BEST OF NORTHSIDE SMALL BUSINESSES
ANNUAL READER’S CHOICE AWARDS
WINNERS OF 2019
Best Gift Shop
#1 Wagsburgh
#2 TIE The Farmer’s
Daughter Flowers and City of Asylum Bookstore
#3 The Warhol Store @
Warhol Museum
Best Jewelry Store
#1 Mustard & Relics
# Laverty Jewelry & Gifts
#3 Annex
Best Vintage Store
#1 Mustard & Relics
#2 Get Hip Records
#3 TIE City Books &
The Government Center
Best Lifestyle Store
#1 Wagsburgh
#2 Lynn & Barrett
#3 Annex
Best T-shirt Shop
#1 North Shore Tee
#2 Armory Print Works (formerly 3E Studios)
#3 Alphabet City
Best Record Store
#1 Get Hip Records
#2 The Government Center
Best Bike Shop
#1 Bicycle Heaven
#2 Bear Dog Bicycles
Best Book Store
#1 City of Asylum Bookstore
#2 City Books
Best Camera Store
#1 Bernie’s Photo Center
Best Hardware Store
#1 Mueller’s Hardware
Best Pet Store
#1 Wagsburgh
Best Pharmacy
#1 Waltmire Pharmacy
Best Dentist
#1 TIE Dr. Dan Strinkoski and Northside Dental
Best Chiropractor
#1 Observatory Hill Chiropractic
#2 Kropf Chiropractic
#3 Phillips Family Chiropractic
Best Pet Service
#1 Wagsburgh
#2 Humane Animal Rescue
#3 Doggone Delightful
Best Laundromat
#1 Brighton Cafe
#2 Old Towne Laundry
#3 Troy Hill Coin Laundry
Best Cleaning Service
#1 Dirt Doctors Cleaning Services
Best Bed & Breakfast Hotel
#1 The Priory Hotel
#2 The Inn on the Mexican War Streets
#3 The Parador Inn
Best Contractor
#1 Mr. Renovation, Chris Waraks
#2 Detailed Properties, Josh Nard
#3 Team Properties, Guy Schutzes
Best Auto Garage
#1 Lockhart Tire
#2 Northside Auto
#3 Ray Walsh Auto
Best Bank
#1 SSB Bank
#2 First National Bank
#3 Wesbanco
Best Insurance Agent
#1 Cassie Turner, Liberty Mutual Insurance
#2 TIE Wayne Alling, Alling Agency – Nationwide
Insurance and Jean E Koch Insurance
#3 T Rankin Agency, State Farm Insurance
Best Real Estate Agent
#1 Brian Larson, Coldwell Banker Real Estate
#2 Jessica Baker, Your Town Realty
#3 Danielle Graham Robinson, Exp Realty
Best Flower Shop
#1 The Farmer’s Daughter Flowers
#2 Johanna’s Garden
#3 Root Sellar at Mayfly Market
Best Food Market
#1 Tom Friday’s Market
#2 Farmer’s Market in Allegheny Commons
#3 Mayfly Market & Deli
Best Makeup/Stylist Service
#1 Bellevue Beauty Bar & Spa (Troy Hill)
#2 Pearl Perfecting Studio
#3 Makup By Bo
Best Nail Salon
#1 Pearl Perfecting Studio
#2 Ambiance Nail & Hair Gallery
#3 Nails Today
Best Hair Salon or Barber Shop
#1 The Humble Barber Co.
#2 Motive Salon
#3 Steel City Cutz
Best Health & Wellness Business
#1 California Cycle Path
#2 Pittsburgh Acupuncture & Massageworks
#3 Wagsburgh
Best Fitness Business
#1 California Cycle Path
#2 Pittsburgh Acupuncture & Massageworks
#3 Allegheny YMCA
Best Breakfast Spot
#1 California Coffee Bar
#2 Kaffeehaus
#3 TIE Lindos Restaurant and Allegheny Sandwich Shoppe
Best Coffee/Tea Spot
#1 California Coffee Bar
#2 Kaffeehaus
# Commonplace Coffee
Best Vegetarian or Vegan Dish Spot
#1 Nicky’s Thai Kitchen
#2 Bistro To Go
#3 El Burro
Best Lunch Spot
#1 Peppi’s
#2 TIE Kaffeehaus and
California Coffee Bar
#3 TIE Max’s Allegheny Tavern and Federal Galley
Best Dinner Spot
#1 Nicky’s Thai Kitchen
#2 Max’s Allegheny Tavern
#3 Legend’s Eatery
Best Catering Service
#1 Bistro To Go
#2 Max’s Allegheny Tavern
#3 Chateau Cafe & Cakery
Best Craft Drink Spot
#1
Bier’s Pub
#2 Allegheny City Brewing
#3 Penn Brewery
Best Happy Hour
#1 Bier’s Pub
#2 Federal Galley
#3 Max’s Allegheny Tavern
Best Beer Distributor
#1 East Street Distributor
#2 Northside Beer
#3 Caruso Beer Distribution
Best Brewery
#1 War Streets Brewing at Bier’s Pub
#2 Penn Brewery
#3 Allegheny City Brewing
Best Bar for Good Drinks, Good Food, and Good People
#1 Bier’s Pub
#2 Monterey Pub
#3 TIE Allegheny City Brewing and Max’s Allegheny Tavern
Best Pizza Spot
#1 Badamo’s Pizza
#2 Giorgio’s Place
#3 TIE Frank’s Pizza and Chubby’s Pizza & Hoagies
Best Bakery
#1 BreadWorks
#2 Prior Fine Pastries
#3 Kaffeehaus
Best Pastry Shop
#1 Priory Fine Pastries
#2 Kaffeehaus
#3 Chateau Cafe & Cakery
Best Venue for Live Music
#1 Elks Lodge #339
#2 Park House
#3 City of Asylum @ Alphabet City®
Best Venue for Visual or Performing Arts
#1 New Hazlett Theater
#2 City of Asylum @ Alphabet City®
#3 Artist Image Resource
Best Museum
#1 Randyland
#2 Andy Warhol Museum
#3 Children’s Museum of Pittsburgh
Best Members Lodge or Group
#1 Allegheny Elks Lodge #339
#2 Teutonia Männerchor
#3 Northside Rotary Club
Best Caterer or Event Planner
#1 Bistro To Go
#2 Cool Beans Food Truck by Legend’s Eatery
#3 Cafe on the Corner
Best Marketing Service
#1 Armory Print Works
#2 Pipitone Group
#3 EM Media
Best Print Service
#1 Minuteman Press
#2 EM Media
#3 Armory Print Works
Want to know who won last year?
Read about 2018 winners, here.
Want to be the first to nominate your favorite business in 2020?
Sign up for our free, weekly e-newsletter for exclusive stories, contests, and updates on all things Northside, here.
Thank you readers & a very special thank you to the small business owners, employees, patrons, friends, and families who endeavor to make the Northside a vibrant community every day. All of the businesses listed here by the readers are anchors in their neighborhood’s business district. Whether the business has served the Northside for decades, or is just starting up, their investment in each residents life to provide meaningful goods or services is invaluable. Support them however you can, whenever you can. -Lauren Stauffer, Business Manager
