http://www.metropulse.com/news/best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-services/?partner=RSSMetroPulse Stories: Best: Goods and Servicesen-usbest-of-knoxville/2009/goods-serviceshttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2012/may/03/best-knoxville-2012-goods-services/?partner=RSSThe Goods & Services categories of the Metro Pulse Best of Knoxville 2012 readers poll. Thu, 03 May 2012 04:01:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24556-734626best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesStaff WriterKnoxville, TNBest of Knoxville 2012: Goods & ServicesMetroPulsebest-knoxville-2012-goods-servicesurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-24556-734626Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-green-business-la-costa/?partner=RSSLa Costa proves that earth-friendly dining need not be Spartan—and can even, at times, take on the air of a bacchanalia. When new owners took over from greenie Gregg White about a year ago, like the good stewards they are, they retained sustainable practices including low-flow dishwashers, composting vegetable waste through Beardsley Community Farm, and serving organic produce and free-range beef and chicken. kennedyr@metropulse.com (Rose Kennedy)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:36:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18934-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesRose KennedyKnoxville, TNBest Green Business: La CostaMetroPulsebest-green-business-la-costaurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18934-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-store-pet-butch-board-room/?partner=RSShis dog’s on the fast track—only a year old in April, he’s in already in charge of public relations at The Board Room in Bearden. Not to say he hasn’t earned it. Since store owner Nathan Phillips hired Butch just five months ago, he’s never missed a day at the store, showing up six days a week and going home with Phillips’ wife at 6 p.m. to hang out with his stepbrothers: another boxer, a Great Dane, and a miniature schnauzer. kennedyr@metropulse.com (Rose Kennedy)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:32:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18933-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesRose KennedyKnoxville, TNBest In-Store Pet: Butch, at The Board RoomMetroPulsebest-store-pet-butch-board-roomurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18933-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-pet-supply-store-agri-feed-pet-supply/?partner=RSSWhat this suggests is that pets vote. Agri-Feed is enormous, and at a glance its interior might be mistaken for that of a loss-leader box store near the interstate. Then you realize that they don’t stock “everything for your pet.” They only stock things that are good for your pet. Between their customer rewards program, the expert customer service, and the pet-love karma you’ll receive in the next life, you’re golden like a retriever. barrettc@metropulse.com (Chris Barrett)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:29:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18932-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesChris BarrettKnoxville, TNBest Pet Supply Store: Agri-Feed Pet SupplyMetroPulsebest-pet-supply-store-agri-feed-pet-supplyurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18932-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-bike-shop-greenlees-bike-shop/?partner=RSSWell, they’ve only had 108 years to work on it. Greenlee’s is pretty much a Norman Rockwell painting of a bike shop come to life. It’s extremely kid- and family-friendly. (On a recent afternoon, you could have taken advantage of a very subtle lecture on the importance of saving one’s allowance and the concept of delayed gratification, administered by a “salesperson” to an 8-year-old who was doing his best to shed some cash.) barrettc@metropulse.com (Chris Barrett)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:27:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18931-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesChris BarrettKnoxville, TNBest Bike Shop: Greenlee’s Bike ShopMetroPulsebest-bike-shop-greenlees-bike-shopurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18931-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-auto-service-fisher-tire-company/?partner=RSSFisher Tire is certainly the coolest garage in town, and we especially like the North Knoxville location with a member of local space/goth rockers Pegasi 51 and a former pro BMX freestyle rider on staff. Prices are good, service is ace, and it’s right around the corner from Lost and Found Records and Harby’s Pizza. Drop your car off, shop for vinyl, and grab a pie. That’s a pretty easy way to spend a Saturday. everettm@metropulse.com (Matthew Everett)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:25:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18930-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesMatthew EverettKnoxville, TNBest Auto Service: Fisher Tire CompanyMetroPulsebest-auto-service-fisher-tire-companyurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18930-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-tattoo-parlor-saint-tattoo/?partner=RSSThe perfect combination of good humor and good hygiene—exactly what you want when you’re commissioning micro-surgery with the intention of ornamental scarring. From old school to photo-copy to body art, The Saint’s artists are great at taking good ideas and making them better. Don’t let the unexploded ordnance protruding from the roof deter you; they’re generally happy to indulge the curious. In fact, they seem to be just generally happy. barrettc@metropulse.com (Chris Barrett)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:22:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18929-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesChris BarrettKnoxville, TNBest Tattoo Parlor: Saint TattooMetroPulsebest-tattoo-parlor-saint-tattoourn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18929-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-dry-cleaner-prestige-cleaners-inc/?partner=RSSHow to judge a dry cleaner? There’s hanger recycling. There’s environmentally friendly chemicals and processes. There’s pricing and turnaround time. Prestige’s café in the lobby of the Gay Street location was genius. And the hand-signed Christmas cards are just really, really nice. (Especially if you’d just moved here right before Christmas and all your other mail was being lost.) barrettc@metropulse.com (Chris Barrett)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:19:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18928-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesChris BarrettKnoxville, TNBest Dry Cleaner: Prestige Cleaners, Inc.MetroPulsebest-dry-cleaner-prestige-cleaners-incurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18928-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-furniture-store-bliss-home/?partner=RSSOkay, so the days of opulent mega-mansions, luxury decor, and 24/7 extreme makeovers might well be behind us. (Bye-bye, shelter porn.) Still, everyone wants to feel at home in their house—no matter how huge or how humble. Everyone wants to feel comfortable, happy, and inspired in their surroundings. Everyone wants to feel—dare we say it?—fabulous. Bliss Home took this category easily because it specializes in just that: affordable fabulousness. Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:17:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18927-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesStaff WriterKnoxville, TNBest Furniture Store: Bliss HomeMetroPulsebest-furniture-store-bliss-homeurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18927-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-outdoor-sports-store-river-sports-outfitters/?partner=RSSFrom cycling to climbing to paddling to camping, River Sports makes it easy. You can gear up for a summer above the treeline—or you can just dress like you might spend the summer above the treeline. They sell good stuff and seem to genuinely care about both your safety and long-term satisfaction. And not only do they have a bomb climbing wall, they have a bomb climbing wall that has a ladies night. Big ups. barrettc@metropulse.com (Chris Barrett)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:13:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18926-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesChris BarrettKnoxville, TNBest Outdoor Sports Store: River Sports OutfittersMetroPulsebest-outdoor-sports-store-river-sports-outfittersurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18926-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-yoga-studio-glowing-body/?partner=RSSKnoxville has long been wanting for a true destination yoga studio. Last year we got one, and what a dilly. The Glowing Body rivals the best studios in New York, Los Angeles, and the San Francisco Bay Area in terms of eco-chic fabulousness. It’s designy, yet inviting; clean and open, yet somehow also intimate and comfy. Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:11:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18925-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesHillari DowdleKnoxville, TNBest Yoga Studio: The Glowing BodyMetroPulsebest-yoga-studio-glowing-bodyurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18925-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-liquor-store-toddys-package-store/?partner=RSSToddy’s is clean, well-lit (often by real sunlight), well-stocked, and has a friendly and approachable staff that knows its stuff. It’s a great party stop, but also has plenty for the discriminating bourbonizer or pinot snob. What is without question is that in its new location, Toddy’s, floating alongside Kingston Pike on that little asphalt triangle, has the easiest in-and-out parking of any liquor store on Kingston Pike. Maybe any store on Kingston Pike, period. barrettc@metropulse.com (Chris Barrett)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:08:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18924-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesChris BarrettKnoxville, TNBest Liquor Store: Toddy’s Package StoreMetroPulsebest-liquor-store-toddys-package-storeurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18924-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/30/best-cdrecord-store-disc-exchange/?partner=RSSIt’s not easy trying to sell CDs these days. In the face of rising digital downloading (both legal and illegal), the music industry has reacted by shooting itself in as many limbs as possible, leaving independent record stores in the lurch. But despite the industry’s sweetheart deals with Wal-Mart, “exclusive” releases with Target, and lots of mediocre albums, The Disc Exchange has grown over the years to become a truly great record store. coury@metropulse.com (Coury Turczyn)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 04:06:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18923-733527best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesCoury TurczynKnoxville, TNBest CD/Record Store: The Disc ExchangeMetroPulsebest-cdrecord-store-disc-exchangeurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18923-733527Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/29/best-jewelry-store-markmans-diamonds-and-fine-jewe/?partner=RSSEase open the smooth, silent door and enter a peaceful sanctuary—hushed tones, mahogany and glass cases showcasing dazzling gems, cool green and blue walls, thick pile carpet. And then note the framed ads along the back wall, one featuring our favorite jewelry gent Harold Markman in a fedora. kennedyr@metropulse.com (Rose Kennedy)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:48:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18922-733526best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesRose KennedyKnoxville, TNBest Jewelry Store: Markman’s Diamonds and Fine JewelryMetroPulsebest-jewelry-store-markmans-diamonds-and-fine-jeweurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18922-733526Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/29/best-antique-store-nostalgia/?partner=RSSA move from Carr Street to a much more spacious browsing ground on Homberg Drive hasn’t dampened the zaniness factor at Nostalgia The Vint-Ique Market. Some stuff you find here is genuine antique—a hutch, a candelabra, a Victorian hand mirror, a Deco lamp. kennedyr@metropulse.com (Rose Kennedy)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:46:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18921-733526best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesRose KennedyKnoxville, TNBest Antique Store: NostalgiaMetroPulsebest-antique-store-nostalgiaurn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18921-733526Change0Usablehttp://www.metropulse.com/news/2009/apr/29/best-new-business-caf-4/?partner=RSSCafé 4 is a restaurant with a simple menu of modern American fare: flatbreads, salads, upscale hot dogs (“Yazoo Pale Ale Bratwurst”), and a “grits bar” (mainly a series of dishes served with grits). Run by Lori and Jim Klonaris, veterans of several well-regarded West Knoxville eateries, most recently Kalamata Café, it’s actually part of an intuitive and locally unprecedented combination of attractions known as Four Market Square. neely@metropulse.com (Jack Neely)Thu, 30 Apr 2009 03:43:00 -0000urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18920-733526best-of-knoxville/2009/goods-servicesJack NeelyKnoxville, TNBest New Business: Café 4MetroPulsebest-new-business-caf-4urn:publicid:www.metropulse.com:news-Story-18920-733526Change0Usable