Best of ORL 2024: Community, Home & Shopping Winner Spotlights
Take a closer look at this year's first place winners in the Community, Home and Shopping categories.
Winner: Bicycle Shop | Orange Cycle
No matter what type you’re looking for, Orange Cycle has the bike, clothing or accessory for you. Choose from road bikes, electric bikes, fitness bikes, gravel bikes, mountain bikes and kids’ bikes. Want to make sure that bike fits you like a glove? Come in for a Body Geometry fit; it’s particularly valuable for those with stiff necks, numb or tingling hands and lower-back issues. And if your bike needs repair, Orange Cycle’s service department is top-notch.
Winner: Pool Builder | Artesian Pools
Let’s face it, having a pool is a necessity in Orlando. So, when you’re looking to build yours, why not go with the company responsible for the creation of more than 18,000 pools in Central Florida? That’s Artesian Pools, who’ve been in business since 1976. Artesian’s elegant designs make a pool not just a feature of your house, but a centerpiece.
Winner: Gift Shop | YAY! Tiny Shop
This eclectic gift shop in Ivanhoe Village is all about the YAY! Its vibrant, colorful offerings include everything from aprons, T-shirts, frames, jewelry, nail polish, toys, books, cards—anything that elicits delight. The boutique is Orlando’s tiniest and because of it only allows four customers in the shop at a time. Shopping local is a joy here.
Winner: Home Builder | Phil Kean Design Group
Architecture as art. That’s the Phil Kean Design Group philosophy. Known for its distinctive custom luxury residences, the homebuilder specializes in a design-build approach, and clients benefit from PKDG’s ideas throughout the construction process, allowing for consistency of the vision. Sustainability is key to the process.
Winner: Kitchen & Bath Store | Artisan Kitchen and Bath Gallery
When it’s time to remodel or design your dream kitchen and bath concepts, Artisan Kitchen and Bath Gallery comes armed with 159 years of experience. It’s a division of the Hajoca Corporation, a national plumbing wholesale company that was founded in 1858 and has since become the largest privately owned wholesale company in the plumbing sector. Consult a team well-versed in industry design trends.
Winner: Mall | The Mall at Millenia
Orlando’s premier luxury shopping destination, The Mall at Millenia is home to more than 150 shops (40 of them market exclusives) and restaurants and offers complimentary personal styling and shopping experiences. Among the names are Hermès, Christian Louboutin, Gucci, Ted Baker London, Dior and Rolex. In addition, there’s an on-site tailor and alteration services, multi-lingual concierge and same-day home delivery service.
Winner: Car Dealership | Fields BMW
Fields BMW offers a wide selection of new and pre-owned BMW vehicles. You may know them from their large dealership paralleling I4 between the Lee Road and Maitland exits. Known for exceptional customer service, they provide comprehensive maintenance and repair services, ensuring each vehicle is kept in top condition. Fields BMW is dedicated to delivering a luxury car buying experience, emphasizing customer satisfaction and high-quality service.
Winner: Men’s Clothing Store | John Craig Clothier
Offering timeless pieces for the sophisticated man, John Craig Clothier is not only a multiple Best of ORL winner, but is part of the Esquire Retail 100, which recognizes America’s finest menswear specialty stores. Collections include names from more than six dozen brands, such as PT Torino, Johnnie-O, Kiton, Canali, Maurizio Baldassari and Peter Millar.
Winner: Boat Dealer | Regal & Nautique of Orlando
With so many lakes in Seminole, Orange and Osceola counties, boating might be your next great hobby. Regal & Nautique of Orlando specializes in high-performance watercraft, catering to water sports enthusiasts. They offer a range of boats designed for wakeboarding, waterskiing and other aquatic activities. With a strong emphasis on innovation and quality, Regal & Nautique provides expert advice, sales and services to ensure customers get the best out of their boating experience.
Winner: RV Dealer | Blue Compass RV
Take to the road in style! Blue Compass RV is your go-to destination for recreational vehicles, offering a vast selection of RVs to fit any travel lifestyle. Whether you’re looking for a motorhome, travel trailer or fifth wheel, Blue Compass RV provides expert guidance and top-notch service to help you embark on your next adventure with confidence and comfort.
Winner: Auto Detailing | Winter Park Auto Spa
Providing top-tier automotive detailing services with a focus on quality and customer satisfaction, Winter Park Auto Spa is a trusted name in vehicle care. Their offerings include exterior and interior cleaning, paint correction and ceramic coating; the auto spa ensures vehicles are returned to their owners in pristine condition.
Winner: Bookstore | Writer’s Block Bookstore
At Writer’s Block Bookstore, the gift items are just as great as the book selection. Both are carefully curated, and you’ll find several things you can’t live without—it’s impossible to get out of here without an armful. Our last visit saw us take home a number of recommended books that were spot on, beautiful blank journals and some fun catnip toys—because any good book lover must have something for the cats!
Winner: Jeweler | Bay Hill Jewelers
Luxury jewelry retailer Bay Hill Jewelers is known for their exquisite collection of fine jewelry, including diamonds, gemstones and watches. They offer personalized services such as custom design, repairs and appraisals, and are a trusted choice for discerning customers seeking high-quality jewelry with exceptional craftsmanship.
Winner: Women’s Clothing Store | Jarboe
Black. White. Beige. Gray. Gold. These are the color components of a Jarboe wardrobe. One that is classical. One that is timeless. One that is minimal. One that is powerful. Visit the boutique for a wardrobe styling and learn the art of mixing, matching and layering. The Jarboe team works with you one-on-one to determine the fashions that work best with your personality and lifestyle.
Winner: Interior Designer | KBF Design Gallery
KBF Design Gallery is a leading interior design and remodeling firm, offering comprehensive services to transform homes. KBF combines creativity and functionality to create beautiful, personalized living spaces that reflect their clients’ unique tastes and lifestyles and has won numerous awards for their inspirational designs.
Winner: Florist | In Bloom Florist
Become versed in the language of flowers after just one visit to In Bloom Florist. This longstanding florist creates arrangements with meaning, such as in selecting blooms in conjunction with the recipient’s birth month, birthstone or zodiac sign. They’ll also teach you about the flowers and plants you’ve chosen and how to take care of them. Want to learn how to create your own gorgeous arrangements? Sign up for an immersive and fun design workshop.
Winner: Home Organization | California Closets
Where are you going to keep all those skeletons? Look no further than California Closets, which specializes in custom storage solutions and personalized designs for closets, home offices, garages and more. Their expert team works closely with clients to create functional and stylish spaces that maximize organization and efficiency.
Winner: Favorite Charity | Kids Beating Cancer
This nonprofit organization provides access to life-saving treatments for children diagnosed with cancer and related life-threatening diseases. They offer financial support for medical care and advocate for the best possible treatment options. Their mission is to ensure that no child is denied a transplant due to financial barriers, providing hope and support to families in need. In 2023, they raised more than $2 million at their annual fundraiser, the Hats & Heroes Ball.
©The Mayflower
Winner: Assisted Living/Retirement Community | The Mayflower
The Mayflower provides a range of living options from independent living to skilled nursing care. Residences include apartments, villas and Bristol Landing, a neighborhood nestled among green space, ponds and walking trails. Its vibrant community focuses on comfort, security and an active lifestyle. Activities include tai chi, arts and crafts, book clubs, dance classes and much more.
Winner: Places To Shop For CBD | Trulieve
A prominent medical cannabis provider in Central Florida, Trulieve is dedicated to improving patients’ quality of life through natural, safe and effective treatments. They offer a wide range of cannabis products, including oils, edibles and topicals, all meticulously tested for purity and potency. Trulieve focuses on patient education and support for a positive and informed experience. Customers must be 21+ and have a valid Florida medical marijuana card.
