Reader-Nominated Businesses Of The Year: Woodstock's Best

WOODSTOCK, GA — It's been a tough year for Woodstock businesses. The coronavirus pandemic presented enormous challenges for most, from the stay-home orders in the spring to restrictions and other hurdles from fall into winter.

To recognize all their efforts, Patch asked readers to nominate Local Businesses of the Year, whether it was the restaurant that made special accommodations for takeout, the shop that opened early, the pizzeria that went out of its way to deliver, the hardware store owner that offered invaluable advice or something else.

These nominations are not an official award, but simply recognition of a job well done.

Here are some of the nominations Patch has received in Woodstock, and the reason why they should be honored. Several businesses received multiple nominations, which are listed below:

• Alpine Bakery:
  

  • Their pastries are incredible and the pizza is some of the best I’ve ever had. That along with their commitment to maintaining a safe and pristine environment, one that is always warm and welcoming, makes Alpine deserving of any applicable accolade. It has been a very difficult year, Alpine provides a slight reprieve and a heavy dose of normalcy for those in search...

  • Their customer service is always perfect, the people that work there are not pushy, but extremely helpful when you ask. They make the best cookies and their pizza is phenomenal too!! Anything you get from there is tasty!

  • Best bakery and pizzeria in town!

  • Best Pizza and cheesecakes

  • The best service and desserts in Georgia

  • The most delicious cakes!

  • Always such a pleasant experience while in the bakery! Pastries/pizza /custom cakes are always absolutely wonderful!

  • Best pizza, best desserts and great customer service.

  • Amazing food, exceptional service, family friendly atmosphere

• Beauty Mark Studio: The staff at this business are very friendly, yet quite professional. They are always ready and willing to extend their hours to accommodate clients that can not make regular appointments during the day. They are always willing to listen to their clients desires and offer professional advice to accomplish that goal. Marie, the owner, has volunteered to worked with Northside Cancer Center to provide classes on make-up and fashion to women experiencing cancer, Beauty Mark is very Woodstock friendly and the perfect business to highlight the distinct and unique experience of Woodstock.

• Strongside: Mitchel Black (owner) has gone above and beyond to help his clientele over the past 9 months. Initially when everything was locked down, he produced videos with workouts that could be done with items located in one's home (i.e. water bottles in backpacks for weight) and emailed it to everyone. As businesses were given "permission" to open back up, he modified his class sizes to accommodate the 6' recommendation. He initially hired a company to come in several times a week to spray down all the weights and equipment used by his clientele. He has since purchased the disinfecting equipment so that he can do that himself multiple times a week. Mitchel is able to innovate and move with the changing rules to provide the best service for his clients.

• Next Step Ministries: This is a business that helps support and care for special needs Adults in the Cherokee, Cobb, and Fulton county areas. This staff is wonderful with these adults and are there and supportive of the parents and caregivers too. In these time and always this is much needed and Next Step is a very special place that provides that to us.

• Backwoods Bowstrings: The Owner, Shannon Gott has gone Above and Beyond with Customer Care and Product maintenance.

• Christines Creations: Christine always so helpful and talented beautiful home store

• Learning Express Toys: Great customer service, produce recommendations

• Pie Bar:

  • Adapted to these times well and always had a great product and great customer service

  • They have the friendliest staff and owners. They handled this 2020 very graciously and patiently. They would deliver to your car with masks on but you could see the smile in their eyes. Each pie was Heaven to eat too.

• The Tavern at Townelake: Great food great service and a feeling of family

• Izumi: Great food, friendly people, good location. Been open for a long time.

• Elm Street Cultural Arts Village: An arts center that still kept having safe programming for the whole community, and was able to keep its staff fully employees

• R2 Total Fitness: Friendly, Clean, Knowlegable and a sense of community!

• Century House: Excellent food and service

• Little River Clothing and Outfitters: Brian and Jen have an amazing business that is connected to the community and their customers. They make shopping fun and my children make a point of going in whenever they are in town from Kansas City. Brian and Jen have gotten to know them as we've all gotten to know them. It's a great place to shop and a wonderful representative of what downtown Woodstock has to offer.

• Reformation Brewery: During the pandemic, Reformation continues to be a place where neighbors can safely gather. They provided children’s activity packs during the initial lockdown and continue to offer our first responders discounts. In addition, they partnered with other breweries to create a special beer to celebrate people of color and created a community space for dialogue and understanding. Reformation has created something special and 2020 definitely proved that!

• OMG Cupcakes:
  

  • Great variety of products that are allergy free

  • Best desserts with gluten free and allergen free options

  • Owner is an amazing and hard working baker who provides delicious gluten free treats for a great price!

  • Customer service is awesome!!! The gluten free desserts are always made very well, with unique flavors and designs offered

  • The cupcakes and brownies are amazing! Courtney really puts love into every order.

  • Their desserts are absolutely phenomenal. 100% tastier than Smallcakes AND they have allergen contamination free alternatives.

  • Amazing desserts! Her snickerdoodles are to die for and her frosting!

  • This business is an amazing local bakery with all the charm factor and amazing craftsmanship. The baker she is always super sweet and professional! She can do about anything you ask for!

  • Gluten free and vegan friendly. Have been ordering from the owner for years for birthdays and holidays. Always great products and always on time.

• ROOTSTOCK: They persevered and stayed Present, Available to customers, and OPEN in some capacity throughout this nightmare of Covid. AND they opened a second restaurant, Daily Draft, AND they announced plans to EXPAND THEIR ROOTSTOCK RESTAURANT.

• CubeSmart Self Storage: The property is situated in the gateway entrance to the City of Woodstock, visible from I-575 (approximately 100,000 cars/day) and dominates the view when exiting onto Town Lake Parkway going north. It is situated ½ mile from downtown Woodstock and not far from the Outlet Shoppes of Atlanta. It is centrally located near housing developments, apartment complexes (both existing and planned) and local businesses in need of storage. This facility was built in 2019, offering 623 units, and has leased up to 75%. It offers well-lit storage units equipped with video cameras that record 24/7. Our friendly staff can provide everything you need for a smooth storage experience: dollies, handcarts, and even the use of office equipment like printers and copiers. We also sell packing supplies at the facility for increased convenience. We accept deliveries and online payments, so you can choose the option that works best for your needs. Be sure to ask a store manager about our current deals. From time to time, we offer military discounts and other specials. This has been a year of ups and downs, and many people's lifestyles have changed drastically. Self storage has factored into those changes as homeowners seek to clear out and create home offices; life situations have changed and people are moving, downsizing, and coming upon many other reasons to shift their possessions. The friendly staff at CubeSmart is always there to make these transitions easier. The reviews they have received are stellar. We would love to honor them with this nomination.

You can continue to nominate any Woodstock business you feel should be recognized.

This article originally appeared on the Woodstock-Towne Lake Patch