There’s a whole lotta shopping going on in Memphis and the favorites have been crowned. Mayor Wharton took a trip to the Easy Way (Best Produce Store) on Mount Moriah to celebrate its award, but also for a couple of bags of goodness. “I need some apples,” he said, which he bought, along with some Ripley tomatoes and a corer that makes nice apple wedges without fuss or power cords or instruction manuals. “It’s the simple things in life,” the mayor said approvingly.

 

And what is it about Easy Way that makes it a favorite besides smelling so good? “We get it fresh,” said Peggie Shipley, a clerk at the store. “Two trucks a day, mostly local, and the help is so friendly.”

 

Meanwhile, it’s not something we buy as often as produce, but lovers of baubles, bangles and beads named Robert Irwin Jewelers as Best Jewelry Store. “It’s because we’re not like a mall store – we have a huge selection and are direct importers,” said CEO Howard Knopf. “And we’re home-grown, real Memphians.”

 

Other purveyors of shiny things that won our readers’ approval include Lexus of Memphis (Best Car Dealership and Best Car Import Dealership) and Bella Vita (Best Gift Shop). And in the hearty everyday category, people gave top marks to Charlie’s Meat Market for Best Meat Department.

 

Misery is not for sale in this town.

 

 

Best Health Food Store

 

Winner: Whole Foods Market

Whole Foods Market is a hefty (25,000-square-foot) place that goes for the fresh, the organic and the environmentally friendly. It sells products from local farmers and has a staff who can help you puzzle out questions about healthful foods.

5022 Poplar Ave., 685-2293; wholefoodsmarket.com

 

Finalist:  The Fresh Market

835 S. White Station Road, 682-3434; 9375 Poplar Ave., Germantown, 737-5759;  thefreshmarket.com

 

Finalist: Easy Way

Several locations; easywayproduce.com

 

 

Best Produce Store

 

Winner: Easy Way

Easy Way has been the destination for fresh thinkers for decades. Fruits and veggies come in daily and shoppers head for the plumpest and greenest and juiciest garden and farm grown delights. The sort of place you can live apple-y ever after.

Several locations; easywayproduce.com

 

Finalist:  The Fresh Market

835 S. White Station Road, 682-3434; 9375 Poplar Ave., Germantown, 737-5759;  thefreshmarket.com

 

Finalist:  Memphis Farmers Market

Central Station, Front Street at G.E. Patterson Avenue; memphisfarmersmarket.org

 

 

Best Meat Department

 

Winner: Charlie’s Meat Market

Charlie’s Meat Market has an old-timey atmosphere and some pretty attractive prices as well. It’s one of the popular places in town to get all kinds of beef, pork and poultry, along with some other necessities. You’ll also get some good guidance from the folks behind the counter. It’s prime.

4790 Summer Ave., 683-1192

 

Finalist: The Fresh Market

835 S. White Station Road, 682-3434; thefreshmarket.com

 

Finalist: Kroger

Several locations; kroger.com

 

 

Best Grocery

 

Winner: Kroger

Kroger has been everywhere forever — well, maybe that’s a slight exagger<script type="text/javascript" src="http://web.commercialappeal.com/static/Scripts/tiny_mce/themes/advanced/langs/en.js">ation. But longevity and omnipresence count for something, and it’s been around long enough to know what we like and when we like it. Paper? Plastic? Or bring your own?

Several locations; kroger.com

 

Finalist:  The Fresh Market

835 S. White Station Road, 682-3434; 9375 Poplar Ave., Germantown, 737-5759;  thefreshmarket.com

 

Finalist: Schnucks

Several locations; schnucks.com

 

 

Best Wine/Liquor Store

Winner: Buster’s Liquors & Wine

Buster’s Liquors & Wine knows the satisfaction of a smooth merlot and a sweet Memphis Most award. The longtime retailer has been a fixture in the Poplar-Highland area for years and has a most knowledgeable staff. Pop the cork for ’em.

191 S. Highland St., 458-0929; bustersliquors.com

 

Finalist: Joe’s Wine & Liquor

1681 Poplar Ave., 725-4252

 

Finalist:  Kirby Wine & Liquor

2865 Kirby Road, 756-1993; kirbywines.com

 

 

Best Boutique

 

Winner: Joseph

Joseph knows you need some new gladiator pumps. And a Tory Burch clutch. Joseph doesn’t need to tell you your closet has too much of what is so last July. Come, Joseph can fix you up.

418 S. Grove Park Road, 767-1609; josephstores.com

 

Finalist:  Isabella

4615 Poplar Ave., 683-3538; memphisite.com/isabella/

 

Finalist:  Crazy Beautiful

3536 Walker Ave., 452-6905; myspace.com/crazybeautifulgirls

 

 

Best Women’s Fashion Store

 

Winner: Macy’s

Macy’s ought to know a thing or two about women’s fashion — it’s been around longer than your Aunt Gertrude. That expertise and a wide selection  go a long way to meeting style needs, and having several stores around helps make it easy to get to.  Plus it’s got that Goldsmith’s mojo working.

Several locations; macys.com

 

Finalist:  Anthropologie

7615 W. Farmington Blvd., 309-3440; anthropologie.com

 

Finalist: Stein Mart

Several locations; steinmart.com

 

 

Best Women’s Shoe Store

 

Winner: DSW

DSW is made for walkin’ although the discount shoe seller also offers handbags, so no wonder the well-shod lady has favored it with a Memphis Most award. It’s a way to stay chic on a budget and that certainly appeals to the sole.

7712 U.S. 72, Germantown, 755-2204; dsw.com

 

Finalist: Macy’s

Several locations; macys.com

 

Finalist: Joseph

418 S. Grove Park Road, 767-1609; josephstores.com

 

 

Best Men’s Fashion Store

 

Winner: James Davis

James Davis is an upscale spot where stylin’ Memphis gents have been going for  their sartorial needs, from denim to Armani formalwear. It was voted one of the top 10 men’s stores in the country by Menswear Retailing, so you can be assured you’ll look pretty suave when you stride out of there.

400 Grove Park, 767-4640; jamesdavisstore.com

 

Finalist:  Jos. A. Bank

Several locations; josbank.com

 

Finalist: Macy’s

Several locations; macys.com

 

 

Best Athletic Shoe Store

 

Winner: Fleet Feet Sports

Fleet Feet Sports is where runners, walkers and fitness enthusiasts can get into the company’s “Fitlosophy.” It’s friendly to novices as well, so beginners to the world of footwork can ease into it at just the right rate. On your mark, get set ...

4530 Poplar Ave., 761-0078; fleetfeetsports.com

 

Finalist:  Breakaway Running

Several locations; breakawaymemphis.com

 

Finalist:  Dick’s Sporting Goods

2393 N. Germantown Parkway, 386-5302; 7766 Polo Grounds Blvd., 737-2216; dickssportinggoods.com

 

 

Best Jewelry Store

 

Winner: Robert Irwin Jewelers

Robert Irwin Jewelers wins the Memphis Most award because they have what the customer wants, says CEO Howard Knopf. It’s home grown and has a wide selection, plus a staff who can offer sound advice. “We travel the world to find bargains and bring them to Memphis,” he said. And that makes it sparkly clear.

Several locations; rijewelers.com

 

Finalist: Mednikow

474 Perkins Extended, 767-2100; mednikow.com

 

Finalist: Las Savell Jewelry

61 S. McLean Blvd., 725-5200

 

 

Best Cosmetics Store

Winner: Sephora

Sephora has made its mark, mostly on your face, eyes, cheeks, lips, nails and body. And you must like it a lot, because it’s a repeat Memphis Most winner. It’s got the goods to make you look even more amazing than you already are.

Several locations; sephora.com

 

Finalist:  Macy’s

Several locations; macys.com

 

Finalist: Joseph

418 S. Grove Park Road, 767-1609; josephstores.com

 

 

Best Car Dealership

 

Winner: Lexus of Memphis

Lexus of Memphis must be in the business of domination. After all, it won three Memphis Most awards this year, so it’s doing something right. Is it all those people lining up to buy the upcoming LFA starting at $375,000? Maybe it’s simply good customer service.

2600 Ridgeway Road, (888) 203-4049; lexusofmemphis.com

 

Finalist:  Wolfchase Honda/Nissan

2982 N. Germantown Road, 255-3700; wolfchasehonda.com

 

Finalist:  CarMax

7771 U.S. 64, 382-1315; carmax.com

 

 

Best Import Car Dealership

 

Winner: Lexus of Memphis

Oh, here’s Lexus of Memphis winning another award. Don’t they get tired of it? Or is it like having leather interiors? Or a hybrid that goes 0-60 in 5.5 seconds? Or a power tilt-and-slide moonroof with one-touch open/close and sliding sunshade as standard equipment? Hmmmm.

2600 Ridgeway Road, (888) 203-4049; lexusofmemphis.com

 

Finalist:  Roadshow BMW

405 N. Germantown Parkway, 365-2584; roadshowbmw.com

 

Finalist: Wolfchase Honda/Nissan

2982 N. Germantown Parkway, 255-3700; wolfchasehonda.com

 

 

Best Luxury Car Dealership

 

Winner: Lexus of Memphis

Lexus of Memphis snags yet another award, but it does know a thing or two about luxury. You can get this for your new LS Hybrid: “Advanced Pre-Collision System with Active Pedestrian Detection System, Lane Keep Assist and Driver Attention Monitor.”  Imagine the cup holders!

2600 Ridgeway Road, (888) 203-4049; lexusofmemphis.com

 

Finalist:  Roadshow BMW

405 N. Germantown Parkway, 365-2584; roadshowbmw.com

 

Finalist:  Mercedes Benz of Memphis

5389 Poplar Ave., 345-6211; mbofmemphis.com

 

 

Best Tire Store

 

Winner: Gateway Tire

Gateway Tire says fair prices and quality work are how they hope to get repeat business. And it must work pretty well since customers keep coming back for tire work and more: engine checkups, shocks/struts, water pumps, heat and air, and transmission service. And that does not seem to be an overinflated view.

Several locations; www.dktire.com

 

Finalist:  Costco

2431 N. Germantown Parkway, 214-0003; 3775 Hacks Cross Road, 214-0054; costco.com

 

Finalist: Firestone Complete Auto Care

Several locations; firestonecompleteautocare.com

 

 

Best Truck Dealership

 

Winner: Chuck Hutton Chevrolet

Chuck Hutton Chevrolet sells all kinds of vehicles, but it’s those trucks that we love and enough people agreed to award a Memphis Most honor to the dealer. Take a look — it’s Silverado heaven, with hybrids, too.  Wonder if they can arrange to have that Memphis Most award emblazoned on the tailgates?

2471 Mount Moriah Road, 561-8664; chuckhuttonchevrolet.net

 

Finalist:  Dobbs

Several locations; dobbsdirect.com

 

Finalist:  Landers

Several locations; landersmemphis.com

 

 

Best Used Car Dealership

 

Winner: CarMax

CarMax had a great idea, and people are loving it. They make it pretty simple to search for what you want in your price range and then order your vehicle from most anywhere. Enough people liked it to give CarMax the Memphis Most award. Helps to be big, doesn’t it?

7771 U.S. 64, 382-1315; carmax.com

 

Finalist:  Lexus of Memphis

2600 Ridgeway Road, (888) 203-4049; lexusofmemphis.com

 

Finalist:  City Auto

4932 Elmore, 333-CARS; cityauto.com 

 

 

Best Shopping Center/Mall

 

Winner: Avenue Carriage Crossing

Avenue Carriage Crossing won Memphis Most last year, and it still knows how to bring ’em in. Anchored by Macy’s and Dillard’s, it packs in dozens of shops, from Abercrombie & Fitch to Zales. And that would include a few tenants who have done very well in this year’s Memphis Most contest  —  Bonefish Grill, Jos. A. Bank, Barnes & Noble, Sephora.

shoptheavenue.com

 

Finalist:  Wolfchase Galleria

wolfchasegalleria.com

 

Finalist: Oak Court Mall

oakcourtmall.com

 

 

Best Bookstore

 

Winner: Davis-Kidd Booksellers

Davis-Kidd Booksellers again takes a Memphis Most prize with its long dedication to sharing its passion for books but also providing music, DVDs, gifts — plus the tasty offerings at Bronte Bistro. Bookmark that!

387 Perkins Extended, 683-9801; daviskidd.com

 

Finalist:  Barnes & Noble

Several locations; barnesandnoble.com

 

Finalist: Burke’s Book Store

936 S. Cooper St., 278-7484; burkesbooks.com

 

 

Best Gift Shop

 

Winner:  Bella Vita

Bella Vita knows what you want for the good life, yes? Pretty things for bed and bath, kitchen and dining room, living room and hallway. And for you. Oh, go ahead, give yourself a gift. You deserve it.

2129 S. Germantown Road, 757-2139; 3670 S. Houston Levee Road, Collierville, 850-0892; shopbellavita.com

 

Finalist:  More Than Words

2123 West St., 755-4388; morethanwords.com

 

Finalist: Babcock Gifts

4626 Poplar Ave., 763-0700; babcockgifts.com