By Rudi Alcott, Vice President of Sound Publishing
2020 was not a normal year, to say the least. We fought a deadly virus, endured an extremely contentious election cycle, and generally had life as we knew it completely disrupted.
Yet through this, we learned a new way to do business and survive in a way that we have never been asked to do. The residents of Renton rose to the task and re-engineered their lives to work, live and play within this changed landscape.
Along the way, the cream rose to the top as it always seems to do. We asked the residents of Renton to take a few minutes and vote for their choice for the Best of Renton like we have for the past couple of decades. Inside this special printed edition of the Renton Reporter, you will find the names and messages of these businesses that were chosen to represent this fine city. There were some clear-cut winners, and in one category, we had a first-ever three-way tie for first place.
A word of note on this section. Through our RentonReporter.com website, we asked readers to vote in 61 different categories. These nominations were culled together to create a winner and multiple finalists. The top three finalists are printed in this section.
5,147 people participated in this voting, which spanned from Nov. 2 through Dec. 31, 2020. We had an interesting tie for our largest nominated category between barbershops and financial advisors. Each of these had 21 unique entries, which leads me to believe people are frustrated with their ad hoc home remedied COVID cuts while on their way to figure out what to do with their finances. The next largest entry was lunch with 18 write-in entries. This category speaks to me personally as dining out in Renton’s fantastic selection of eateries is one of my favorite things to do.
Enjoy your time reading through this list as much as we enjoyed putting it together. It is with great pride I present to you the winning votes for our Best of Renton winners. Thanks for taking the time to vote and view the messages on the following pages. I welcome your continued help in years to come to make this a continued success.
BEST OF RENTON 2021 WINNERS
Community Service: Best Customer Service
McLendon Hardware – Winner
CD Danza – Aveda Salon & Spa – Finalist
Refuel Cafe – Finalist
Community Service: Church
St. Anthony Catholic Parish – Winner
Highlands Community Church – Finalist
New Life Church – Finalist
Community Service: Elected Official
Armondo Pavone – Winner
Ed Prince – Finalist
Marcie Palmer – Finalist
Pam Teal – Finalist
Community Service: Non-profit
The Salvation Army Renton Rotary Food Bank – Winner
Salvation Army – Finalist
St. Vincent de Paul – Finalist
Community Service: Teacher/School
Dimmitt Middle School | All teachers – Winner
Renton Prep | Dr. Michelle Zimmerman – Winner
Community Service Teacher/School Highlands Elementary | Stephanie Pender – Finalist
Community Service: Volunteer
Pam Teal – Winner
Jeanine Burnley – Finalist
Diane Dobson – Finalist
Health & Fitness: Chiropractor
Hughes Chiropractic & Massage | Dr. Trisha Hughes Winner
Health & Fitness: Chiropractor Petett Chiropractic | Dr. Scott Petett Finalist
Health & Fitness: Chiropractor Baze Chiropractic | Dr. Carl Baze Finalist
Health & Fitness: Dentist/Denturist
4th & Morris Dentistry – Winner
Fred Dahm Dentistry | Dr. Fred Dahm – Finalist
Michael J Scoles, DMD | Dr. Michael Scoles – Finalist
Rick Sodergren, DDS | Dr. Rick Sodergren – Finalist
Scott A. Babin & Associates | Dr. Scott Babin – Finalist
Health & Fitness: Eye Care
Eyes on the Landing – Winner
Kosnoski Eye Care Fairwood Vision Clinic – Finalist
Renton Vision Source | Dr. Paul Jensen, OD – Finalist
Visionworks The Landing – Finalist
Health & Fitness: Fitness Center
Renton Community Center – Winner
LA Fitness – Finalist
Planet Fitness – Finalist
Health & Fitness: HealthCare Facility
Valley Medical Center – Winner
Kaiser Permanente – Finalist
Pacific Medical Center – Finalist
Health & Fitness: Martial Arts
Renton Martial Arts Center – Winner
Fairwood Martial Arts – Finalist
Kim’s Tae Kwon Do – Finalist
Health & Fitness: Pediatrician
Valley Children’s Clinic | Dr. Michael Anderson, MD – Winner
Health & Fitness Pediatrician Valley Children’s Clinic | Dr. Gary German, MD – Winner
Health & Fitness Pediatrician Valley Children’s Clinic | Dr. Monica Richter – Winner
Health & Fitness: Physician
Dr. Michele K. Nelsen, MD – Winner
Health & Fitness Physician Valley Medical Center | Vandita Samavedi, MD – Finalist
Health & Fitness Physician Swedish | Dr. Christopher Moore, MD, MPH Finalist
Health & Fitness: Spa Services
Spa at the Lake – Winner
Services CD Danza – Aveda Salon & Spa – Finalist
Spa Services Create Hair Studio – Finalist
Kids Activities
Evergreen City Ballet – Winner
8-Bit Arcade – Finalist
Gene Coulon Memorial Beach Park – Finalist
Kids Daycare
Rainier Christian Schools- Winner
Bright Horizons – Finalist
KinderCare – Finalist
Spring Glen Daycare – Finalist
Kids Learning Center
Phoenix Montessori – Winner
Highlands Preschool – Finalist
Cross and Crown Lutheran Church and Preschool – Finalist
Family Circle Learning Center – Finalist
Pets: Pet Groomer
Poodie’s Pet Palace – Winner
Pets Pet Groomer PetSmart – Finalist
Pets Pet Groomer Soggy Doggy – Finalist
Pets: Pet Store
Sierra Fish & Pets – Winner
Pet Pros Pet Store – Finalist
PetSmart – Finalist
Pets: Veterinary Clinic
Animal Health Care Center of Renton – Winner
Blue Pearl Veterinary Hospital – Finalist
Cedar River Animal Hospital – Finalist
Professional Services: Attorney/Law Firm
Law Offices of Dan Kellogg – Winner
Gary F. Faull Attorney – Finalist
Malsan Law Firm – Finalist
Professional Services: Automotive Care
Iden’s Dealer Services – Winner
Bucky’s Complete Auto Repair – Finalist
Mathewson’s Automotive – Finalist
Professional Services: Bank/Credit Union
BECU – Winner
First Financial Northwest Bank – Finalist
Banner Bank – Finalist
Professional Services: Barber Shop
CD Danza – Aveda Salon & Spa – Winner
Details Barbershop – Finalist
Linda’s Barber Shop – Finalist
Professional Services: Catering
Rain City Catering – Winner
Renton Technical College – Finalist
The Red Tea Room Catering – Finalist
Professional Services: Financial Advisor
Edward Jones | Nina Boss – Winner
JB Tax and Finance – Finalist
Edward Jones | Steven D Tolonen – Finalist
Professional Services: Hair Salon
Create Hair Studio – Winner
CD Danza – Aveda Salon & Spa Finalist
Abyssinia Hair & Beauty Clinic LLC Finalist
Professional Services: Insurance Agent
State Farm Insurance Agent | Jim Sullivan – Winner
Pemco – Finalist
Agent Hub Insurance – Finalist
Professional Services: Nail Salon
C K Nails – Winner
Bluebell Nail and Spa Finalist
Fairwood Nails Finalist
Professional Services: Real Estate
Keller Williams | Rosie Rourke Tean – Winner
American Classic Homes Real Estate | Team Runge – Finalist
Compass | Marcie Maxwell and Lisa Lam – Finalist
Professional Services: Senior Living Community
Merrill Gardens at Renton Centre – Winner
Chateau Valley Center – Finalist
Solstice Senior Living at Renton – Finalist
Professional Services: Staffing/Employment
LINK Staffing – Winner
SmartTalent – Winner
Professional Minority Staffing – Finalist
Restaurants: Bakery
Chuck’s Donuts – Winner
Common Ground Coffee & Cupcakes – Finalist
Top Pot Doughnuts- Finalist
Restaurants: BBQ
Cedar River Smokehouse – Winner
L&L Hawaiian Barbecue- Finalist
Clyde’s Southern Wood Fired Barbeque – Finalist
Restaurants: Breakfast
Jay Berry’s Cafe – Winner
Plum Delicious Family Restaurant – Finalist
Tommy’s Cafe – Finalist
Restaurants: Brewery
Bickersons Brewhouse – Winner
Restaurants Brewery Four Generals Brewing – Finalist
Restaurants Brewery Dubtown Brewing Company – Finalist
Restaurants: Chinese Cuisine
Golden Peacock – Winner
Little Peking – Finalist
Zhen Kee – Finalist
Restaurants: Coffee Shop
Boon Boona Coffee – Winner
BigFoot Java – Finalist
Common Ground Coffee & Cupcakes – Finalist
Restaurants: Family Restaurant
Berliner Pub – Winner
Plum Delicious Family Restaurant – Finalist
Red Robin – Finalist
Restaurants: Fine Dining
The Melrose Grill – Winner
Water’s Table Restaurant – Finalist
Marianna Ristorante – Finalist
Restaurants: Hamburgers
Five Guys Burgers and Fries – Winner
Burger Addict – Finalist
Doofers Bar & Grill – Finalist
Restaurants: Indian Cuisine
Naan -N- Curry – Winner
Spice King Renton – Finalist
Himalayan Cafe – Finalist
Restaurants: Italian Cuisine
Marianna Ristorante – Winner
Vince’s Italian Restaurant & Pizzeria – Finalist
Angelo’s Pizza & Pasta – Finalist
Restaurants: Japanese Cuisine
Sushi Cafe – Winner
New Zen Japanese Restaurant – Finalist
Sushi Today – Finalist
Restaurants: Lunch
Cedar River Smokehouse – Winner
Royal Orchid Restaurant – Finalist
Doofers Bar & Grill – Finalist
Restaurants: Mexican Cuisine
Torero’s Mexican Restaurant – Winner
La Fuente Mexican Restaurant – Finalist
Taqueria El Kiosko – Finalist
Restaurants: Pizza
Smoking Monkey Pizza – Winner
The Rock Wood Fired Pizza – Finalist
Shakey’s Pizza Parlor – Finalist
Restaurants: Tavern/Bar
The Local 907 – Winner
Berliner Pub – Finalist
Doofers Bar & Grill – Finalist
Restaurants: Thai Cuisine
Royal Orchid Restaurant – Winner
Ocha Thai Kitchen and Bar – Finalist
Sing Tong Thai Cuisine – Finalist
Restaurants: Vietnamese Cuisine
Blossom Vegetarian Restaurant – Winner
Pho 801 – Finalist
Renton Bistro – Finalist
Restaurants: Winery/Wine Shop
Vino at the Landing – Winner
Peyrassol Cafe at Southport – Finalist
Red House Beer & Wine Shoppe – Finalist
Shopping: Antiques & Treasures
St. Charles Place Antiques & Restorations – Winner
Buddy’s Home Furnishings – Finalist
Antiques 4U – Finalist
Shopping: Appliance Store
King and Bunnys Appliances – Winner
Lowe’s Home Improvement – Finalist
IKEA – Finalist
Shopping: Cannabis
Buddy’s Cannabis – Winner
The Evergreen Market South Renton – Finalist
Emerald Haze – Finalist
Shopping: Flower Shop
Cugini Florist & Fine Gifts – Winner
Renton Flower Shop – Finalist
Urban Sprouts – Finalist
Shopping: Gift Store
Sparkle Gifts and Whatnots – Winner
CD Danza – Aveda Salon & Spa – Finalist
Uwajimaya Renton – Finalist
Shopping: Grocery/Convenience Store
Top of the Hill Quality Produce & Meats – Winner
Fred Meyer – Finalist
Uwajimaya Renton – Finalist
Shopping: Hardware
McLendon Hardware – Winner
Dunn Lumber – Renton – Finalist
Ace Hardware – Finalist
Shopping: Jewelry Store
Fred Meyer – Winner
The Jewelry Exchange – Winner
Porter Jensen Jewelers – Finalist
Shopping: Tattoo Parlor
Handsome Devil Ink – Winner
Sacred Soul Tattoo – Finalist
Idolize Tattoo – Finalist
