BEST RETAIL WINE STORE
Binny’s Beverage Depot
2490 W. Wabash Avenue, 787-3401
Finalists: It’s All About Wine, Friar Tuck Beverage, Corkscrew Wine Emporium, Hy-Vee
BEST MEAT MARKET
Humphrey’s Market
1821 S. 15th St., 544-7445
Finalists: Magro’s Meat and Produce, Turasky Meats, Hy-Vee, Midstate Meat Company
BEST LIQUOR STORE
Binny’s Beverage Depot
2490 W. Wabash Avenue, 787-3401
Finalists: Riverton Party Store, Friar Tuck Beverage, Hy-Vee, Famous Liquor & Foods
BEST GROCERY STORE
Hy-Vee 2115 S. MacArthur Boulevard, 726-1003
Finalists: ALDI, Schnucks, Meijer, County Market
BEST MUSIC SHOP
Recycled Records
625 E. Adams Street, 522-5122
Finalists: The Music Shoppe Inc., Dumb Records, Capital City Music, House of Music
BEST PAWN SHOP
Monster Pawn Springfield
2324 S. MacArthur Boulevard, 744-7296
Finalists: Pawn King Springfield, The Piggy Bank, Stevenson Drive Pawn Shop
BEST VAPE SHOP
Upper Limits
1205 S. Second Street Suite B, 679-4315
Finalists: Penny Lane Gifts, Tribble Vapors, Freedom Vapes, Happy Daze Gift Shop
BEST NEW BUSINESS DOWNTOWN
Dumb Records 418 E. Monroe Street, 691-8991
Finalists: Anvil & Forge Brewing and Distilling Company, Books on the Square, The Incubator, Venue 1929
BEST USED BOOKSTORE 
Prairie Archives
Prairie
Archives hasn’t been in Springfield forever, it just seems like it, and
every town should be so lucky. Smells of paper and aging carpet help
feed a sense of familiarity and purpose perfect for its downtown venue,
where an alleged quartermillion volumes, give or take, wait for new
owners. We’ve all seen bookstore cats, but at Prairie Archives, Lola,
the golden retriever mix you’ve always longed for, greets you at the
door. She’s been around a few months, you’re told, despite occasionally
chewing on merchandise. And what merchandise it is. Besides books, there
are treasures ranging from postcards to posters to an unused World War
II era punch card game, with cigarettes advertised as a prize. Years
ago, a friend scored a copy of the famous Chicago Tribune “Dewey Defeats Truman” edition for an attractive price. The cataloguing is haphazard and delightful. How the Other Half Lives by Jacob Riis shares shelf space with Hunter S. Thompson’s Generation of Swine in the section marked “Journalism.” Fair warning, you can spend hours here, so allow plenty of time.
BEST NEW BUSINESS NOT DOWNTOWN
Springfield Beer Company 3788 Wabash Avenue, 441-2780
Finalists: Three Twigs Bakery, UNDERDOG Sports, Memorabilia & Games, Smoothie King, Springfield Monument
BEST FUNERAL HOME
Butler Funeral Homes and Cremation Tribute Center 900 S. Sixth Street, 544-4646
Finalists: Staab Funeral Homes, Bramley Funeral Home, Bisch & Son Funeral Home, Vancil-Murphy Funeral Home
BEST BOOKSTORE (USED)
Prairie Archives
522 E. Adams Street, 522-9742
Finalists: The Book Rack, Elf Shelf Books & Music, Books on the Square, Killen’s Comics - Toys - Games
BEST PLACE TO FEED THE SLOTS
The Corner Pub and Grill 3271 W. Iles Avenue, 546-3600
Finalists: Burger Bar and Back Door Lounge, Curve Inn, It’s All About Wine, Brewhaus Bar
LIFE & WELLNESS
BEST ASSISTED LIVING COMMUNITY
Concordia Village 4101 W. Iles Avenue, 793-9429
Finalists: Country Lane Memory Care Assisted Living, Villas of Holly Brook, Elmcroft of Wyndcrest, Hickory Glen
BEST INDEPENDENT LIVING COMMUNITY
Concordia Village 4101 W. Iles Avenue, 793-9429
Finalists: Hickory Glen, Seasons Senior Living Under the Oaks, Brenden Gardens, Capitol Retirement Village
BEST NEW BUSINESS NOT DOWNTOWN
Springfield Beer Company
Springfield
Beer Company is a newcomer to the craft beer scene in Springfield,
having just opened last summer. The owner, Ryan Kunken, said his
interest in craft beer started with a brewing class taken at the local
community college. That led to home brewing, and then several years
later Springfield Beer Company came to fruition.
Springfield
Beer Company is a microbrewery with an on-site taproom, located on
Wabash next to Freddy’s Frozen Custard. While the other local breweries
are located in the downtown area, a bonus for west-side residents is
there is now no need to venture far from home to get a taste of freshly
brewed beer. It’s also conveniently located near two of the local movie
theaters, making it a place where friends can hang out, bring food to
enjoy and have some beers before catching a show.
Springfield
Beer Company has about 20 beer offerings, the majority of which are
brewed in-house. The beers are served up on a concrete bar, or you can
enjoy your pint at one of the many tables. Patrons will find American
IPA, Dunkelweizen, Belgian Strong Dark Ale and Hefeweizen as a few of
the many beers currently on tap. The Facebook page shows an Apricot
Milkshake IPA and Coffee Blonde Ale currently waiting on deck – we can’t
wait.
Springfield
Beer Company doesn’t serve food, but with the many restaurants on the
west side there’s no shortage of choices for what to bring and enjoy
alongside your beer. Or you can even bring something you whipped up at
home; a Crock-Pot®
of
wings to chow down on could be a nice touch. In addition, Springfield
Beer Company is opening on Monday nights for the duration of the
football season, so it’s a great opportunity to bring some snacks and
enjoy the game with a nice cold beer.
But
perhaps most fun of all, Springfield Beer Company recently held a Best
Brewery Dog event where customers brought their pups to enter the
contest. Think your dog is up to the challenge? We hope they do it
again, because it sounds like a good time. Upcoming events include a
Halloween costume contest (for people, although one for dogs could be
fun, too) and a chili cook off.
BEST APARTMENT COMMUNITY
Lake Pointe Apartments
1600 Toronto Road, 529-2900
Finalists: Lincoln Square Apartments, Park West Apartments, Cardinal Ridge Apartments, Chatham Hills Apartments
BEST CROSSFIT GYM
Capital City CrossFit
1615 W. Jefferson Street, 414-2544
Finalists: CrossFit Instinct, Orangetheory Fitness, Rail Splitter CrossFit, FIERCE Group Training - FitClub
BEST DANCE STUDIO
Springfield Dance
5531 International Parkway, 483-3623
Finalists: Above & Beyond Dance Company, Dance Arts Studio, Inc., Studio M Dance Centre, Dance Creations Dance Studio
BEST GYM OR FITNESS CENTER
FitClub
3631 S. Sixth Street, 787-8348 2811 W. Lawrence Avenue 787-1111 2701 E. Sangamon Avenue, 788-8250
Finalists: YMCA, Planet Fitness, Orangetheory Fitness, PowerWorks Fitness
BEST PERSONAL TRAINER
FitClub - Caitlin McCarthy
3631 S. Sixth Street, 787-8348
Finalists: Orangetheory
Fitness - Cindy Ward; Vivacious Wellness - Janet Cook; Capital City
Crossfit - Brian Chandler; Iron Fitness - Natalie Hudgens
BEST YOGA STUDIO
Ahh Yoga
2201 W. White Oaks Drive, 725-2373
Finalists: Half Moon Yoga Fit, Trailhead Center for Yoga & Ayurveda, FitYoga
BEST PLACE TO BUY EYEWEAR
Vision Care Associates
121 N. Grand Avenue, 528-3233 2741 Prairie Crossing Drive, 272-7393
Finalists: Bergh-White Opticians, Prairie Eye and LASIK Center, America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses, Eyemart Express
BEST THRIFT STORE
Land of Lincoln Goodwill
The
question, really, isn’t whether Goodwill is the best thrift store in
Springfield but rather which Goodwill is your favorite. There’s an
outlet on Wabash Avenue and another on Dirksen Parkway and yet another
in Chatham, on Plummer Boulevard. They all have their charms, but we
prefer the Wabash Avenue location for its sheer size. In our book,
bigger is better when it comes to thrift stores, but every location is a
veritable Treasure Island, and you don’t have to dig. Just look and you
can find amazing deals. Some folks aren’t keen on wearing used clothes,
which is Goodwill’s strong suit, but there are plenty of things for
everyone. As we write, we are gazing at a pristine copy of James Brown: Live at the Apollo that
we picked in the 99-cent record bin. Not so long ago, we hit a
prolonged lucky streak where most every Goodwill visit yielded
commercial-grade cast aluminum cookware from Toledo, the world capital
of cast aluminum. The stores are kept neat and the dressing rooms are
spacious enough that you don’t feel like you’re changing clothes in a
phone booth.
BEST HEALTH FOOD RETAIL STORE
Food Fantasies 1512 Wabash Avenue, 793-8009
Finalists: Hy-Vee, Nutrition Source, Lincoln’s Doggie Delicatessen, The Body Quest Store
BEST FARMERS MARKET VENDOR
Incredibly Delicious 925 S. Seventh Street, 528-8548
Finalists: Jefferies Orchard, Suttill’s Gardens, Harvest & Blooms, Simply Grace
BEST FAMILY FUN SPOT
Knights Action Park
1700 Knights Recreation Drive, 546-8881
Finalists: Bomke’s Patch, Washington Park, Southwind Park, Kidzeum of Health and Science
BEST HAIR SALON
Willow & Birch Salon
521 E. Washington Street, 726-7050
Finalists: BJ Grand Salon & Spa, Unique Enchantments Salon & Gift Shoppe, Meraki Salon and Spa, Studio 6 Hair Salon
BEST NAIL SALON
Soak Nails Massage Spa
2963 Lindbergh Boulevard, 546-3821
Finalists: BJ Grand Salon & Spa, Luxe Nail Bar, A. Ellis Nails at Dalliance, Nails by Carissa
BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST
Massage Envy - Amanda Rollins
2933 S. Veterans Parkway, 210-3689
Finalists: BJ
Grand Salon - Priscilla Riley; Waggener Chiropractic and Wellness
Center - Brystol Kilberg; Advanced Center for Pain and Rehab - Rena;
Revive Wellness and Massage Spa, LLC - Chiffonia White
BEST TATTOO SHOP
Newage Tattoos and Body Piercings
2915 S. MacArthur Boulevard, 546-5006
Finalists: Black Moon Tattoos, Cloud N9ne Tattoo Studio, Redbird Electric Tattooing, Poke and a Rub Art Studio
BEST PLASTIC SURGERY CENTER
The Center for Plastic Surgery - Springfield Clinic
2901 Greenbriar Drive, 528-7541
Finalists: Institute for Plastic Surgery at SIU Medicine, Prairie Eye and LASIK Center, Heartland Plastic Surgery
BEST SPA
BJ Grand Salon & Spa
3055 Professional Drive, 753-8880 3300 Robbins Road, 787-7770
Finalists: Massage Luxe, Inner Health Spa, Meraki Salon and Spa, Revive Wellness and Massage Spa
BEST MEDICAL SPA
Institute for Plastic Surgery at SIU
Medicine 747 N. Rutledge Street, 545-8000
Finalists: The Center for Plastic Surgery - Springfield Clinic, Body Perfect Medical Spa, Prairie Spa
BEST AUDIOLOGIST AND HEARING CENTER
SIU Medicine Ear Nose and Throat Center – Jennifer Berry
720 N. Bond Street, 545-8000
Finalists: SIU
Medicine Ear Nose and Throat Center – Jennifer Edmonds; Central
Illinois Hearing - David Groesch; Springfield Clinic - Charles Swain,
Jr.; Miracle-Ear Hearing Center
BEST CHIROPRACTIC CLINIC
Frisina Family Wellness
1533 S. MacArthur Boulevard, 787-4345
Finalists: Waggener Chiropractic and Wellness Center, Westside Pain Clinic, Advanced Center for Pain and Rehab, Telos Chiropractic
BEST CONTINUING EDUCATION
Lincoln Land Community College
5250 Shepherd Road, 786-2200
Finalists: University of Illinois Springfield, SIU School of Medicine, Capital Area Career Center, Midwest Technical Institute
BEST NURSE
Betty Ring
RN, HSHS St. John’s Hospital
Betty
Ring has been a nurse for 40 years and says, “I never remember not
wanting to be a nurse. My mother was a nurse, and I know she was an
inspiration to me in choosing this career.”
Ring
comes from a family of 12 children and lived in several small
communities throughout Illinois before settling in Springfield. She
attended St. John's College of Nursing and says she still remembers a
quote engraved on the wall of the old entrance to St John’s which
inspires her to this day, ”To Suffering Humanity, For His Sake.”
Ring has always been a hospital nurse and says she has worked mostly on a medical unit, but also oncology and intermediate care.
Presently, her work involves caring for hospice patients.
As
a veteran nurse, Ring has taken on additional responsibilities. She is
now a preceptor, which is a nurse who educates new nurses, a role Ring
says she likes “because I feel I am investing in the future of nursing
by helping to inspire, encourage, coach and teach new nurses to be the
best they can be.”
St.
John’s Hospital has recognized Ring with The Guardian Angel Award,
given when a donor, often a patient or a patient’s family, gives money
to St. John’s Hospital in the name of a staff person for exemplary care.
Ring
said, “It is always touching and an honor to be recognized by a patient
or their families for the care you give to them. But I mostly feel that
I am the privileged one as I experience the situations that come with
nursing. I do believe that nursing is a true calling for me, as it was
for my mother. I feel so much satisfaction when I know I’ve been able to
take great care of my patients and their families. And the nursing
staff I work with feels the same way, I think.”
While
Ring said she’s had many opportunities over the years to move into
management roles, she feels that her place is to provide hands-on care
to patients and their families.
“It
takes special strength and compassion to assist people as they
experience illnesses. In my field of work, I am surrounded by people
that exhibit these characteristics every day. I often reflect on how
blessed I am to be in a place to help others. It might be knowing I have
helped a patient understand their illness and teaching them ways to
deal with it, or it might be being present with families in those very
spiritual moments when a patient leaves this world. God has been so good
to me in allowing me to do this work for so many years!”
BEST DAY CARE
Pam Scattergood Day Care
1256 Oakbrook Ave., Chatham, 483-3906
Finalists: Silverleaf Children’s Academy, Calvary Day Care, My Friends Discovery Center, Building Blocks Preschool Inc.
BEST MEDICAL FACILITY
Memorial Medical Center
701 N. First Street, 788-3000
Finalists: HSHS St. John’s Hospital, Springfield Clinic, Koke Mill Medical Center, SIU Medicine
BEST WOMEN’S HEALTH CARE CENTER
Springfield Clinic Center for Women’s Health
1025 S. Sixth Street, 528-7541
Finalists: HSHS
St. John’s Hospital, Memorial Physician Services - Women’s Healthcare,
Planned Parenthood, SIU Medicine Women’s Center - Baylis Medical
Building
BEST PEDIATRICS CENTER
HSHS St. John’s Children’s Hospital
415 N. Ninth Street, 757-6394
Finalists: Memorial
Physician Services – Koke Mill, Springfield Clinic Pediatric &
Adolescent Center, SIU Medicine Pediatrics, Wabash Pediatrics in
Springfield Clinic
BEST DENTAL OFFICE
Prairie Dental Group
2900 Greenbriar Drive, 546-0412
Finalists: Baines Dental Wellness, Renken Dentistry, Magna Dental, Capati Dental
BEST NURSE AND PRACTICE NAME
St John’s Hospital - Betty Ring 800 E. Carpenter Street, 544-6464
Finalists: Memorial
Medical Center 4E - Erin Parris; Koke Mill Medical Center - Melanie
Reynolds; Springfield Clinic - Ashlie Long; Springfield Clinic
Pediatrics - Angie Rinaberger
BEST DAY CARE
Pam Scattergood Day Care
For
new moms, finding day care can be challenging. Moms want someone who is
going to look after their child as they would. Springfield-area parents
have trusted their little ones’ care to Pam Scattergood Day Care in
Chatham for more than two decades.
The
business started when Pam, who wasn’t happy with her own daughter’s day
care, left her job to stay home with her when her daughter was a year
old. A friend was looking for someone to watch her son at the time, and
her business took off from there. Pam has now operated a licensed home
day care for the past 26 years.
She
currently cares for five children, although she is licensed to care for
up to eight. “I prefer a smaller group,” she says, because she can
provide more one-on-one with them.
“It’s
a rewarding job,” she says, and children call her their second mom. Her
husband, Ron, often helps her and the kids call him “Dear.” She once
had a parent ask her why their child called her husband “Dear,” and she
explained it was because she calls him that around the house. “Kids
listen and pick up on things,” she says, laughing.
Pam
makes it clear from the initial interview that it’s a family home day
care and she expects children to respect their home. She treats each
child the same as she treated her children when they were growing up.
It’s this atmosphere that parents appreciate.
She
cares for children through preschool age and enjoys watching each child
grow and develop new skills. Pam says she especially loves seeing a
child go from learning how to talk to putting words together and telling
a story. “It’s fun watching their expressions and the words they use,”
she said.
Her day care
is an institution in the Chatham area, and families often stop by to
say hi. “Their family becomes our family,” she explained, and she now
cares for the children of children she once cared for. “People remember
me,” she says, and families who have moved away often drive back to
Chatham to have her watch their children.
“I
never saw myself doing day care this long,” said Pam, but now can’t
imagine retiring. “I can’t see myself doing anything else.”
BEST CLERGYPERSON
Rabbi Barry Marks
Winner of the State Journal-Register First
Citizen award? Check – Rabbi Barry Marks added that to his resume more
than a dozen years ago. Tolerant of other viewpoints? Check, again – he
helped found the Greater Springfield Interfaith Association. A
thoughtful, eloquent speaker who sounds like a man ahead of his time?
Consider what he told his audience a half-dozen years ago at a mayor’s
prayer breakfast: “We may give generously to charity and expend numerous
volunteer hours on behalf of worthy causes, but, as the sociologists
have observed, we as Americans have failed to articulate a compelling
ideology of why people should work for the common good. … This, I
believe, is the most urgent task for people of faith: to articulate and
promote such an ideology and convey it our young people, our future
generations.” Two years ago, Marks, who spoke at length about his life
for an oral history project at the Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library
and Museum, said that he considered himself more a teacher than a
preacher, someone who tries to be a community builder. But he’s still a
pretty good preacher. Enjoy him while you can. He recently announced
that he will step down from the Temple Israel pulpit in July. “You have
been a wonderful congregation, and I am grateful for your commitment and
dedication, for your warmth, generosity and friendship, and for the
opportunity to serve as your rabbi for these many years,” he wrote in a
farewell message to congregants this month.
BEST DOCTOR AND PRACTICE NAME
Memorial Medical Center - Dr. Nicole Florence
3132 Old Jacksonville Road, 862-0800
Finalists: Prairie
Heart Institute - Dr. John Scherschel; HSHS - Dr. Diana Widicus;
Frisina Family Wellness - Dr. Tana Frisina; Springfield Clinic - Scott
Morton
BEST HOLISTIC HEALTH CENTER
Food Fantasies 1512 Wabash Avenue, 793-8009
Finalists: Frisina Family Wellness Center, Unique Enchantments Salon & Gift Shoppe, Revive Wellness and Massage Spa, Inner Health Spa
CANNABIS
BEST CANNABIS STRAIN
Pineapple Express
Finalists: Northern Lights, Watermelon Ice, G6, Mag Landrace
BEST EDIBLE PRODUCT
Wanna Gummies
Finalists: Cherry Bomb, Triple Berry RSO Gummies, Grassroots Gummies, Kiva Blueberries
BEST HEALTH AND BEAUTY CANNABIS PRODUCT
CBD American Shaman
Finalists: Infused Coconut Oil, Cresco Extra Strength Pain Cream, Shelby County Topical bar
BEST PLACE TO BUY ACCESSORIES FOR CANNABIS
Penny Lane Gifts 2901 S. MacArthur Boulevard, 787-2996
Finalists: HCI Alternatives, Upper Limits, Maribis
BEST PLACE TO BUY CBD PRODUCTS
Simply CBD 1039 Junction Circle, 679-6489
Finalists: CBD Botanicals, Penny Lane Gifts, Upper Limits, HCI Alternatives
BEST PLACE TO BUY ACCESSORIES FOR CANNIBIS USE
Penny Lane
A
visit to Penny Lane is an unforgettable experience. Packed to the gills
with all sorts of lovely and strange items, it takes repeat visits to
see it all. From T-shirts, tie-dye and other clothing to figurines, hair
dye and incense, and everything in between – more than you can possibly
imagine – Penny Lane has catered to unusual tastes for more than 50
years.
After decades
of selling smoking paraphernalia for tobacco use in the upstairs, over-
18 only rooms, the last couple of years have brought an acknowledgement
that medical cannabis users buy the stuff, too. And on Jan. 1, 2020,
recreational users can finally be up front about why they’re actually
buying that bubbler, scale or rolling papers. From chillums to party
pipes and bubblers, Penny Lane has always had an extensive and wide
variety of smoking paraphernalia, some of it truly crazily inspired
works of art.
Penny
Lane began in 1968, originally owned by Danny and Mary Francis
Perganson. Longtime owner Joe Utterback bought it with a business
partner in 1971 and later became the sole owner. Penny Lane continues to
be a family affair, locally owned and operated in its MacArthur
location since 1983.
The
family gives back to the community each year with a tribute festival in
Douglas Park, first in memory of Grateful Dead frontman Jerry Garcia,
and then adding Utterback to the tribute list when he passed away in
2013 at the age of 66. Over the years it has grown from a single store
and spread its strangeness through the four other shops and two upstairs
rooms of the strip center, now totaling more than 10,000 square feet.
Traveling
along MacArthur Boulevard, it’s hard to miss, with vivid murals and
other artwork covering the building. As many longtime patrons will
agree, “Awe man, that’s beautiful.”
BEST PLACE TO BUY CBD PRODUCTS
Simply CBD
Cannabidiol,
also known as CBD, is a non-psychoactive component in cannabis, meaning
it does not invoke a high. Often touted as a medical and psychological
panacea, CBD products are gaining in popularity as the amazing stories
of health benefits keep rolling in. Simply CBD, located at 1039 Junction
Circle Dr., has a wide variety and selection of CBD products, including
oils, tinctures, gummies, capsules and topicals, for both humans and
their pet friends.
CBD
is considered helpful for a wide range of ailments. It can reduce
inflammation and pain as well as seizures, stimulate appetite and
control nausea for cancer patients and help the body in everything from
promoting good sleep to overall immune health. Specifically, CBD is
often used to help with conditions such as multiple sclerosis, ADHD,
cancer, fibromyalgia, Parkinson’s, epilepsy, PTSD, Crohn’s disease and
others. Many people have weaned themselves off opioids used for treating
chronic pain on advice from their physicians by switching to CBD
products.
Many pets,
especially older pets, are also benefitting from CBD use, for the same
reasons their human companions do – reducing pain, anxiety and
inflammation, as well as supporting the body and mind in good health.
Simply
CBD sources its premium products through an FDA-approved lab using
American-grown, non-GMO organic hemp with 100% of the THC removed. The
products are third-party tested. This emphasis on quality, as well as
their exceptional customer service and guidance, is why Simply CBD was
voted the Best Place to Buy CBD Products for 2019.
BEST VAPE SHOP
Upper Limits Midwest
Upper
Limits has been serving Springfield’s vaping needs for the last six
years. Whether you are vaping in order to quit smoking, having fun with
e-juice or vaping medicinal cannabis or cannabidiol (CBD), Upper Limits
has a vast selection of vapes and accessories, as well as flavors. Not
sure which flavors of e-juice you might prefer? No worries, feel free to
sample to find your favorites. Heard about the benefits of CBD, but not
sure where to start? No problem, the staff can fill you on the latest
vape technology.
Though
the selection in the store can be overwhelming to a novice, the
customer service here is top-notch. Friendly and knowledgeable staff
will assist in making decisions for whatever you might need. At times
the vibe is impossible to distinguish between business as usual and
hanging out in a friendly atmosphere.
In
addition to vaping needs, Upper Limits offers a wide selection of
American glass products and accessories, including bats, bowls and
bubblers, from the functional to the full-on work of art. A glass blower
works on site, Monday through Friday, from approximately 10 a.m. until 5
p.m.
Locally owned by
Matt Fortin, Upper Limits is expanding the store into the former dry
cleaners’ space next door, doubling in size to 7,000 square feet.
Construction is expected to be completed in the next few months. Given
the vast selection, premiere customer service and reasonable prices, it
may not take long to outgrow even the larger location.
