The Votes are In!
With so much to see and do in Gwinnett, our readers were dying to tell us all about the best places to chill, work and play. Thousands of voters logged online to share their thoughts.
We love this time of year because we get to hear readers and residents rave about all the places that make our county a unique place to live. This year, we learned about some great new places to check out, too. We were thrilled to see all the new nominations! Who doesn't love hearing a business success story?
You'll find everything you need to know about Gwinnett. Need to find a new doctor? We know several that came highly recommended. Looking for someone to repair your car? You can check that off your list. After all, who knows Gwinnett better than your fellow neighbors?
It's the 2009 Best of Gwinnett – time to find out about the best hangouts, hotspots, shops, businesses and places to eat. You'll want to keep this issue handy all year long. Next time you're looking for something in Gwinnett, let this issue be your guide.
The people have spoken – and the votes are in!
All our 2009 Best of Gwinnett winners in one handy list. No need to thank us.
Best Homebuilder
Bowen Family Homes
Duluth: 678-325-4500John Wieland Homes and Neighborhoods
Atlanta: 770-996-1400Richardson Housing Group
Lawrenceville: 770-963-0359Touchstone Homes
Suwanee: 770-945-5228Waterford Homes
Norcross: 770-448-2175
Best Realtor
Chapman Hall Realtors Premier – Cindy Beamon
Duluth: 678-357-6990Keller Williams Realty – Star Team Atlanta Rodney Camren
Atlanta: 404-541-3500Prudential Georgia Realty – Sheila Stevens
Duluth: 404-406-6739RE/MAX Five Star – Dawn P. Gober
Buford: 770-831-4495Winfield Realty Group – Randal Winfield
Lawrenceville: 404-569-3020
Best Interior Decorator
Ambiance Interiors
Suwanee: 770-932-1380Nouveauté/Angela Cain Interiors
Duluth: 678-584-9404Office Creations
Suwanee: 678-714-7474Sikes and Davis Interiors & Fine Furniture
Lawrenceville: 770-995-8823
Best Furniture Store
Brownlee's Furniture
Lawrenceville: 770-963-6435Church Ladies
Duluth: 770-476-4008Havertys Furniture
Multiple Locations: 770-831-6110The Perfect Piece Consignment Interiors
Suwanee: 770-614-1411Underpriced Furniture
Norcross: 770-441-1154
Best Landscaping Firm
Allsouth Landscape Group Inc.
Dacula: 678-714-3727Fields of Green
Duluth: 770-813-9952Georgian Landscape Design
Suwanee: 404-423-8448Russell Landscape Group Inc.
Dacula: 770-446-3552Unlimited Landscaping
Buford: 770-831-7741
Best Home Services and Maintenance
Allgood Pest Solutions
Lawrenceville: 770-339-4500Biltmore Roofing
Dacula: 770-906-0465Daffy Ducts
Atlanta: 678-395-3334Holtkamp Heating & Air Conditioning Inc.
Buford: 770-271-7511
Best Neighborhood
Apalachee River Club
Dacula: 678-376-5093Bright Water
Snellville: 678-395-7783Château Élan
Braselton: 678-425-0900Hamilton Mill
Dacula: 770-945-4653Sugarloaf Country Club
Duluth: 770-495-7660
Best Apartment Community
AMLI at McGinnis Ferry
Suwanee: 770-945-6261Century Pointe at Suwanee Station
Suwanee: 877-238-9225Overlook at Gwinnett Stadium
Lawrenceville: 770-962-4533TreeCorners
Grayson: 678-985-1955
Best General Contractor
Benchmark Building Contractors Inc.
Suwanee: 770-945-8081Garrard Construction Group
Lawrenceville: 770-822-1944Hogan Construction Group
Norcross: 770-242-8588Mathias Corporation
Duluth: 770-476-8100
Best Employer
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Atlanta: 404-250-KIDSEinstein HR
Lawrenceville: 877-687-3622Gwinnett Braves
Lawrenceville: 678-277-0300Gwinnett County Public Schools
Suwanee: 678-301-6000Gwinnett Medical Center
Lawrenceville: 678-312-4321
Best Business Address
Downtown Duluth
Historic Lawrenceville
One Sugarloaf Centre
Sugarloaf Parkway
Suwanee Town Center Park
Best Office Park
Sugarloaf Corporate Center Sugarloaf Office Park at Huntcrest
Technology Park
Best Accounting Firm
Forrestall, Galeano & Li CPA LLC
Buford: 770-945-8328Hamilton Financial, P.C.
Snellville: 770-979-8880McClain & Company, P.C.
Suwanee: 678-474-9090Moore Stephens Tiller LLC
Duluth: 770-995-8800Rhodes, Young, Black & Duncan CPAs
Duluth: 770-495-6200
Best Bank
Bank of North Georgia
Multiple Locations: 770-576-4471BB&T
Multiple Locations: 800-BANK-BBTGwinnett Community Bank
Multiple Locations: 770-476-2775Gwinnett Federal Credit Union
Multiple Locations: 770-338-4180The Brand Banking Company
Multiple Locations: 770-963-9224
Best Law Firm
Andersen, Tate & Carr P.C.
Duluth: 770-822-0900Gary Martin Hays & Associates P.C.
Duluth: 770-934-8000Mahaffey Pickens Tucker LLP
Lawrenceville: 770-232-0000O'Kelley & Sorohan, Attorneys at Law, LLC
Duluth: 770-497-1880The McGarity Group
Buford: 770-932-8477
Best Staffing Agency
ASK Staffing Inc.
Duluth: 770-813-8947NetPEO
Lawrenceville: 678-376-1212Randstad Staffing
Multiple Locations: 770-339-7000Snelling Staffing Services
Lilburn: 770-381-2838Staffing Resources Inc.
Suwanee: 770-638-8100
Best Customer Service
Allgood Pest Solutions
Lawrenceville: 770-339-4500Einstein HR
Lawrenceville: 877-687-3622Gwinnett Braves
Lawrenceville: 678-277-0300Jackson EMC
Lawrenceville: 770-963-6166Two Dads Pet Services
Lawrenceville: 678-261-7090
Best Place for a Business Meeting or Retreat
Gwinnett Center
Duluth: 770-813-7500Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center
Buford: 770-904-3500550 Trackside
Lawrenceville: 770-236-8003Lake Lanier Island Resort's Legacy Lodge & Conference Center
Lake Lanier Islands: 770-945-8787The 1818 Club
Duluth: 770-232-1818
Best Power Lunch
Chocolate Perks
Duluth: 770-342-0037McCray's Tavern On The Square
Lawrenceville: 770-407-6754Sperata On The Square
Lawrenceville: 770-910-7705The 1818 Club
Duluth: 770-232-1818Urban Flats
Lawrenceville: 678-344-2022
Best Facilities Maintenance and Service
Allgood Pest Solutions
Lawrenceville: 770-339-4500Gwinnett Parks & Recreation
Multiple Locations: 770-822-8840Russell Landscape Group Inc.
Dacula: 770-446-3552
Best I.T. Service
LAN Systems
Norcross: 770-449-4574MIS Solutions Inc.
Suwanee: 770-945-5487Rocket IT
Duluth: 770-441-2520
Best Hotel
Atlanta Marriott Gwinnett Place
Duluth: 770-923-1775Château Élan
Braselton: 678-425-0900Hilton Atlanta Northeast
Atlanta: 770-447-4747Lake Lanier Islands Resort's Legacy Lodge & Conference Center
Lake Lanier Islands: 770-945-8787The Ritz-Carlton Lodge, Reynolds Plantation
Greensboro: 706-467-0600
Best Barbecue
Dillard's Barbecue
Suwanee: 770-945-0703Dreamland Bar-B-Que
Norcross: 770-446-6969Holy Smokes BBQ
Buford: 770-963-0994Jim ‘N Nick's Bar-B-Q
Suwanee: 770-255-1717Shane's Rib Shack
Multiple Locations: 678-546-8150
Best Pizza
Cosmo's Original Little Italy
Lawrenceville: 770-338-9274Fini's Pizzeria
Lawrenceville: 678-205-3872Mellow Mushroom
Multiple Locations: 770-338-2400Slice-O-Rama
Lilburn: 770-979-7262
Best Seafood
Bahama Breeze
Duluth: 770-935-6509Bonefish Grill
Multiple Locations: 678-344-8945Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen
Norcross: 770-849-0600Sperata On The Square
Lawrenceville: 770-910-7705Third Coast Grille
Buford: 770-614-9508
Best Sushi
Kani House
Multiple Locations: 770-271-5272Mori House
Suwanee: 770-831-0810Ninja Steakhouse
Lawrenceville: 678-377-3033Orient Garden
Suwanee: 770-932-6688
Best Chinese Food
Chin Chin VII
Duluth: 770-813-1319Golden Buddha
Buford: 770-945-1224Iron Wok China Bistro
Dacula: 770-831-6988Orient Garden
Suwanee: 770-932-6688P.F. Chang's China Bistro
Buford: 678-546-9005
Best Mexican Food
Cabo's Mexican Grill
Buford: 678-541-0555Cinco Mexican Cantina
Suwanee: 678-541-0645Frontera Mex-Mex Grill
Multiple Locations: 678-376-7680Monterrey Mexican Restaurant
Lawrenceville: 770-237-2511
Best Cup of Coffee
Caffe Stella
Lawrenceville: 678-518-4300Chocolate Perks
Duluth: 770-342-0037PJ's Coffee of New Orleans
Suwanee: 678-373-1340Starbucks
Multiple Locations: 770-972-2208The Singin' Bean
Lawrenceville: 770-339-7464
Best Supermarket
Kroger
Multiple Locations: 770-225-1877Publix
Multiple Locations: 770-277-5240The Fresh Market
Suwanee: 678-714-0976Whole Foods Market
Duluth: 678-514-2400
Best Happy Hour
Bahama Breeze
Duluth: 770-935-6509Iron Horse Tavern
Norcross: 678-291-9220McCray's Tavern on the Square
Lawrenceville: 770-407-6754Taco Mac
Multiple Locations: 678-730-822637 Main – A Rock Café
Buford: 678-288-2030
Best Sports Bar
Digger's Freestyle Grill
Lawrenceville: 678-377-8660Olde Towne Tavern
Multiple Locations: 770-339-0909Taco Mac
Multiple Locations: 678-730-8226The Fieldhouse
Dacula: 770-271-4449Wild Wing Cafe
Suwanee: 770-945-9090
Best Gwinnett Concert Venue
Duluth Town Green
Duluth: 770-476-3434Suwanee Town Center Park
Suwanee: 770-945-8996The Arena at Gwinnett Center
Duluth: 770-813-7500
Best Local Entertainer
Andy Velo
www.andyvelo.comJoy Waters Fowler
www.myspace.com/joywatersfowlerRachel Farley
www.myspace.com/rachelfarleymusicRudy Vaughn Band
www.myspace.com/rudyvaughn
Best Movie Theater
AMC 18 Discover Mills
Lawrenceville: 678-847-9262Regal Mall of Georgia 20 & IMAX
Buford: 678-482-9263Regal Medlock Crossing 18
Duluth: 770-814-0768The Great Escape – Hamilton Mill
Dacula: 678-482-0624
Best Golf Course
Bear's Best Atlanta
Suwanee: 678-714-2582Château Élan Golf Club
Braselton: 678-425-9115Sugar Hill Golf Club
Sugar Hill: 770-271-0519The River Club
Suwanee: 678-482-6588TPC at Sugarloaf Country Club
Duluth: 770-418-1113
Best Salon
Bella Fiore' Salon
Grayson: 770-277-7738Jackie Yates Salon
Dacula: 678-714-0421Salon 124 / Genesis Salon
Multiple Locations: 770-978-7787Seven & Co.
Buford: 770-932-7747Studio 93 Salon
Buford: 770-614-9693
Best Dry Cleaner
Dacula Cleaners
Dacula: 678-407-0949DryCleaner Valet (formerly Dry Cleaning To-Your-Door)
Multiple Locations: 770-682-3860Executive Clothing Care Cleaners
Duluth: 678-475-0033Sun Cleaners
Lawrenceville: 678-380-3770
Best Tanning Salon
Classy Nails & Tan
Multiple Locations: 678-344-0727Envy Tan
Grayson: 770-339-4900Outback Tanning Studios
Multiple Locations: 770-963-1003Soleil Tan
Suwanee: 770-614-0788
Best Spa
Massage Envy
Multiple Locations: 678-541-6868Miracles of Massage
Lawrenceville: 770-366-9438Patrick's of Atlanta Day Spa & Salon
Buford: 678-546-2996Spa Sydell
Multiple Locations: 404-255-7727The Spa at Château Élan
Braselton: 678-425-6064
Best Mall
Discover Mills
Lawrenceville: 678-847-5000Gwinnett Place Mall
Duluth: 770-476-5160Mall of Georgia
Buford: 678-482-8788The Avenue Webb Gin
Snellville: 770-978-5692The Forum
Norcross: 770-368-8811
Best Place to Buy a Computer
Apple Store
Buford: 678-288-3400Best Buy
Multiple Locations: 770-381-9494Dell.com
Phone: 1-800-WWW-DELL
Online: www.dell.comFry's Electronics
Duluth: 678-405-6800Micro Center
Duluth: 770-689-2540
Best Clothing Store for Women
Back By Popular Demand
Lilburn: 770-923-2968Montage Gifts and Boutique
Duluth: 770-622-9595Panache Consignment & Boutique
Suwanee: 770-945-5227Uptown Girl Boutique
Duluth: 770-623-4898
Best Clothing Store for Men
Belk
Multiple Locations: 678-714-9914Dillard's
Multiple Locations: 678-482-5241Jos. A. Bank
Multiple Locations: 770-813-0111Kohl's
Multiple Locations: 678-417-1818Men's Wearhouse
Multiple Locations: 800-851-6744
Best Restaurant for Romance
Aqua Terra Bistro
Buford: 770-271-3000Park Café
Duluth: 770-476-2989Sperata
Buford: 678-546-9111Stoney River Legendary Steaks
Duluth: 770-476-0102
Best Jeweler
A & J Jewelers
Snellville: 678-344-1022Guven's Fine Jewelry
Buford: 678-546-9099Sparkle!
Lawrenceville: 770-237-9260Tara Fine Jewelry Co. Inc.
Buford: 770-932-0119The Goldsmith Jewelers
Lawrenceville: 770-963-8562
Best Place to Buy Flowers
A Daisy A Day Florist & Greenhouse
Snellville: 770-972-3030Buford Florist Inc.
Buford: 770-945-7643Costco
Multiple Locations: 770-622-1330Huff's Flowers
Lawrenceville: 770-963-2005Old Town Flowers & Gifts
Lilburn: 770-921-4700
Best Place for a Wedding
Carl House
Auburn: 770-586-0095550 Trackside
Lawrenceville: 770-236-8003Lawrenceville Historic Courthouse
Lawrenceville: 770-822-5450Payne-Corley House
Duluth: 770-476-5366Vines Botanical Gardens
Loganville: 770-822-8840
Best Photographer
Heartsong Photography Studio – Laura Reese
Buford: 404-583-1910In The Spotlight Photography – Jennifer Stalcup
Buford: 678-469-8436Matt Adams Photo
Lawrenceville: 858-349-5554Portraits by Wendy
Buford: 770-831-0922
Best Auto Dealer/Best Place To Buy A Car
Atlanta Classic Cars
Duluth: 770-279-3600Hayes Chrysler Dodge Jeep
Lawrenceville: 770-963-5251Infiniti of Gwinnett
Duluth: 678-812-8500Nash Chevrolet
Lawrenceville: 770-963-9266Toyota Mall of Georgia
Buford: 678-482-9990
Best Auto Mechanic
Atlanta Classic Cars
Duluth: 770-279-3600Christian Brothers Automotive
Multiple Locations: 678-546-5075Fenski Automotive Center
Sugar Hill: 770-945-4556Joey Watkins Tire and Automotive Services
Dacula: 770-932-2007Mahdavi Motorsports
Lilburn: 770-923-1550
Best Car Wash
Amazing Sponge King Mobile Detailing
Atlanta: 678-758-1837Four Seasons Car Wash & Xpress Lube
Multiple Locations: 770-979-4200Hamilton Mill Car Wash & Auto Spa
Buford: 770-614-6444Mr. Clean Car Wash
Multiple Locations: 770-279-0707
Best Place to People Watch
Gwinnett Braves
Lawrenceville: 678-277-0300Mall of Georgia
Buford: 678-482-8788Waffle House
Multiple Locations: 877-9-WAFFLEWild Bill's
Duluth: 678-473-1000
Best Artistic/Cultural Scene
Aurora Theatre
Lawrenceville: 678-226-6222Duluth High School Orchestra
Duluth: 770-476-5206Gwinnett Ballet Theatre
Snellville: 770-978-0188Pulse Performing Arts Center
Suwanee: 770-904-6556The Jacqueline Casey Hudgens Center for the Arts
Duluth: 770-623-6002
Best Social or Charity Event
Annandale's Jazzy Thing
Suwanee: 770-945-8381Dream House's Boot Scootin' Barn Raiser
Lilburn: 770-717-7410Music-on-Main
Lilburn: 770-921-2210Relay For Life
Gwinnett: 800-ACS-2345The Sport of Giving
Gwinnett: 404-406-6739
Best Child-Friendly Restaurant
Chick-fil-A Inc.
Multiple Locations: 404-765-8000Chuck E. Cheese's
Multiple Locations: 770-449-1767Red Robin
Lawrenceville: 678-512-0202Stevi B's
Multiple Locations: 770-985-3830
Best Place to Take the Kids
Georgia Aquarium
Atlanta: 404-581-4000Gwinnett Braves
Lawrenceville: 678-277-0300Gwinnett County Fair
Lawrenceville: 770-963-6522Gwinnett Gladiators
Duluth: 770-497-5100Lake Lanier Islands Beach and Water Park
Buford: 770-932-7200Medieval Times
Lawrenceville: 866-731-9313
Best Local Festival
Duluth Fall Festival
Duluth: 770-476-0240Norcross Art Fest
Norcross: 770-448-2122Snellville Days
Snellville: 770-985-3531Suwanee Day
Suwanee: 770-945-8996Yellow Daisy Festival
Stone Mountain: 770-498-5690
Best Park
Duluth Town Green
Duluth: 770-476-3434Little Mulberry Park
Auburn: 770-614-2060Stone Mountain Park
Stone Mountain: 770-498-5690Suwanee Town Center Park
Suwanee: 770-945-8996Tribble Mill Park
Grayson: 770-978-5270
Best Summer Activity
Gwinnett Braves
Lawrenceville: 678-277-0300Lake Lanier Islands Beach and Water Park
Buford: 770-932-7200Stone Mountain Park – Lasershow
Stone Mountain: 770-498-5690Suwanee Town Center Park Concerts
Suwanee: 770-945-8996
Best Clothing Store for Children
Carter's
Multiple Locations: 888-782-9548Gymboree
Multiple Locations: 770-623-0838Kid to Kid
Multiple Locations: 678-541-0222Kohl's
Multiple Locations: 678-417-1818The Children's Place
Multiple Locations: 678-584-0030
Best School Field Trip
Aurora Theatre
Lawrenceville: 678-226-6222Fernbank Museum of Natural History
Atlanta: 404-929-6300Georgia Aquarium
Atlanta: 404-581-4000Gwinnett Environmental & Heritage Center
Buford: 770-904-3500Hands-On Learning
Multiple Locations: 678-325-0656
Best Childcare
Cannon United Methodist Church Preschool
Snellville: 770-972-5463D. Scott Hudgens, Jr. Early Education Center
Lawrenceville: 678-226-6510Dacula Academy
Dacula: 770-962-4128Discovery Point
Multiple Locations: 770-622-2112Legacy Academy
Multiple Locations: 770-932-0091Primrose Schools
Multiple Locations: 770-513-0066
Best Family Activity
Georgia Aquarium
Atlanta: 404-581-4000Gwinnett Braves
Lawrenceville: 678-277-0300Gwinnett County Fair
Lawrenceville: 770-963-6522Gwinnett County Parks
Multiple Locations: 770-822-8840Gwinnett Gladiators
Duluth: 770-497-5100Stone Mountain Park – Lasershow
Stone Mountain: 770-498-5690
Best Veterinarian
Brookwood Animal Hospital
Snellville: 770-979-0089Duluth Animal Hospital
Duluth: 770-476-3317Hog Mountain Animal Hospital
Dacula: 770-614-9060Sugar Hill Animal Hospital
Sugar Hill: 770-271-7777
Best Place to Board a Pet
Camp Bow Wow
Duluth: 678-265-3436Reigning Cats & Dogs
Duluth: 770-232-3035Two Dads Pet Services
Lawrenceville: 678-261-7090Yuppy Puppy
Buford: 770-932-3610
Best Downtown
Downtown Buford
Buford: 770-945-6761Downtown Duluth
Duluth: 770-476-3434Downtown Norcross
Norcross: 770-448-2122Historic Lawrenceville
Lawrenceville: 770-963-2414Suwanee Town Center
Suwanee: 770-945-8996
Best Local Charity
American Cancer Society
Duluth: 770-814-0123Annandale Village
Suwanee: 770-945-8381Dream House for Medically Fragile Children
Lilburn: 770-717-7410Family Promise of Gwinnett County
Lawrenceville: 678-376-8950Gwinnett Children's Shelter
Buford: 678-546-8770Gwinnett Humane Society
Lawrenceville: 770-798-7711
Best High School Sport
Baseball
Football
Soccer
Favorite Elected Official
Brooks Coleman
State Representative
770-476-4471Bucky Johnson
Norcross Mayor
678-361-7108Danny Porter
District Attorney
770-822-8400Dave Williams
Suwanee Mayor
770-945-8996David Shafer
State Senator
770-497-0048
Best Place to Workout
BodyPlex
Multiple Locations: 770-614-6140Bodyrich Fitness Company
Duluth: 678-417-0880Gold's Gym
Multiple Locations: 770-831-5858LA Fitness
Multiple Locations: 678-714-5075Lifetime Fitness
Multiple Locations: 678-226-2099Studio Dance & Fitness
Lawrenceville: 770-822-5825
Best Pediatrician
Children's Healthcare of Atlanta
Multiple Locations: 404-250-5437Children's Medicine
Multiple Locations: 770-614-7366Gwinnett Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine
Lawrenceville: 770-995-0823Lawrenceville Pediatrics
Lawrenceville: 770-962-8025Pediatric Associates of Lawrenceville
Lawrenceville: 770-277-6725
Best Physician/Practice
Cardiovascular Group, P.C.
Multiple Locations: 770-962-0399Maternal Gynerations
Lawrenceville: 770-513-4000Physicians Pointe
Lawrenceville: 770-339-5999Resurgens Orthopaedics
Lawrenceville: 770-962-4300
Best Dental Practice
Dr. Ashley Curington
Buford: 770-932-1115Bruce E. Carter, DMD PC
Lawrenceville: 770-995-7616Dr. Kent Mattison
Snellville: 770-972-4666Dr. Slade Lail
Duluth: 770-476-2400Suwanee Dental Care
Suwanee: 770-614-7300Suwanee Family Dentistry
Suwanee: 678-714-2380
Best Orthodontist
Dr. Lawrence Evans
Lawrenceville: 770-962-9560Dr. Peter Bougas
Snellville: 770-979-5300Grayson Orthodontics
Grayson: 770-995-4032Pickron Orthodontic Care
Multiple Locations: 770-446-7425Smiles Forever – Dr. Ron Parsons
Multiple Locations: 770-963-3963
Best Chiropractor
Comprehensive Wellness Center of Gwinnett P.C.
Suwanee: 770-995-6789Hamilton Mill Family Chiropractic – Dr. Russell Glassman
Dacula: 770-614-6630North Georgia Spine Center – Dr. Alonzo Borja
Buford: 678-541-2300
Best Physical Therapist
Dr. Steve Doran
(Known for work with the Autism Society of America – Greater Atlanta Chapter)
Suwanee: 770-904-4474
Best Mascot
"Chopper" Gwinnett Braves
Lawrenceville: 678-277-0300
Best Bakery
Celso's Cakes Inc.
Norcross: 770-242-3040
Best Retirement Community
Delmar Gardens
Lawrenceville: 770-923-3100
Best Antique Store
Queen of Hearts
Multiple Locations: 678-714-0643
Best Sailing School
Windsong Sailing Academy
Lilburn: 770-931-9151
Best Place to Buy Shoes
Monkee's of Sugarloaf
Duluth: 770-497-0024
