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After thousands of ballots were cast in our annual contest, in which you, the readers, chose your favorite local businesses, individuals, and organizations, the results are in!

Please join us in congratulating and celebrating the winners of Favorites of the Foothills!

Food and Drinks

Favorite Appetizer

First Place / Iron Key Brewing Company

Second Place / Relish

Third Place / K.D.’s Sea Shack

Favorite Asian Restaurant

First Place / Soulisas Fine Thai Dining

Second Place / Naruto Sushi Bar

Third Place / Joy Wok

Favorite Bakery/Sweets

First Place / All Good Things Bakery

Second Place / Openroad Coffee Roastery

Third Place / Martha’s Amish Bakery

Favorite BBQ Restaurant

First Place / Mountain View BBQ & Deli

Second Place / Southside Smokehouse & Grille

Third Place / Green River BBQ

Favorite Breakfast

First Place / Southern Manners

Second Place / Katie Ds NY Bagels & Deli

Third Place / The Rural Seed Restaurant

Favorite Burger

First Place / Iron Key Brewing Company

Second Place / Relish

Third Place / Southside Smokehouse & Grille

Favorite Chicken Sandwich

First Place / The Hare and Hound Pub

Second Place / Mountain View BBQ & Deli

Third Place / Calvert’s Kitchen

Favorite Coffee Shop

First Place / Openroad Coffee Roastery

Second Place / Trade Street Diner

Third Place / Tryon Coffeehouse

Favorite Fine Dining Restaurant

First Place / The Rural Seed Restaurant

Second Place / The Pasta Station

Third Place / Soulisas Fine Thai Dining

Favorite French Fries

First Place / Iron Key Brewing Company

Second Place / Mountain View BBQ & Deli

Third Place / Calverts Kitchen

Favorite Hot Dogs

First Place / Trade Street Diner

Second Place / The Dog House

Third Place / Boots and Sonny’s No. 2

Favorite Ice Cream

First Place / Trade Street Diner

Second Place / Buck N Brew Coffee and Ice Cream

Third Place / Crossroads Ice Cream & Coffee

Favorite Lunch

First Place / Relish

Second Place / The Rural Seed Restaurant

Third Place / Katie Ds NY Bagels & Deli

Favorite Mexican Restaurant

First Place / El Campesino

Second Place / Cocula Mexican Grill

Third Place / El Sureno

Favorite Mixed Drinks

First Place / Southside Smokehouse & Grille

Second Place / Sidestreet Pizza & Pasta

Third Place / K.D.s Sea Shack

Favorite Pizza

First Place / Sidestreet Pizza & Pasta

Second Place / The Brick Pizzeria

Third Place / Bucks Pizza

Favorite Restaurant in Columbus

First Place / Iron Key Brewing Company

Second Place / The Rural Seed Restaurant

Third Place / The Brick Pizzeria

Favorite Restaurant in Landrum

First Place / The Hare and Hound Pub

Second Place / Southside Smokehouse & Grille

Third Place / The Pasta Station

Favorite Restaurant in Saluda

First Place / Purple Onion

Second Place / Green River BBQ

Third Place / Wards Grill

Favorite Restaurant in Tryon

First Place / Sidestreet Pizza & Pasta

Second Place / K.D.s Sea Shack

Third Place / Brooks Tavern

Favorite Seafood Restaurant

First Place / K.D.’s Sea Shack

Second Place / The Rural Seed Restaurant

Third Place / Calverts Kitchen

Favorite Steak

First Place / The Rural Seed Restaurant

Second Place / Campagna Italian Cuisine

Third Place / Newman’s Restaurant at Orchard Inn

Favorite Wings

First Place / Sidestreet Pizza & Pasta

Second Place / Iron Key Brewing Company

Third Place / Mountain View BBQ & Deli

Lifestyle and Entertainment

Favorite Campground

First Place / Emberglow Outdoor Resort

Second Place / Orchard Lake Campground

Third Place / Wilderness Cove Campground

Favorite Farmers Market

First Place / Landrum Farmers Market

Second Place / Columbus Farmers Market

Third Place / Saluda Tailgate Market

Favorite Live Music Venue

First Place / Rogers Park

Second Place / Landrum Farmers Market Pavilion

Third Place / Iron Key Brewing Company

Favorite Local Festival or Event

First Place / Tryon Beer Fest

Second Place / Fabulous Fourth of July in Columbus

Third Place / Coon Dog Day

Favorite Place to Take a Hike

First Place / Pearson’s Falls and Glen

Second Place / F.E.N.C.E.

Third Place / Blue Wall Preserve

Favorite Place of Worship

First Place / The Well Church in Landrum

Second Place / Beulah Baptist Church

Third Place / Foothills Community Chapel

Medical and Health Services

Favorite Acupuncturist

First Place / Clover Acupuncture & Wellness

Second Place / Plum Arbor Acupuncture & Massage

Third Place / Saluda Acupuncture

Favorite Chiropractic Practice

First Place / AlignLife – Chiropractic & Natural Health Center

Second Place / Feagan Chiropractic

Third Place / Carolina Chiropractic Plus

Favorite Dental Office

First Place / Wood Creek Dental

Second Place / Parkside Dental LLC

Third Place / Tryon Family Dentistry

Favorite Doctor’s Office

First Place / Foothills Medical Associates

Second Place / Medical Group of the Carolinas – Family Medicine – Landrum

Third Place / Mercy Urgent Care

Favorite Massage Therapist

First Place / Vibes Massage and Spa

Second Place / Sage Mountain Spa

Third Place / Wildflower Wellness

Favorite Pharmacy

First Place / Landrum Drug Company

Second Place / Foothills Pharmacy

Third Place / CVS Landrum

Favorite Retirement Community

First Place / Tryon Estates

Second Place / White Oak Village

Third Place / Autumn Care of Saluda Center

Favorite Veterinary Office

First Place / Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital

Second Place / God’s Creatures Animal Hospital

Third Place / All Seasons Veterinary Hospital

Best Places to Work

Favorite Place to Work (1 to 10 Employees)

First Place / AlignLife – Chiropractic & Natural Health Center

Second Place / Back Alley Boutique & Bud Bar

Third Place / Katie Ds NY Bagels & Deli

Favorite Place to Work (11 to 25 Employees)

First Place / Iron Key Brewing Company

Second Place / The Hare and Hound Landrum

Third Place / Tryon IGA Supermarket

Favorite Place to Work (26 to 50 Employees)

First Place / Bonnie Brae Veterinary Hospital

Second Place / Town Hall of Tryon

Third Place / The Sanctuary at Red Bell Run

Favorite Place to Work (51 or More Employees)

First Place / Polk County Schools

Second Place / Tryon Estates

Third Place / Tryon International

Education

Favorite Elementary School Teacher 

First Place / Brandi Roddy / Sunny View Elementary School

Second Place / Marsha Davis / Polk Central Elementary School

Third Place / Wendi Owens / Tryon Elementary School

Favorite High School Teacher 

First Place / Chauncey Barber / Polk County High School

Second Place / Allison Ramsay / Landrum High School

Third Place / Angie McCammon / Polk County High School

Professionals

Favorite Attorney

First Place / John Hovendon

Second Place / Philip Feagan

Third Place / King Law

Favorite Dentist

First Place / Levi Hunt DMD

Second Place / John Moneyhun DMD

Third Place / David Krishingner DMD

Favorite Doctor

First Place / Jeffrey Viar MD

Second Place / Cornelius Todd Walter MD

Third Place / Kimberly Bridges MD

Favorite Electrician

First Place / Becker Electric Inc.

Second Place / Musselwhite Electric

Third Place / Danny Willis Electrical

Favorite Hair Stylist

First Place / Tammy Swain / Main Street Salon

Second Place / Carla Sain / Salon 3:15

Third Place / Jessica Betancourt / Artistry Above Hair Studio

Favorite Home Builder/Contractor

First Place / Highland Design and Construction

Second Place / Tryon Builders LLC

Third Place / C & E Home Improvements

Favorite Insurance Agent

First Place / Tiffany Freel / State Farm Insurance

Second Place / Kamron Kerr / Farm Bureau

Third Place / John Gilley Penny Insurance

Favorite Law Enforcement Officer

First Place / Sheriff Timothy Wright / Polk County Sheriff’s Office

Second Place / Chief Jason Coffin / Landrum Police Department

Third Place / Interim Chief Scott Holt / Tryon Police Department

Favorite Mechanic

First Place / Stott’s Ford

Second Place / Professional Auto Services

Third Place / Peirce Tire

Favorite Minister

First Place / Brannon Poore / The Well

Second Place / Todd Fletcher / Beulah Baptist Church

Third Place / Rev. Meghan Young /Congregational Church of Tryon

Favorite Photographer

First Place / Carri Bass Photography

Second Place / Dan Gilmore Photography

Third Place / Mountain Laurel Photography

Favorite Realtor

First Place / Kathy Toomey / New View Realty

Second Place / Stewart Cameron / Tryon Foothills Realty

Third Place / Jean Skelcey / Coldwell Banker Advantage Realty

Favorite Server

First Place / Amanda Flynn / Side Street Pizza and Pasta

Second Place / Amanda Ballew / Iron Key Brewing Company

Third Place / Shyanne Dennison / Rural Seed

Favorite Veterinarian

First Place / Angel Mitchell DVM

Second Place / Stephen Etter DVM

Third Place / Elizabeth Farley DVM

Service and Retail

Favorite Antique Store

First Place / Tryon Antique Mall & Marketplace

Second Place / Landrum Antique Mall

Third Place / Old Mill Market Square

Favorite Art Gallery

First Place / 80Six Gallery

Second Place / Tryon Painters & Sculptors

Third Place / Upstairs Artspace

Favorite Auto Parts Store

First Place / NAPA

Second Place / Advance Auto Parts

Third Place / OReilly Auto Parts

Favorite Bank/Credit Union

First Place / First Citizens Bank – Columbus

Second Place / State Employees Credit Union

Third Place / HomeTrust Bank

Favorite Feed Store

First Place / The Hay Rack On 9

Second Place / Tractor Supply

Third Place / Green Creek Farm Supply

Favorite Financial Planner

First Place / Ashworth Financial

Second Place / Edward Jones

Third Place / Modera Wealth Management

Favorite Gym

First Place / Tryon Health and Fitness

Second Place / Burn 31 Fitness

Third Place / PRO Physical Therapy

Favorite Florist 

First Place / Bodega Noir

Second Place / Four Winds Florist

Third Place / Brett Auston Floral & Gift Boutique

Favorite Funeral Home

First Place / McFarland Funeral Chapel and Crematory

Second Place / Pettys Funeral Home

Third Place / Sanders Funeral and Cremation Service

Favorite Garden Center/Nursery

First Place / Down to Earth

Second Place / Avery Creek

Third Place / Garden Patch

Favorite Gift Shop

First Place / Wild Petunias

Second Place / Mountain Trail Soap Company

Third Place / Tryon Painters & Sculptors

Favorite Grocery Store

First Place / ALDI

Second Place / Ingles Markets

Third Place / IGA

Favorite Hair Salon

First Place / Haven Salon + Boutique

Second Place / Salon 3:15

Third Place / A New Outlook Salon

Favorite HVAC Service Provider

First Place / Price Services Heating and Air

Second Place / Barton Brothers

Third Place / Rutherford Heating and Cooling

Favorite Landscaper

First Place / JB Trees & Scapes

Second Place / Hensons Mulch & More

Third Place / Jay’s Lawn Service & Landscape

Favorite Non-Profit

First Place / Steps to Hope

Second Place / The Hope Chest

Third Place / Thermal Belt Outreach

Favorite Oil Change

First Place / Pierce Tire

Second Place / Landrum Lube

Third Place / Stott’s Ford

Favorite Pest Control Service

First Place / Nelon-Cole Termite & Pest Control

Second Place / Terminix

Third Place / Justice & Son Exterminating

Favorite Real Estate Agency

First Place / SC NC Realty

Second Place / New View Realty

Third Place / Tryon Foothills Realty

Favorite Self Storage

First Place / Keystone Storage

Second Place / Searcys Automotive & Storage

Third Place / Rowe Storage

Favorite Thrift Store

First Place / Steps to Hope Thrift Barn

Second Place / Thermal Belt Habitat for Humanity

Third Place / Operation Hope

Favorite Tire Shop

First Place / Dill Tire

Second Place / Pierce Tire and Service Center

Third Place / Stott’s Ford

Favorite Tree Service

First Place / JB Trees

Second Place / 4 Seasons Tree Care

Third Place / Allison Tree Service

Favorite Vineyard/Winery

First Place / Parker-Binns Vineyard

Second Place / Overmountain Vineyards

Third Place / Mountain Brook Vineyards