There has been a lot of discussion in the papers and on the web about supporting local businesses, no matter where you live, as opposed to buying everything online or at large national chains. I’m all for that, as long as the local business provides excellent service, even if it’s at a slightly higher price. And, of course, there are some goods and especially services that you cannot purchase online.
So I looked through my credit card bills and Quicken account to find out where I tend to drop my local shopping money and which establishments I’d recommend to my next-door neighbor or friend living across the valley. Five quickly came to mind that were not grocery stores, restaurants, or places I’ve discussed in past blogs.
Panda Auto (3303 S. Jones) — There are two types of drivers in this world: happy ones who have a good mechanic and those who don’t. I scored with Panda Auto. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable; better yet, they tell you what you need done to your car and what you don’t. They handle scheduling well and their prices are fair. Panda is conveniently located near my office, but that means I don’t have an excuse to use one of the nicest waiting areas I’ve ever seen in an auto shop.
Kenny’s (Genesis) Cleaners (8470 W Desert Inn Rd.)—I also got lucky as Kenny’s is located within walking distance of my home. But the main reason I like them — and would drive a couple of miles if I had to — is that all the cleaning is done onsite. No waiting for the delivery truck and if there’s an issue or mix-up, I know the solution is in the building, not at another shop. Kenny’s recently upgraded their software so that customers get an email when clothes are ready. They also do alterations.
Amber Unicorn Bookshop (2101 S. Decatur Blvd.) — A nationally known book reviewer told me once that a “new” book is simply one you haven’t read. Except when I’m especially intrigued by a new bestseller, I purchase all my books used, either at Amber Unicorn or online through Amazon. Amber Unicorn is well-stocked and well-run. They have frequent sales and purchase books as well (for cash or trade). They also have one of the largest collections of used cookbooks (thousands of volumes) of any store in the country.
Art at Your Door (8605 W. Sahara Ave.) — My 1,100-square-foot apartment has more than 60 paintings, drawings, and photos on the wall and I can tell you first-hand that having a good source for quality framing can make any mediocre item look grand. I have used many framers in multiple cities and Art at Your Door is one of the best. The staff makes great, and very reasonable priced, suggestions. They also handle complicated picture-hanging tasks.
Frame Fixer (3961 W. Charleston Blvd.) — Finally, I’m lucky that my eye prescription hasn’t changed over the last few years, though I do get it checked every year. Unfortunately, I’m very hard on glasses, but instead of buying new pairs, I simply take my old one to Frame Fixers for any needed repairs. The staff is extremely upfront about what they can fix, including finding reasonably priced replacement frames for still-usable lenses.
All five establishments are located west of the Strip and north of Flamingo, but except for the cleaners, I visit them no more than once a month, maybe once a year, and I’d make a longer trip regardless.
Why not send your top recommendations? There is no better way to compliment a business owner than to refer him to others.
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Great idea to share good local business names. I can add that I use Mom and Pop’s dry cleaners at 7668 West Lake Mead. They also do all the work on-site.
Interesting. We’ve contemplated a recommendation/warning section with a focus on local vendors for a few years now. It was stimulated by a bad personal experience at Flair Cleaners on Sahara (since closed), then another with Smitty Movers. We didn’t pursue it because there’s something out there called Yelp, but I like the idea of being able to report the good and bad.
Good to know about Frame Fixer . In case my glasses go kaput while in Town.