best of anacortes

Best of

Anacortes FebruAry 15, 2012

Section C

Stop By and Meet Our Friendly Staff!

Jewelers since 1930

L to R: Doug Burton, Patricia, Carolyn, Lynn, Pam, Philip Burton, Charles & Kevin

Asian Food: Thai Season RestaurantBreakfast: San Juan Lanes Bar and GrillCandy: Bayside Sweets & TreatsCatering: Gere-A-DeliClam Chowder: Bob’s Chowder Bar & BBQ SalmonCoffee/Espresso: Le Crema CakesDining Value: Majestic Inn & Spa Happy Hour at 5th Street BistroFish & Chips: San Juan Lanes Bar and GrillHamburger: The Brown Lantern Ale House

Hot Dog: Juicy DogLunch: Gere-A-DeliMexican Food: Esteban’s Mexican RestaurantOutdoor Dining: Anthony’sPizza: Village PizzaRestaurant: AdriftSandwiches: Gere-A-DeliSeafood: Anthony’sTavern/Lounge: The Brown Lantern Ale HouseVegetarian: Adrift

For Voting

Best Auto Repair Shop for the past 15 years.

AnacortesAutomotiveAutomotiveAutomotiveFor VotingThank you Anacortes!

New Services!

2 and 4 wheel Call today for an Appointment:

360.293.2450 ApprovedAuto Care

Alignments

THANK YOU ANACORTES for voting us the

BEST THRIFT SHOP for 2012

We appreciate all the wonderful donations and support the community has given us over the

past year which enables us to give back to the community in many ways.

We look forward to continue serving our community and helping improve the lives of women, girls and families locally and

throughout the world.

Members of Soroptimist International of Anacorteswww.soroptimistanacortes.org

www.chandlersquare.com

Thank you Anacortes!Come Visit and see why We’ve Been Selected

BEST “ASSISTED LIVING/RETIREMENT”

360-293-1300

Check Out Our Low Prices!

Peanut Butter

Best

8142 S. March Point Rd. - Anacortes

360.299.0430www.anchorsignsandawnings.com

Best Sign Company

Thanks for voting

C2 Anacortes American Wednesday, February 15, 2012 goanacortes.com

Congratulations Winners!

Food, drink & Fun Thank you to the more than

300 Anacortes American read-ers and voters who participated in this year’s Best of Anacortes balloting.

The voting was tight, as usual, and this year we have a mix of new winners and long-time favorites.

Enjoy this special section, which has all the results and some stories focusing on excel-lence. And check out all the ads from our winners thank-ing the community for its sup-

port — and offering a special or two.

Our special Best of Ana-cortes promotion is all about putting the spotlight on all the Anacortes businesses that do a great job satisfying customers.

When you shop with them, you’re reinforcing all the good things they do — and strength-ening our community. Buying close by just makes sense.

Jack Darnton,Publisher

Thank you, voters

By JacoB BuckenmeyerAmerican staff writer

Le Crema Cakes is an Internet cafe, pastry bakery, lunch bistro, catering service and date destination serving alcohol in the evenings. And they make tiered wedding cakes too.

It all started with a vision of cakes and coffee, but owners Erin Yount and John Hiles have certainly made the most of their 2,400 square feet at 913 Sixth St. since opening in November.

Anacortes American readers have taken notice. They voted Le Crema the Best New Business in this year’s Best of Anacortes balloting.

Le Crema grew out of Yount’s search for a full-time outlet to market her wedding cake business.

She baked out of her own kitchen for eight years, but the space just wasn’t enough, and renting a kitch-en full time solely for cakes wasn’t feasible.

Yount and Hiles had both worked as baristas for years, so they decided to run coffee out of the front and bake in the back to keep the business going through-

out the year. Her approach to coffee was the same as her approach to cake: atten-tion to detail and an eye for elegance.

“I want people to feel comfortable and pampered here,” Yount said.

Long-legged chairs cir-cle a high glass table a few feet from the front coun-ter, while leather seats and folding chairs surround cof-fee tables against the far wall. Stools line a counter that faces out the window toward City Hall and the post office.

The colors are an elegant mixture, heavy in white, black and charcoal. A cool blend of textures includes white poinsettias, marbled tile flooring, glass chande-liers, wicker vases stuffed with wiry branches and wall-mounted weathered-tin reliefs of Italian designs.

Yount and Hiles knocked down two walls in the inte-rior of the building, opening the space to seat a cozy 23 inside and another 12 out-side in good weather.

The back room is anoth-er story, filled with indus-trial-sized ovens and bak-ing equipment. Yount bakes cakes all year round, but she said that side of the business

really ramps up for wedding season in the summer.

Marissa Bower manages the coffee side of things, bringing on a few extra barista staff to help. Yount said she hired employees who could not just brew and serve coffee, but could help in the kitchen as well.

“In wedding season it will be all hands on deck,” Yount said. “I’ve always believed that product excel-lence and top-notch custom-er service go hand in hand.”

Le Crema doesn’t serve just any coffee. It’s Illy brand coffee — known as the “Starbucks of Europe,” Hiles said. The coffee is roasted evenly and shipped in pressurized cans to ensure the quality and uni-formity of every bean.

Not every cafe is even allowed to serve the premi-um brew. A crew from the Illy company came to Ana-cortes to train Le Crema staff how to use the special-ly designed brewing equip-ment.

Hiles said next month Illy will honor Le Crema with the title of “Artisti del Gusto,” signifying Le Crema’s commitment to authentically Italian coffee.

Hiles said they’re the

only coffeehouse north of Seattle to receive the dis-tinction.

One of the biggest sur-prises about their new busi-ness was how popular some pastries became. Yount said

items like their tiramisu, cupcakes, croissants and cream puffs practically skip the display trays and go out the door as soon as they come out of the oven.

Now Le Crema is look-

ing to get an edge on the date-night crowd, staying open until 10 p.m. on Fri-days and Saturdays and offering espresso cocktails like Coffee Nudge and Chocolate Mint Kiss.

Best New Business

Cake and coffee still pair well at Le Crema Cakes

Thank you Anacortes for voting us

Best Gardening Supplies &

Best Hardware StoreIt’s our pleasure to serve our community!

HARDWAREHARDWAREM-Sun 11am until the tide changes 3320 Commercial Ave, Anacortes

360.299.8000

Thank You AnacortesFor Choosing

BEST CLAM CHOWDER3 YEARS IN A ROW

Bob’s Chowder Bar for

1 FREE CUP OF CHOWDER w/Coupon

— Walk-in or Drive Thru —Take-Out, Delivery, Catering

1 coupon per customer. Not to be combined w/any other offer. No cash value. Must have coupon at time of purchase. Exp. 3/31/12

Bob’s Chowder Bar

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Anacortes American C3goanacortes.com


jacob buckenmeyer

Le crema cakes opened in november and serves coffee, pastries, cookies, other baked goods and now espresso cocktails. The niche coffeehouse was voted best new business this year. marissa bower (right) manages the cafe, while co-owner erin yount (center) focuses on baking wedding cakes in the kitchen. co-owner john Hiles describes himself as ‘the silent partner.’

Assisted Living/Retirement: Chandler’s SquareAuto Parts Store: NAPA Auto PartsAuto Repair: Anacortes AutomotiveBank: Skagit State BankCar Wash: Bubba Sudz Car WashChiropractor: Anne Reilly, DCConvenience Store: The StoreCosmetic Skin Care: Unite Medical SpaDentist: Bill Bethards DDS, PSDry Cleaner/Laundry: Thrifty Cleaners

Haircut, Men’s: The Clipper Haircut, Women’s: Select StylingHealth Club/Gym: Thrive Community FitnessHome Builder: Strandberg ConstructionHotel/Motel: Majestic Inn & SpaHouse Painting: North West ColorsInsurance Agency: Scott Richards InsuranceInvestment Advisor: Edward JonesLandscaping: Simply YardsMassage Therapist: Erica Johnson at 6th Street Hair & Co.Moorage Facility: Cap Sante Boat HavenNail Salon: 2Q Nails

Pet Grooming: Clean & ClipPlumbing Company: The Plumbing GuysReal Estate Office: Windermere Real Estate/ Anacortes PropertiesRental Service: Sebo’s Hardware & Equipment RentalsSign Company: Anchor Signs & AwningsTax Preparation Firm: Williams & Nulle CPA, PLLCVision Center: Island Eye Physicians and SurgeonsYacht Detailing: Terry’s Yacht Detailing

Proudly Washing Vehicleswith

Earth Friendly ProductsThank You for voting us #1 again for

Best Car Wash! FREEBRING THIS AD IN FOR A

TRIPLE FOAM Wax

surface protectant(a $13 Value)

Expires 3/1/12

Voted Best Dentist

Bill N. Bethards DDS PS

Dentistry

Thank You Anacortes! We value our loyal patients and friends. Special thanks to our outstanding staff:

Check out our website, www.bethardsdentistry.com

Christi RobinsonKathy Lofgren, RDHPriscilla Choate, RDHRhonda LesemanLaurie Quirk

Annabelle FoxKathy Thompson, RDHLaurie JohnsonPattie Gilliland, RDHKara Savchenko

Accepting new patients

1019 24th Street Suite AAnacortes, Washington 98221

Thank you for naming Cap Sante Boat Haven as

Anacortes’ Best Moorage Facility!

Cap Sante Boat Haven

1019 “Q” AveAnacortes, WA 98221293-0694

Your Port staff is on hand to serve you from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. We offer a full service Trailer Boat Launch, Small Craft Hoist, Fuel Dock, 24- Hour Pump-out Barge, Laundry, Clean Restrooms, and beautiful Esplanade, plus our Summer Concert Series and weekend entertainment on the Central Pier in July and August. Walk by or cruise in and experience your marina fi rsthand!

320 Commercial Ave., Anacortes360-588-1720

anacortesrockfish.com

Est. 200012Years Running!Best of Anacortes

ROCKFISH GRILLBest Live Entertainment Venue

Thanks Anacortesfor voting us

BEST HOUSE PAINTING

Check our our blog atwww.NWColorsPainting.wordpress.com

360.391.5054

North West ColorsP A I N T I N G

Since 1989P A I N T I N G

SAME LOCAL OWNERSSAME GREAT SERVICE

Call now for Spring scheduling!

6 TimeWinner!

419 Commercial Ave.Anacortes, WA 98221

877-370-0100 360-299-1400www.majesticinnandspa.com

Thank You for voting

MAJESTICINN & SPA

Best Hotel/Motel

Happy Hour&

Best Dining ValueDining Value

at

Thank You, AnacortesFor once again picking

Scott RichardsBest Insurance Agency

Mike KellerKristen DannerSherri BittermanScot Buchanan

2517 Commercial Ave.

293-5158ScottRichards.com

Your trusted source for insurance for 61 years



ServiceS

By JacoB BuckenmeyerAmerican staff writer

When it comes to giv-ing back to the community, Fidalgo Islanders agree the folks at Sebo’s Hardware and Equipment Rental “do it best.”

Anacortes American readers voted Sebo’s the Most Community-Minded Business in this year’s Best of Anacortes balloting.

When Anacortes Com-munity Theatre needed ladders to hang backdrops for their latest musical, or Wrestlers for Life needed shovels to clear snow from the senior center parking lot, they called Dave Sem at Sebo’s.

Sebo’s has been giving back to the Fidalgo Island community since 1987, helping with all manner of community events and community service proj-ects.

“It’s one of those things you don’t think about, you just do,” Sem shrugs.

Sem said giving back to community organizations comes with the territory.

“Anacortes is a pretty giving community,” he said. “Lots of people are involved in multiple clubs.”

Sebo’s also loans out generators for community events and donates smaller items for auctions, provid-ing gardening tools, fishing supplies, equipment rent-

als or whatever else might lend a little support to a worthy cause.

Sem said his employees give back as well by volun-teering their time at places like the Anacortes Senior Activity Center.

S e m m a n a g e d t h e Sebo’s in Anacortes for years, when his father-in-

law owned Sebo’s stores from Clinton on Whidbey Island to Sequim on the Olympic Peninsula.

He became the full owner of the store eight years ago, and the legacy of community involvement has carried on.

“When my father-in-law ran Sebo’s, he belonged

to the Rotary and gave to everything that came his way,” Sem said. “That’s just how he did business.”

Sem is now a Rotarian as well, although his father was a member of Kiwanis.

The poor economy hasn’t stifled Sebo’s spir-it of giving, or hurt their business significantly. Sem

said times like these make community giving even more important, and sales in some parts of the store have even improved, since more Fidalgo Islanders choose to buy hardware and do home projects themselves, instead of hir-ing someone else.

Giving back even comes

down to the little things, Sem said, like the free but-tered popcorn stand near the store entrance. But even that can be found out in the community during festivals or fundraisers.

“The popcorn machine is a staple,” he said with a chuckle. “When we loan it out people get upset.”

Most Community-Minded Giving back is a family tradition at Sebo’s Hardware and Equipment Rental

Thank You Anacortes for VotingEdward Jones Investments

Best Investment Advisors for 2012

812 Commercial

Gary ThramerAAMS

Financial Advisor

Kathy CrofootBOA

Branch OfficeAdministrator

2801 Commercial Suite 5

Steve DalyAAMS

Financial Advisor

Hollie BrandSR BOA

Senior Branch Office Administrator

1120 12th Street

TroyKunz

Financial Advisor

KristenMurphy

Branch Office Administrator

CarolWilkomSR BOA


1909 Skyline Way Suite 101 B360-293-6838

Steve RutzAAMS,CRPC

Financial Advisor

Nancy AlvordSR BOA


ElliottJohnson

Financial Advisor

CourtneyRoss

Branch Office Administrator

CATERING, SANDWICHES& LUNCH

Celebrating our

31st Anniversary

in 2012!

THANK YOU ANACORTES...FOR VOTING US THE BEST

� ank You Anacortes for selecting

Sebo’s Hardware

360.293.4575www.SEBOS.com

Open Daily Lunch and Dinner. Eat In, Take Out, Order Online.www.ThaiSeasonAnacortes.com

THANK YOU ANACORTES FOR VOTING US BEST

ASIAN FOOD FOR 2012!

30% OFF the cost of 2 entrees

Experience the Sweet & Spicy fl avors of Thailand

WEEKDAY LUNCH MENUServed Mon-Fri 11am-3pm

**Ask about our FREE Lunch Punch Card**7 Entree Combinationsor 7 Low-Carb Options

when you purchase 2 entrees & 2 beverages.

Exp. 3/31/12

BRING IN THIS COUPON FOR:

Vegetarian, Vegan and Gluten Free options available

Rice Bowls AvailableServed with a green salad

Cannot be combined with any other offer. Gratuity applies to price before discount. *Does not apply to takeout.

Wednesday, February 15, 2012 Anacortes American C5goanacortes.com


jacob buckenmeyer

Sebo’s Hardware and equipment rental has been giving back to the Fidalgo Island community for decades. Pictured here with staff is owner and man-ager Dave Sem (third from left). also pictured, from left, are kari Harlow, john babarovich, Graham oakley, Sarah burse and Larry earwood.

Antique Store: Alley Cat AntiquesArt Gallery: Scott Milo GalleryBakery: Le Crema CakesBook Store: Watermark Book Co.Clothing Store: Upstage Boutique and Men’s StoreFlower Shop: Sheely’s Floral & GiftsGardening Supplies: Ace Hardware AnacortesGift Shop: Donatello Flowers & GiftsGrocery Store: Safeway

Hardware Store: Ace Hardware AnacortesJewelry Store: Burton JewelersMarine Chandlery: Marine Supply & Hardware Co.Nutrition Store: Anacortes Health and NutritionPharmacy: WalgreensPhoto Printing: WalgreensThrift Store: Soroptimist Thrift ShopToys: Read Me A StoryWine Seller: Compass Wines

BestVision CenterThank you

Anacortes for selecting

us

Thrifty Cleaners

Thank You

Anacortes! Anacortes! Anacortes! Anacortes!

We Appreciate You

Hanging with Us for

another year!

(in by 10am, out by 4pm)

520 Commercial 293-9888

BOUTIQUE& MEN’S STORE

for voting UpstageBest Clothing Store for 2012!

Annual Winter Clearance Sale40% OFF All Marked Tags

THANK YOUANACORTES

President’s Day Only, 30-50% OFF Everything in Store!

807 Commercial293-7847

Voted Best Pizza!

Beer, Wine, Cocktails

The WheelhouseFull Menu In Bar

Twelve Beers on Tap

Try our All Ages Happy Hour SpecialsPizza by the Slice 3-6pm $150 slice

Anacortes Properties

Thank You Anacortes!!!For Voting Windermere Real Estate

Best Real Estate Office for 2012

Windermere Real Estate/Anacortes Properties

360/293-8008

Office Hours: Monday-Friday 8:30-5:30

Saturday 9:00-5:00 Sunday 10:00-5:00

800/327-5291

Our Realtors and staff thank you for your patronage and support; your

of us to be our best. We look forward

2821 COMMERCIAL AVE. ANACORTESOPEN MONDAY - SATURDAY 6AM - 10PM

SUNDAY 6AM - 9PM

360-293-7500

Thank You Anacortes!

We’re honored to be chosen as

Best Breakfast &

Best Fish N’ ChipsFor 2012

2821 COMMERCIAL AVE. ANACORTES

For 2012Come see our great values including our

Aged Prime Rib dinners Served 7 days a week!

BestHot Dog

GreenestBusiness

Gourmet Hot Dogs, Juicy Cheesesteak, Fresh Juices, Smoothies,

Homemade Soup and Ice Cream!

New Fall/Winter HoursWed-Sun 11am - 6pm

Late Night! Fri & Sat 10pm - 2am-- Cash Only --

Thanks for voting us

Fol

low

us

on F

aceb

ook

408

Com

mer

cial

Ave

360-

840-

3041

Just

sear

ch ‘�

e Ju

icy

Dog

’

thejuicydogrevolution.com



GoodsNew Business: Le Crema CakesMost Community-Minded: Sebo’s Hardware & Equipment RentalsCommunity Event: Anacortes Arts FestivalGreenest: Juicy DogLive Entertainment Venue: Rockfish Grill

special cateGories

best of anacortes

Documents