Consumer Culture
Best CD Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Cigar Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Club Wear Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Coffee House/Coffeeshop BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Comic Book Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Consignment Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Cosmetics Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Doggie Day Care BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Dry Cleaners BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Dry Cleaners BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best DVD/Video Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Electronics Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Electronics Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Flea Market BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Florist BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Furniture Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Furniture Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Furniture Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Garden Shop BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Gift Shop BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Gym BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Hair Salon BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Hair Salon BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Hardware Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Head Shop BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Health Food Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Local Jewelry Maker BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Jewelry Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Kids’ Clothing Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Kids’ Clothing Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Kitchen Tools BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Kitchen Tools BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Latino Food Market BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Lingerie Shop BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Liquor Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Liquor Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Liquor Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Liquor Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Local Clothing Designer BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Local Market BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Men’s Clothing Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Musical Instrument Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Nail Salon BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Natural Hair Salon BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Pawnshop BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Pet Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Piercing Parlor BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Shoe Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Shopping District BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Shopping District BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Gift Shop BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Kitchen Tools BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Bridal/Wedding Prep BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Bridal/Wedding Prep BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
Crate and Barrel has come a long way since 1962, from a unique mom-and-pop shop in Chicago to a 130-store mega-chain that embodies the word “home” for Generation Y. Because it offers products for every conceivable domestic scenario (churning ice cream, guzzling margaritas, washing the dog) and features a variety of styles (classic, mod, rustic), C&B is ideal for a single-registry wedding. Couples can do the whole shebang online, and the easy-to-shop Web list is especially convenient for out-of-town gift-givers.
404-239-0008. www.crateandbarrel.com.
Best women’s clothing store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
Tucked into a corner on West Marietta Street in the hip west side district, BELLA AZUL is the place to shop if you want to stand out in the crowd. With racks of clothing by hip and edgy designers such as Peter Som, Y&Kei, Catherine Malandrino and Great China Wall, the boutique is a fashionista’s godsend. With its large denim selection, independent designers’ jewelry, as well as bath products, home goods and candles, the lifestyle boutique is well worth a trip from any part of town. Check out the store’s Designer Wednesdays, a weekly event in which a different featured designer is marked down 20 percent.
1011-B Marietta St. 404-249-9150. www.bellaazul.com.
Best Store for Made-In-Atlanta Goods BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
It’s all too easy to find knock-off handbags, home furnishings and more that claim to be unique, yet inexplicably line every window and display case in the mall. But over at BEEHIVE CO-OP, things are a little different. The co-op showcases clothing, accessories, jewelry, furniture, home decor, bath and body products, and even kids’ stuff, all made by local and regional artists. With each artisan renting a space and sharing the duties of minding the store, prices for the literally unique items stay reasonable. Stop in the first Friday evening of each month for a fashion show, refreshments and 15 percent off your purchase.
1831-A Peachtree Road. 404-351-1166. www.beehiveco-op.com.
Best Local Craft Market BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
Best Shopping District BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
Best Local Boutique BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
When Cabbagetown’s YOYO BOUTIQUE AND ART SPACE opened up, we all kept wondering what was in store. Though the shop offers a small selection of vintage clothing, what we keep going back for is its assortment of cult brands from around the continent. We get regular compliments on the funky-printed Canadian OK-47 skirts and muscle shirts we’ve purchased there, as well as a whimsical butterfly hoodie from local label BlackBlack. Steady shipments of new merchandise keep us browsing on a regular basis to see what other items will soon become our signature pieces.
188-A Carroll St. 404-389-0912.
Best Shoe Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Shoe Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
If you’ve got a Carrie Bradshaw-size designer shoe fetish but a salary more like a grad student’s, we recommend a trip to Saks Fifth Avenue’s Semi-Annual clearance Sale. With names like Jimmy Choo, Chanel, Gucci, Marc Jacobs and Prada lining the racks at up to 60 percent off, you won’t have to worry your pretty little head about where you’ll find the rent money. A helpful hint: If you don’t see your size, don’t assume they don’t have it. Salespeople here are friendly, so speak up and ask them for help — they often keep other sizes in the back.
404-261-7234. www.saksfifthavenue.com.
Best Spa BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Local Market BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
When it comes time to wine and dine our significant other, we’ve yet to find a place supplying better accoutrements than STAR PROVISIONS. Their picnic baskets beg to be filled with the crusty bread and artisan cheeses lying just steps away, as does a sizable selection of seasonal dinnerware that keeps our food looking festive. Beyond accessories, chunky hunks of delightfully fresh fish glitter over ice and ruby-toned cuts of our favorite red meats rest comfortably in a nearby cooler. Creamy cheese well worth the dough beckons from another room, where jams and honeys also offer mealtime inspiration.
1198 Howell Mill Road. 404-365-0410. www.starprovisions.com.
Best Sporting Goods Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Sporting Goods Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
Both novice and expert runners know that if they want to save their soles (and ankles, or calves) they need to head to PHIDIPPIDES. Staffed by some of the most knowledgeable salespeople you’ll find in the city, these guys will not rest until they’ve analyzed your every movement quirk and determined the best shoe to keep you jogging safely. Each fitting requires a light jog up and down their floor in several different styles of shoes and lots of questions to make sure you’re as comfortable with the decision as they are.
1544 Piedmont Road, 404-875-4268; 220 Sandy Springs Circle, Sandy Springs, 404-255-6149. www.phidippides.com.
Best Theater Company BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
For its second full year under artistic director Jasson Minadakis, ACTOR’S EXPRESS lived up to its rep as Atlanta’s most vital theatrical venue. Bookended by the darkly comic Killer Joe (the season’s most delightfully disturbing play) and the more challenging examination of Southern character, Hazard County, Actor’s Express produced the plays most likely to start arguments — in a good way. Even the shows that didn’t quite click, like The Love Song of J. Robert Oppenheimer, had more ambition and ideas than most other playhouses’ best successes.
887 W. Marietta St., Suite J-10. 404-607-7469. www.actorsexpress.com.
Best Thrift Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Thrift Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
Shopping at any thrift store is a crap shoot: Sometimes you luck out, sometimes you go home empty-handed. But the fact that lots of nice, concerned people need the kind of tax deduction that can only come from donating to a recognized charity means your chances of finding some decent stuff at THE SALVATION ARMY aren’t half bad. During a couple of recent trips to the store just outside Avondale Estates — less picked-over than some intown locations — we picked up like-new shirts by Lorenzini and Ike Behar, saving us from having to go slumming in Neiman-Marcus.
2857 E. College Ave., Decatur. 404-299-0703. www.salvationarmy-georgia.org.
Best Toy Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Furniture Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Gas Station Snack BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
When friends come to town, there are few things we enjoy more than taking them on a quick drive by BUDDY’S and saying, “That gas station has a great selection of wine.” We bring the skeptical in to peruse the shelves filled with bottles ranging from the aptly titled Cheap Red Wine, to the crowd-pleasing bottles of Luna di Luna’s blends, and a refrigerator of chilled whites practically begging to be picked up for a cookout on the fly. Though the options tend to vary with every shipment, we’ve never found an occasion where we couldn’t stop in and find something to fit both the event and our budget.
1079 North Ave. 404-523-5414.
Best Used Book Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
Best Used Book Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Used Record/CD Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Used Record/CD Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
While the CD market is fading in the MP3 era, you wouldn’t know it at ELLA GURU, an expansive storefront tucked into a pleasant corner of the Toco Hills shopping center. The store doesn’t hedge its bets by selling vinyl, concert tickets or comic books; it’s all CDs, all the time, with the occasional in-store appearance. Don’t go expecting an edgy atmosphere — or the attitude that goes with it — just one of the larger selections of used and new CDs in town. If you’re selling, Ella Guru pays close to the local top dollar, and its own prices are pretty reasonable, considering that even Best Buy has jacked up costs for new music.
2993 N. Druid Hills Road. 404-325-1350. www.ellaguru.com.
Best Used Record/CD Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Vintage Clothing Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Vintage Clothing Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
When it comes to the best selection of vintage clothing, STEFAN’S in Little Five Points reigns supreme. The carefully selected and immaculately preserved clothing for women and men can date anywhere from 1900 to 1979. The shop sports a dazzling array of dresses ranging from ‘50s full skirts to ‘70s Pucci prints. Worth-the-trip accessories include shoes, hats, lots of bold jewelry and a large selection of vintage eye frames. When browsing, don’t forget to scan the labels: We once snagged a mint-condition Chanel silk blouse from the ‘70s.
1160 Euclid Ave. 404-688-4929. www.stefansvintage.com.
Best Vinyl BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
Crowded into a narrow space in the heart of Little Five Points, WAX ‘N’ FACTS is home to thousands of vinyl records, new and used CDs, imports, DVDs, music magazines and posters. This is as close to an old-fashioned record store as you’ll likely ever see because the emphasis is on used, new and collectible records. The staff knows its stuff; there’s no searchable database or website of any kind. Proprietor Danny Beard has been selling records for longer than many of his customers have been alive, and he still takes the time to actively support the music scene.
432 Moreland Ave. 404-525-2275.
Best Wine Shop BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best women’s clothing store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Yoga Studio BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Pet Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Critics Pick
You can find everything your pet needs at a chain store, but what about everything that your darling leg-humper could ever desire? Shop Paris-and-Tinkerbell style at Highland Pet Supply, where the beds are designer and the beef kibble is free-range. The boutique stocks essentials such as rawhide (vanilla scent optional), kitty litter and leashes, but it specializes in luxurious edibles and playthings. Next time Fluffy is a good girl, make a run for sweet potato treats and a stiletto-shaped chew toy by “Bark Jacobs.” HPS also offers do-it-yourself dog showers and obedience classes.
1186 N. Highland Ave. 404-892-5900. www.highlandpet.com.
Best Doggie Day Care BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Doggie Day Care BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Doggie Day Care BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Doggie Day Care BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Adult Toy Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Adult Toy Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Antique Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Art Supply Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Asian Food Market BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Asian Food Market BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Asian Food Market BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Bike Shop BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Bikini Wax BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Book Store BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Bridal/Wedding Prep BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Camera Shop BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
Best Car Wash BOA Award Winner
Section » Print Features » Special Issue » Best of Atlanta » 2005 » Consumer Culture » Readers Pick
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