Want to know who the best waiters and waitresses are, the best school and teacher, and where to get your tires replaced or car repaired?

Below, you’ll find out what readers voted for in more than 80 categories.

Each year, The Mirror’s “Best Of” program continues to grow and flourish, and this year was no exception. We poll the communities of Federal Way, Kent, Auburn, Des Moines and Northeast Tacoma and encourage them to submit their winning choices. As always, we receive hundreds of ballots that have to be tallied for a first-, second- and third-place finish. A number of the categories were extremely close when the final ballots were counted. We had two categories with ties for first, along with several second- and third-place ties.

None of this would have been possible without the support of you, the reader. Your commitment to filling out the ballots and submitting them is what makes this program a success. The businesses in our community take this award very seriously. They want first place, and they go to great strides each and every day to make this a reality.

We hope you enjoy the results along with the messages from the businesses and groups for which you voted. Thanks for making Federal Way a great place to live, work and play.

List of winners: Best Of 2009

City leader

First place: Jack Dovey

Second place: Linda Kochmar

Third place: Tom Pierson

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Secondhand store

First place: Goodwill

Second place: Deseret Industries

Third place: Meeker Street Station

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Asian food

First place: Indochine Seafood and Satay Bar

Second place: Grand Peking Restaurant

Third place: Akasaka

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Attorney

First place: David L. Evans

Second place: Joseph McGoran

Third place: Tim Hickel

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Auto body

First place: Precision Collision Auto Body

Second place: Bob Bjorneby’s Federal Way Collision

Third place: Jim’s Auto Refinishing and Collision Center

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Auto repair

First place: Sparks Car Care

Second place: Walt’s Auto Care Centers

Third place: Bob Bjorneby’s Federal Way Collision

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Bagels

First place: Panera Bread

Second place: Safeway

Third place: Safeway (Redondo)

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Bakery

First place: Great Harvest Bread Co.

Second place: Panera Bread

Third place: Metropolitan Market

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Bank/financial institution

First place (tie): BECU and Bank of America

Third place: Evergreen Bank

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Bar and nightclub

First place: The Scoreboard Pub

Second place: PJ Pockets

Third place: Billy McHale’s

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Barbecue

First place: Billy McHale’s

Second place: Longhorn Barbecue

Third place: Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse

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Barber shop

First place: SportClips

Second place: Gents Fine Grooming for Men

Third place: Hair Lounge

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Barista

First place: Jessica Eisenberg, Poverty Bay Coffee Company

Second place: Rachael Woodland, Starbucks (Redondo)

Third place: Loray Rainwater, Bluewater Wireless

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Bartender

First place: Leslie Schwartz, Red Lotus Restaurant

Second place: Jenny Peterson, Billy McHale’s

Third place: Angelica Martinez, Azteca Federal Way

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Best cop

First place: Chaplain Lew Cox

Second place: Brian Wilson

Third place: John Stray

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Best firefighter

First place: Fire Chief Al Church

Second place: Layne Winter

Third place: Ted Gentry

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Bookstore

First place: Borders

Second place: Barnes and Noble

Third place: Waldenbooks

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Car dealership

First place: Jet Chevrolet

Second place: Bowen Scarff

Third place: Valley Auburn

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Car wash/detail

First place: Elephant Super Car Wash

Second place: Brown Bear

Third place: Valley Auburn

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Casino

First place: Muckleshoot Casino

Second place: PJ Pockets

Third place: Emerald Queen

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Caterer

First place: Three Chicks Catering, Inc.

Second place: Billy McHale’s

Third place: Café Pacific Catering

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Chiropractor

First place: Summers Chiropractic

Second place: Spencer Chiropractic Center

Third place: The Wellness Plus

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Clinic/hospital

First place: St. Francis Hospital

Second place: Virginia Mason Hospital

Third place: UW Physicians

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Clothing store

First place: Macy’s

Second place: Ross Dress for Less

Third place: Nordstrom

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Coffee/latte/cappuccino

First place: Poverty Bay Coffee Company

Second place: Starbucks Coffee (320th)

Third place: Easy Espresso Coffee

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Community volunteer

First place: Merle Pfeifer

Second place: Bob Wroblewski

Third place (tie): Faye Ainsworth and Dan Altmayer

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Day spa

First place: Skin Generations

Second place: MeMe and Company

Third place: A Total Concept Salon

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Daycare

First place: KinderCare Learning Centers

Second place: The Centre at Norpoint

Third place: St. Luke’s Christian Childcare Center

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Dentist

First place: Dr. Brossel, DDS

Second place: Dr. Stacy Kanda, DDS

Third place: Dr. Gregory Zimmer, DDS

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Discount store

First place: Wal-mart

Second place: Costco

Third place: Target

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Dry cleaners

First place: Dry Cleaning Station

Second place: Foxy Cleaners

Third place: The Green Cleaners

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Educational facility

First place: Highline Community College

Second place: Green River Community College

Third place: Sylvan Learning Center

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Family restaurant

First place: Red Robin

Second place: Billy McHale’s

Third place: Black Bear Diner

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Fast food location

First place: Wendy’s

Second place: McDonald’s (320th)

Third place: Subway (Des Moines)

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Fitness club

First place: LA Fitness

Second place: Bally’s Total Fitness

Third place: 24 Hour Fitness

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Flower shop

First place: Federal Way Floral

Second place: Pacific Flower Market

Third place: Dana’s Flowers and Cakes

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Furniture store

First place: Moe’s home collection

Second place: Selden’s Home Furnishings

Third place: Macy’s

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Grocery store

First place: Metropolitan Market

Second place: WinCo Foods

Third place: Safeway (320th)

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Hair salon

First place: Hair Lounge

Second place: A Total Concept Salon

Third place: Regis Salons

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Hamburgers

First place: Burger Express

Second place: Red Robin

Third place: Fatburger

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Hardware store

First place: Lowe’s

Second place: Walker Ace Hardware

Third place: Home Depot

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Home decor/design

First place: Home Depot

Second place: Pier 1 Imports

Third place (tie): Geneva’s Interiors and Topaz Interior Design LLC

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Hotel/motel

First place: Courtyard by Marriott

Second place: Best Western Executel

Third place: EconoLodge

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Insurance agent/company

First place: Carrie Kuhel, State Farm

Second place: Jack Stanford, Stanford Insurance

Third place: Jeff Burnett, Allstate

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Italian food

First place: Gino’s Bistro

Second place: Olive Garden

Third place: Vince’s

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Kids activities

First place: Wild Waves Theme Park

Second place: Federal Way Community Center

Third place: Federal Way Regional Library

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Kids clothing

First place: Target

Second place: Heaven Sent

Third place: Old Navy

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Kids menu

First place: Red Robin

Second place: McDonald’s (320th)

Third place: Billy McHale’s

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Landscape company

First place: Three Trees

Second place: Green Valley Landscaping

Third place: Fun Yards U.S.A.

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Local arts group

First place: Centerstage

Second place: Federal Way Symphony

Third place: Auburn Performing Arts Center

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Masseuse

First place: Dr. Greg Summers, Summers Chiropractic

Second place: Toni Wright, Summers Chiropractic

Third place: Roxann Lewis, LMP, Sound Massage Therapy

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Mechanic

First place: Merle Pfeifer, Sparks Car Care

Second place: Toby Gribble, Sparks Car Care

Third place: Bob Bjorneby, Federal Way Collision

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Mexican food

First place: Azteca

Second place: Puerto Vallarta Family Mexican Restaurants

Third place: Torero’s Mexican Restaurants

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Movie theater

First place: Gateway Movies 8

Second place: Century 16 Movie Theatre

Third place: Regal Auburn Stadium 17

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Nail salon

First place: Phamily Nails

Second place: C T Nails

Third place: A Total Concept Salon

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Nursery and garden center

First place: Lowe’s

Second place: Home Depot

Third place: Oriental Garden Center

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Office supply store

First place (tie): Office Depot and Office Max

Third place: Staples

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Pet groomer

First place: Petsmart

Second place: Paws and Claws Pet Salon

Third place: Splish Splash Doggy Bath

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Pet store

First place: Petsmart

Second place: Petco

Third place: Midway Tropical Fish and Pets

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Pizza

First place: The Rock

Second place: Papa Murphy’s

Third place: Round Table Pizza

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Place to work

First place: Billy McHale’s

Second place: Sears Watch Repair

Third place: Great Harvest Bread Co.

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Play pool and darts

First place: PJ Pockets

Second place: The Scoreboard Pub

Third place: Java Billiards

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Portrait studio/photographer

First place: Ed Streit Images

Second place: Sears

Third place: Yuen Lui

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Real estate agent

First place: Faye Ainsworth, Keller Williams

Second place: Carol Stiefer, Windermere

Third place: Al Franzen, Windermere

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Restaurant for brunch

First place: Salty’s

Second place: Black Bear Diner

Third place: Shari’s Restaurants

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Retail store

First place: Target

Second place: Macy’s

Third place: Sears

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School

First place: Federal Way High School

Second place: Decatur High School

Third place: Federal Way Public Academy

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Seafood

First place: Salty’s

Second place: Red Lobster

Third place: Anthony’s Homeport, Des Moines

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Senior living facility

First place: Foundation House of Federal Way

Second place: Village Green Retirement Campus

Third place: The Woodmark at Steel Lake

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Shoe store

First place: Payless Shoe Source

Second place: DSW

Third place: Macy’s

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Shopping center

First place: The Commons at Federal Way

Second place: The Crossing

Third place (tie): Dash Point Village and Kent Station

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Sporting goods

First place: Joe’s

Second place: Big 5 Sporting Goods

Third place: Sportsman’s Warehouse

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Steakhouse

First place: Black Angus Steakhouse

Second place: Outback Steakhouse

Third place: Billy McHale’s

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Sushi

First place: Akasaka

Second place: Blue Island Sushi and Roll

Third place: O’cean Sushi and Grill

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Teacher

First place: Randy Long, Federal Way High School

Second place: Kurt Lauer, Federal Way Public Academy

Third place: Ron Sangalang, Illahee Middle School

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Tire store

First place: Les Schwab

Second place: Discount Tire

Third place: Eagle Tire

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Tourist attraction

First place: Wild Waves Theme Park

Second place: Federal Way Farmers Market

Third place: Pacific Rim Bonsai Collection

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Travel agency

First place: Sea and Sand Travel

Second place: AAA Travel

Third place: Frosch International Travel

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Veterinarian

First place: Sacajawea Healthcare for Pets

Second place: Cascade Veterinarian Hospital

Third place: Vets For Less

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Waiter

First place: Jeff Swift, Billy McHale’s

Second place: Robert Johnson, Black Bear Diner

Third place: Joe Rutter, Jimmy Mac’s Roadhouse

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Waitress

First place: Laura Schriever, Billy McHale’s

Second place: Teresa Turcinec, Black Bear Diner

Third place (tie): Ginger Kelpszas, Billy McHale’s; Nicole Sacheck, Poverty Bay Coffee Company

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Wireless store

First place: Verizon Wireless

Second place: T-Mobile (Commons Mall)

Third place: BlueWater Wireless