Readers Poll 2024

66 BEST OF MONTEREY COUNTY® 2024 montereycountynow.com/bestof Shopping & Services Best Shoe Store Joy-Pers 944 S. Main St., Salinas (831) 424-3466, joypers.com Boots, spurs, dancing shoes and wool socks—you name it, Joy-Pers has it. Boasting a wide variety of the footwear brands you know and love: Ugg, New Balance, Ariat, Birkenstock, Hoka, Toms, Dansko and more. JoyPers is a one-stop shoe shop for the entire family. Joy-Pers has been family owned and operated since 1951 on South Main in Salinas. Shoppers can also buy online, and delivery is available throughout Monterey County. Best Shoe Repair Shop Federico’s Shoe Service 542 Abrego St., Monterey (831) 649-3322 A good pair of boots should be perfectly broken-in, not broken. It takes time and patience and maybe a few blisters to get them to fit like a second skin. When you have them just right, you want to keep them that way. Federico’s has been helping with that since 1939. Whether your heel is a little cattywampus or your sole is in desperate need of replacing, their experts can set you right and make sure your dogs aren’t barking at the end of the day. Best Women’s Clothing Boutique Bliss Boutique 380 Alvarado St., Monterey (831) 578-2016 300 Main St., Salinas (831) 594-1117, bebeautifulinbliss.com Hidden between restaurants on Alvarado Street in Monterey, there is a tiny shop with high-quality clothes always filled with women, trying on calico dresses, frilly bonnets, petticoats…No, actually they are checking out the latest in 21st century fashion, from big name designers to up-and-coming couture. Best Men’s Clothing Store Khaki’s of Carmel Ocean at Junipero, Carmel (831) 625-8106, khakisofcarmel.com When you were out herding cattle, you needed to look good doing it. A Stetson or bowler hat were a necessity, along with boots, denim jeans and shirt, and a vest. The look has largely gone out of style. But what’s in vogue now can be found at Khaki’s of Carmel. Checkered sport coats, trousers of all colors, suede loafers and countless accessories are all here to help guys look and feel stylish. Best Shopping District/ Center Del Monte Shopping Center 1410 Del Monte Center, Monterey (831) 373-2709, delmontecenter.com The Wells Fargo wagon—a stagecoach, really—not only brought people, but also goods ordered from distant cities. If you mailed the information and waited a bit, that settee or banjo you wanted would arrive. But what if you could do all your shopping in one spot, without the wait? That’s where Del Monte Shopping Center stands out. Located off Munras Avenue and Soledad Drive, this fine, mostly outdoor establishment spans a grand 675,000 square feet and boasts everything. It’s nice to get out and shop, without the wait. Best Jewelry Store Fourtane Ocean and Lincoln, Carmel (831) 624-4684, fourtane.com In 1877, Nevada’s Comstock Lode reached peak production, with silver mines producing $21 million of the precious metal that year—worth nearly $500 million today. This discovery became one of the most significant in America’s history of mining. Why not honor this moment in history with our best jewelry store? Fourtane’s bonanza includes an elite selection of Rolex watches and dazzling fine jewelry. Or make your own history by designing bespoke accessories with the help of Fourtane’s in-house master jeweler. Best Florist Fleurs de Soleil 598 Fremont St., Monterey (831) 656-0455, fleursdusoleil.com There’s a certain alchemy to flowers. They can deliver a message of sympathy or of celebration; they can be an elegant, subtle touch or they can be big and bold and colorful. Whatever your message and whatever your style (and yes, the folks at Fleurs de Soleil will ask you for your message and your style, so you remain in control of the design vision), flowers zhuzh up anyplace, anytime, even the Wild West. It would be ungentlemanly to go courtin’ without a boutonniere. The options at Fleurs de Soleil are expansive and lovely and incorporate seasonal blooms, so you can get someBest Attorney | Jeannette Witten

RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjAzNjQ1NQ==