Best Car Wash Because It's Bad Enough How Dusty Your House Is
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Best Auto Repair Because Pushing Your Car to Work Isn't Realistic
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Best Tattoo Parlor When You're Ready for Ink
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Best Piercer for Your Ear or…Whatever
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Best Hair Salon…Is That a Mullet?
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Best Wax Because Those Strip Thingies From the Grocery Store Suck
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Best Place for a Body Treatment-That's Fancy Talk for Massage, Facial, You Name It
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Best Yoga Studio-Remember to Breathe
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Best Pilates Studio 'Cause You're Mean and Lean
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Best Gym Because It's Summer and You Can't Hide Under a Sweater
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Best Real Estate Agency Because the Median House Price Just Went Down. Oh Wait, Sorry, It's Up.
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Best Local Web Designer When You Need a dot.com
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Best Computer Service & Repair-Please Hurry and Fix It!
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Best Bank or Credit Union to Handle Your Bucks
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Best Bartending Staff When You're Getting Your Drink On
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Best Restaurant Wait Staff-Order Up!
Squeaky Clean Car Wash
3931 Cerrillos Road
474-4320
1900 Cerrillos Road
983-4201
You're A Star:
When people think of Elvis' hit song, "All Shook Up," most don't associate it with an undercarriage wash and getting to pick the fragrance of your choice. But if you live in Santa Fe, and have made a stop into your local Squeaky Clean Car Wash, you know exactly what gets shook up; the dirt underneath your car. Owner Jay Ritter collects model hot-rods, and likes to model his car wash services after famous songs.
Bright Ideas:
Owning a car wash in the arid Southwest requires Ritter to look for any method to use as little water as possible. "We're trying to do everything at this point that we can to conserve water," Ritter says. "If you wash your car in your driveway you use about 140 gallons, we use about nine. I'm having my mechanic build me a new set of arches that supposedly will cut my water usage again," Ritter adds. "We're trying everything in this world to be part of this community and be concerned about the water issues that exist."
Acceptance Speech:
"I'm thrilled to be part of this community and I'm thrilled to live here. I enjoy what I do and the people that I meet. I really enjoy the people that I work with and the crew that I have. It's a really rewarding and pleasant atmosphere for me to be in." (
)
Oilstop
Quick Stop
Alex Safety Lane
1370 Pacheco Street
983-5577
You're A Star:
In the future, three things are certain: Robots will enslave humanity, food will be served in pill form and we'll all have flying cars. So when the time comes for the first tune-up for your jet-powered-aero-car, expect the reliable mechanics at Alex Safety Lane to be there ready to perform fair and honest work. In the business' third generation, owners Michael and Ben Bransford have assembled a crew of young, honest and Internet-savvy mechanics who are ready to work on your car.
Bright Ideas:
Michael Bransford is already investing in the latest automotive technologies bound, with skyrocketing gas prices, to become the industry standard. Bransford and his mechanics are researching and collecting all the information they can on hybrid cars. While Bransford acknowledges the need for his shop to carry the latest repair equipment, he notes there are more factors than just having the latest technology that make his business successful. "It doesn't take one flute to make an orchestra, it takes a whole bunch of instruments," Bransford says. "When you put them all together it sounds great."
Acceptance Speech:
"We're a family business. It's our third generation. My dad started it and my son, Eli, is the next generation, Bransford says. "We've made a good living here serving Santa Fe. I feel that we have a lot of loyal customers and it's actually thanks to our loyal customers we've been successful. We're just trying to hold our end of the deal up, by giving them the best service we can." (CC)
Mike's Garage
Toy Auto Man
Four Star Tattoo
825 Topeka Street
984-9131
You're A Star:
Mark Vigil has been leaving his mark on Santa Fe for the past 10 years. But you won't find his work scattered on the walls and buildings in town; you can see it all over the city's residents. Vigil, owner of Four Star Tattoo, specializes in large-scale pieces and has apprenticed two artists and has five on his staff. According to Vigil,
an apprenticeship for an aspiring tattoo artist typically lasts five years. This is when the artist learns and perfects his craft, along with learning the business side of tattooing. Thanks to Bill Wissman, the tattoo artist who Vigil worked with for many years, Vigil has become one of Santa Fe's most popular artists. With the love of his job and standard for quality tattooing, Vigil has increased his client base through the years, making Four Star one of Santa Fe's best.
Bright Ideas:
If you're one of those spur-of-the-moment types, Four Star can accommodate you. The parlor offers two days each week for walk-ins, but your safest bet is to make an appointment because artists are always booked in advance. To meet its demands, Four Star is near the end of an extensive remodel. Its new studio will allow more room for all those human canvases out there wanting to put more art on their bodies.
Acceptance Speech:
"There's definitely going to be tattoo shops that come and go in this town. There are a lot of people that don't care about the tattooing side other than just wanting to make money. People need to do their research and not try to get a piece because they can get a deal on it…because it's going on your body for the rest of your life," Vigil says. (CC)
Concrete Jungle
H & H Tattoo
Aware
You're A Star:
Aware may have closed its doors March 4, 2006, but its loyal customers have not forgotten them and soundly voted Aware the best spot for body piercing in the City Different (in fact, Aware is the only winner in this category this year). It didn't take long after opening September 9, 1999 for Aware to gain a diverse clientele. Co-owners Jeff Middleton and Kitten Swinney, along with Weston Weller, provided an environment that was both professional and comfortable. "We've been rewarded on our merits and work ethics and it was nice to be able to do that in Santa Fe because it really helped us become very successful," Middleton says. Although Middleton and Swinney now live in Los Angeles and are pursuing new careers, in the recording industry and the coroner's office respectively, they still own their Santa Fe home and return to visit with friends. "We're still very much there and part of the community," Middleton says.
Bright Ideas:
Aware was about "personal service, attention to details and giving customers what they asked for, not about our egos," Middleton says. Many customers were Santa Fe teens. "That was one of our favorite parts of doing that in a smaller community, "Middleton says. "Seeing kids grow up, helping them clarify who they were through their formative years. We knew that teens were going to be interested in being pierced and tattooed and wanted them to have access to something that was clean and professional."
Acceptance Speech:
"Thank you, Santa Fe," Middleton says. "Regardless of our recent retirement from piercing, as a Santa Fe business we appreciate you, Santa. We never cared to be the most popular from Taos to Texas, just the best in Santa Fe, and we really feel indebted to the community and hope everybody still has their body modification needs met in the really professional way they've become accustomed to." (
)
Blue Monkey
225 Montezuma Avenue
820-0654
You're A Star:
Six years ago, Blue Monkey owner and founder Nicole Carter got tired of dying her hair pink in her bathroom sink. Unable to find a salon that could do the funky stuff she desired, she started Blue Monkey salon and its corresponding cosmetology school. Blue Monkey's loyal clientele and the talented eight-person staff have kept
the salon a favorite in a variety of social circles. "Everyone here is so unique
and so creative and so into what they're doing," Carter says by way of explaining what makes Blue Monkey so special. "I feel really lucky that they want to work here, honestly."
Bright Ideas:
Though Santa Fe County is attempting to buy out Blue Monkey's building due to its strategic location, Carter believes that, thanks to the community's support, the salon will be able to stay in its current spot for at least another year. No matter what happens, though, they'll keep providing the same high-quality service that has made them a vital part of the community since 2000. "We're just riding it out," says Carter. "We'd like to stay as close to this area as we can."
Acceptance Speech:
Indeed, the little salon Carter started up six years ago has grown beyond her, and she gets tongue-tied when asked to talk about her success. "Thanks to everyone. It's not really about me any more." (
)
Rock Paper Scissor Salonspa
Cactus Organic Lifestyle Salon
Cactus Organic Lifestyle Salon
607 Cerrillos Road
820-6000
You're A Star:
Knowing that a bikini wax isn't the most pleasant experience in the world, the experts at Cactus (particularly Sinda Vigil, waxer extraordinaire) try to make every other aspect of your visit as relaxing and enjoyable as possible. "People fall asleep on our couch," says owner Anthony Paceoni. "We think customer care is the most important thing. We all know people who have been traumatized by hairdressers, so we try not to do that." It's all about comfort here in the 9-year-old salon, as well as being all-organic and environmentally friendly, which is probably what inspires Santa Feans to choose Cactus as the place to go.
Bright Ideas:
Having given up its south side location for customer service reasons ("It always confused customers," explains Paceoni. "One of our goals is to be daymakers… and when you rush in the door and they tell you, 'Oh, it's the wrong salon,' you're not a daymaker." Now that's service!), Cactus plans on keeping up the good work. Working with Aveda, new products and treatments from the organic company usually find their way into Cactus' offerings. Furthermore, whatever customers want, the staff at Cactus provides-even a request to rake the leaves in the courtyard is promptly acquiesced.
Acceptance Speech:
"I want to thank Santa Fe for nine years of being one of the best. It's nice to get that recognition, because we work hard." (CJ)
Rock Paper Scissor Salonspa
Wink
Ten Thousand Waves
3451 Hyde Park Road
982-9304
You're A Star:
Twenty-five years ago, Duke Klauck started the spa that would become Ten Thousand Waves, and since then the mountainous haven has been a favorite getaway for people from every walk of life. With 130 massage therapists on staff and 19 private rooms, quantity and quality are one and the same at Santa Fe's premier
Japanese-inspired spa. The entire atmosphere of Ten Thousand Waves adds to a soothing experience, and each massage therapist is trained in the "Ten Thousand Waves Way" -which means pampering the client to the utmost extent, from helping them sit up to bringing them fresh water.
Bright Ideas:
A few times a year, Klauck travels to Japan to do some reconnaissance work, bringing back treatment and product ideas, fancy kimonos and inspirations for new additions to the spa. Just when you thought it couldn't get any more perfect, Ten Thousand Waves is working on opening an Asian restaurant in 2007.
Acceptance Speech:
Says Public Relations Manager Mary Johnson, "We love being the best. We love working where we do or we otherwise wouldn't be there." (CJ)
BODY
Ojo Caliente
BODY
333 Cordova Road
986-0362
You're A Star:
BODY began in 1993 as a "friendly community center committed to health that invites everyone in the community," says owner and
founder Lorin Parrish. Interestingly enough, Parrish reports that the yoga studio is
really a by-product of the community center, and that she was simply responding to the needs of the population BODY serves.
Bright Ideas:
In addition to offering a whopping five types of yoga, (Hatha, Restorative, Kundalini, Ashtanga and Vinyasa) BODY is unique in that it focuses on varieties of yoga, rather than levels. BODY also offers special workshops: In September, Yoga Journal Editor Peter Sterios will arrive for a three-day training session.
Acceptance Speech:
"May all studios be happy, peaceful and abundant," says Parrish serenely. "There isn't anyone that couldn't benefit from our yoga program," she adds. Om to that. (
)
Yogasource
Genoveva Chavez Community Center
Pilates Santa Fe
839 Paseo de Peralta
995-9700
You're A Star:
Whether you've just fallen off a horse or you suffer from chronic back pain, Pilates Santa Fe has a routine that can help. Ten rigorously trained instructors provide high-quality care to clients who range in age from 9 to late 80s; some of those clients have been coming regularly for the whole 10 years the studio has been around. The loyal regulars, as well as the businesspeople from Hong Kong who call in before they come to Santa Fe on a business trip or the celebrities on nearby movie sets, are appreciative of the standard of holistic care. "We're always with our clients," says Studio Manager Bizia Greene, "Whether someone's having a baby, someone's passed away, helping someone move, walking their dogs-that definitely shows."
Bright Ideas:
While the main studio can only accommodate four one-on-one sessions or four-person advanced classes, Pilates Santa Fe has recently opened up mat classes at Santa Fe Soul, which can accommodate more people of various skill levels. And, as always, they are keeping up with new technologies and modalities in order to incorporate them into Pilates for what Greene calls "a well-rounded healing experience."
Acceptance Speech:
"It's about the quality of care-we really care about our clients, about people, not just as customers," says Director Raymond Kurshals. Adds Greene, "And our clients care enough to spend the time voting." (CJ)
Santa Fe Spa
Genoveva Chavez Community Center
Genoveva Chavez Community Center
3221 Rodeo Road
955-4000
You're A Star:
An average of 2,000 people pass through the turnstiles of the GC3 every day, yet the front desk employees still manage to remember first names, making the gym a true community center. Whether they come to enjoy the Olympic-sized pool, a regulation NHL ice-skating rink, or 180,000 square-feet of gym and classroom space, there is more than enough to keep visitors of every shape, size and age very busy. Sixty-five employees and 40 class instructors keep the community center running. For six years, the GC3 has been operating as one of the most state-of-the-art gyms in the state. You can do your own thing if you have your own regimen, or, if you need more direction, classes are offered in everything from yoga to racquetball.
Bright Ideas:
The staff of the GC3 is constantly monitoring classes to keep clients happy. Director Martin Lujan's desk is littered with extensive spreadsheets created from those little slips of paper we drop in suggestion boxes-no, that slit is not a black hole! "We have a customer service team in-house," says Lujan. "Our focus is always to hone in on the service."
Acceptance Speech:
"We're always striving to be recognized as the place to be," Lujan says. "Being recognized is a great thing. We want to let our customers know that we're taking care of business. It also provides us an opportunity to thank the staff." (CJ)
Santa Fe Spa
El Gancho Fitness Swim & Racquet Club
Santa Fe Properties
1000 Paseo de Peralta
982-4466
You're A Star:
Though it's the only local large-firm real estate agency, what is most striking about Santa Fe Properties is the feeling of family within the company. Twenty years ago, owner and founder Wally Sargent initially intended to open a firm with six or
eight agents. But the company soon ballooned to include 180 brokers, yet still retains that close-knit camaraderie that was Sargent's original vision. According to Sales Manager Liz Cale, "One of the things that impressed me about people like Candy"-that's Candy Brenton, marketing director, who has been with the company for more than half her life-"is that Wally's been able to maintain that family feel here. There are a lot of generations of brokers within this company. We have father-son teams, mother-daughter, father-granddaughter teams."
Bright Ideas:
Sargent, a fourth generation Santa Fean, takes pride in having a truly local business. "Everybody in town knows we're the only locally owned large firm in Santa Fe," he says. The size of Santa Fe Properties wasn't always in his blueprint; he originally planned on having only about eight brokers. Now, with over 180 and growing every day, he emphasizes the true amount of "local talent" in real estate here.
Acceptance Speech:
"Hooray!" says Sargent, throwing his hands up joyously. Cale adds, "It's an honor to serve the people of Santa Fe." (CJ)
Sotheby's International Realty
Prudential Santa Fe
Xynergy
535 Cerrillos Road, Suite A2
982-2389
115 Gold Avenue SW, Suite 209
Albuquerque
247-2571
You're A Star:
Ever since Al Gore invented the Internet, there has been a need for Web designers. Luckily, Santa Fe residents have one of the Southwest's best located in their own town. Thirteen years ago, Jennifer Martin, president of Xynergy, started her company not by designing Web sites, but by convincing potential clients of the possibilities the Internet could offer to those willing to invest in the new medium. When Martin started her company, there were only around 1,300 Web sites in cyberspace.
Bright Ideas:
With the success of her Santa Fe office, Martin has opened up a second office in our state's biggest city. Martin now spends time between Santa Fe and her downtown Albuquerque office. Xynergy has recently completed the Web sites for the state tourism and film departments and is currently working on Web design for the Santa Fe Institute.
Acceptance Speech:
Speaking from her office in downtown Albuquerque, Martin acknowledges how her staff and her clients have made her business successful. "We're established in Santa Fe. I feel like a lot of people know who we are at this point. We have some very loyal and consistent clients. We have a pretty solid base. The guys and gals that I have working there are very competent and self-managing people." (CC)
Studio X
webdesignsantafe.com
Geek Squad
3533 Zafarano Drive, A6
438-4761
You're A Star:
If your computer seems to be possessed by an otherworldly force, who you gonna call? The Geek Squad, of course. Started in 1997, the Geek Squad
has become a nationwide resource for anyone seeking technological assistance. The Geek Squad teamed up with Best Buy in 2002, so you would be hard pressed to find any major city without a Geek Squad precinct.
Bright Ideas:
While not as sleek as the Dark Knight's Batmobile, heads will turn when the Geekmobile stops by your home or office to offer technical assistance. With more than 700 cars in its fleet across the country, the Geekmobile is a sleek black-and-white Volkswagen Beetle used to make house calls when your computer has that latest virus. According to the Geek Squad's Deputy of Counter-Intelligence, Thomas Herndon, the Geek Squad has agents on call 24 hours a day and seven days a week. Technical support is also available over the phone and Internet.
Acceptance Speech:
"Everybody who's in Geek Squad loves technology. We're the computer nerds of yester-year. We're the guys who read the manuals and then know how to do everything on the computer. It's actually a passion that most of us have; we really enjoy what we're doing and pass that along to our customers." (CC)
Santa Fe Computer Works
Wired Nation
Los Alamos National Bank
301 Griffin Street and 2009 Galisteo Street
954-5400
You're A Star:
Founded in 1963 in Los Alamos, the Los Alamos National Bank opened its doors in Santa Fe in 1999, first with an office on Galisteo Street, and a newer office in 2004 on Griffin Street. Senior Vice President Fidel Gutierrez believes Los Alamos National Bank stands out due to its employees. "They're friendly and they care," Gutierrez says. Los Alamos National Bank is committed to the community, and sponsors many local non-profits.
Bright Ideas:
The bank offers an EcoSmart program, which is committed to sustainability: All of the company cars are hybrids and the bank offers favorable rates to individuals and businesses that are environmentally conscious. In addition, Locals Care is a program that rewards members for shopping at local businesses, and donates a percentage of dollars spent to the non-profit of the member's choice.
Acceptance Speech:
"It was very heartfelt for me when I discovered we'd won," Gutierrez says. "I'd like to thank our employees who work so hard." (AMD)
First National Bank of Santa Fe
Century Bank
The Cowgirl
319 South Guadalupe Street
982-2565
You're A Star:
In 14 years of business, head chef Patrick Lambert and co-owners Nicholas Ballas and Barry Secular have fed hundreds of bikers at a pig roast for the local Harley Davidson club;
catered in a snow storm on Christmas Eve; and even seen Kiefer Sutherland doing push-ups on the bar counter top.
Bright Ideas:
Cowgirl owners Ballas and Secular have recently overhauled their bar and added a new pool hall inside the restaurant. Aside from the renovations, the Cowgirl has one thing that few other restaurants can brag about. This past January, the restaurant was picked, by the Wall Street Journal, as having some of the country's best nachos. So when next year comes around and you're planning your Super Bowl party, you know who to call.
Acceptance Speech:
"We have cultivated a group of some of the most talented, imaginative, great storytelling and really attractive bartenders that you could ever find," Ballas says. "I would say they're the cream-of-the-crop of Santa Fe bartenders and we feel very fortunate to have them here." (CC)
Second Street Brewery
Rio Chama
Harry's Roadhouse
Old Las Vegas Highway
989-4629
You're A Star:
Boston has the Cheers tavern, a place where everybody knows your name. Santa Fe has Harry's Roadhouse, where the staff and their customers are on a first-name basis. "Our customers, that are regulars, are truly family and we think of them as such," Angela Mason, dining room manager, says. "We have a large extended family, so I think that says a lot about this place."
Bright Ideas:
According to the roadhouse managers, every day is a new day and a chance for the staff to prove themselves to their customers. Nothing is taken
for granted. The relationship between the two is evident with their customers' generosity. "When I got married, we were showered with gifts," Kathleen O'Brien-Carlson, Roadhouse manager, says. "People were just amazing with their giving. One time someone lost their wallet and the regulars were chipping in money to help her make her rent. We got an amazing relationship with our customers."
Acceptance Speech:
Harry's Roadhouse owners, Harry Shapiro and Peyton Young, both know the importance of having an excellent staff on their payroll. "From the host, when you walk in the door, to the bussers getting your bread as quickly as possible or refilling your coffee, to the bartenders and food runners, it's a total team. It's not just the wait staff, it's a team effort here," Peyton says. For Shapiro, service is more than taking customers orders. "Service to us is really about taking care of the people," Shapiro says. "That it's really not just about taking the order, bringing the food and bringing the check. It's how you feel from the moment you walk in the door." (CC)
Geronimo
Tomasita's
