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 🙁


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