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| AUTOMOSEXUAL: Gage gets cozy with a convertible 2009 Mercedes Benz SL550 ($116,705). BRYAN AMANN/Dallas Voice |
BEST IMPORT AUTO DEALERSHIP
Park Place Motorcars
6113 Lemmon Ave. 888-873-4597
3737 Airport Frwy. Bedford. 817-359-4700
Sales: Mon.-Fri. 8:30 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m.-6 p.m.
Service: Mon.-Fri. 7 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
888-873-4597
Park.MercedesCenter.com
Even with a recession, Dallas motorists emphasize style while "pulling up to the bumper." The man who can help clients select the best is Malcolm Gage Jr., the new cars sales manager at the Park Place Motorcars dealership in Bedford.
With 10 years of auto industry experience under the hood, Gage is fluent in Mercedes-Benz, Lexus, Porsche, Maserati and Bentley. Initially, Gage was interested in the financial opportunities that selling imports presented. But now his true passion is the lux design of fine mobiles.
With recent headlines of auto bailouts, Gage says Park Place hasn’t experienced a major downturn.
"Not like the domestic dealerships are experiencing," he says. "Dallas is a very different market."
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| MOD GOD: Sales rep Craig Rubright strikes a cool pose in Cantoni’s Alpha Road showroom. BRYAN AMANN/Dallas Voice |
BEST LUXURY FURNITURE
Cantoni
4800 Alpha Rd.
Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sun. 1 p.m.-5 p.m.
972-934-9191
Cantoni.com
TV and movies make us believe in the power of enormous New York flats and stylish Malibu beach houses. Our lives — or at least our surroundings — would be richer if we had that sleek, modern chair or that stunning mahogany credenza. And if you’re looking for furnishings to upgrade your domicile’s style quotient, then Cantoni can open the door to contemporary taste.
Michael Wilkov created Cantoni in Big D in 1984. A trip to Italy to explore the possibility of a clothing line resulted in the notion that Dallas could appreciate modern Italian décor.
According to Marketing V.P. Stuart Tinsley, "Cantoni" is a common Italian surname — analogous to Smith in the U.S.
From the very beginning, Cantoni has been all about modern design and functionality. The company also has showrooms in Houston, Atlanta, Los Angeles and Irvine, Calif.
Cantoni has full collections for living rooms, bedrooms, dining rooms and even designer collections from Nicole Miller. Taking it one step further, they’ve recently expanded design beyond interior concepts into architecture consultation. Cantoni House has been creating projects in Preston Hollow and Oak Lawn. The Oak Lawn-area "Motion" duplex is expected to finish construction in late 2009.
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| IMBIBING FLUIDS: Goody Goody’s senior wine consultant Clint Barrett recommends Two Dragons 2005 Napa Cabernet Sauvignon, $9.99. BRYAN AMANN/Dallas Voice |
BEST LIQUOR STORE
BEST WINE SELECTION
Goody Goody
(Various locations.)
3316 Oak Lawn Ave.
Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
214-765-6878
GoodyGoody.com
Ilive one block from a Goody Goody, but if you think that’s the only reason I shop there, you’d be wrong.
There are plenty of shops nearby where you can grab a fifth of Jack or a bottle of vino, but Goody Goody — whichever one you frequent — seems like something else: a pleasant addition to the neighborhood.
Selections of spirits and wines vary from store to store, but you can always be guaranteed of two things: A friendly, knowledgeable staff and more good choices than you will ever need.
From popular liquors to bottles from obscure vineyards that make a kick-ass merlot, shopping at Goody Goody is the 21-and-over equivalent to being a kid in a candy store.
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| FETISHOLOGIST: "Daddy Lou" (Mr. Texas Leather 2005) works LeatherMasters’ BDSM gear. BRYAN AMANN/Dallas Voice |
BEST LEATHER SHOP
LeatherMasters
3000 Main St.
Tue.-Sat. noon-10 p.m.
214-528-3865
LeatherMasters.com
There’s an undeniable naughty thrill the first time you step into any taboo retailer, whether an adult video store or a leather shop.
But once the "What if my mom’s friends see me?" fear subsides, the banalities of shopping set in: selection, price and service.
And LeatherMasters has met the call for years. There’s nothing unseemly about the spacious Deep Ellum location, with its plate-glass windows proudly displaying its wares for all tastes.
And despite all the tattoos, piercings and — ahem — "unusual" items you are likely to see among the merchandise, customers and staff, it’s surprisingly low-key and friendly.
Just because you have a fetish doesn’t mean you have to feel weird about it.
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| ONE MORE TIME: Carrie Stollings shows off ART Is ART’s unique pre-owned goodies. BRYAN AMANN/Dallas Voice |
BEST CONSIGNMENT STORE
ART is ART
2811 N. Henderson Ave.
Tue.-Sat. 11 a.m.-5:30 p.m.
Sun. noon-5 p.m.
214-823-8222
ArtIsArt.biz
Shopping can be a competitive sport in Dallas, with area malls a virtual Olympics arena. But shoppers often overlook a great alternative. Consignment boutiques are exceptional for discovering one-of-a-kind furniture and art pieces, often by undiscovered artists.
Created in 2004 by the mother-daughter team of Renata Holder and Carrie Stollings, Art is Art offers contemporary and retro accessories, paintings and jewelry. After locations on Greenville Avenue and near Lakewood, they’ve been in their present location for several years.
Stollings has an advertising background, and her mom has been an interior designer, primarily of optometry showrooms and doctors’ offices.
They initially kept their day jobs in Art is Art’s early years. A layoff at Stollings’ ad agency allowed her to refocus her business acumen on the consignment shop, while Holder continues her design endeavors and provides art and all-natural soy candles to the shop’s slate of merchandise.
"We are a starting point for talented artists that aren’t yet established, and in turn our customers are often surprised by the great prices on original art," Stollings says.
On average, the paintings of 25 artists and pieces from 10 jewelry and pottery artisans are exhibited for sale at any given time.
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| TAPE PLAYA: Elliott’s Hardware expert Dennis Vincent flaunts Maple Avenue’s finest adhesive line. BRYAN AMANN/Dallas Voice |
BEST HARDWARE/
HOME IMPROVEMENT STORE
Elliott’s Hardware
(Various DFW locations.)
4901 Maple Ave.
Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sat. 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
214-634-9900
ElliottsHardware.com
You can score more than nuts and bolts at the home improvement store — especially at Elliott’s Hardware. In addition to routers, ball-peen hammers and Benjamin Moore in eggshell, satin and matte, Elliott’s carries a selection of kitchenware, home furnishings and outdoor grills. And according to Maya Douglas, all the Rose Room Dallas gals score the best tucking tape at Elliott’s.
The store first opened in 1947. They’ve been in the gayborhood location since 1984, and over the years, they’ve expanded with locations in Plano and Mesquite.
Most businesses have experienced changes with the economy. According to marketing manager Andrea Bond, consumers are fixing up what they have rather than gravitating to the new.
Elliott’s recently made national news when it offered a store greeter job to former president George W. Bush upon his return to Big D. Bond says they envisioned the job offer as a half-serious marketing idea, but they didn’t expect the response.
"When he came in to the store, it was immediate media frenzy," bond says. "But it was a lot of fun."
BEST GROCERY STORE
Kroger
(Various locations.)
4142 Cedar Springs Rd.
Daily, 6 a.m.-1 a.m.
214-599-9859
Kroger.com
BEST HEALTH/NUTRITION
Whole Foods
(Various locations.)
4100 Lomo Alto Dr.
Daily, 8 a.m.-10 p.m.
214-520-7993
WholeFoodsMarket.com
BEST SHOPPING MALL
NorthPark Center
8687 N. Central Expy.
Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sun. noon-6 p.m.
Holiday hours vary.
NorthParkCenter.com
BEST BRIEFS & BOXERS
Skivvies
4001 Cedar Springs Rd., Ste. C
Mon.-ThuÂÂ. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sun. noon-8 p.m.
214-559-4955
BEST BRIEFS & BOXERS
Skivvies
4001 Cedar Springs Rd., Ste. C
Mon.-ThuÂÂ. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Fri.-Sat. 10 a.m.-11 p.m.
Sun. noon-8 p.m.
214-559-4955
BEST VINTAGE CLOTHING
Buffalo Exchange
3424 Greenville Ave.
Mon.-Sat. 11 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sun. noon-6 p.m.
214-826-7544
BuffaloExchange.com
BEST EROTIC GEAR
Electrique Boutique
(Various locations.)
4830 Greenville Ave.
Mon.-Sat. 10:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m.
Sun. noon-6 p.m.
214-361-8554
ElectriqueBoutique.com
BEST MEN’S CASUAL WEAR
Union Jack
3920 Cedar Springs Rd.
Mon.-Tue. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
214-528-9600
UnionJackDallas.com
BEST MEN’S BUSINESS WEAR
Macy’s
(Locations nationwide.)
NorthPark Center
8687 North Central Expy.
Mon.-Tue. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Wed.-Sat. 10 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sun. 11 a.m.-7 p.m.
469-232-3600
Macys.com
BEST WOMEN’S APPAREL
Neiman Marcus
(Locations nationwide.)
NorthPark Center
8687 North Central Expy.
Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m.-8 p.m.
Sun. noon-6 p.m.
214-363-8311
NeimanMarcus.com
BEST GARDEN CENTER
Home Depot
(Locations nationwide.)
6110 Lemmon Ave.
Mon.-Sat. 6 a.m.-10 p.m.
Sun. 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Holiday hours vary.
214-654-9939
HomeDepot.com
BEST COMPUTER/HIGH TECH STORE
Apple Store
(Various locations.)
3101 Knox St.
Mon.-Sat. 8 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sun. noon-6 p.m.
214-520-8532
Apple.com
BEST DOMESTIC AUTO DEALERSHIP
Saturn of Mesquite
15900 LBJ Frwy.
Mesquite
Sales: Mon.-Sat. 9 a.m.-8 p.m.
Service: Mon.-Fri. 7:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sat. 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
877-819-0962
SaturnOfMesquite.com
BEST HOME ACCESSORIES
Crate & Barrel
(Locations nationwide.)
3104 Knox St.
Mon.-Fri. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sun. noon-6 p.m.
214-219-1500
CrateAndBarrel.com
BEST FLORIST
All Occasions Florist
3428 Oak Lawn Ave.
Mon.-Fri. 8 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sat. 8:30 a.m.-6 p.m.
214-431-3303
AllOccasionsDallas.com
BEST GIFT BOUTIQUE
Nuvo
3900 Cedar Springs Rd.
Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Sun. noon-5 p.m.
214-522-6886
NuvoDallas.com
BEST ANTIQUES
Milton Kent Antiques
2819 N. Henderson Ave.
Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
214-826-7553
BEST ART GALLERY
Rising Gallery
4631 Insurance Rd.
Monday, by appointment.
Tue.-Fri. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Sat. 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
214-634-6262
RisingGallery.com
BEST BUDGET FURNITURE
Ikea
7171 Ikea Dr.
Frisco
Mon.-Sat. 10 a.m.-9 p.m.
Sun. 10 a.m.-7 p.m.
Closed Thanksgiving
and Christmas.
972-712-4532
Ikea.com
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition March 20, 2009.
