2020 was a heck of a year, no need to re-hash that! But through the shutdowns and trials, the Petaluma community stayed strong, and this year’s Petaluma People’s Choice Awards hosted by our local Argus Courier highlights some of the year’s success stories!
If you’re looking for some of the best local businesses for anything, first ask us (we’ve got the local scoop!), then check this list!
Best Businesses
Accounting/CPA Firm
Baldwin, McGaughey & Co. – Winner
Torkelson & Associates – Honorable Mention
Antique Store
The Find – Petaluma – Winner
Summer Cottage Antiques – Honorable Mention
Art Gallery
Gallery One – Winner
Petaluma Arts Center – Honorable Mention
Auto Body Shop
Petaluma Auto Body – Winner
G&C Auto Body – Honorable Mention
Auto Repair Shop
Out West Garage – Winner
Brodie’s Tire & Automotive – Honorable Mention
Boutique
Ooh La Luxe – Winner
Splendid Little Shoppe – Honorable Mention
Car Wash/Detailing
Raintree Car Wash & Detail Center – Winner
Touchless Car Wash – Honorable Mention
Charter or Private School
St. Vincent de Paul Elementary School – Winner
Petaluma Accelerated Charter School – Honorable Mention
Consignment/Thrift Store
Alphabet Soup Thrift Store – Winner
Sacks Hospice Thrift Store of St. Joseph Health – Honorable Mention
Credit Union
Redwood Credit Union – Winner
Patelco Credit Union – Honorable Mention
Day Spa
Soft Shell – Winner
Skinergy Skin Care – Honorable Mention
Facial/Makeup
Soft Shell – Winner
Skinergy Skin Care – Honorable Mention
Garden Supplies/Nursery
Cottage Gardens of Petaluma – Winner
Friedman’s Home Improvement – Honorable Mention
Grocery Store
Petaluma Market – Winner
Trader Joe’s – Honorable Mention
Hardware Store
Rex Ace Hardware – Winner
Friedman’s Home Improvement – Honorable Mention
Health Care Facility
Kaiser Permanente Petaluma Medical Offices – Winner
St. Joseph Health Medical Group – Honorable Mention
Health Club/Gym
Luma Fitness – Winner
Synergy Health Club – Honorable Mention
Hotel
Hotel Petaluma – Winner
Sheraton Sonoma Wine Country Petaluma – Honorable Mention
Jewelry Store
Hollingsworth Jewelers Gallery – Winner
Gold Rush Jewelers – Honorable Mention
Local Bank
Exchange Bank – Winner
Bank of Marin – Honorable Mention
Pedicure/Manicure
Naturally Happy Feet & Fingers – Winner
Belle Femme Nail Salon – Honorable Mention
Pet Boarding Services
Fit ‘N’ Furry – Winner
It’s a Dog’s Life – Honorable Mention
Place for Live Music
Mystic Theatre & Music Hall – Winner
Lagunitas Brewing Company – Honorable Mention
Place to Buy Flooring
Quality Flooring Center – Winner
Abbey Carpet & Floor – Honorable Mention
Place to Buy Flowers
Vanda Floral Design – Winner
Trader Joe’s – Honorable Mention
Place to Buy Furniture
Alphabet Soup Thrift Store – Winner
Summer Cottage Antiques – Honorable Mention
Place to Buy Pet Supplies
Rivertown Feed & Pet Country Store – Winner
Petco – Honorable Mention
Place to Buy Tires
Jay & Bill’s Tire Service – Winner
Brodie’s Tire & Automotive – Honorable Mention
Place to Shop for the Perfect Gift
Heebe Jeebe – Winner
Field Works – Honorable Mention
Preschool
Little Shepherd Preschool – Winner
You & Me Children’s Center – Honorable Mention
Public School
Petaluma High School – Winner
Grant Elementary School – Honorable Mention
Real Estate Brokerage
Century 21 Bundesen – Winner
Vanguard Properties – Honorable Mention
Senior Care Facility
Sunrise of Petaluma – Winner
Springfield Place – Honorable Mention
Summer Camp
Friends of the Petaluma River – Winner
Adventure Recreation Center – Honorable Mention
Wedding Venue
Flying Cloud Farm – Winner
Olympia’s Valley Estate – Honorable Mention
Window & Door Replacement
Redwood Glass Co. – Winner
Save Energy Co. – Honorable Mention
Yoga Studio
Renew Yoga – Winner
Yoga Hell Petaluma – Honorable Mention
Best Food or Drink
American/California Cuisine
Seared – Winner
Wild Goat Bistro – Honorable Mention
Asian Food
Lily Kai – Winner
Simmer Vietnamese Kitchen – Honorable Mention
Bakery
Della Fattoria – Winner
Petaluma Pie Company – Honorable Mention
Bar
Traxx Bar & Grill – Winner
Mario and John’s – Honorable Mention
Barbecue
Lombardi’s Gourmet Deli & BBQ – Winner
What A Chicken – Honorable Mention
Breakfast/Brunch
Sax’s Joint – Winner
Hallie’s Diner – Honorable Mention
Burrito
Mi Pueblo – Winner
El Roy’s Express Mex – Honorable Mention
Café or Coffee Shop
Petaluma Coffee & Tea – Winner
Acre Coffee – Honorable Mention
Cheap Eats
What A Chicken – Winner
El Roy’s Express Mex – Honorable Mention
Chinese Restaurant
Lily Kai – Winner
City Chopsticks – Honorable Mention
Cocktails
Mario & John’s – Winner
Seared – Honorable Mention
Deli
Ray’s Delicatessen & Tavern – Winner
Lombardi’s Gourmet Deli & BBQ – Honorable Mention
Dive Bar
Buckhorn Tavern – Winner
Ernie’s Tin Bar – Honorable Mention
Farm-to-Table Restaurant
Wild Goat Bistro – Winner
Wishbone – Honorable Mention
Food Truck
El Roy’s Express Mex – Winner
War Wagon BBQ – Honorable Mention
Hamburger
Traxx Bar & Grill – Winner
Butcher Crown Roadhouse – Honorable Mention
Happy Hour
Seared – Winner
McNear’s Dining House & Saloon – Honorable Mention
Ice Cream or Frozen Yogurt
Lala’s Creamery – Winner
Wicked Slush Petaluma – Honorable Mention
Italian Restaurant
Cucina Paradiso – Winner
Caffe Giostra – Honorable Mention
Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Brewsters Beer Garden – Winner
McNear’s Dining House & Saloon – Honorable Mention
Local Cheesemaker
Cowgirl Creamery – Winner
Petaluma Creamery – Honorable Mention
Locally Produced Red Wine
Adobe Road Winery – Winner
Keller Estate – Honorable Mention
Locally Produced White Wine
Keller Estate – Winner
Adobe Road Winery – Honorable Mention
Mexican Restaurant
Mi Pueblo – Winner
Don Pancho’s Mexican Food – Honorable Mention
New Restaurant
Trattoria Roma – Winner
Hank’s – Honorable Mention
Outdoor Dining
Brewsters Beer Garden – Winner
Dempsey’s Restaurant & Brewery – Honorable Mention
Pizza
Old Chicago Pizza – Winner
Rafy’s Pizza – Honorable Mention
Place for Beer
Lagunitas Brewing Company – Winner
Taps Restaurant & Beer Co. – Honorable Mention
Place for Lunch
Wild Goat Bistro – Winner
Quinua Cocina Peruana – Honorable Mention
Place for Wine Tasting
La Dolce Vita Wine Lounge – Winner
Adobe Road Winery – Honorable Mention
Place to Buy Wine
Trader Joe’s – Winner
Wilibees Wines & Spirits – Honorable Mention
Romantic Meal
Cucina Paradiso – Winner
Risibisi – Honorable Mention
Seafood
The Shuckery – Winner
Seared – Honorable Mention
Steak
Seared – Winner
Cattlemens Steakhouse – Honorable Mention
Sushi/Japanese Cuisine
Sake 107 – Winner
Gohan Japanese Restaurant – Honorable Mention
Take-Out Food
El Roy’s Express Mex – Winner
Chili Joe’s – Honorable Mention
Tasting Room
HenHouse Brewing Company Palace of Barrels – Winner
Adobe Road Winery – Honorable Mention
Thai Restaurant
Thai River – Winner
Lemongrass Thai Noodle – Honorable Mention
Vegetarian/Vegan Cuisine
Aqus Café – Winner
Cafe Zazzle – Honorable Mention
Best Professionals & Specialists
Architect or Designer
Mahoney Architects + Interiors – Winner
ADR Architectural Design & Restoration, Inc. – Honorable Mention
Attorney
Andrea L. Pierotti / Law Offices of Andrea L. Pierotti – Winner
Bridget Mackay / Law Offices of Bridget Mackay – Honorable Mention
Caterer
Lombardi’s Catering – Winner
Preferred Sonoma Caterers – Honorable Mention
Chef
Dennis Hernandez / Cucina Paradiso – Winner
Mauro Gutierrrez / Quinua Cocina Peruana – Honorable Mention
Child Care
Learning to Learn Preschool & Childcare Center – Winner
Adobe Christian Preschool – Honorable Mention
Chiropractor
Dr. Jen Santos / Acorn Chiropractic Club – Winner
Dr. Julie Restad / Serendipity Chiropractic – Honorable Mention
Dentist
Dr. Bob Koenitzer – Winner
Dr. Leah DeBerardinis / Hillcrest Dental Group – Honorable Mention
Electrician
B. Henry’s Quality Electric Inc. – Winner
Gary Hansen Electric – Honorable Mention
Financial Planner/Investment Adviser
Katherine Wells / Edward Jones – Winner
Julie Nix / Redwood Credit Union – Honorable Mention
Fitness Instructor
Becky Selby / Orangetheory Fitness – Winner
Jayme Larson / Elite Fitness Co. – Honorable Mention
General Contractor
Ohana Construction – Winner
Antonis Construction – Honorable Mention
Hair Salon/Barbershop
The Shop – Petaluma – Winner
Dukes & Dolls Salon – Honorable Mention
High School Sports Coach
Sophie Bihn/Petaluma High School – Winner
Trent Herzog/St. Vincent de Paul High School – Honorable Mention
Home Senior Care Services
Legacy Concierge Services – Winner
Sequoia Senior Solutions – Honorable Mention
House Painter
O’Brien Painting – Winner
Antonis Construction – Honorable Mention
Insurance Agent
Steve & Chad Fillinger/Fillinger Insurance Agency – Winner
Cassandra Marquez Paxtor/Redwood Credit Union – Honorable Mention
Landscaper
Holland Landscape – Winner
HMD Landscapes – Honorable Mention
Local Artist
Maxfield Bala / Maxfield Bala Creative – Winner
Kevin Clark / Reared In Steel – Honorable Mention
Local Band/Musician
Petaluma Pete – Winner
The SoulShake – Honorable Mention
Massage Therapist
Marcie DeCarli/Rejuvenate Therapeutic & Sports Massage – Winner
Noelle Brennan/Serendipity Chiropractic – Honorable Mention
Mortgage Broker
Mary Brusco/Caliber Home Loans – Winner
Michael Waterman / Supreme Lending – Honorable Mention
Optometrist
Dr. Karen A. Griffith/Westside Optometry – Winner
Dr. Gordon M. Wong – Honorable Mention
Orthodontist
Dr. John S. Woo / Petaluma Orthodontics – Winner
Dr. Marc DeBerardinis / Petaluma Orthodontics – Honorable Mention
Pediatrician
Dr. Armando V. de Pala / St. Joseph Health – Winner
Dr. Lindsey Hibbard / Kaiser Permanente – Honorable Mention
Pet Groomer
Classic Tails – Winner
Best in Show – Honorable Mention
Physician
Dr. Anna Lewis / Kaiser Permanente – Winner
Dr. Rajina Ranadive / St. Joseph Health – Honorable Mention
Plumber
Roman’s Plumbing – Winner
Dolcini Plumbing, Inc. – Honorable Mention
Realtor
Lita Gonzalez/Coldwell Banker – Winner
Steven Cozza/Compass – Honorable Mention
Service/Waitperson
Jennifer Suoja/Petaluma Pie Company – Winner
Jazmin Vaca/Rosen’s 256 North – Honorable Mention
Veterinarian
Dr. Karlton Pfann/Brandner Veterinary Hospital – Winner
Dr. Matthew Carter/Central Animal Hospital – Honorable Mention