Readers Poll: Shopping [ Arts & Entertainment | Architecture & Lodging | Food & Drink | High-Tech | Kids | Media | Outdoors & Recreation | Politics | Services | Shopping ] Critics' Picks | Readers Poll Winners sorted alphabetically

Antiques

Whit Hanks Antiques

Whit Hanks has won this category so many times it's getting old. Fitting, wouldn't you agree? Both of his stores on West Sixth offer a variety of styles and services, seven days a week. The location at 1009 features the prize finds of over 70 dealers, while nearby at 1214, Whit deals in consignment of homes and estates across the state. In a city with ever-growing competition, WH continues to keep a firm clawfoot hold on the gorgeous-old-stuff market.

Antiques: 1009 W. Sixth, 478-2101; Consignment: 1214 W. Sixth, 478-2398

Art Supplies

University Co-Op

Texture. Ahhh. Color. Ahhh. Brushes, paints, papers, pens, pencils. Ahhhh. Those squishy rubbery gummy erasers. Ahhh. Every type of fine art supply to paint naked ladies or trees -- not to mention an amazing array of handmade papers and free art demos. The Co-Op is open to the public, not just limited to university patronage.

2902 Medical Arts, 472-6156

Bicycle Shop

Ozone

This place is so well-loved that it's busier day-to-day than Santa's workshop the week before Christmas. With fast, pleasantly priced repairs on what you already own, plus a supplies of new bikes to choose from should you desire, Ozone has all your needs covered. Bonus points for weekend bicycle workshops they run at area schools. We wonder what Amy Babich thinks ....

3202-C Guadalupe, 302-1164

Bookstore

Book People

It's real big. It's not a chain. You can drink coffee there. They don't yell at you for sitting around for hours and hours. And there is always some reading going on. Did we even mention the incredible kids' section?

603 N. Lamar, 472-5050

Comic Bookstore

Austin Books

Out of nine years of BoAs, Austin Books has activated its superpowers to take seven in this category. They've got not only stacks of the faves (enough to keep any kid in Spider-Man or Archie for weeks), but their selection of "indie" or mature-themed comics and graphic novels is impressive. They also house one of the meatiest pop culture book sections in town. This year, they Zowie! Oof! and Pow!ed Dragon's Lair and South Austin's Comics & More, who each made heroic showings.

5002 N. Lamar, 454-4197

Furnishings/Decor

Your Living Room

Okay, so techinically it's not really your living room, it's their living room. But you'll wish it was your living room. And they'll even sell it to you so it can become your living room. Even the window display is always divine, featuring their latest in contemporary digs crafted by Texas artists.

220 S. Congress, 320-9909

Gift Shop - High End

Le Cadeau

Repeat winner Cadeau thrills returning students (and addicted regulars) with not-to-be believed shower curtains and sundry other stuff you probably never even thought existed but suddenly feel an absolute burning need to possess. For those of you who think stepping into Target with a credit card is dangerous ... just try to whisk through the fancy-schmancy gift shelves and clothes racks here without buying anything. Ha.

2316 Guadalupe, 477-7276; 4001 N. Lamar, 453-6988

Gifts - Novelty

Toy Joy

The nun collection alone (including the spark-spitting Nunzilla) is enough to hypnotize you. But wait, look over here at these weird lizard hand puppets. No, no, come over here, check out this dogs-on-TV thingie. We can't! We're too busy trying to figure out this 3-D lamp. Hey, and they giftwrap for free, too.

2900 Guadalupe, 320-0090

Hardware Store

Breed & Co.

It smells good, it looks good, there's practical stuff, there's frivilous stuff, readers like it enough to keep voting for it ... Heck, you can even buy a big bag of fine cow crap out back. Don't just think hardware, think awesome wedding and birthday gifts, think gorgeous floating candles, think of it as a pleasant excuse to go get that extra set of keys made and then shop happily while you wait.

718 W. 29th, 474-6679

Jewelry - Costume

Lucy in Disguise

No matter how she transforms herself, we always know that Lucy will show up at the party that is the Readers Poll. Sure enough ... here she is again ... in disguise with faux diamonds and every other sparkling fake you can imagine. This queen of costumes, then, according to our readers, is also the queen of costume gems.

1506 S. Congress, 444-2002

Jewelry - Fine

James Avery

Odd thing about James Avery jewelry -- lots of people seem to have the same pieces, but somehow they always look unique. Simple yet elegant, with a number of real specific designs -- wedding bands, teacher-targeted rings and pendants, ornaments for everyone. We especially dig the St. Francis medals.

various locations

Lingerie Shop

Victoria's Secret

This is not what your mother meant when she was suggesting what type of underwear to wear "in case you get hit by a car." But apparently, your mother didn't vote in the readers poll, and so Victoria safely wins the contest again, panties down.

various locations

Liquor Store

Wiggy's

Hey, a cigar store Indian! Oh yeah, we'll drink to that. Again. And if we want to drink to that but shouldn't, Wiggy's has one of the largest selections of non-alcoholic beer. Five years on the top of the list -- Skol! They got cigars, too ....

1130 W. Sixth, 474-9463

Local Drugstore

Nau's

Are we all nostalgia freaks? Maybe. Who cares? Readers continue to concur that there is no chain drugstore remotely like the beloved Nau's. That soda fountain in the back with those egg sandwiches and gut-busting sundaes bring tears of joy to the eye every time. The wacky wordsmiths with the clever signs at People's Pharmacy come in second.

1115 W. Lynn, 476-1221; 2406 San Gabriel, 476-1544

Music Business

Strait Music

Also for the fifth Strait year on the list. Locally and, dare we say, "organ"-ically grown and expanded over the years, Strait Music remains a favorite in a town full of folks who know from music. Ray Hennig shows that readers' hearts are with him enough to vote his Heart of Texas into second place. And SAM the dog will be happy to know that enough readers thought about him and his home at South Austin Music to place third.

805 W. Fifth, 476-6927

Naughty but Nice

Forbidden Fruit

"Hmm ... I wanna do something different today. Shall I get my labia pierced or buy me a nice new ... ahem, educational model? Decisions, decisions." For those of you in touch with your deepest, um, thoughts. For those of you in touch with your partner's deepest, um, thoughts, forget Eve's apple, there's a lot more growing on the tree of knowledge these days ...

513 E. Sixth, 476-4596; 107 E. North Loop, 453-8090; 512 Neches, 478-8378

Pawn Shop

Doc Holliday's

Aside from a few disappointed transplanted New Yawkers who think this place sells X-rated movies or Western tack (or both?), most everyone else agrees that Doc is the man to take that unwanted stuff off your hands in order to sate the landlord or fill the fridge. And with nine locations open early and late seven days a week, that's a lot of stuff!

various locations

Periodicals Rack

Book People

Nosh and niche the afternoon away just trying to work your way through the 80 gazillion mainstream and specialty mags and zines heaped, overflowing, upon the shelves at BP. Congress Avenue Booksellers show up in second place.

603 N. Lamar, 472-5050

Pet Store

Bark n' Purr

Two paws up for last years' returning victor. In a world full of mambo pet emporiums, readers still like to know there's your friendly neighborhood pooch palace. Take a left at the fire hydrant, pee on those two trees, lunge forward on your choke chain and you're there .... Tomlinson's gets a steady sniff, as does Amazonia.

4604 Burnet, 452-2288

Record Store

Waterloo

No, it is not just the free beer and ongoing in-store concerts. Well, okay, maybe that has something to do with it. But beyond that, there's this inimitable something, a je ne sais quois that is comprised of the wacky worker attitude, the history of it all -- six Best of Austins in six years. And, oh, yeah, the incredible selection. That's what it is.

600 N. Lamar, 474-2500

Specialty Bookstore

BookWoman

photograph by John Anderson

BookWoman has broken last year's tie with Book People, once again taking solo honors (as was the case in '95 and '96.) For Grrls who wanna have fun and be serious and augment their chick-book collection as well as their chick-T-shirt collection, BookWoman will not only fill those needs, but will give you plenty of alternatives to the word "chick."

918 W. 12th, 472-2785

Thrift Store

Goodwill

In a town as crammed with thrift stores as your Aunt Fanny's attic is with junk, it's cool to see this category go to a public service thrift. Goodwill is more than just a junque shoppe. With 10 locations/drop-off points, they give Austinites opportunities to shop and do good all at the same time. Employment/empowerment programs assist the disenfranchised, the color-coordinated fashion displays help the style-impaired, and those reasonable prices help everyone! Goodwill's newly expanded Computerworks computer store is a welcome addition to the family. Tell Aunt Fanny you got it at Goodwill.

300 N. Lamar, 472-6224 and various locations

Used Book Store

Half-Price Books

Half the price, all of the quality. An Austin tradition and a place to unload all your unwanted books, to make room for the new ones you won't be able to resist buying while you're there. And an Austin Chronicle tradition, as this place has swept this category for as long as it has existed!

various locations

Vintage Clothing

Blue Velvet

Our readers have loved the folks behind the Blue Velvet curtain enough to have voted them tops in the past. They must like the well-organized racks: Hawaiian shirts are with other Hawaiian shirts, Western snap-downs are hung with other Western snap-downs, Plaid pants ... you get the picture. And the array! Whether you want to swing, two-step, lei down, or make up a look and mood to reflect your own personal style, Blue Velvet is a smooth place to put it all together.

3203 Red River, 474-5147

Western Wear Store

Shepler's

Git along little dogies, and steer yourself right on over to this bastion of boot-scootin' hat-waving shoppin'. Fer real cowboys and cowgirls and those who just want to pertend, Shepler's has been selected more than once as the Austin locale for a full (home-on-the) range selection of western duds. They know this is where readers bring all o' them Yankee out-of-towners, 'cos they've got one of Austin's finest Texas-themed gift selections, to boot. And when you're edging out competition like Callahan's, Cavender's, and Under the Sun, son, you'd better be dern rootin' tootin'.

6001 Middle Fiskville, 454-3000