Nominations & Final Voting
Based entirely on community participation, Omaha businesses are nominated as the best in their industry at TheReader.com, starting in January, running through the end of March, a month later than normal. Tens of thousands of nominations inform the top nominees in each category to appear on the final ballot, which ran from April to the end of May. Stringent procedures help insure one-person, one-vote and to minimize vote-buying. An independent accounting firm Hancock & Dana, one of Omaha’s oldest, counts final votes to tabulate the awards.
Winners
This list represents what Omaha locals and Reader readers love — businesses that are the best at what they do. With deep thanks to everyone in the community that participated, we congratulate this amazing list of awardees!
Best Personal Shopping & Services
Best Barbershop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Beard & Mane
Readers’ Choice: Lady Jane’s Haircuts for Men, Supercuts, Papillion Barbers
Readers Recommend: Rockbrook Village Barber Shop
Readers Refer: Parlour 1887, Red Hot Barber Shop
Best Beauty Salon
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Curb Appeal Salon & Spa
Readers’ Choice: Salon INK
Readers Recommend: Garbo’s Salon and Spa, The Salty Blonde Salon Downtown, Avant Salon & Day Spa
Readers Refer: Sola Salon Studios, Salon Z Studios, The Hair Market Salon, Bella & Co, Creative Hair Design Salon & Spa, Bombshell Beauty
Best Bookstore
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Bookworm
Readers’ Choice: Half Price Books Omaha, Jackson Street Booksellers, Hearthside Candles & Curios
Readers Recommend: Next Millennium
Best Cell Phone Provider/Carrier
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Verizon Wireless
Readers’ Choice: U.S. Cellular, Cricket Wireless, Sprint, AT&T
Readers Recommend: T-Mobile
Best Church
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: St. Mary Magdalene Catholic Church, Lifegate Church
Readers’ Choice: St. Vincent de Paul Catholic Church, Glow Church, St. Gerald Catholic Church, First United Methodist Church
Readers Recommend: Trinity Lutheran Church
Readers Refer: Beautiful Savior Lutheran Church
Best College or University
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: University of Nebraska at Omaha
Readers’ Choice: Creighton University, Metropolitan Community College, Bellevue University
Readers Refer: Iowa Western Community College
Best Day Spa
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Faces Day Spa
Readers’ Choice: Vibe Salon and Day Spa
Readers Recommend: LovelySkin Spa, Garbo’s Salon & Spa, Victor Victoria Salon & Spa
Readers Refer: The Copper Pin Salon & Spa, Bella Dea Day Spa, Bella & Co, Curb Appeal Salon and Spa, Bellagio Nails & Spa, Seven Salon
Best Dry Cleaner
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Camelot Cleaners
Readers’ Choice: Fashion Cleaners, Max I. Walker, Nu Trend Dry Cleaners
Readers Recommend: Tide Dry Cleaners
Readers Refer: G I Cleaners
Best Fitness Center
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Planet Fitness, Genesis Health Clubs
Readers’ Choice: YMCA, Orangetheory Fitness
Readers Recommend: Prairie Life Fitness Center, Crunch Fitness
Readers Refer: Kosama Omaha West, Blue Moon Fitness, Pinnacle Fitness Club
Best Florist
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Flower Basket
Readers’ Choice: Hy-Vee, Flowerama, Piccolo’s Florist, Taylor’s Flower Shop & Greenhouse, Inc., Janousek Florist & Greenhouse
Readers Recommend: Blooms, EverBloom Floral and Gift
Best Grocery Store
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Hy-Vee
Readers’ Choice: Super Saver Omaha, Natural Grocers, ALDI
Readers Recommend: Fareway Grocery, Family Fare Supermarket
Readers Refer: Wohlner’s Neighborhood Grocery & Deli, Target, Baker’s, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market
Best Jewelry Store
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Borsheims Fine Jewelry
Readers’ Choice: Goldsmith Silversmith, Erwin’s Jewelers Co.
Readers Recommend: Perspective Jewelry Design Studio
Best Martial Arts Studio
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Heartland Family Karate Omaha, Omaha Blue Waves
Readers’ Choice: Mick Doyle’s Kickboxing and Fitness Center, Kicking Tigers Taekwondo
Readers Recommend: Steiner Academy of Martial Arts
Best Men’s Clothing Store
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Lindley Clothing
Readers’ Choice: Parsow’s, Jerry Ryan Clothing & Sportswear
Readers Recommend: Men’s Wearhouse
Best Nail Salon
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Vibe Salon and Day Spa
Readers’ Choice: Martini Nails & Spa, Bellagio Nails & Spa
Readers Recommend: Virgo Nail Studio, Faces Day Spa, Loveland Nails & Spa, Top Nails, Minabella Beauty Resort
Readers Refer: Artisan Nails Spa, Legacy Nails & Spa
Best Organic Grocery Store
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Natural Grocers
Readers’ Choice: Whole Foods Market, Trader Joe’s
Readers Recommend: Hy-Vee, Fresh Thyme Farmers Market
Best Pawn Shop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Sol’s Jewelry & Loan
Readers’ Choice: Mid-City Jewelry & Loan, AAA Ultimate Pawn
Best Pet Store
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Long Dog Fat Cat
Readers’ Choice: The Green Spot, Wag, Woof & Whiskers
Readers Recommend: PetSmart, Pet Supplies Plus, Petco
Best Shoe Store
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Haney Shoes
Readers’ Choice: DSW Designer Shoe Warehouse, Famous Footwear
Readers Recommend: Von Maur
Best Sporting Goods
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Scheels
Readers’ Choice: DICK’S Sporting Goods, Play It Again Sports
Readers Refer: Select Sail & Sports, LLC
Best Store for Engagement Rings
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Borsheims Fine Jewelry
Readers’ Choice: Zales, Kay Jewelers
Readers Recommend: Nebraska Diamond, Riddle’s Jewelry
Readers Refer: 14 Karat, Goldsmith Silversmith
Best Store for Unique Gifts
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: The Afternoon*
Readers’ Choice: Tannenbaum Christmas Shop, Tuesday Morning*, Hearthside Candles & Curios
Readers Refer: Real Deals On Home Decor
Best Tattoo Shop
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Big Brain
Readers’ Choice: Black Squirrel Tattoo, Eye Candy Tattoo, Grinn & Barrett Tattoo
Readers Recommend: Strategic Tattoo, Rawhide Tattoo
Best Thrift Store
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Thrift World
Readers’ Choice: Goodwill, New Life Thrift Store, Tip Top Thrift Shop Inc
Readers Recommend: ReJenerations, Hand Me Ups
Best Women’s Clothing Store
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: beyourself boutique
Readers’ Choice: Von Maur, Torrid, Kajoma’s Fashion Boutique, Esther’s
Readers Refer: Dress Barn, Hello Holiday*, Scout Dry Goods & Trade, T.J. Maxx
Best Yoga
Readers’ Choice Best of the Big O: Lotus House of Yoga
Readers’ Choice: Legacy Pilates, Yoga & More, YOGA NOW
Readers Recommend: Lighthouse Yoga, One Tree Yoga
Readers Refer: Red Lotus Yoga, Pranam Yoga Shala, Sound Method Yoga
*Business CLOSED since voting 🙁