W
ith 96 percent of us telling an independent survey group last spring that we think Pleasanton is a great place to live, work, shop and just have fun, it’s no surprise that we’re also a city of many “bests.” That’s why this 2007 “Best of Pleasanton” issue is the largest in the seven years we’ve been asking your opinion and explains why you cast the most votes ever in categories that ranged from best restaurant to best place to have a first date, although we heard from a number of happily married old timers who said they just wished there had been a Pleasanton full of all these opportunities “back then.” Some sent us emails or phoned suggesting categories we didn’t have, including one gentleman who wanted us to ask the best place to be buried, and another who wanted the best place to have his teeth pulled.
Around Town
Although these suggestions probably have importance at some point in our life, we kept the questions and categories more upbeat. East Bay BMW was the top vote-getter as the Best Auto Dealership, which is why we saw so many mid-life crises being solved in the flurry of top-down BMW convertibles in town this summer. Other dealers weren’t far behind, though, with Acura of Pleasanton, Lexus of Pleasanton, Volvo of Pleasanton and Mercedes Benz Hacienda Motors winning enough votes to put any of them in the driver’s seat, so to speak.
And then there was the other side of driving a flashy car in a city known for its tough-looking, stern-speaking police officers. Despite all of the suggested locations, readers said the Best Place to Get a Traffic Ticket in Pleasanton is “anywhere” and everywhere. That pleases Police Chief Mike Fraser who’s determined to encourage drivers to obey speed limits, helping all of us by installing flashing signs throughout town that show us just how fast we’re driving.
Often it seems as if most cars are heading downtown still the Best Place to People Watch, Best place to Meet New People and Best Place to Get Together with Friends. While leaning over the second level railings at Stoneridge Shopping Center have been a favorite of teenagers since the mall opened nearly 30 years ago, those teens have since grown up, married and voted our downtown as the best place to congregate.
And why not? Downtown Pleasanton is a historic district that is home to more than 575 businesses. From an array of hair stylists, med spas, coffee shops and outstanding restaurants, readers agree there’s no place like Pleasanton’s downtown. Livermore is trying, Dublin has its chain stores and Walnut Creek has its high rise department stores, but Pleasanton has nostalgia. One reader who stopped by the office to cast her vote called our downtown “classy.”
Speaking of voting, the numbers soared again this year as we moved fully into the digital age, letting readers vote from their computers at home, work, even while keyboarding their laptops at Tully’s (voted Best Independent Coffee House) or using the city’s new Wi-Fi system anywhere downtown. Besides voting on all 220 questions in 45 categories, many voters took the extra step of writing in their own answer to a hypothetical question they posted that was not on the drop-down menu. Not satisfied with Anywhere in Pleasanton to get a traffic ticket, another 300 selected their own favorites, with Santa Rita Road, Bernal Avenue and Vineyard Avenue as close runners-up. Only one wrote in “nowhere,” adding “I’m a professional driver” (whatever that means). One reader wrote in Foothill High in the Stepping Out, Best Theater Company category, which Pleasanton Playhouse won overwhelmingly. Ecumenically, there were other write-ins for the Foothill and Amador Valley annual Spring Musical, which is always a highlight as each school year nears an end.
Besides auto dealerships, many of us work to keep our less-than-new (meaning old) cars clean and running. California Shine won hands down in the Best Auto Detail category, with Precision Auto Repair winning 2-1 over Scott’s Automotive for the Best Car Repair facility. This long list of repair shops also had a long list of voters, just not enough for any of them to reach the top. When it comes to keeping these cars clean, Pleasanton Car Wash garnered the most votes in the Best Car Wash category, but close behind was Dublin Auto Wash and California Shine Co. Big O Tires scored again in our readers’ vote as the Best Tire Store/Service Center, but Rynck Tire & Auto wasn’t far behind
Shear Magic squeaked through as the Best Dog Groomer, which is good since our editor takes his Golden Retriever there. But close behind was the Pleasanton Pet Hotel, followed, again closely, by VIP Grooming and Dapper Dog Mobile Grooming. Yo Momma received a write-in vote, though we’re not sure where that groomer is. Of course, if you have a dog, it’s good to have a veterinarian and this year Hopyard Animal Hospital won in the Best Veterinarian category. Close behind, though was Dr. Teare Veterinary Hospital, Amador Valley Hospital, Susan Marshall/Feline Medical Center, Town & Country Vet and Alisal Pet Clinic. With some 10,000 dogs in Pleasanton, it seems as if there’s plenty of veterinary work to go around.
For the challenge or joy of the sport–or just plain fun–our own Callippe Preserve Golf Course came out a strong winner this year in the Best Golf Course category, topping Castlewood Country Club, which is a members only course. Ruby Hill Golf Course, which is also members-only, and the less challenging Pleasanton Fairways were farther down the score card. Callippe, which opened in November 2005, finished second to Castlewood last year. It’s now seeing golfers teeing off at this public, municipal golf course in increasing numbers well over projections, which is good for golfers who don’t have to join a private club or travel out-of-town to other public courses. It’s also good for Pleasanton, which still has to pay down about $25 million in outstanding golf course construction bonds.
Although Callippe might be a good place to meet that special someone–or at least find out if he/she likes golf as much as you do, the Best Place to Have a First Date award goes to Blue Agave Club, truly an enchanting place, rain or shine and even sitting outside under the heat lamps in cool weather. Barone’s and its quieter, most cozy atmosphere finished a close second, followed by the Pleasanton Hotel, Claude and Dominique’s, Stacey’s Café, and, for something very different, a hike on Pleasanton Ridge. The choice we liked is Dinner My Way, a place where you can see if your first date knows anything about fixing a meal even when everything is pre-measured and prepared. The farmers’ market also earned a fair number of votes, which we think were cast by singles wanting to find out if their “eligible” friend knows the difference between a zucchini and squash.
While you’re out, walk on down Main Street, to People Watch, which, as we pointed out earlier, is our readers’ overwhelming choice in this category. There are others, too, including Tully’s Plaza, but, hey, that’s Main Street, too. So are the First Wednesday street parties and farmers’ market. A curious pick, though, is the DMV, which was on our drop-down list and grabbed the votes of a number of readers.
In the Around Town catch-all categories, readers named Tri-Valley PC Medic as their Best Computer Repair facility, which had a 5-1 lead over the second runner-up. Voted the Best Photographer in town is Lani Allen, whose photo of two children crossing a wooden bridge in the Ridgeland graced the cover of “Info Pleasanton” last week. Jazz N Taps took the most votes as the Best Place for Dance Lessons, followed closely by Tiffany Dance and Jamie’s Dance Company. Hometown GMACwas voted the Best Pleasanton Real Estate Office, with Keller Williams, Alain Pinel, Prudential, Coldwell Banker, Mike Carey, United California Brokers (UCB) and J. Rockliff as runners-up. Voted the Best Tutoring School was Sylvan Learning, with Steps and Kumon Math & Reading close behind.
If this is all too much mix and match, shop and compare and brand name recognition for you, go out and get a good DVD or video (yes, they still market those) at Hollywood Video. It won the most votes in the Best Video/DVD Store in Pleasanton, although Netflix in its red-colored mailer that goes straight to your door was a close second. It will be interesting to see how technology changes this category in the 2008 “Best of Pleasanton.”
Specialty retail
Everything from the best men’s and women’s clothing stores to honors for best bicycle shop, florist, lingerie store and best places to buy athletic equipment, cookware or toys comprise the specialty retail section of the “Best Of Pleasanton.”
A number of people are passionate about the Passionate Athlete, a sports store located at 440 Main St. Residents said that was where they got their kicks for Best Women’s Clothing Store, that is. The Passionate Athlete received 64 votes in total. Hip fashion boutiques All About Me and Sugar Shack followed a close second and third, with 56 and 47 votes respectively.
Though beauty is in the eye of the beholder, all eyes were on Studio 7 Fine Arts, 400 Main St., for Best Art Gallery in town–winning 107 votes and leaving others in the dust.
When residents are looking to get out of their cars and ride on two wheels, they venture to Bicycles! Pleasanton at 537 Main St., giving the bike shop 106 votes for Best Bicycle Shop. Newly-opened store Cyclepath (in the Bank of America building downtown), was a close second with 84 votes.
By and large the bookworms in town purchased the latest Harry Potter book at Towne Center Books at 555 Main St, named Best Book Store. If the recent release party that was attended by hundreds of Potter fans wasn’t enough proof, 255 votes were made for the bookstore. Town Center Books also gained another distinction–the biggest vote-getter in our “Specialty Retail” section.
For those days you want to say you’re sorry, happy anniversary, happy birthday or just to let someone know you’re thinking of them, you’ve got Dorothy’s on speed dial. The flower shop at 1991-L Santa Rita Road won the category Best Florist with 69 votes, narrowly defeating another popular florist in town–Alexandria’s–by one vote.
Need protein, vitamins, or an energy bar? Residents look no further than Valley Health Mill on 3037-J Hopyard Road, named the Best Health Food Store. The shop received 138 votes, surpassing the first runner-up Harvest House by more than 100 votes.
California Stampin’, located at 5480-2 Sunol Boulevard in the Raley’s shopping center, stamped out the competition in the Best Hobby/Craft Store category with 78 votes.
Pleasanton residents get bedazzled at Cardinal Jewelers at 4001-3 Santa Rita Road in the Rose Pavilion shopping center. The store, which has been in business since 1977, received 50 votes for Best Jewelry Store. Downtown jewelry shop Jeweler’s Gallery trailed in second with 36 votes.
It’s not hard to win the Best Lingerie Store when you’re the only intimate apparel shop in downtown. Lily Ann’s Lingerie at 350 Main St. received 127 votes. Nary a resident considers Macy’s lingerie department or that of Nordstrom’s in the same realm.
Bennie McKay and his store Acc’sentials, 520 Main St. is where you want to go to get that nice business suit you need for an important job interview. McKay’s collection of fine men’s clothes won him Best Men’s Clothing Store with 97 votes. For the more casual dresser, western wear store Christesen’s won second best honors.
There’s no other place Pleasanton animal lovers would take their pooches than Three Dog Bakery, 335 St. Mary St. With 73 votes, the bakery won Best Pet Store for its array of dog treats. Petway, a pet store on Sunol Boulevard in the Raley’s shopping center, came in second.
Longtime favorite Domus, 652 Main St. won Best Place to Buy a Gift–no surprise considering the specialty home décor shop has won the same category since the Pleasanton Weekly began “Best of Pleasanton.” It received 200 votes. The shop also wiped out the rest with 191 votes for Best Place to Buy Cookware, but maybe they should watch their backs for next year’s “Best Of”–recently opened cooking store Pans on Fire, also downtown, received 89 votes.
Ingram & Brauns Musik Shoppe, 3160 Santa Rita Road, apparently makes beautiful music with residents because it was named the Best Place to Buy a Musical Instrument by readers with 101 votes. The Pleasanton store is owned by John Ingram and Bernhard Brauns.
Those looking for the latest Raider or ’49er gear head to Sport Chalet at 4555 Rosewood Drive. The Best Place to Buy Athletic Equipment, Sport Chalet was voted for 86 times. Downtown specialty shop Fleet Feet, popular with the runner crowd, was a close second with 78 votes.
For those hard-to-find, unique gifts for children, residents said they frequent G.R. Doodlebug, located at 350 Main St., naming it Best Toy Store with 143 votes.
And last but certainly not least, wine aficionados head to The Wine Steward, 641 Main St. and site of the old Roxy Theatre downtown, for their “vino” and related accessories. The wine store received 247 votes in all for Best Wine Store.
Let’s Get Physical
It’s not just the name of a famous Olivia Newton John song–Let’s Get Physical is a motto many around here live by. And just what did people say was the best bike or walking trail, health club, martial arts studio, place to jog or walk a dog and do yoga and pilates?
While there are a number of great places to Take a Bike Ride or Walk around town, residents said they like the Pleasanton Ridge the best. And those who gave the ridge 136 votes must be up for a challenge because the steep incline in the hills west of Interstate 680 is not for lightweights. While the journey up the giant hillside may be rough, it’s all worth it because the view of the Tri-Valley is breathtaking.
For those who prefer their exercise out of the elements, Club Sport was the top vote-getter in the Best Health Club category with 150 votes. Located at 7090 Johnson Drive, the large facility offers traditional workout machines, tennis and racquetball courts, yoga, dance classes and more. Trailing in second and third with 41 votes a piece were Express Fitness and 24 Hour Fitness. Though not an original contender in the category, Fitness Together in Ruby Hill got 17 write-in votes!
Celebrating a decade in business, Kicks USA received another milestone–recognition as the Best Martial Arts Studio with 40 votes. Kicks, located at 148B Ray Street in downtown, offers special programs catered to children, women and men alike. Jue’s Taekwon Do on Sunol Boulevard in the Raley’s shopping center came in second place with 29 votes.
Since Pleasanton lives up to its name as being pleasant and scenic, residents just couldn’t pick one place as the Best Place to Jog and instead chose Any Pleasanton Neighborhood with 66 votes. A major center of athletic activity, the Sports Park was chosen second with 53 votes, followed by the Ironhorse Trail in third with 32 votes.
Residents also seemed to be indecisive when it came to Best Place to Walk a Dog. While Pleasanton has more than 40 parks, voters said Any City Park is up to snuff, with 78 votes. The Muirwood dog park was a second favorite with 39 votes, followed by the Sports Park with 36 votes.
There’s no better place to do the “downward dog” than Downtown Yoga. Voters said the yoga studio, located at 220B Division St., was the cat’s meow in the Best Yoga/Pilates category with 87 votes. That may be because Downtown Yoga has specialized prenatal classes and a number of programs for beginners to experts and everything in between. Popular health club Club Sport came in second with 35 votes.
Epicure
Readers fine tuned their palates and found the best places to experience the finer tastes in life. From Chinese food to French fries, margaritas to dining on a budget, epicurean delights are often just around the corner.
For those with ample cooking talent, but lacking time and ingredients, GourMade Cookery edged out Dinner My Way for the Best Assemble Your Own Meal Store. Located at 7060 Koll Center Parkway, GourMade schedules cooking sessions where bulk meals can be prepared all at once.
Excellent food isn’t always the mark of a great restaurant. Those who enjoy a good dining experience loved Blue Agave Club, an “alta cocina” (high cuisine) Mexican restaurant at 625 Main St. This year’s Best Place to Have a First Date as well as Best Atmosphere and Best Outdoor Dining, it’s known for its curb appeal featuring a spacious patio filled with bright colors.
At the end of the work day, what many people really want to know is where to find the Best Margarita. Considering they have a menu devoted to tequilas and margaritas, it’s not hard to believe the Blue Agave Club won in this category.
But when it comes to readers’ favorite Mexican restaurant, Alberto’s Cantina at 435 Main St. won Best Mexican Restaurant for the second year in a row.
It was hard to choose a Best Barbecue winner, so hard in fact that it was a tie. Last year’s winner Red Smoke Grill at 4501 Hoypard Road and Armadillo Willy’s at 4480 Tassajara Road in Dublin made the cut. Proving great taste doesn’t fade like memories, the closest competition came from Roderick’s Bar-B-Que & Seafood which recently closed its doors.
Vic’s All Star Kitchen brings home the bacon for the second year in a row. Voted Best Breakfast, readers enjoy the local feel of this sports-themed restaurant at 201-A Main St.
Forget the golden arches; the Best Burgers and the Best Take-Out Restaurant in Pleasanton are found under the yellow arrow at 6015 Johnson Drive. With classic ingredients and a secret menu–see what happens when you order a Protein Style burger next time you visit–In-N-Out Burger continues to be a local favorite.
No burger is complete without a handful of French fries, but to get the best in town you’ll have to head over to The Hop Yard Alehouse, 3015-H Hopyard Road. The popular brewery won Best French Fries and Best American Food Restaurant. A close second was Stacey’s Café, co-owned by Dilbert creator Scott Adams.
In a landslide vote, High Tech Burrito at 349 Main St. again won Best Burrito. Patrons love the downtown setting and of course the beans, rice and other fillings bursting at the tortilla seams.
P.F. Chang’s is the newcomer favorite when it comes to Chinese food. The newest external addition to Stoneridge Shopping Center, P.F. Chang’s was voted Best Chinese Restaurant after being open since November 2006.
While one person wrote in “my mom,” the majority of readers voted Sugandh Indian Cuisine as the Best Indian Restaurant. Located at 4515 Rosewood Drive, it narrowly won over Tabla.
In another landslide vote, Oasis Grille was named the Best Mediterranean/Middle Eastern Restaurant. Located at 780 Main St., it is known for its tasty kabobs and flavorful meats.
Meat lovers know that Hap’s Original Steakhouse is the happening place to be. Named the Best Steakhouse, the grilling professionals know how to make it exactly the way fine beef connoisseurs want it.
Eaters looking for flavorful meals without meat head to Sweet Tomatoes on 4501 Hopyard Road. The buffet-style restaurant makes it easy to get exactly what you want and therefore was voted Best Vegetarian Cuisine.
Voters made it easy to find the best among the sea of Italian restaurants in town. Local family owned Girasole Grill, 3180 Santa Rita Road, won Best Italian Restaurant over Fontina Ristorante.
It was really no contest when it came to choosing the Best French Restaurant. Located at 210 Rose Ave., Claude & Dominique Bistro is known for its authentic cuisine and romantic setting.
Whether your favorite pizza topping is pepperoni, extra cheese or veggies, readers favorite pizza came from Gay 90’s Pizza and Pasta, 288 Main St. This is the second year Gay ’90s won Best Pizza.
With only five votes separating first and third place, it’s obvious that Pleasanton Weekly readers can’t get enough Thai food. Lux Thai on 4301 Valley Ave. beat out Sri Thai and Pleasanton House Thai for the honor of Best Thai Restaurant.
Main Street is a popular place to go, especially with the plethora of food offerings. Weekly readers had the big task of choosing just one to be the Best Main Street Restaurant. Fontina Ristorante, 349 Main St., won over Stacey’s Café by four votes.
After narrowly losing in two categories, Stacey’s Café finally won big. An overwhelming majority said it was the Best Place for a Business Lunch.
Rising above last year’s second place spot, Barone’s was named the Best Romantic Restaurant. Located at 475 St. John St., the continental cuisine of pasta, seafood and meat entrees is served both indoors and on their outdoor patio.
When it comes to seafood specialties, Strizzi’s was voted the Best Seafood Restaurant. Head to the eatery, on 649 Main St., to sample seafood offerings from salmon sauté to scallops picatta.
For those who prefer their fish uncooked, they go to Sozo Sushi at 2835 Hopyard Road, voted Best Sushi. With lunch, dinner, a sushi bar and party trays, it’s easy for Sozo lovers to satisfy sushi cravings. Senro Japanese Bar and Grill wasn’t far behind in readers’ votes.
According to Weekly readers, variety is the key to satisfying the sweet tooth. That is why they voted Cold Stone Creamery as the Best Ice Cream/Yogurt Shop. Lively employees singing for tips and creating hundreds of custom ice cream flavors make this shop the cherry on top…of the competition.
Winning by just two votes, Noland’s Cake Shop, 205 Main St., takes the cake for Best Bakery over Primrose Bakery. Specializing in cakes for all occasions, they are known for their expansive flavor offerings and creative designs.
Wine drinkers head out of the city limits to get their favorite fix at Wente Vineyards. The winery, located at 5050 Arroyo Road in Livermore, it won Best Winery. Mitchell Katz won second place and, for many, is the hometown favorite.
The winner of the Best Independent Coffee House may be in the eye of the coffee cup holder. Tully’s Coffee, on Main and Angela streets, won over the neighboring Coffee Beans & Bistro. While it’s hard to imagine the infamous downtown hangout not being unique to Pleasanton, Tully’s is a chain with several Bay Area locations. The debate over technicalities and best coffee will probably last a while, so grab your favorite caffeine-infused cup o’ Joe to prepare.
Stepping Out
When it’s time to let loose, Weekly readers know exactly where to go to have a good time.
Downtown once again is the social center of town by winning Best Place to Meet New People. Once those new friendships develop, head back downtown because it was named the Best Place to Get Together With Friends.
If it’s a Friday night in the summer, readers said they like to bring those friends across Main Street to Lions Wayside Park, at First and Neal streets, for the Concerts in the Park. Winning the Best Place for Live Music and the Best Place for a Picnic comes as no surprise as the park can barely contain the music lovers.
Those still in the dancing mood after a rousing concert head to nightclub Aura at 4825 Hopyard Road. Dubbed the Best Place for Dancing for two years in a row, the club offers entertainment Wednesday to Saturday in two posh rooms each with a bar and VIP service. Placing second was the Pleasanton Hotel on Main Street which has live music and dancing.
Sometimes stepping out is as simple as grabbing a drink after punching out your timecard. With all the beers on tap, the beer clubs and the Hall of Foam, it’s no surprise that the The Hop Yard Alehouse & Grill won the Best Place for an After Work Drink.
With so many acclaimed performances, local favorite the Pleasanton Playhouse easily won the Best Theater Company category. Several write-in votes also lauded the Foothill and Amador Valley high school productions and the Tri-Valley Young Performers Academy.
Personal Care
Whoever said looking good was difficult must not have experienced what Pleasanton’s personal care specialists have to offer. When the Pleasanton Weekly asked readers to tell us who helps them look so fantastic, the secrets began pouring in at an alarming rate.
A good hair stylist is often more than just someone who trims your hair every few weeks, but they become a trusted friend and sometimes even a miracle worker. With all the salons to choose from in Pleasanton, Weekly readers named Fusion 3 SalonSpa the Best Hair Salon for Women. Located at 722 Main St., between St. John Street and Spring Street, the posh Aveda concepts salon offers esthetics in addition to coloring and cuts with a complimentary hand and neck massage.
Great hair care isn’t just for women, as votes overwhelmingly show men flocking to Cosmo’s Barber Shop on 4275 First St., between Kottinger Drive and Ray Street. Quick, reliable and cheap–a cut costs a mere $10–it’s obvious why many have been coming to Cosmo’s for over a decade and have named it the Best Hair Salon for Men.
When striving to look your best, clean and pressed clothes make a big impression. It was a close contest–proving that Pleasanton has many great options–but VIP Cleaners at 3120 Santa Rita Road, Ste. E was just above Vintage Hills Cleaners, Hacienda Cleaners and Hopyard Cleaners to win Best Dry Cleaner. It was friendly and affordable service that won over the Weekly readers.
No detail is to be overlooked when it comes to pampering, and hands and feet were not overlooked in the personal care department. Two downtown stores were neck-and-neck in the Best Manicure/Pedicure contest, but Blondie’s on 560 Main St. came out on top. The store is also known for its impressive shoe offerings. Fancy Nails, located at 818 Main St., was a very close runner-up.
And what is pampering without a good massage? If reading the Weekly over a cup of coffee isn’t relaxing enough, readers headed to Pleasanton Spa for the ultimate relaxation experience. Located at 6155 Stoneridge Drive at Hopyard Road, the Best Massage winner invites patrons to escape the daily grind with treatments like a 60-minute lavender vanilla essence and deep Swedish massages. They also offer facials, wraps and other specialties that are sure to melt away stress and fatigue.
Advances in technology don’t always mean having to upgrade to a new cell phone or computer, it can even help upgrade to a new you. Dubbing themselves the ultimate medical makeover, Weekly readers agree that Essence MediSpa is a medical spa miracle when they voted it Best Medical Spa. Conveniently located downtown, 700 Main St., their services cater to those looking beyond a “superficial beautification process.”
Close behind was MD Spa.
Thanks to the readers for sharing what keeps them looking so fabulous. Whether help comes from the eastern practice of acupuncture or the latest in medical spa treatments, there’s a wealth of professionals to help Pleasanton look and feel its best.
At Home
With thousands of homes built during the boom-time construction years of the 1970s, ’80s and ’90s, many are ready for upgrades, renovation and new furnishings. Voters chose from a wide selection of retailers, vendors and service companies–many from personal experience in undertaking these projects, with a vast majority of votes going to Workbench TrueValue Hardware in Mission Plaza. Could it be homeowners are doing the work themselves? Workbench, of course, has competition from nationally-known Home Depot, which was a close second in this Best Hardware Store category. No doubt Home Depot sees all this interest here among Pleasanton fixer-uppers as one reason to proposed building a second home improvement store at Bernal Avenue and Stanley Boulevard, a plan still under review by city officials.
When it comes to making improvements outside the home, readers picked Bruce’s Tree Service as the Best Landscaper/Designer, and Pleasanton Pool Service hands down as the Best Pool Service. Newly-opened Serenity Stoneworks on Main Street took the lead as the Best Outdoor Furniture Store, and Tri-City Roofing as the Best Roofer for Pleasanton homes. Close behind, though, were Altamont Roofing and Wicks Roofing Company.
Opening the door and going inside, readers voted S&G Carpets as the Best Carpet Store, ahead of Silmar, which came in second. S&G Carpets won again as the Best Flooring Store, with Pleasanton Hardwood, The Floor Store and Silmar close behind. Readers who said their older carpet is still in good shape chose Glover’s Steam Cleaning as the Best Carpet Cleaner, with Tiger Carpet Cleaning coming in second.
The rage these days is to upgrade the 1980s-1990s look in kitchens and bathrooms, and readers selected KDC Kitchens as the Best Kitchen/Bath Remodeler. Morgenroth, Homestead Remodeling and Hilt Construction followed closely in this category. Most kitchen and bathroom projects often require a plumber–a need that comes in high volumes after too much turkey fat is poured down kitchen drains after Thanksgiving–and Valley Plumbing won the most votes in the Best Plumber in Pleasanton category. Savior Plumbing and Tri-City Plumbing trailed, but each with sizeable numbers of reader votes.
Readers chose Pleasanton Home Repair as the Best Handyman, Savvy Seconds as the Best Home Consignment Shop and Clover Creek for the Best Home Furnishings.
Also in this “At Home” voting section was a question to readers on what they believe is the city’s Best Antique Store. Tattered Treasures won that vote hands down, with Cattelan’s not far behind.
With Pleasanton still growing, school enrollment bursting at the seams, the housing market cautiously but still successfully working its way through the subprime mortgage loan dilemma that seems to have escaped most of us and businesses expanding and new ones opening up, we look another exciting “Best of Pleasanton” in 2008. See you then.
