johns of State Farm at #1, Don Harris of State Farm in second place and Hunter Perrin of State Farm in third place.
Best Pool Company: Sabine Pools & Spas. Our voters again honored Sabine Pools as the best pool and spa supplier and contractor. Pro Pools & Spas took second place and Affordable Pools placed third. Honorable mention goes to Cajun Pools.
Best Sporting Goods/Outdoor Store: Academy. Academy takes first place in a landslide decision with Lake Charles Tackle taking second and Athlete’s Corner placing third.
Best Liquor Store: Hokus Pokus. Moving up to first place and way ahead of the pack (not the six pack or the twelve pack) is Hokus Pokus. Second choice with voters is Lake Street Liquor, and Homsi’s placed third.
Best Place to Have a Baby: Women & Children’s Hospital. Once again, Women & Children’s Hospital was voted the best place to have a baby. Lake Charles Memorial Hospital took second place and Christus St. Patrick Hospital placed third.
Best Pharmacy/Drug Store: Walgreens. Walgreens again took first place among our readers with hometown Gordon’s Drugs in second place. Third was CVS Pharmacy.
Best Physician: Dr. Carl Nabours. Dr. Nabours once again garnered first place among our readers with Dr. Nick Cohen placing second in the voting. Dr. David Wallace came in third.
Best Travel Agency: Globetrek Travel. If you need a vacation destination, our voters recommend Globetrek Travel, once again. Partners in Travel took second again this year, followed by Network II placing third.
Best Antique Store: French Quarter Flea Market. The French Quarter Flea Market is the favorite place for treasure hunters. Old Feed Store Antiques took second place this year and Focal Point Antiques placed third, both moved up from honorable mention last year.
Best Bargain/Thrift Store: Tuesday Morning. For the fourth year, Tuesday Morning won first place among bargain-hunters. S&M on Ryan Street took second place again with our voters. The Goodwill Store on Highway 14 took third. Honorable mention must go to The French Quarter Flea Market.
Best SWLA Gift Shop: Expressions. Once again, whether you’re shopping for Mardi Gras, Christmas or birthdays, our voters overwhelmingly recommend Expressions on Ryan for great gifts. Louisiana Market came in second with their unique gift items moving up from honorable mention last year. Artistic Crosses took third place.
Best Toy Store: Toys R Us. When shopping for the kids, Toys R Us is still the favorite place for our readers, with Emily’s placing second and Target coming in third.
Best Women’s Clothing: Dillard’s. The best place to shop for women’s clothing is Dillard’s according to our voters. Stage came in second place. Third place went to Talbot’s.
Best Bride & Groom Formal Wear: Black Tie Formal Wear. Black Tie Formal Wear took the #1 spot again this year. Al’s Formal Wear moved up to second from last years honorable mention spot in this hot contest. Treasured Moments came in third.
Best Wedding Registry: Navarra’s. Times voters selected Navarra’s as their preferred wedding registry for Decision ’09. Bella Cose & le Grenouille came in a close second. The Paper Place clinched third. The Perfect Gift garnered enough votes for honorable mention.
Best Jewelry Store: Navarra’s. This year, Navarra’s took first place with our voting readers, and M.B. Rich placed second. Diamond Durrell’s took third. Honorable mention goes to Bijoux Jewelry.
Best Caterer: Reeve’s Uptown Catering. Reeve’s delicious food and service garnered enough votes for first place again this year. Second place went to Treasure’s of Marilyn, with Terra Cottas taking third place. Casa Manana and Cajun Café get honorable mention from our voters.
Best Local Hotel/Motel: L’Auberge du Lac. It was an easy vote for our readers in this category. L’Auberge du Lac got the #1 spot by a landslide. Coming in a far second was Black Jack Inn, Kinder and Best Western Richmond Suites took third.
Best Day Spa: Scarborough’s. For relaxation and pampering, Scarborough’s ran away with first prize this year. Spa du Lac took second and Salon Elegance placed third.
Best Massage & Day Spa: Spa du Lac. Spa du Lac was voted best massage and day spa, but Scarborough’s Salon & Day Spa once again garnered a very close second place win. Special Touch took third place.
Best Adult Store: Love Works. Our voting readers favored Love Works for their favorite “Adult Store,” Oo La La! Love Shack came in second. Mood Setters placed third.
Best Barber/Beauty Salon: Attitudes Styling Salon. Coming in at #1 this year is Attitudes Styling Salon. Hair Clinic came in second and Scarborough’s Salon & Day Spa came in a close third. Garnering enough votes for honorable mentions are Bauhaus Salon and Strandz Hair Studio.
Best Tanning Salon: Australian Super Tan. For the sun worshipers out there, Australian Super Tan took the #1 spot. Trading places this year are Darqest Tan in second place and Perfect Tanz in third place. Endless Summer Tans and 3D Tans take honorable mention.
Best Florist: A Daisy A Day. Moving up to the #1 spot for Decision ’09, A Daisy A Day is the favorite of our voting readers. Paradise Florist is in second place this year, and Wendi’s Flower Cart took third, moving up from last years’ honorable mention.
Best Greenhouse, Nursery or Garden Supply: Greengate. It’s time to plant! Greengate was voted number one by all our gardening readers. Prien Pines took second and Dever’s Nursery in Sulphur placed third.
Best Dry Cleaner: AAA Drive-In Cleaners. The perennial favorite of our readers, AAA was again voted Best Dry Cleaners. Second place went to Southern Dry Cleaners and Black Tie Cleaners took third place.
Best Meat Market: The Sausage Link. The Sausage Link took first place this year pushing Sam’s Club to second place and Misse’s Grocery in Sulphur was a close third. Brown’s Neighborhood Market—Grand Lake, and Peto’s were close behind for an honorable mention for Decision ’09.
Best Seafood Shop: JT’s Seafood. Decision ’09 was a repeat of last year’s race. The favorite source of much-loved seafood in SWLA is once again, JT’s Seafood.
Steamboat Bill’s garnered second place and Richard’s in Sulphur took third again.
Best Grocery Store: Kroger. The local big three took the top honors with our readers. Kroger placed first this time around, with Albertson’s moving to second place and Market Basket in third. Strong local support gave honorable mentions to homegrown grocers Misse’s, Cormie’s, and Chessons.
Best Furniture Store: Home Furniture. Moving up from third place in last years polls was Home Furniture. Ashley Furniture Home store came in second, with Howell Furniture Galleries in third place. Foret Furniture and Butler Furniture took honorable mention.
Best Office Supply Store: Office Depot. Again this year, Office Depot is the one-stop shop for the majority of our readers. Lake Charles Office Supply came in second and Office Max took third place. United Office Supply receives honorable mention this year.
Best Book Store: Books-A-Million. One of the few book stores in town, but boasting coffee and WIFI, Books-A-Million took first place in a landslide. Barnes & Noble was a distant second, as was the Christian Book Store in third place.
Best Big Box Store: Sam’s Club. Sam’s won our readers over again for their favorite in Decision ’09. Best Buy came in a very close second, and Wal-Mart placed third. Honorable mention goes to Target in a very close decision.
Best Sports & Recreation
Best Fishing Guide: Capt’n Sammie Hebert’s Marina. Local anglers gave Capt’n Sammie Hebert’s a strong first place win this year. Capt. Ron’s Charter took second place finish. Captain Ron Begnaud took third place. Diamond “W” Ranch receives honorable mention this year.
Best Hunting Camp: Hackberry Rod &Gun. Hunters gave first place to Hackberry Rod & Gun, which jumped from last years third place spot. Big Lake Guide Service took second. Black Lake Lodge was awarded third place after moving up from last year’s honorable mention. Garnering enough votes for honorable mentions are Grosse Savant, and Jim Bel’s Hackberry Hilton.
Best Place to Play Golf: Graywood. This year Graywood had a strong win for first place with our voters. Contraband Bayou, L’Auberge placed second and taking third place this year was Mallard Cove. Koasati Pines at Coushatta and Lake Charles Country Club garnered enough votes for honorable mentions.
Best Place to Work Out: Dynamic Dimensions. Dynamic Dimensions is the favorite this year of the fit set voters. GiGi’s was a very close second and Curves moved up to third place. Trinity Baptist Church Fitness Center and LA Fitness receive honorable mentions.
Local Media
Best Local News Reporter: John Bridges. Sulphur’s favorite son is also SWLA’s most popular broadcast reporter. This year, Cynthia Arceneaux placed second, and Mike Brignac took third place.
Best Local Meteorologist: Rob Robin. KYKZ’s Rob Robin won this year in a strong first place decision. Second place went to KPLC’s Jeff Jumper with KPLC’S Kelly Hutchinson taking third.
Best Local Sports Reporter: Garrett Lumpkin. KPLC’s Garrett Lumpkin took top honors with our voters. KPLC’s Tom Annino came in second, with KPLC’S Tiffany Blackmon taking third place.
Best Local Music Radio DJ: Dale Mann. The readers have voted and it’s 99.5’s Dale Mann in the top spot again this year. 92.9’s Gary Shannon came in second and 99.5’s Eric Scott came in third.
Best Local Radio Station: KNGT 99.5 Gator. Well it looks like the country music station KNGT 99.5 takes the #1 spot this year for best radio station. KHLA 92.9 The Lake came in a very close second and KYKZ 96.1 Country took third place.
Best Radio Morning Show: Gary Shannon & Heather Fazzio 92.9 The Lake. This local, cheerful morning team won the top spot with our voters. Kidd Kradick’s syndicated morning show came in second and the syndicated Walton & Johnson came in third.
Best Local TV Personality: John Bridges. SWLA trusts John Bridges and overwhelmingly voted him into first place again this year. Cynthia Arceneaux took second place, with Marty Briggs taking third.
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