The Baltimore Sun’s readers have voted on what’s the best in the region, from wedding venues and roofers to pediatricians and hair salons. This year’s winners include people and businesses recognized for outstanding service and customer satisfaction over the last year.
The poll includes more than 700 winners in nearly 200 categories in six areas — Activities & Arts, Home & Garden, Food & Drink, Lifestyles & Shopping, Personal services and People & Media. More than 75,000 ballots were cast cultivating a list of your favorite museums, pizza joints, boutiques, TV anchors, radio hosts and more.
Best Bookstore: The Ivy Bookshop
5928 Falls Road, Baltimore, 410-377-2966, theivybookshop.com
Nearly a quarter of a century after publishing experts were predicting that retail giant Amazon.com would cause the death of brick-and-mortar, independent bookstores, Emma Snyder is proving the pundits wrong.
“We’re the strongest that we’ve ever been,” said Snyder, who owns The Ivy Bookshop and its sister site, Bird in Hand Cafe & Bookstore.
“We had over 300 events last year, with authors like Lorrie Moore and Alice McDermott. An evening with Ann Patchett and R. Eric Thomas had an audience of more than a thousand people. And, we just started a new monthly children’s event series.”
The Ivy’s success is especially impressive given that Snyder’s staff was poised to begin renovating a new store with three levels, a covered back patio and three acres of gardens just before the COVID-19 pandemic descended on Maryland.
“Building permits were issued in late February of 2020,” Snyder said. “For a number of years, everything was so uncertain. We spent a lot of time just managing that transition.”
Nonetheless, the Ivy relocated to its new space eight months later, though temporarily the story was open just for private browsing.
Next up: Snyder plans to open a 700-foot-square reading room and community space ideal for book club meetings and other small, intimate events in 2025.
She’s also established close partnerships with local organizations from the Whitehall Mill to Baltimore Poets Theatre. And she’s encouraging her customers to use the stores in creative ways, from sponsoring $6 cocktails on Saturday nights at Bird in Hand to lawn games in the Ivy’s gardens.
“The role that best suits us is exploring in as many ways and spaces as possible the vibrancy that books can bring to our community,” Snyder said.
“What we’re doing is advocating for books in the world. That is our mission and our ethos. And there’s no upper limit on that.”
— Mary Carole McCauley
Antiques: Tommy’s on Main
Honorable mentions:
Jailhouse Antiques
The Painted Mill
The Parisian Flea
Barbershop: Old Line Barbers
Honorable mentions:
Floyd’s 99 Barbershop
Two Bits Barbershop
The Old Bank Barbers
Barre class: The J, Jewish Community Center of Greater Baltimore
Honorable mention:
Downtown Yoga, Barre & Cycle
Bicycle shop: Joe’s Bike Shop
Honorable mentions:
Bike Doctor Bel Air
Bicycle Connection
Baltimore Bicycle Works
Bookstore: The Ivy Bookshop
Honorable mentions:
Barnes & Noble
Atomic Books
Snug Books
Bridal shop: K&B Bridals and Tux
Honorable mentions:
Betsy Robinson’s Bridal Collection
Love It! at Stella’s Bridal & Fashions
Francesca’s Bridal
Brow threading: Charm City Skin
Honorable mentions:
Brow Art
Rhea Eyebrow Threading
Car dealership: Jones Junction
Honorable mentions:
Adams Jeep of Maryland
O’Donnell Honda
Bill Kidd’s Volvo Cars
Children’s clothing: Carter’s
Honorable mentions:
Pied Piper Kids
The Shabby Button LLC
Clothing boutique: Bray & Em Boutique
Honorable mentions:
Gian Marco Menswear
Karma Fashion Boutique
Charm City Run
Consignment/resale shop: Belle Patri
Honorable mentions:
Uptown Cheapskate
The Shabby Button
The Turnover Shop
Day spa: About Faces Day Spa & Salon
Honorable mentions:
Jordan Thomas Salon & Spa
Spa on The Boulevard
Spa in The Valley
The Spa on West Main
Dispensary: GreenLabs
Honorable mentions:
Storehouse
Zen Leaf
Chesacanna
Gifts: Sideshow at AVAM
Honorable mentions:
In Watermelon Sugar
The Nest on Main
Found Studio | Shop
Grocery store: Wegmans
Honorable mentions:
Aldi
Eddie’s of Roland Park
Trader Joe’s
Gym: Coppermine
Honorable mentions:
Outlast Health and Performance
YMCA of Central Maryland
Brick Bodies Padonia
Hair salon: Jordan Thomas Salon & Spa
Honorable mentions:
HLK Hair
NVS Salon & Spa
Fringe Baltimore
Health food/supplement store: MOM’s Organic Market
Honorable mentions:
David’s Natural Market
OK Natural Food Store
Jeweler: Smyth Jewelers
Honorable mentions:
Saxon’s Diamond Centers
Charles Nusinov & Sons
The Parisian Flea
Liquor store: Total Wine & More
Honorable mentions:
The Wine Source
Ronnie’s Beverage Warehouse
Friendship Wine & Liquor
Martial arts: Coppermine
Honorable mentions:
ATA Martial Arts Maryland
U.S. Taekwondo Academy
Equilibrium (tie)
Baltimore Okinawan Karate (tie)
Maryland produced pre-roll: SunMed 0.5g Pre-Roll 2-Pack
Honorable mentions:
Curio Wellness
Evermore Cannabis Company
Medispa: Seidenberg Protzko Eye Associates
Honorable mentions:
Manna Life Health & Wellness
Faces Med Spa
ProMD Health Bel Air
Menswear: Gian Marco Menswear
Honorable mentions:
Christopher Schafer Clothier
Marcia’s Luxury
Eddie Jacobs LTD
Music lessons: Baltimore School of Music
Honorable mentions:
Lutherville Music School
Peabody Institute of The Johns Hopkins University
Stages Music Arts
Pet goods store: PetSmart
Honorable mentions:
The Mill of Bel Air
Howl
Baron’s K-9 Market
Pool: Padonia
Honorable mentions:
Pine Ridge Swim Club
Forest Hill Swim & Tennis Club
Roosevelt Park
Produced Maryland edible: SunMed’s Sunnies
Honorable mention:
Evermore Cannabis Company
Retirement community: Broadmead
Honorable mentions:
Forest Hill Heights
Pickersgill Retirement Community
Roland Park Place
Shoe store: Gian Marco Menswear
Honorable mentions:
DSW
Charm City Run
Van Dyke and Bacon
Spin class: Coppermine and Rev Cycle Studio (tie)
Thrift store: Tabitha’s House
Honorable mentions:
Savers
Goodwill
2nd Ave Thrift Store
Yoga studio: Yoga Center of Columbia
Honorable mentions:
Aluma Yoga
Downtown Yoga, Barre & Cycle
Yoga Union Baltimore
Category honorable mentions:
Braiding: Queen Aisha African Hair Braiding
Cannabis grower: SunMed Growers
Maryland-made shatter/wax: SunMed Golden Pineapple Live Resin Batter
Editor’s note: Winners and honorable mentions were determined by popular vote. Readers were invited to nominate and vote online from April to June. The ballot and results are generated solely by readers’ votes. The Baltimore Sun does not take responsibility for the services offered or advertised by those listed.
