Once again, we went about asking the residents of the Federal Way area who is the best at what they do.
This year is the 15th year of this program — a milestone to be sure, but one that wasn’t always paved with some of the most well thought out intentions.
Over the years we have had some classic categories. There are the omnipresent ones such as barbershop, bartender, waiter, waitress, hair salon, auto technician, photographer, nail salon, veterinarian, insurance, day care, fitness, place to work, tourist attraction, pet store, tire store and secondhand store, to name a few. These have been categories from the beginning.
Worth a deeper look, though, are the ones that were presented for a snapshot in time. Some of these fall within the “what were they thinking” realm such as best lingerie shop, best place to play darts, and best place to kiss. I can only imagine the responses — cheek, lips, backseat of the car, street corner — hopefully followed by the best place to propose or best place to break up.
Others were just downright out there such as best place to fish, best selection of CDs, donut shop, nutritional store, facial — really? How about a best place to take a bath or clip your nose hairs category? Best park, stereos, art gallery, video selection, film developing, cheesecake, popcorn, place to buy a hat, and place to meet a mate — other than perhaps Australia. These were all categories at one time or another.
Incidentally, McDonald’s won as the best place to break up and placed as best nutritional store. Seriously. Marino’s and Gene Juarez won as the best facial until someone wised up and replaced this with the even more bizarre categories for best people watching spot and best city bench. I wonder if the winning plaque is still tacked to that city bench? Undoubtedly, some of the voters for the best people watching spot are likely now incarcerated.
Anyhow, humor aside, the last 15 years would not have been possible without the support of you, the readers and voters. The businesses that place or win these awards take this very seriously. They want to be the best and go to great strides to ensure that they are.
We hope you enjoy the results along with the messages from the businesses and groups for which you voted.
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SERVICE CATEGORY
Adult In-Home Care
First place: Comfort Keepers
Second: Home Instead Senior Care
Third: [tie] Emeritus at Federal Way and Just Like Home Adult Family Home, LLC
Attorney
First place: Herman C. Brewer IV
Second: [tie] Gary Slater and Joe McGoran
Auto Body/Collision
First place: Blackstone’s Collision
Second: Bob Bjorneby’s CARSTAR Federal Way Collision
Third: Precision Collision Auto Body
Auto Repair Shop
First place: Sparks Car Care
Second: Bob Bjorneby’s CARSTAR Federal Way Collision
Third: Northshore Automotive and R.V. Repair
Auto Technician
First place: Merle Pfeifer, Sparks Car Care
Second: Toby Gribble, Sparks Car Care
Third: Craig Richlen, Eagle Tire
Bank / Credit Union
First place: Heritage Bank
Second: HomeStreet Bank
Third: BECU
Barbershop
First place: Gents Fine Grooming for Men
Second: Twin Lakes Hair Salon
Third: SportClips
Barista
First place: Maria Kuehlthau, Marista’s
Second: Emma Gremer, Starbucks (320th)
Third: Julie Walkup, Starbucks (Dash Point)
Bartender
First place: Jason Bosshart, R-Jay’s Scoreboard
Second: Tawna Gogolin, Salty’s
Third: Ryan Gray, Time Out Ale House
Chiropractor
First place: Wolf Chiropractic Center
Second: Federal Way Chiropractic Center
Third: Life and Health Chiropractic and Massage Centre
Clinic/Hospital
First place: St. Francis Hospital
Second: Virginia Mason Medical Center
Third: Jade River Acupuncture
Day Care
First place: Spring Valley Montessori School
Second: La Petite Academy
Third: KinderCare Learning Centers
Day Spa
First place: Twin Lakes Hair Salon
Second: 8th Day Spa
Third: MeMe & Company
Dentist
First place: Dr. Kenneth Brossel, DDS
Second: Dr. Stacy R. Kanda, DDS
Third: Dr. Stephen Pong, DDS
Financial Advisor
First place: Chad Stalder
Second: Dan Altmayer
Third: Doug Legg
Fitness Facility
First place: LA Fitness
Second: Federal Way Community Center
Third: 24 Hour Fitness
Hair Salon
First place: Twin Lakes Hair Salon
Second: MeMe & Company
Third: The Hair Joint
Healthcare Professionals
First place: Jade River Acupuncture
Second: Virginia Mason Medical Center
Third: Group Health Federal Way Medical Center
Insurance Agent
First place: Jeff Burnett, Allstate
Second: Karl Kuntz, American Family Insurance
Third: Carrie Kuhel, State Farm
Massage Therapist
First place: Jasmine Burtner, Natural Health Center
Second: Friday Uth, Wolf Chiropractic Center
Third: Eudora Ballou, 8th Day Spa
Nail Salon
First place: Twin Lakes Hair Salon
Second: Eden Nails
Third: 8th Day Spa
Pet Groomer
First place: Simply Paws
Second: Biscuits Federal Way
Third: Designs in Fur
Portrait Studio/Photographer
First place: Ed Streit Images
Second: MB photography
Third: Photography by Chris Leavitt
Real Estate Agent
First place: Jackie King, Better Properties
Second: Lori DeVore, John L Scott
Third: Debi Braulik, Keller Williams
Senior Living Facility
First place: Village Green Retirement Campus
Second: Foundation House of Federal Way
Third: Emeritus at Federal Way
Tutor
First place: Sylvan Learning of Federal Way
Second: Treehouse
Third: Kumon Learning Centers
Veterinarian
First place: Sacajawea Healthcare for Pets
Second: Cascade Veterinary Hospital
Third: Twin Lakes Veterinary Hospital
Waiter
First place: Sonny Roberts, Black Bear Diner
Second: Dustin Vistante, Puerto Vallarta
Third: Tristan Gamble, Billy McHale’s
Waitress
First place: Naomi Simpson, Black Bear Diner
Second: Nicole Masseth, Puerto Vallarta
Third: [tie] Nikki Bailey, Time Out Ale House; Renee Kochler, Black Bear Diner
SHOPPING CATEGORY
Auto Parts
First place: AutoZone Auto Parts
Second: O’Reilly Auto Parts
Third: G&M Honest Performance
Beer Store
First place: 99 Bottles
Second: Fred Meyer
Third: Costco Wholesale
Clothing Store
First place: Macy’s
Second: Ross Dress for Less
Third: Sears
Discount Store
First place: Walmart
Second: Costco Wholesale
Third: Target
Grocery Store
First place: WinCo Foods
Second: Fred Meyer
Third: Trader Joe’s
Hardware/Lumber Store
First place: Home Depot
Second: New Lumber & Hardware Co.
Third: Lowe’s
Jewelry Store
First place: Jeffrey’s Jewelers
Second: Fred Meyer
Third: Federal Way Custom Jewelers
Nursery and Garden Center
First place: Branches Garden Center
Second: Lowe’s
Third: Home Depot
Pet Store
First place: Simply Paws
Second: Mud Bay
Third: Petsmart
Secondhand Store
First place: Goodwill
Second: Deseret Industries
Third: Pawn Pros
Tire Store
First place: Les Schwab
Second: Discount Tire
Third: [tie] Sparks Car Care and Eagle Tire
Wine Store
First place: Costco Wholesale
Second: Trader Joe’s
Third: Fred Meyer
FOOD CATEGORY
Asian
First place: Indochine Seafood and Satay Bar
Second: Garden Korean Cuisine
Third: Grand Peking Restaurant
Bakery
First place: Great Harvest Bread Co.
Second: Panera Bread
Third: Wild Wheat Bakery Café & Restaurant
Barbecue
First place: Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse
Second: Billy McHale’s
Third: Pitmaster’s BBQ
Brunch/Breakfast
First place: Salty’s
Second: Black Bear Diner
Third: IHOP
Buffet
First place: Salty’s
Second: East India Grill
Third: Old Country Buffet
Coffee Shop
First place: Cafe Pacific
Second: Poverty Bay Coffee Company
Third: Marista’s
Deli/Sandwich
First place: Joe’s Deli
Second: Subway
Third: Panera Bread
Family
First place: Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse
Second: Red Robin
Third: Black Bear Diner
Hamburger
First place: Red Robin
Second: Han’s Burgers
Third: Burger Express
Ice Cream
First place: Sub Zero
Second: Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt
Third: Baskin Robbins
Indian
First place: East India Grill
Second: Lotus Grill
Third: Indochine Seafood and Satay Bar
Italian
First place: Vince’s
Second: Olive Garden
Third: Verrazanos Italian Restaurant
Lunch
First place: Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse
Second: Salty’s
Third: Black Bear Diner
Mexican
First place: Azteca
Second: El Toreo Restaurant
Third: Puerto Vallarta Family Mexican Restaurants
Pizza
First place: Round Table Pizza
Second: Papa Murphy’s
Third: The Rock
Seafood
First place: Salty’s
Second: McGrath’s
Third: Red Lobster
Steakhouse
First place: Outback Steakhouse
Second: Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse
Third: Black Angus Steakhouse
LIVING CATEGORY
Best Cop
First place: Andy Hwang
Second: Brian Wilson
Third: Chad Branco
Best Firefighter
First place: Al Church
Second: Gordie Olson
Third: Barry Hassell
City Leader
First place: Skip Priest
Second: Jim Ferrell
Third: Susan Honda
Community Volunteer
First place: Cindy Ducich
Second: Janice Siebenaler
Third: Bob Wroblewski
Educational Facility
First place: Sylvan Learning of Federal Way
Second: Highline Community College
Third: Treehouse
Kid’s Activity
First place: Wild Waves Theme Park
Second: Federal Way Community Center
Third: Federal Way Way Boys & Girls Club
Local Charity/Non-Profit
First place: Multi-Service Center
Second: Communities in Schools
Third: FUSION
Place to Work
First place: Wild Waves Theme Park
Second: Federal Way Community Center
Third: Heritage Bank
Teacher/Elementary School
First place: Cheryl Stark, Panther Lake Elementary
Second: [tie] Maggie King, Panther Lake Elementary; Suzi Friedlander, Rainier View Elementary and Sequoyah Middle School; Vicki Mattern, Sherwood Forest Elementary
Teacher/Middle School
First place: Chris Tarling, Federal Way Public Academy
Second: [tie] Kay Walls, Lakota Middle School; Alexis Beard, Federal Way Public Academy; Kathy Whisenhunt, Federal Way Public Academy
Teacher/High School
First place: Luke Thompson, Decatur High School
Second: [tie] Mike Bressler, Decatur High School; Mike Grady, Thomas Jefferson High School
Tourist Attraction
First place: Federal Way Farmers Market
Second: Wild Waves Theme Park
Third: Dash Point State Park
NIGHTLIFE CATEGORY
Bar/Nightclub
First place: Muckleshoot Casino
Second: R-Jay’s Scoreboard
Third: Time Out Ale House
Casino
First place: Muckleshoot Casino
Second: Emerald Queen Casino
Third: Iron Horse Casino
Local Arts Group
First place: Centerstage Theatre
Second: Federal Way Symphony
Third: Rosebud Children’s Theatre Conservatory
Movie Theatre
First place: Gateway Movies 8
Second: Century 16 Movie Theatre
Third: Regal Auburn Stadium 17
