Reader Review: Shopping

Sun., Nov. 15, 1998

For the most part, the big winners were long-time institutions, from The Bon Marche, Nordstrom and J.C. Penney to Camp Automotive, Northwest Seed & Pet and Value Village.

DEPARTMENT STORE

1. The Bon Marche

Readers favored The Bon Marche, lured by a selection that ranges from Barbie dolls in the basement to bread machines on the top floor of the downtown Spokane location. Home of the recurring weekend 30 percent-off sales, The Bon constitutes an Inland Northwest bargain hunter’s heaven. “Spokane and the Inland Northwest have great places to shop,” Spokane’s Kim Rieken wrote on her ballot. “The greatest fun I have when selecting a gift is to find something uniquely from here. The response is the same, ‘How cool!’ “

2. Nordstrom

3. J.C. Penney

Honorable mention: Sears, Mervyn’s

PLACE TO SHOP WHEN MONEY’S NO OBJECT

1. Nordstrom

2. Bon Marche

3. Joel

Honorable mention: Sears, Costco

WOMEN’S CLOTHING STORE

1. Nordstrom

2. Bon Marche

3. J.C. Penney

Honorable mention: Lamont’s, Lane Bryant

MEN’S CLOTHING STORE

1. Nordstrom

2. Hamer’s

3. tie: J.C. Penney, Bon Marche

Honorable mention: Sears

CHILDREN’S CLOTHING STORE

1. J.C. Penney

2. Gap Kids

3. Gap

Honorable mention: Bon Marche, Target

SHOE STORE

1. Payless Shoes

2. Nordstrom

3. Foot Locker

Honorable mention: Bon Marche, Homestead Birkenstock

JEWELRY STORE

1. Pounder’s

2. Dodson’s

3. Fred Meyer

Honorable mention: Jewelry Design Center, Zale’s

FLORAL SHOP

1. Just Roses

2. Liberty Park Florist

3. Appleway Florist

Honorable mention: Peters & Sons, Mel’s Nursery

SELECTION OF CDs AND CASSETTES

1. Hasting’s

Boasting acres of aisles filled with CDs and cassettes of every sort, the various area Hastings outlets impressed our readers as a “friendly” place to meet their musical needs.

2. Sam Goody

3. Future Shop

Honorable mention: Target, Costco

SELECTION OF VIDEO RENTALS

1. Hastings

2. Blockbuster

3. Hollywood Video

Honorable mention: Premier Video, Safeway

PLACE FOR HOME ELECTRONICS

1. Future Shop

2. Circuit City

3. Sears

Honorable mention: Huppin’s, Radio Shack

PLACE TO BUY SPORTING GOODS

1. REI

Like any respectable outfitter, Recreational Equipment Inc. (better known as REI) has almost everything shoppers need to prepare for adventure: gear, clothing, classes, rentals, a repair shop — even a travel company to arrange your next expedition. And the Spokane store exudes a comfortably rugged ambience, enhanced by a free-standing climbing pinnacle. But was really endears REI to customers is the co-op’s annual dividends. Anyone who pays a one-time $15 membership fee earns a year-end refund — usually about 10 percent — based on their regular-price purchases.

2. Gart Sports

3. Big 5

Honorable mention: White Elephant, General Store

PLACE FOR HOME FURNISHINGS

1. Burgan’s

2. Walker’s

3. Dania

Honorable mention: Pier One, Bon Marche

BOOKSTORE

1. Auntie’s

Long the leader of Spokane’s book-buying scene, Auntie’s Bookstore remains the city’s literary center. “‘Auntie’s will go out of their way to help you find any book,” Karen Montecucco wrote on her ballot, “with a smile.”

2. Hasting’s

3. B. Dalton

Honorable mention: Barnes & Noble, Waldenbooks

BICYCLE SHOP

1. Wheelsport

2. Garland Cycle

3. Columbia Cycle

Honorable mention: Bikeworks, Bicycle Butler

ANTIQUE SHOP

1. Aunt Bea’s

2. Antique Emporium

3. Wiggett’s

Honorable mention: Hot Flash of America, Coeur d’Alene Antique Mall

APPLIANCE STORE

1. Sears

2. Fred’s Appliance

3. Lloyd’s

Honorable mention: Future Shop, University Appliance

KITCHEN SHOP

1. Copper Colander

2. Eagle

3. Lechter’s

Honorable mention: Sears, Bon Marche

PET STORE

1. Northwest Seed & Pet

While the newer chain pet stores have found some fans, our readers’ favorite continues to be Northwest Seed & Pet, which traces its Spokane roots back to 1944. With two stores on East Sprague and one on North Division, it’s the place to go for everything from kittens to koi (an ornamental Asian carp).

2. Petco

3. Petsmart

Honorable mention: Evergreen Pet, Duncan’s

NURSERY/GARDEN SHOP

1. Eagle

2. Northwest Seed & Pet

3. Mel’s Nursery

Honorable mention: Stanek’s, Ritter’s

STORE FOR TEENS

1. Gap

2. Hot Topic

3. Zumiez

Honorable mention: Rave, Bon Marche

PHARMACY

1. Rite Aid

2. Walgreen’s

3. ShopKo

Honorable mention: Safeway, Rosauers

PLACE FOR OFFBEAT GIFTS

1. Spencer’s

2. Boo Radley’s

3. Pier One

Honorable mention: Mel’s Nursery, Flour Mill

GIFT SHOP

1. Hallmark

2. Mel’s

3. Halpin’s

Honorable mention: Joel, Spencer’s

SUPERMARKET

1. Safeway

2. Tidyman’s

3. Rosauers

Honorable mention: Albertson’s, Yoke’s

HAIR SALON/BARBER

1. Supercuts

2. 14th & Grand

3. Fantastic Sam’s

Honorable mention: Great Clips, Regis

THRIFT SHOP

1. Value Village

2. Goodwill

3. St. Vincent de Paul

Honorable mention: Northwest Christian, Cancer Patient Care

HOME IMPROVEMENT/HARDWARE STORE

1. Eagle Hardware

Yes, Eagle Hardware’s got hammers. Lots of ‘em. The Northwest-based home centers built their reputation on the sheer number of tools they carry. They’ve branched out in a big way, though, touting their gardening offerings with Seattle Mariners baseball players like Jay Buhner. Eagle also ranked as the top nursery and garden shop.

2. Home Depot

3. Home Base

Honorable mention: Miller’s Hardware, Heights Home Center

AUTO DEALER

1. tie: Camp Automotive, Wendle Ford

3. Appleway

Honorable mention: Dishman Dodge, Barton

AUTO REPAIR SHOP

1. Camp

2. tie: Wendle Ford, Divine’s

Honorable mention: Dee’s Auto, Appleway

AUTO PARTS STORE

1. NAPA

2. Schuck’s

3. Al’s Auto

Honorable mention: Motion Auto, Kmart

PLACE TO BUY INW SPECIALTY ITEMS

1. Made In Washington

Offering only those items produced in a small geographic area might seem limiting. But that’s not a problem at the Made in Washington stores. The array of items created in the Evergreen State do, indeed, include something for just about everyone. Whether it’s a blown-glass oil lamp made from Mount St. Helens ash or huckleberry jam or smoked salmon, Made in Washington “combines the best of the Northwest.”

2. Simply Northwest

3. Huckleberry’s

Honorable mention: NorthTown Mall, Hallet Farms

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