A record 15,000 votes poured in for the fourth annual Best Of competition. While some businesses took home their fourth consecutive wins, others were honored for the very first time. Scroll through to discover who received a golden ticket and why you (our readers) named them the best in the Valley!
Photo by Colin Coleman
assembly88
Best Place to Buy Menswear
Whether you fancy yourself a well-dressed, dapper gentleman or a work-in-progress in the fashion department, Assembly88 on Allentown’s Hamilton Street has something to add to your closet. “We enjoy giving guidance whenever possible,” says owner Santo Napoli. “Even the regulars appreciate the information and advice. Our biggest challenge is getting men to buy the right sizes. Many need to go down a size.” Assembly88 opened its doors in 2014, but Napoli is no stranger to the downtown shopping scene. He’s owned stores on Hamilton Street since 1999, and says he can’t imagine being anywhere else. The building, with its original maple floors, brick walls, tin ceiling and leather furnishings is just as tony as the wares it sells.
“It's a very classic vibe that guys really enjoy, but women feel very comfortable in the shop, too,” Napoli says. And, gentlemen, if he could give you one piece of fashion advice, it would be this: Get rid of the dad jeans for good.
544 Hamilton St., Allentown 610.433.7625 | assembly88.com
Bridals by Sandra
Best Bridal Boutique
50,000 brides can’t be wrong.
56 E. Lawn Rd., Nazareth | 610.759.5156 | bridalsbysandra.com
Susan Bella Jewelry
Best Place to Buy Fine Jewelry
Stop wearing the same thing as everyone else, and try something unique.
1746 W. Allen St., Allentown | 610.434.8001 | susanbellajewelry.com
j.morgan salon and home
Best Salon for Women’s Cut and Color
Top-quality talent, service and wine. Treat yourself!
252 Spring Garden St., Easton 610.258.3480 | jmorgansalon.com
BOUTIQUETOGO
Best Store for Your Favorite Accessories
Celebrating a decade of success this year, BOUTIQUETOGO is not goin’ anywhere.
522 N. 19th St., Allentown | 610.437.1663 | boutiquetogo.com
Photo by Colin Coleman
domaci
Best Place to Buy Unique Home Décor
While a blank canvas can be inspiring to some, the prospect of starting from scratch often feels daunting to the home decorating novice. That’s where Warren and Derrick Clark come in. After first building a customer base online, they opened their brick and mortar home décor store, Domaci, on Bethlehem’s Main Street in May of 2016. Warren Clark has this advice for those in need of a jumping-off point: “Pick one item that you love or have a sentimental attachment to and start decorating your room around that one piece.” Domaci helps to fill in the blanks with its ever-changing lineup of one-of-a-kind accent pieces, like its popular “crank tables,” which are furnished out of industrial parts. “We're inspired by classic design, but appreciate the unique,” says Clark. “Homes are meant to be lived in and enjoyed, so furnishings should be cozy and inviting.” Clark describes the store as a blend of eclectic and casual, a place where new meets old. It’s also a place that celebrates homegrown talent. “We are proud to feature local artisans and designers who create handmade décor and gifts,” Clark says.
523 Main St., Bethlehem 610.419.4111 | domacihome.com
Designer Consigner
Best Consignment Shop to Score Designer Labels
Turn your closet into cash by consigning what you no longer need, or build your designer wardrobe without emptying your wallet.
453 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.419.0913 | mydesignerconsigner.com
Moravian Book Shop
Best Gift Shop
The oldest bookstore in the country, Moravian Book Shop has been a Bethlehem landmark since 1745.
428 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.866.5481 | moravianbookshop.com
Nikki H. Nail & Hair Salon
Best Salon for the Perfect Mani-Pedi Experience
Nothing feels better than a freshly painted (and massaged) set of toes. Choose from their natural, acrylic and gel specials, or order à la carte.
4743 W. Tilghman St., Allentown | 610.391.1093 | nikkihsalon.com
Photo by Andrew Tomasino
Hone & Strop Barber and Brand Co.
Best Men’s Shave to Keep It Tidy
When good beards go bad, Bethlehem’s Hone & Strop Barber and Brand Co. is the place to go to give that unruly mug a makeover. The name comes from the profession’s old-school tools of the trade; the hone is a stone that’s used to sharpen the straight razor, and the strop is a leather belt used to polish the razor. Owner Justin Kelly says he started out cutting hair as a hobby, and realized he had a flair for the art of snipping, shaving and taking a little (or a lot) off the top. A longtime friend convinced him to take a job with a barber in Allentown. “I took the chance and was super nervous because I only knew very little, but I stuck with it and fell in love,” Kelly says. Nearly two years ago, he decided to branch out with a shop of his own. Now, he has just as much fun doling out shaves and fades as he does getting to know the client in his chair. “The daily conversations are hilarious,” he says.
1899 W. Market St., Bethlehem | 610.297.2532 | facebook.com/610honeandstrop
AM Luxe
Best Women’s Boutique for the Latest Trends
For the sophisticated woman who knows what she likes: a unique wardrobe that makes her feel confident. Find investment pieces that you can wear year after year.
74 W. Broad St., Bethlehem | 610.419.2037 | amluxeapparel.com
Organic Tans and Beauty Bar
Organic Tans and Beauty Bar
Best Spray Tan to Fake a Week in the Caribbean
Whether you’re looking for a natural tan that none of your co-workers will ask you about, a full-on beach glow or the stuff only fitness competitors rock, Organic Tans has the right mix for you.
1752 W. Allen St., Allentown 610.821.8888 | organictanslv.com
Photo by Andrew Tomasino
Gwen Crouse/Hair to Dye For
Best Hair Stylist to Make You Feel Like a Million Bucks
Gwen Crouse is a fixer. Not in the Olivia Pope, Scandal kind of way, but in the what-have-I-done-to-my-hair kind of way. “I've definitely seen some crazy things in the past 20 years,” she says. Crouse, who owns Hair to Dye For in Easton, says her staff is tasked with multiple color corrections on a weekly basis. “If you are unhappy with your color or are experiencing a hair disaster, we are definitely the salon to call,” she says. Of course, not every client is guilty of committing a follicle faux pas; most just need an expert hand to tangle with their tresses. “Whether you are looking for the most natural balayage or the wildest colors of the rainbow, we can give you the hair of your dreams,” Crouse says. And she’s proud to call many of her customers her friends. “I have relationships with my clients spanning ten, 15, sometimes even 20 years,” she says. “The connection I've made with so many types of people from so many different cultures is priceless to me.”
145 Northampton St., Easton | 610.923.3530 | h2d4easton
Photo by Alison Conklin
Catrian Schutzer, Skinterest Skin Care Boutique
Best Eyebrow Artist for On-Point Brows
Co-owner Catrian Schutzer believes in putting your best face forward, and specializes in custom-made treatments, regimens and beauty advice.
11 N. 3rd St., Easton | 610.258.1702 | skinterestskincare.com
American Male
Best Men’s Haircut
Prepare for that job interview, first day or important meeting with the Men at Work package, which includes hand detailing, a quality grooming experience and haircut, ten-minute neck and back chair massage, as well as a choice of any American Crew product.
316 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | 610.625.4053 | americanmalebethlehem.com
Makeup by Roxy
Best Makeup Artist to Have You Feeling Runway Ready
Customers love Roxy’s trademark “open mirror” policy.
484.764.1769 | makeupbyroxy.com
European Wax Center
Best Waxing There and Everywhere
Ask about an Unlimited Wax Pass®—pay once for the service you like the most, and you’re good for a year.
3 area locations | 610.335.1124 | waxcenter.com
Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa
Best Facial for Radiant Skin
Open seven days a week, Hand and Stone offers everything from pampering facials and peels to microdermabrasion treatments.
4 area locations | 610.709.8709 | handandstone.com
Healing Hands Massage and Wellness Center
Best Place to Get a Massage
Swedish, deep tissue, warm bamboo or hot stone? Take your pick!
518 Main St., Bethlehem | 610.882.4325 | healhands.com
