Best of La Crosse County 2015: Home & Community

The Home & Community section expanded dramatically this year, as we added dozens of categories in an attempt to cover all the businesses and services you might need. We’ve covered everything from auto repair to tattoo artists, making this section the heart of what we hope will be a truly useful resource for you, the residents and visitors of La Crosse County. Let’s hear it for all our winners, and the fine work they do.

Clothing Store: Men

  1. Kohl’s – 25.5%
  2. Dale’s Clothing – 18.3%
  3. Farm & Fleet – 14.2%

Clothing Store: Women

  1. Kohl’s – 25.8%
  2. T.J. Maxx & Homegoods – 18.8%
  3. Dale’s Clothing – 14.2%

Shoe Store

  1. Rogan’s Shoes – 39.5%
  2. Famous Footwear – 16.8%
  3. Payless ShoeSource – 13.8%

Antique Store

  1. Antique Center of La Crosse – 33.4%
  2. Painted Porch – 23.9%
  3. Treasures on Main – 18.6%

Consignment Store

  1. Savvy Home Consignments – 25.9%
  2. Once Upon a Child – 24.2%
  3. Plato’s Closet – 19.7%

Thrift Store

  1. Goodwill – 38.5%
  2. Savvy Home Consignments – 14.7%
  3. Once Upon a Child – 12.3%

Bookstore

  1. Barnes & Noble – 64.7%
  2. Pearl Street Books – 24.8%
  3. Friends of Library Bookshop – 3.4%

Hardware Store

  1. Menards – 35.6%
  2. Ace Hardware – 27.1%
  3. Kroner’s True Value Hardware – 19.1%

Home Furnishings / Appliance Store

  1. Wettstein’s – 37.6%
  2. HOM Furniture – 16.2%
  3. Midwest TV & Appliance – 12.7%

Gift Shop / Specialty Store

  1. Treehouse Gift & Home – 47.1%
  2. The Cheddarhead Store & TJ’s La Crosse Shoppe – 19.1%
  3. Painted Porch – 15.4%

Quilt / Craft Shop

  1. Hobby Lobby – 35.3%
  2. Olive Juice Quilts – 31.9%
  3. Michael’s – 18.1%

Jeweler

  1. Rose Jewelers – 30.8%
  2. Mark Jewelers – 22.1%
  3. Howes Diamond Jewelers – 19.2%

Farmers Market

  1. Cameron Park Farmers Market – 59.2%
  2. Onalaska Farmers Market – 18.5%
  3. La Crosse City Hall Farmers Market – 13.6%

Farmers Market Stand

  1. TIE! Deep Roots Community Farm & Old Oak Family Farm – 18.8%
  2. Hoch Orchard & Gardens – 14.0%

Barber Shop

  1. Orange Pearl Salon – 26.5%
  2. Ken’s Appointment Barber Shop – 22.3%
  3. Sport Clips – 20.9%

Hair Salon

  1. Metropolitan Salon & Day Spa – 21.2%
  2. The Ultimate Salon & Spa – 19.4%
  3. Sue Kolve’s Salon & Day Spa – 19.1%

Hair Stylist

  1. Connie Peter, The Ultimate Salon & Spa – 20.1%
  2. Alison Wegner Bright, Sue Kolve’s Salon & Day Spa – 18.7%
  3. Ariel Narten, Orange Pearl Salon – 17.0%

Aesthetician

  1. Maggie Jo Ascher, The Ultimate Salon & Spa – 45.7%
  2. Dani Hess, Salon Inspired – 23.3%
  3. Amy Lattos, Thrive Health Center – 18.3%

Nail Salon

  1. La Bella Nails & Spa – 24.7%
  2. Metropolitan Salon & Day Spa – 23.3%
  3. Sue Kolve’s Salon & Day Spa – 18.8%

Spa

  1. Metropolitan Salon & Day Spa – 30.0%
  2. Sue Kolve’s Salon & Day Spa – 23.3%
  3. The Ultimate Salon & Spa – 21.6%

Tattoo Parlor

  1. Mind Altering Tattoos – 35.8%
  2. Blue Line Tattoo & Body Piercing – 22.6%
  3. Black Lotus Custom Tattoos – 18.0%

Tattoo Artist

  1. Jake “Knuckles” Phillips, Twisted Skull Studios – 28.8%
  2. Nick Schreck, Blue Line Tattoo & Body Piercing – 20.3%
  3. Cory Newman, Black Lotus Custom Tattoos – 15.5%

Piercing Establishment

  1. Mind Altering Tattoos – 31.2%
  2. Blue Line Tattoo & Body Piercing – 26.6%
  3. Claire’s – 17.2%

Apartments

  1. Gund Brewery Loft Apartments – 35.0%
  2. Grand River Station – 24.4%
  3. Washburn on the Park – 11.0%

Bed & Breakfast

  1. Rainbow Ridge Farms Bed & Breakfast – 29.8%
  2. Four Gables Bed & Breakfast – 24.6%
  3. Lumber Baron Inn – 23.5%

Hotel

  1. Stoney Creek Hotel & Conference Center – 43.1%
  2. Radisson Hotel – 25.5%
  3. Courtyard by Marriott – 14.0%

Motel

  1. Holiday Inn Express – 45.1%
  2. Prairie Inn & Suites – 15.7%
  3. Days Inn – 11.7%

Law Firm

  1. Bosshard Parke – 7.4%
  2. Badger Lawyer – 5.6%
  3. Hale, Skemp, Hanson, Skemp & Sleik – 5.3%

Realtor

  1. Cindy Gerke-Edwards, Cindy Gerke & Associates – 31.9%
  2. Sue Pinski, Gerrard-Hoeschler Realtors – 17.9%
  3. Brian Stephan, RE/Max – 13.9%

Real Estate Company

  1. Gerrard-Hoeschler – 28.6%
  2. Cindy Gerke & Associates – 26.1%
  3. La Crosse by Owner – 18.7%

Financial Establishment

  1. Altra Credit Union – 49.4%
  2. Community Credit Union – 11.9%
  3. Coulee Bank – 10.0%

Tax Preparation Services

  1. Coulee Region Bookkeeping & Tax – 61.1%
  2. Becker Tax & Bookkeeping – 7.9%
  3. H&R Block – 2.4%

Bookkeeping / Accounting

  1. Coulee Region Bookkeeping & Tax – 72.5%
  2. Becker Tax & Bookkeeping – 5.5%
  3. Morrison & Associates – 1.8%

Insurance Agent

  1. Kyle Visker, State Farm – 28.1%
  2. Rita Sanger, American Family Insurance – 18.3%
  3. Steve Fleis, Fleis Insurance Agency – 17.3%

Auto Dealer

  1. Brenengen Auto – 32.7%
  2. Dahl Automotive – 31.7%
  3. Ballweg Midwest Toyota – 12.8%

Auto Repair

  1. Dahl Automotive – 27.2%
  2. Fred’s Brakes & Alignment Service – 20.5%
  3. Schaller Jacobson Collision & Alignment Repair – 18.7%

Auto Parts Store

  1. AutoZone – 19.5%
  2. NAPA Auto Parts – 13.3%
  3. Auto Value – 12.7%

Appliance Repair

  1. Wettstein’s – 92.3%
  2. Midwest TV & Appliance – 2.5%
  3. A/C Doc’s West Salem Appliance – 1.2%

Plumber

  1. Maxwell White Plumbing – 25.4%
  2. Niebuhr Plumbing & Heating – 25.1%
  3. Every Plumbing & Heating – 19.9%

Electrician

  1. Kish & Sons Electric – 47.3%
  2. Wettstein Brothers Electric – 17.6%
  3. Wehrs Electric – 8.4%

General Contractor

  1. Fowler & Hammer – 32.7%
  2. Wieser Brothers General Contractor, Inc. – 27.4%
  3. TCI – 15.3%

Movers

  1. La Crosse Movers – 30.8%
  2. Jacobson’s Moving & Storage – 24.7%
  3. Jake’s Moving & Storage – 19.0%

Cleaning Service

  1. 360clean – 83.2%
  2. Maid Like New Cleaning & Organizing – 2.6%
  3. The Maids of La Crosse – 1.9%

Dry Cleaner

  1. Hangers to Hems – 44.0%
  2. Blue Ribbon Dry Cleaning – 22.2%
  3. Sew Clean – 16.3%

Lawncare, Gardening, & Landscaping:

  1. River City Lawnscape, Inc. – 37.6%
  2. Outdoor Services, Inc. (OSI) – 19.0%
  3. LAWNkeepers of La Crosse – 10.8%

Garden Center

  1. La Crosse Floral – 16.1%
  2. Christen Farm Nursery – 15.6%
  3. Cottage Grove Nursery & Gift – 15.1%

Florist

  1. La Crosse Floral – 26.18%
  2. Flowers by Guenthers – 19.29%
  3. Bittersweet Flower Market – 19.24%

Tailoring / Alterations

  1. Hangers to Hems – 35.7%
  2. Lee’s Alterations – 24.2%
  3. The Wedding Tree – 15.8%

Photographer

  1. Sarah Schultz Photography – 30.5%
  2. The Studio on Main – 23.6%
  3. Mueller Photography – 18.6%

Wedding Venue

  1. Riverside Park / International Friendship Gardens – 24.9%
  2. Norskedalen Nature & Heritage Center – 18.0%
  3. Pettibone Resort – 13.8%

Bridal Store

  1. Charlotte’s Bridal & Formal Wear – 42.0%
  2. The Wedding Tree – 35.9%

Pet Store

  1. Petsmart – 28.5%
  2. Petco – 24.4%
  3. Pet Me Scratch Me – 20.9%

Dog Park

  1. Myrick Park – 42.0%
  2. Houska Park – 27.2%
  3. Fun Fur Pets – 15.0%

Dog Training

  1. Pet Me Scratch Me – 35.1%
  2. Coulee Region Humane Society – 29.2%
  3. Fun Fur Pets – 13.1%

Dog Boarding & Pampering

  1. Pet Me Scratch Me – 32.0%
  2. Diggity Dog Daycare – 19.8%
  3. Fun Fur Pets – 17.1%

Veterinarians

  1. La Crosse Veterinary Clinic – 28.1%
  2. Thompson Animal Medical Center – 20.8%
  3. Hillside Animal Hospital – 18.9%

AM Radio Station

  1. 1410 WIZM: La Crosse News – 52.0%
  2. 580 WKTY: Sports – 34.2%
  3. 1490 WLFN: Today’s Talk – 12.4%

FM Radio Station

  1. Z93 93.3 (WIZM-FM) – 23.4%
  2. 95.7 the Rock (WRQT) – 15.5%
  3. Classic Rock 100.1 (WKBH) – 13.2%

Radio Personality

  1. Brittany Styles, Z93 – 41.5%
  2. Kelly Wilde, Classic Rock 100.1 – 15.6%
  3. Tracy Ballzer, Classic Hits 94.7 – 13.4%

Morning DJ

  1. Brittany Styles & Adam Dvorak, Morning Buzz, Z93 – 35.4%
  2. Jean Taylor & Brian Simpson, Morning Sickness, 95.7 the Rock – 21.1%
  3. Keith Carr & Samantha Strong, Classic Morning Show, Classic Hits 94.7 – 20.3%

Drive-Time DJ

  1. Brittany Styles & Adam Dvorak, Z93 – 37.0%
  2. Tracy Ballzer, Classic Hits 94.7 – 19.5%
  3. Jean Taylor & Brian Simpson, 95.7 the Rock – 17.6%

Late Night DJ

  1. JJ, Z93 – 41.9%
  2. Dan-O, Classic Hits 94.7 – 26.5%
  3. Travis Winchester, KQ98 – 18.0%

Local News Anchor / Duo

  1. Jennifer Livingston & Bill Graul, WKBT-TV Channel 8 – 57.6%
  2. Scott Hackworth & Heather Armstrong, WXOW News 19 – 15.6%
  3. Martha Koloski & Mike Thompson, WKBT-TV Channel 8 – 11.0%

Local Publication

  1. La Crosse Tribune – 32.0%
  2. Coulee Region Women – 24.5%
  3. La Crosse Magazine – 19.3%

Medical Center

  1. Gundersen Health System – 56.7%
  2. Mayo Clinic Health System – 33.3%
  3. La Crosse Area Neighborhood Family Clinics – 5.2%

Dentists

  1. Cowgill Dental – 19.8%
  2. Valley Dental – 16.8%
  3. Main Street Dental – 12.1%

Orthodontist

  1. Dr. Dave Kujak – 41.2%
  2. Dr. Michael Mosling – 31.6%
  3. HG Orthodontics – 21.5%

Doctor

  1. Dr. Kelley Bahr, Family Medicine, Gundersen Health System, Onalaska – 17.0%
  2. Dr. Ted Thompson, Family Medicine, La Crosse Area Neighborhood Family Clinics – 16.38%
  3. Dr. Lori Devine, Women’s Health, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse – 12.71%

Eye Doctor

  1. Dr. Holly Fisher, Optical Fashions – 25.3%
  2. Dr. John Purdue, Gundersen Health System, Onalaska – 16.2%
  3. Dr. Ann Wonderling, Family Vision Center – 14.5%

Optical Center

  1. Gundersen Health System – 32.4%
  2. Optical Fashions – 24.9%
  3. Family Vision Center – 18.1%

Pharmacy

  1. Walgreens – 45.3%
  2. Shopko – 13.5%
  3. Gundersen Health System – 12.0%

Massage Therapist

  1. Audra Swenson, Metropolitan Salon & Spa – 22.7%
  2. Gena Allen, Bronston Chiropractic / The Ultimate Salon & Spa – 20.4%
  3. Cynthia “Sam” Licht, Sue Kolve’s Salon & Day Spa – 19.3%

Physical Therapist

  1. Cait Larsen, Dynamic Physiotherapy – 5.5%
  2. TIE: Myra Burkhardt, Burkhardt Physical Therapy Center – 3.7%

    Julie Olson, Mayo Clinic Health System, La Crosse – 3.7%

Occupational Therapist

  1. Katie McCabe, Mayo Clinic Health System, Onalaska – 3.7%
  2. Susan Sivill, Gundersen Health System, Onalaska – 3.3%
  3. Laura Paquette, Paquette Therapies – 2.1%

Counseling Services

  1. Gundersen Health System – 12.9%
  2. Mayo Clinic Health System – 9.3%
  3. Stein Counseling & Consulting Services – 7.7%

Chiropractor

  1. Dr. Amy Breidenbach, Breidenbach Family & Sports Chiropractic – 22.4%
  2. Dr. Michael Polito, Coulee Chiropractic Clinic & Gundersen Health System, La Crosse – 14.1%
  3. Dr. Linda Lorenz, Lorenz Chiropractic, Inc. – 11.5%

Teacher (K-12)

  1. Kevin Bonnar, Eagle Bluff Elementary – 15.3%
  2. Sherri Wizner, West Salem Elementary – 12.0%
  3. Samuel Bina, Spence Elementary – 11.8%

University Instructor / Professor

  1. Thomas Thibodeau, Religious Studies & Philosophy, Viterbo University – 25.3%
  2. Dave Solie, Communications, UW-La Crosse – 13.2%
  3. Rick Kyte, Philosophy, Viterbo University – 5.5%

University

  1. University of Wisconsin-La Crosse – 57.0%
  2. Viterbo University – 24.1%
  3.  Western Technical College – 17.0%

Public Servant

  1. Don Weber, CEO, Logistics Health, Inc. – 25.8%
  2. Jennifer Shilling, Wisconsin State Senator, 32nd District, State Senate Minority Leader – 24.8%
  3. Thomas Thibodeau, Religious Studies & Philosophy, Viterbo University – 18.4%

Local Non-Profit Organization

  1. Coulee Region Humane Society – 31.1%
  2. La Crosse Area YMCA – 18.7%
  3. La Crosse Area Habitat for Humanity – 16.4%

Place to Volunteer

  1. Coulee Region Humane Society – 31.6%
  2. The Hunger Task Force of La Crosse / Kane Street Community Garden – 21.8%
  3. WAFER Food Pantry – 14.8%

Downtown La Crosse Business

  1. People’s Food Co-op – 35.7%
  2. Fayze’s Restaurant & Bakery – 17.3%
  3. Logistics Health, Inc. – 14.2%

Northside La Crosse Business

  1. The Sweet Shop – 49.5%
  2. Root Down Yoga Studio – 20.8%
  3. Maid-Rite – 12.0%

Southside La Crosse Business

  1. Hungry Peddler – 22.3%
  2. JavaVino – 19.6%
  3. Gundersen Health System – 19.5%

Holmen Business

  1. Holmen Meat Locker – 40.6%
  2. Pizza Corral – 25.3%
  3. Features Sports Bar & Grill – 21.2%

Onalaska Business

  1. Festival Foods – 40.6%
  2. Treehouse Gift & Home – 22.7%
  3. Savvy Home Consignments – 12.3%

West Salem Business

  1. Linda’s Bakery – 56.7%
  2. Big Boar Barbecue – 17.8%
  3. Features Sports Bar & Grill – 12.5%

Bangor Business

  1. Purple Cow Sweetshop & Cafe – 14.0%
  2. Augie’s Bar & Grill – 7.2%
  3. Village Inn – 6.5%

Free Activity

  1. Hiking & Biking Hixon Forest and the La Crosse Marsh Trails – 22.4%
  2. Boating, fishing, & enjoying our rivers – 21.4%
  3. Moon Tunes & other free concerts at Riverside Park – 13.2%

Fireworks Display

  1. Riverfest 4th of July Fireworks Show, Riverside Park – 49.3%
  2. La Crosse Skyrockers New Year’s Fireworks Show, Grandad Bluff – 25.7%
  3. Festival Foods Salute to the 4th Fireworks Show, Onalaska – 19.4%

Festival

  1. Oktoberfest – 54.5%
  2. Riverfest – 14.1%
  3. Between the Bluffs Beer, Wine, & Cheese Festival – 11.0%