HARDWARE STORE
McGuckin Hardware
2525 Arapahoe Ave., 303-443-1822
Runner-up: Home Depot
Was there ever any doubt about which store would win this one? We like to say, “If you can’t find it at McGuckin, you’re not going to find it.” This place carries everything from camping gear to stationery. That hard-to-find light bulb for the 40-year-old film projector? Got it. That little doo-hickey that goes in your push-go-shut? Aisle 12. They even stock kadiddle-hoppers, whatever those are. And when you walk in, within five seconds you are bound to encounter a friendly, green-vested helper who can tell you exactly where to find that rubber washer that goes inside your hose. Oh, and they also have things like hammers and nails. It’s so convenient because you can park near any one of their entrances and hit the checkout stand closest to your car. Founded in 1955, it’s a true Boulder institution that attracts visitors from miles around. We know, because whenever Uncle Milt comes to town, he looks for any excuse to stop by and just browse. We keep trying to tell him that it’s called “McGuckin Hardware,” not “McGuckin’s,” but he never learns. And a gift card to runner-up Home Depot is the can’t-miss present that makes the guy’s guy pleased as punch, because it is so easy to spend money there every weekend.
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INDEPENDENT BUSINESS
McGuckin Hardware
2525 Arapahoe Ave., 303-443-1822
Runner-up: Boulder Bookstore
Honorable Mentions: Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary, Boulder Weekly
At one time or another, McGuckin Hardware has gotten each and every one of us out of a pinch. With more than 200,000 different items in stock — that’s right, on their store shelves — it’s practically a given that they carry just what we need when a pipe bursts, a bulb breaks or our kid has a school project and needs supplies. One of the most dependable independent businesses in Boulder, McGuckin’s has been around since Bill McGuckin opened up shop in 1955, and it doesn’t look like it’ll be going anywhere soon. And next time our drain starts spewing unmentionable matter across our bathroom floor, we’ll be grateful. Boulder Bookstore, this year’s runner-up, also boasts a pretty impressive stock: more than 100,000 titles on three floors. Rebecca’s Herbal Apothecary offers pretty much everything for your herbal needs, from teas to tinctures and balms to bath salts. And Boulder Weekly is proud to continue serving as Boulder County’s only independent weekly newspaper.
KITCHEN SUPPLIES
The Peppercorn
1235 Pearl St., 303-449-5847
Runner-up: Bed, Bath and Beyond
Honorable Mention: Savory Spice
Do not take your mother-in-law into The Peppercorn, unless you are willing to spend a little bit of money and you are trying to kill an hour while waiting for a table at one of Pearl Street’s fine restaurants. This place is the local mecca of kitchen and dining supplies. It has everything from whisks to martini glasses, and anything you buy there is sure to get compliments from guests who dine at your otherwise humble abode. That random mortar and pestle is here, as is the charger — that stylish thing that goes under your dinner plate. Oh, and it’s not just kitchen and dining stuff — they also have a plethora of bath and home accessories, too. As for our runner-up, when they say “Beyond,” they mean it. And Savory Spice, the honorable mention, has made a splash as one of Boulder’s specialty niche shops that has any seasoning you can think of, and the accoutrements to go with it.
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LINGERIE
Christina’s Luxuries
2425 Canyon Blvd., 303-443-2421
Runner-up: Victoria’s Secret
Honorable Mention: The T-Bar
If only it were as simple as boxers or briefs. For women, undergarments are much more complicated. According to our readers, Christina’s Luxuries provides Boulder County with the best sexy stuff around. The best lingerie not only makes you look great, but it also makes you feel great, and that is what Christina’s is here for — to make every woman look and feel sexy. While men are big fans of lingerie, women on the other hand have mixed feelings about what to wear underneath it all. Christina’s focuses on customer satisfaction and expertise. The store is rooted in 30 years of bra-fitting experience, from a family with generations of fashion and creative style. Christina’s may have won this award for their lingerie, but the store also provides a selection of apparel, from clothing to swimsuits for women of all ages and styles. And who doesn’t love feeling like a Victoria’s Secret Angel, wearing the same kind of panties as Heidi Klum? The name may be deceiving, but the T-Bar is not a local drinking spot — it is Boulder’s premier lingerie boutique, an Old West saloon-style store that sells fashion-forward underwear.
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LIQUOR STORE
Liquor Mart
1750 15th St., 303-449-3374
Runner-up: Superior Liquor
Honorable Mentions: Boulder Wine Merchant, North Boulder Liquor
Americans spent more than $100 billion on alcohol last year. That’s a lot of beer, wine and liquor. Liquor Mart’s huge selection — more than 1,500 domestic and imported beers, more than 6,000 varieties of wine and more than 3,000 liquor products — at rock bottom prices has made it a county favorite for decades. At Liquor Mart, you won’t have to break the bank to tap a keg. In addition to just about every adult beverage under the sun, they also sell ingredients for any mixed drink you can dream up, along with the tools to mix it. And for the eco-conscious souse in your bunch, they also carry one of the most extensive selections of organic and biodynamic wines. Locally owned and operated, Liquor Mart opened its doors in 1968, the year after Boulder finally went from a dry city to wet as a whistle. The first retail liquor store inside Boulder city limits, it’s now the biggest, with more than 30,000 square feet of floor space on two levels. If you’re out in Superior, check out Superior Liquor, a 20,000-square-foot store with, dare we say, a superior selection and great value. At Boulder Wine Merchant, two Master Sommeliers will help you uncork the perfect bottle for your palate, whether you’re a long-time wine lover or an absolute beginner. Also be sure to stop by North Boulder Liquor just a few blocks away for a shot of friendly service and good selection.
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NATURAL FOODS STORE
Boulder County Farmers’ Market
13th Street, between Arapahoe and Canyon, 303-910-2236
Runner-up: Whole Foods
Honorable Mention: Sunflower Farmers Market
It might not be an actual “store,” but just because the Boulder County Farmers’ Market isn’t surrounded by automatic sliding doors and shopping carts doesn’t mean it still can’t contain the freshest and most excellent natural food in Boulder. Featuring locally grown flowers, meats, vegetables, fruits — even gourmet wines and cheeses, and handmade jewelry and body care products — Boulder County Farmers’ Market is not just your ordinary trip to the grocery store. You’ll see loyal Boulderites walking up and down 13th Street, picking ripe and local produce to toss into their reusable sack rather than meandering up and down the aisles, blankly staring at processed products shipped in from other states. The Boulder County Farmers’ Market offers everything you need to whip up a complete breakfast, make the kids lunch, cook a fine dinner, and bake an apple pie — all using ingredients from neighboring farms. Now, of course, if it’s not a Saturday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., or a Wednesday between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., you can always hit up runner-up Whole Foods, or our honorable mention, Sunflower Farmers Market, to get your natural food fix.
KITCHEN SUPPLIES
The Peppercorn
1235 Pearl St., 303-449-5847
Runner-up: Bed, Bath and Beyond
Honorable Mention: Savory Spice
Do not take your mother-in-law into The Peppercorn, unless you are willing to spend a little bit of money and you are trying to kill an hour while waiting for a table at one of Pearl Street’s fine restaurants. This place is the local mecca of kitchen and dining supplies. It has everything from whisks to martini glasses, and anything you buy there is sure to get compliments from guests who dine at your otherwise humble abode. That random mortar and pestle is here, as is the charger — that stylish thing that goes under your dinner plate. Oh, and it’s not just kitchen and dining stuff — they also have a plethora of bath and home accessories, too. As for our runner-up, when they say “Beyond,” they mean it. And Savory Spice, the honorable mention, has made a splash as one of Boulder’s specialty niche shops that has any seasoning you can think of, and the accoutrements to go with it.
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LINGERIE
Christina’s Luxuries
2425 Canyon Blvd., 303-443-2421
Runner-up: Victoria’s Secret
Honorable Mention: The T-Bar
If only it were as simple as boxers or briefs. For women, undergarments are much more complicated. According to our readers, Christina’s Luxuries provides Boulder County with the best sexy stuff around. The best lingerie not only makes you look great, but it also makes you feel great, and that is what Christina’s is here for — to make every woman look and feel sexy. While men are big fans of lingerie, women on the other hand have mixed feelings about what to wear underneath it all. Christina’s focuses on customer satisfaction and expertise. The store is rooted in 30 years of bra-fitting experience, from a family with generations of fashion and creative style. Christina’s may have won this award for their lingerie, but the store also provides a selection of apparel, from clothing to swimsuits for women of all ages and styles. And who doesn’t love feeling like a Victoria’s Secret Angel, wearing the same kind of panties as Heidi Klum? The name may be deceiving, but the T-Bar is not a local drinking spot — it is Boulder’s premier lingerie boutique, an Old West saloon-style store that sells fashion-forward underwear.
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LIQUOR STORE
Liquor Mart
1750 15th St., 303-449-3374
Runner-up: Superior Liquor
Honorable Mentions: Boulder Wine Merchant, North Boulder Liquor
Americans spent more than $100 billion on alcohol last year. That’s a lot of beer, wine and liquor. Liquor Mart’s huge selection — more than 1,500 domestic and imported beers, more than 6,000 varieties of wine and more than 3,000 liquor products — at rock bottom prices has made it a county favorite for decades. At Liquor Mart, you won’t have to break the bank to tap a keg. In addition to just about every adult beverage under the sun, they also sell ingredients for any mixed drink you can dream up, along with the tools to mix it. And for the eco-conscious souse in your bunch, they also carry one of the most extensive selections of organic and biodynamic wines. Locally owned and operated, Liquor Mart opened its doors in 1968, the year after Boulder finally went from a dry city to wet as a whistle. The first retail liquor store inside Boulder city limits, it’s now the biggest, with more than 30,000 square feet of floor space on two levels. If you’re out in Superior, check out Superior Liquor, a 20,000-square-foot store with, dare we say, a superior selection and great value. At Boulder Wine Merchant, two Master Sommeliers will help you uncork the perfect bottle for your palate, whether you’re a long-time wine lover or an absolute beginner. Also be sure to stop by North Boulder Liquor just a few blocks away for a shot of friendly service and good selection.
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NATURAL FOODS STORE
Boulder County Farmers’ Market
13th Street, between Arapahoe and Canyon, 303-910-2236
Runner-up: Whole Foods
Honorable Mention: Sunflower Farmers Market
It might not be an actual “store,” but just because the Boulder County Farmers’ Market isn’t surrounded by automatic sliding doors and shopping carts doesn’t mean it still can’t contain the freshest and most excellent natural food in Boulder. Featuring locally grown flowers, meats, vegetables, fruits — even gourmet wines and cheeses, and handmade jewelry and body care products — Boulder County Farmers’ Market is not just your ordinary trip to the grocery store. You’ll see loyal Boulderites walking up and down 13th Street, picking ripe and local produce to toss into their reusable sack rather than meandering up and down the aisles, blankly staring at processed products shipped in from other states. The Boulder County Farmers’ Market offers everything you need to whip up a complete breakfast, make the kids lunch, cook a fine dinner, and bake an apple pie — all using ingredients from neighboring farms. Now, of course, if it’s not a Saturday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m., or a Wednesday between 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., you can always hit up runner-up Whole Foods, or our honorable mention, Sunflower Farmers Market, to get your natural food fix.
