Best Bicycle Shop
Bicycle Trip
Project Bike sells about 900 bikes a year and services more than 3,000.
Giving back: Owner Berri Michel, who has helmed the 40-year-old shop for 26 years, also started Project Bike Trip, a nonprofit that funds high school bike tech classes.
Dandy horse: The precursor to the bicycle was the two-wheeled, German-invented dandy horse, which had no wheels, requiring the rider to kick and pull at the ground in order to propel themselves forward.
Fast track: Santa Cruz County has 191 miles of bike lanes, according to the Regional Transportation Commission.
Drag scene: On a flat road, aerodynamic drag is the greatest barrier to a cyclist’s speed—most of it from the cyclist’s body, accounting for about 80 percent of the resistance felt when pedaling. Other factors include gravity and road friction. | Jacob Pierce
Best Arts & Crafts
Palace Art & Office Supply
Painted Lives
History lesson: Palace started as a pharmacy and soda shop in Monterey in the 1890s. The then-owner shifted the focus to office supplies and gifts in the early 1900s.
Paint the town: The store stocks more than 530 colors of top-notch spray paint. “Urban art is getting big in Santa Cruz, so I would have to say one of our most popular products is artist-quality spray paint,” says owner Roy Trowbridge.
The big 6-5: Palace Arts & Office Supply is currently celebrating its 65th year. The Trowbridge family bought the store in 1949.
Movers & shakers: The Downtown Santa Cruz outpost of Palace has been housed in four different downtown locations over the years—including the storefronts now occupied by Marini’s and Pacific Trading Co. It has been in its current location, at 1407 Pacific Ave., since 2000. There is also a Capitola location, at 1501-K 41st Ave. | Elizabeth Limbach
Best florist
Flower Shack
In Bloom
Dahlias all day: Protea is their most popular flower right now. In the summer it is dahlias. “In the summer we could probably sell dahlias all day,” says Roseanne Belville.
Extra sparkle: In addition to flowers, they sell handmade jewelry from local artists.
Great place to grow: Roseanne Belville and her daughter Carly, 16, can often be found working there. Carly grew up there—as a baby she used to sit behind the counter in her car seat.
Southern Blooms: They get most of their flowers from Watsonville. Dahlias and tulips come from Santa Cruz. | Georgia Perry
Best Home Decor
Charley & Co.
This house
Parts south: Owner Starley Moore is originally from Oklahoma.
Designs on success: She has been a furniture designer for more than 20 years, but this is her first time doing a retail store. She opened Charley & Co. two years ago.
Camper Van Birdhovel: One of their most unique items is a birdhouse that looks like an airstream camper.
Material Whirled: They use a lot of recycled and reclaimed materials for their furniture, especially wood and metal. “We get wood from all over: barns, docks, boats, anywhere we can find it,” says Moore. | Georgia Perry
Best Marijuana Dispensary
California Grower’s Collection
Pot of Gold: With almost 200 customers per day, the CGC has sold almost $20,000 worth of jolly green relief since the start of this year and almost $110,000 since the program launched.
A Nug for Your Thoughts: It’s chronic, it’s dank, it’s the sweet sticky leaves from the California Grower’s Collective that soothes the almost 10,000 patients in Santa Cruz, about 10 percent of whom are 65 years or older.
Indica, Sativa and Hybrids: The members of the CGC enjoy more than 100 pungent strains of buds and concentrates, 50 types of edibles, and a variety of vaporizers and cannabis paraphernalia.
No Card, No Problem: In order to get medicine, you don’t actually need a card—although one from the county’s Health Services Agency will help explain to the cops why you’re holding. (The card’s considered a safeguard against arrest.) What you’ll need is a written doctor’s recommendation: start by Googling something like “medical marijuana evaluations.”
High Marks: In just the first year of the Greenheart Compassion Program, the CGC dispensed more than $62,000 in free medicine to more than 120 patients in need. The goal for 2014: surpass the $100,000 mark in good-hearted green sales. | Hanae Armitage
Best Tattoo Parlor
Chimera
Inked
Ooh, get a hockey mask! Home to the Friday the 13th special, where you can get ink for $31.
Steam Punk: Chimera is known for its super clean environment, and uses autoclaves to ensure that their equipment is always sterile. If you don’t know, an autoclave is a container that sterilizes the contents using steam.
Ink Fondly: One of the artists, Kai, has been called amazing, incredible, talented, lovely, wonderful, creative, helpful, warm and approachable. | Leslie Patrick
Best Vintage Clothing Store
Moon zooom
Thrifty Threads
Flashback: Walk into this treasure trove of a shop and let the vibes of years past wash over you. Authentic, yet still oh-so-stylish, clothes from the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s, and beyond await your discovery.
Remember These? Eventually, embarrassment over how we dressed when we were younger gives way to nostalgia. Fashion is a cycle, after all. Take a walk down memory lane with Moon Zooom’s collection of wares from your youth. Nineties teens, for instance, should note the impressive array of ridiculously colorful neon Tees, Hammer pants, overalls, et al.
Burner-Tastic: The shop stocks loads of playa-ready Burning Man outfits, not to mention a bevy of choice Halloween costume ingredients. | Elizabeth Limbach
Category Winners & Runners-Up
Adult Store
Camouflage 1329 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-7613, shopcamouflage.com
Runners-Up: Pure Pleasure, Frenchy’s
Antique Store
Mr. Goodies 1541 Pacific Ave, Santa Cruz, 427-9997
Runners-Up: Clearwater Bazaar, Atilia’s
Arts & Crafts
Palace Art & Office supply 1407 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 427-1550, 1501 41st Ave., Capitola, 464-2700 • 2606 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz, 476-3815; gopalace.com
Runners-Up: Beverlys, Lenz
Auto – New
Toyota of Santa Cruz 4400 Auto Plaza Drive, Capitola, 465-8600, santacruztoyota.com/index.htm
Runners-Up: Ocean Honda, Nissan dodge/Subaru of Santa Cruz
Auto – Pre-owned
Ocean Honda 3801 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 464-1500, oceanhondasantacruz.com
Runners-Up: Toyota of Santa Cruz, Beach Street Auto
Auto Repair
SpecializeD Auto 2415 Chanticleer Ave., Santa Cruz, 462-3458, specializedautos.com
Runners-Up: Water Star Motors, DMV Auto Clinic
Beachwear Shop
O’neill Surf Shop 110 Cooper Street, #100D, Santa Cruz, 469-4377, oneill.com
Runners-Up: Pacific Wave, Nubia
Bicycle Shop
Bicycle Trip 1001 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 427-2580
Runners-Up: Epicenter, Family Cycle Company
Book Store
Book Shop Santa Cruz 1520 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-0900, bookshopsantacruz.com
Runners-Up: Logos, Capitola Book Café
Butcher Shop
Shopper’s Corner 622 Soquel Ave, Santa Cruz, 423-1398, shopperscorner.com
Runners-Up: El Salchichero, Corralitos Market & Sausage co.
Cabinet Shop
Bay Custom Cabinets 379 Calabasas Road, Watsonville, 724-9473, baycustomcabinets.com
Runners-Up: Cabinet Town, Wallis Woodworks/Schmitz Cabinets
Car Wash
Whalers Car Wash 2001 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-0676, whalerscarwash.com
Runners-Up: Cruz Car Wash, Master Car Wash
Carpet Cleaning
Connoiseur Carpet Cleaner 2888 Estates Drive, Aptos, 476-9721, santacruzclean.com
Runners-Up: Peachy Clean, Sea Breeze/Carpet Cleaner
Chocolatier
Donnelley’s Chocolate1509 Mission St., Santa Cruz, 685-1871, donnellychocolates.com
Runners-Up: Mackenzies Chocolates, See’s candies
Children’s Clothing
Little People’s Store 2601 S Main St., Soquel, 476-7244; 243 Mt Hermon Road, Scotts Valley; thelittlepeoplesstore.com
Runners-Up: Jelli Beanz, Childish
Clothing – Lingerie
Camouflage 1329 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-7613, shopcamouflage.com
Runners-Up: Amareuse, Legs
Clothing—Men
Stripe Men 107 Walnut Ave., Santa Cruz, 421-9252, stripedesigngroup.com
Runners-Up: Patrick James, O’Neill’s/Pacific Wave
Clothing—Women
Pacific Trading Co 1224 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-3349, pacifictradingonline.com
Runners-Up: Synergy, Stripe
Comic Book Store
Atlantis 1020 Cedar St., Santa Cruz, 426-0158, atlantisfantasyworld.com
Runners-Up: Comicopolis, Legends
Computer Service
Pleasure Point Computers 3912 Portola Drive, Santa Cruz, 464-2220, pleasurepointcomputers.homestead.com
Runners-Up: Dave’s Computers, ClickAWay
Dry Cleaners
Vapor Cleaners 285 Water St., Santa Cruz, 423-4646, vaporcleaners.biz
Runners-Up: Master Cleaners, Classic Cleaners
E-Cigarette Store
Beyond Vape Suite Q, 4150 Capitola Road, Capitola, 475-5828, beyondvape.com
Runners-Up: Puff-n-Pass, Green Vapors/Ron & Bridgette’s
Eyewear
Eye Q 1101 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 466-3937, eyeqsantacruz.com
Runners-Up: Insight Eye Care, Spex
Feed Store
General Feed & Seed 1900 Commercial Way, Santa Cruz, 476-5344, generalfeedandseed.com
Runners-Up: Mountain Feed, Aptos Feed
Flooring
San Lorenzo Flooring 3113 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley, 461-1300, sanloreznofloors.com
Runners-Up: Interior Vision, Floors, Etc.
Florist
Flower Shack
614 S Branciforte Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-3877
Runners-Up: Susi’s Flowers, Ace’s Flowers
Furniture
Warmth Company 140 Post Office Drive, Aptos, 688-3200, warmthcompany.com
Runners-Up: Modern Life, SC41
Gaming Store
Level up 113 Locust St., Santa Cruz, 295-6329, levelupvideogames.com
Runners-Up: Legends comics and games
Garden Supply
San Lorenzo/Probuild 235 River St., Santa Cruz, 423-0223, probuildgardencentersantacruz.com
Runners-Up: Dig, Mountain Feed
Glass Tinting
Transparent Glass Coatings 2521 S Rodeo Gulch Road, Soquel, 476-9627, transparentglasscoatings.com
Runners-Up: TGK, Watson’s Window Tinting
Hardware Store
Ace Hardware 849 Almar Ave., Santa Cruz, 426-7650, acehardware.com
Runners-Up: Scarborough lumber, San Lorenzo/ProBuild
Home Décor
Charley & Co 515 Capitola Ave., Capitola, (925) 395-3054, charleynco.com
Runners-Up: Stripe, Warmth Company
Jewelry
Dell Williams 1320 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-4100, dellwilliams.com
Runners-Up: Artisans, Super Silver
Kitchen Supplies
ChefWorks1527 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 426-1351, chefworks-santacruz.com
Runners-Up: Le Chef, Outside In
Laundromat
Seabright Laundromat 419 Seabright Ave., Santa Cruz, 458-3352
Runners-Up: Suds, Ultramat
Marijuana Dispensary
California Growers Collective 3711 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 600-7744, californiagrowers.org
Runners-Up: Green Acres, Chai
Musical Instruments
Sylvan Music 1521 Mission St., Santa Cruz, 427-1917, sylvanmusic.com
Runners-Up: Starving Musician, Union Grove
Nail Salon
Vice salon 309 Capitola Ave., Capitola, 464-1700, salonvice.com
Runners-Up: Tracy Nails, L’Atelier
Nursery
Far West 2669 Mattison Lane, Santa Cruz, 476-8866, farwestnursery.com
Runners-Up: Alladin Nursery, Hidden Gardens
Pet Store
Pet Pals 3660 Soquel Drive, Soquel, 464-8775, petpals.com
Runners-Up: Westside Feed, Mountain Feed
Pharmacy
Frank’s Pharmacy 7518 Soquel Drive, Aptos, 685-1100, franksrx.com
Runners-Up: Horsnyder, WestSide Pharmacy
Produce Selection
New Leaf 1101 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz, 426-1306, newleaf.com
Runners-Up: Shopper’s Corner/Staff of Life, SunnySide produce
Record Store
Streetlight Records 939 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 421-9200, streetlightrecords.com
Runners-Up: Logos, MetaVinyl
Shoe Shop—Men
Sock Shop 1515 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 429-6101, sockshopandshoeco.com
Runners-Up: Old School, Hot Feet
Shoe Shop—Women
Bunny’s shoes
1350 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-3824
Runners-Up: Sock Shop, Aptos shoes & Apparel
Sign Shop
Stokes Signs
303 Potrero St., Santa Cruz, 426-1570, stokessigns.com
Runners-Up: Sign Authority, A Sign ASAP/Cattos Graphics
Skateboard Shop
Bills Wheels 1240 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 469-0904, billswheels.com
Runners-Up: Boardroom, Skate Works
Smoke Shop
Pipe Line 818 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 425-7473, pipesinthecity.com
Runners-Up: Home Blown Glass, Graffix
Sporting Goods
Jerry’s Sports1148 Soquel Ave., Santa Cruz, 465-1400, shopjerryssports.com
Runners-Up: Outdoor World, Play It Again
Surfboard Shop
O’Neill’s 110 Cooper St., #100D, Santa Cruz, 469-4377, oneill.com
Runners-Up: Freeline, Haut
Tattoo Parlor
Chimera 1010 Fair Ave., Santa Cruz, 426-8876, chimeratattoo.com
Runners-Up: Good Omen, Staircase
Thrift Shop
Goodwill 350 Encinal St., Santa Cruz, 423-8611, scgoodwill.org
Runners-Up: Caroline’s, Thrift Center
Tire Store
Lloyd’s Tires 303 River St., Santa Cruz, 426-4363, lloydstire.com
Runners-Up: Big O Tires
Toy Store
Kaleidoscope 828 Bay Ave., Capitola, 475-0210, kaleidoscopetoystore.com
Runners-Up: Childish, Outside-In
Unique Gifts
Charley & Co 515 Capitola Ave., Capitola, (925) 395-3054, charleynco.com
Runners-Up: Stripe, Artisan’s
Vintage clothing Store
Moon Zooom 813 Pacific Ave., Santa Cruz, 423-8500
Runners-Up: Tomboy, Cognito/Crossroads
