READERS' CHOICE 2012: Best Shopping, Home and Personal Services in Monmouth
Your picks for the best shopping, home and personal services in Monmouth County
BEST PET BOARDING
1 Purr’n Pooch Pet Resorts
80 W. Gilbert St.,
Tinton Falls, 732.842.4949
2424 Hwy. 35
Wall Township
purrnpooch.com
Vacation is a chance for a little R and R, and sometimes our furry friends need some too. Purr’n Pooch seems to be just what the vet ordered. The geriatric services are what older-pet owners love, but the pick-up service doesn’t hurt either. And with doggy suites including Oriental rugs, TVs and leather sleeper sofas, you may just need to tell Fido or Fluffy to scoot over.
2 Camp Bow Wow
284 Old Deal Rd.
Eatontown, 732.728.9663
campbowwow.com/eatontown
3 Oakhurst Vet
225 Monmouth Rd.
Oakhurst, 732.531.1212
BEST APPLIANCE REPAIR
1 Community Appliance
717 Route 35
Middletown
732.671.7721
communityappliance.com
2 Earl’s Appliance Repair
116 Hudson Ave.
Keansburg
732.787.8564
3 Eatontown TV & Appliance
50 Hwy. 35
Eatontown
732.542.0400
eatontowntvandappliance.com
BEST AUDIO/VISIUAL INSTALLATION
1 Monmouth Stereo
450 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.842.6565
monmouthstereo.com
2 Audio Visual Experts
602 Pennsylvania Ave.
Brick
732.495.0423
audiovisualxperts.com
3 Absolute Audio/Video
242 Hwy. 35 South
Red Bank
732.671.4300
absoluteav.net
BEST BIKE REPAIR
1 The Peddler of Long Branch
150 Ocean Blvd.
Long Branch
732.229.6623
thepeddler.com
2 D.J.’s Cycles
1318 Main St.
Belmar
732.681.8228
djscyclesbelmar.com
3 Brielle Cyclery
205 Union Ave.
Brielle
732.528.9121
briellecyclery.com
BEST DOG TRAINER
1 Urban Dawgs
46 English Plz.
Red Bank
732.758.8522
urbandawgs.com
2 The Hungry Puppy
1288 Hwy. 33
Farmingdale
732.938.4470
thehungrypuppy.com
3 Purr’n Pooch Pet Resorts
80 Gilbert St.
Tinton Falls
732.842.4949
2424 Hwy. 35
Wall Township
732.528.8100
purrnpooch.com
BEST PHOTOGRAPHY
1 Jill Caren Photography
3 Sussex Rd.
Morganville
732.241.5365
jillcarenphoto.com
Jill Caren used to take typical in-studio portraits, but when she decided to focus more on “lifestyle photography,” you didn’t seem to mind. “People really responded to my approach of on-site and candid sessions,” says Caren, who currently spends most of her time doing sessions with family pets. “The emotions and interactions that I am able to capture that way are pretty priceless.”
2 Amy Sinicin Photography
732.794.9484
amysinicin.com
3 Allison Pense Photography
732.687.8566
allisonpense.com
BEST PICTURE FRAMER
1 Frame to P lease
2 Bridge Ave.
Red Bank
732.741.8062
2 Chetkin Gallery
9 Wharf Ave.
Red Bank
732.741.6116
chetkingallery.com
3 Finicky Framer
661 Broad St., #2
Shrewsbury
732.747.2922
thefinickyframer.com
BEST REALTOR
1 Coldwell Banker
(Pauline Poyner)
17 W. River Rd.
Rumson
732.933.5527
paulinepoyner.com
2 Weichert Realtors
(Lucille Traversa)
30 Ridge Rd.
Rumson
732.747.8282
weichert.com
3 Better Homes Realty
45 W. River Rd.
Rumson
732.842.5656
bhnj.com
BEST SHOE REPAIR
1 Fernando’s Shoe Repair
74 Monmouth St.
Red Bank
732.842.5118
2 Rumson Shoe Repair
22 W. River Rd.
Rumson
732.530.5391
3 Shrewsbury Cobbler Shop
444 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.747.1011
BEST UPHOLSTERER
1 Andrew Grossman
805 2nd Ave.
Asbury Park
732.897.0110
andrewgrossmanupholstery.com
2 Edwina’s Upholstery
29 Monmouth St.
Red Bank
732.741.6544
3 M Silberstein Interior Designs
428 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.741.1762
msilberstein.com
BEST TAILOR
1 Ralph’s TailorING Shop
90 Brighton Ave.
Long Branch
732.222.7555
Practice makes perfect at this alterations shop, which opened its doors in the 1970s. Though small snags and loose fits are the usual problems, you trust Ralph’s with all your alteration needs because of the fast, detail-oriented service the shop has been honing all these years.
2 Rosann’s Tailoring
314 Main St.
Allenhurst
732.517.1083
3 Sciortino Tailors
3 East Front St.
Red Bank
732.933.8448
sciortinotailors.com
BEST DRY CLEANER
1 Sand’s Dry C leaners
444 Ocean Ave.
Long Branch
732.870.3335
sandsdrycleaners.com
2 SeaBreeze Cleaners
multiple locations
seabreeze-cleaners.com
3 Brite Star Cleaners
596 Shrewsbury Ave.
Tinton Falls
732.530.7528
BEST PAINT STORE
1 Painter’s Express
1523 Route 35
Middletown
732.615.0500
benjaminmoore.com
2 Bain’s Hardware
1092 Ocean Ave.
Sea Bright
732.530.9425
bainshardwarestores.com
3 Colors to Go
620 Park Ave.
Freehold
732.780.3311
colorstogopaint.com
BEST BED LINENS
1 Down to Basics
2 Bridge Ave.
Red Bank
732.741.6800
downtobasics.com
Hate when a comforter gets crumpled and out of place inside a duvet? Well, Down to Basics owner Susan Fowler did, and she decided to do something about it. Her patented Diagon design makes sure the duvet doesn’t go anywhere. What you really love is that she can add Diagon seaming to any duvet, from her shop or your home.
2 Duxiana
37 Broad St., Red Bank
732.450.9011
duxiana.com
3 Elegant Linen
6764 Route 9 South
Howell
732.905.9444
elegantlinen.com
BEST ANTIQUES STORE
1 Monmouth Street Emporium
27 Monmouth St.
Red Bank
732.224.0033
2 Antiques Center of Red Bank
195 W. Front St.
Red Bank
732.842.3393
226 W. Front St., #2
Red Bank, 732.842.4336
redbankantiques.com
3 Antique Center of Asbury Park
413 Allen Ave.
Allenhurst
732.531.4466
shoreantiquecenter.com
BEST ART GALLERY
1 James Yarosh Associates Fine Art
Gallery
55 Main St.
Holmdel
732.993.5278
jamesyarosh.com
2 OPI Gallery
2125 Route 35
Sea Girt
732.449.3554
opigallery.com
3 Parlor Gallery
717 Cookman Ave.
Asbury Park
732.869.0606
parlor-gallery.com
BEST BABY/CHILDREN’S BOUTIQUE
1 Fragile Earth Stuffed Animals
9 Monmouth St.
Red Bank
732.759.0016
feplush.com
2 NessaLee Baby
346 Mounts
Corner Dr., Freehold
732.431.0008
nessaleebaby.com
3 Kidegories
468 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.530.0066
kidegories.com
BEST BIKE STORE
1 The Peddler of Long Branch
150 Ocean Blvd.
Long Branch
732.229.6623
thepeddler.com
2 D.J.’s Cycles
1318 Main St.
Belmar
732.681.8228
djscyclesbelmar.com
3 Shrewsbury Bicycles
765 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.741.2799
shrewsburybicycles.com
BEST BOOKSTORE
1 River Road Books
759 River Rd.
Fair Haven
732.747.9455
riverroadbooks.net
2 words!
612 Cookman Ave.
Asbury Park
732.455.5549
3 BookTowne
171 Main St.
Manasquan
732.722.7255
booktowne.com
BEST HARDWARE STORE
1 Fair Haven Hardware
752 River Rd.
Fair Haven
732.747.9500
fairhaven.benmoorepaints.com
Fair Haven Hardware likes being the small fish in the big pond with chain hardware stores because it helps them give attentive, quality service, and you seem to agree. Its owners pride themselves on knowing all customers personally—because most are friends, family or neighbors. And if they don’t know you when you walk in, you better bet they will by the time you walk out.
2 Bain’s Hardware
1092 Ocean Ave.
Sea Bright
732.530.9425
bainshardwarestores.com
3 Gales Industrial Supply
28 W. Front St.
Keyport
732.24.2000
galesindustrial.com
BEST SURF SHOP
1 Island Style Surf Shop
1032 Ocean Ave.
Sea Bright
732.842.0909
islandstylesurf.com
Wetsuits and skimboards may not be hard to come by when you live on the shore, but that doesn’t stop you from staying loyal to Island Style Surf. For three decades, generations of beachgoers and surfers have come here to get their boarding gear, bathing suits or summer apparel. And need to know an up-to-date surf report? Just call 732.842.4024, the store’s surf line.
2 Inlet Outlet Surf Shop
146 Main St.
Manasquan
732.223.5842
inletoutlet.com
3 Brave New World
61 Oceanport Ave.
Little Silver
732.842.6767
bravesurf.com
BEST BRIDAL BOUTIQUE
1 Mustillo’s
11 Broad St.
Red Bank
732.741.0258
mustillos.com
2 The Barefoot Bride
65 Monmouth St.
Red Bank
732.747.4014
barefootbridenj.com
3 Sassy Chic Boutique
13 Monmouth St.
Red Bank
732.747.0049
sassychicbtq.com
BEST CONSIGNMENT/ VINTAGE CLOTHING
1 Back On The Racks
144 Brighton Ave.
Long Branch
732.272.1416
backontheracksnj.com
2 Elegant Exchange
132 Main St.
Manasquan
732.223.8300
elegant-exchange.com
3 The Sun and Moon Boutique
27 Monmouth
St., Red Bank
732.224.0033
sunandmoonboutique.com
BEST FINE JEWELRY STORE
1 Leonardo Jewelers
35 E. Front St.
Red Bank
732.747.7880
leonardojewelers.com
2 Earth Treasures
178 Route 35
Eatontown,
732.542.5444
earth-treasures.com
3 Goldtinker-Rumson
15 W. River Rd.
Rumson
732.530.9696
goldtinkerrumson.com
BEST FLOWER SHOP
1 Sickles Market
1 Harrison Ave.
Little Silver
732.741.9563
sicklesmarket.om
2 Foggia Florist
196 Monmouth Blvd.
Oceanport
732.222.2999
foggiaflorist.com
3 Posies Florist
104 Kings Hwy.
Middletown
732.533.5913
posiesstudio.com
BEST GIFT SHOP
1 Foolish Ginger
608 Cookman Ave.
Asbury Park
732.455.8068
2 Sickles Market
1 Harrison Ave.
Little Silver
732.741.9563
sicklesmarket.com
3 Ten Thousand Villages
69 Broad St.
Red Bank
732.576.1621
redbank.tenthousandvillages.com
BEST HANDBAGS
1 Susan Greene
435 Route 34
Matawan
732.583.3696
susangreene.com
2 Francesca’s
3710 Route 9
Freehold
732.780.3732
555 Route 35
Shrewsbury
732.741.5022
francescascollections.com
3 The Couture Exchange
511 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.933.1123
thecoutureexchange.com
BEST HOME BOUTIQUE
1 Red Ginger
48 Broad St.
Red Bank
732.345.1000
redgingerhome.com
2 Shutters Cottage Home
604 River Rd.
Fair Haven
732.842.6611
3 Robert Legere Design
521 Cookman Ave.
Asbury Park
732.869.9399
robertlegeredesign.com
BEST JEANS/DENIM
1 Tula the Boutique
524 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.219.8888
tulastyle.com
2 Nirvana
21 White St.
Red Bank
732.530.3334
shopnirvana.com
3 Coco Pari
270 Norwood Ave.
Deal
732.517.1227
17 Broad St.
Red Bank
732.212.8111
cocopari.com
BEST KITCHEN/COOKWARE
1 Williams-Sonoma
2150 Route 35
Sea Girt
732.449.5119
579 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.747.0128
williams-sonoma.com
2 Sur La Table
3710 Route 9
Freehold,
732.409.9935
surlatable.com
3 Carter & Cavero
36 Centennial Dr.
Long Branch
732.222.6888
19 Monmouth St.
Red Bank
732.219.0506
2100 Route 35
Sea Girt
732.449.0044
carterandcavero.com
BEST ACTIVEWEAR
1 Lululemon Athletica
553 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.576.1586
lululemon.com/shrewsbury
This shop is home to “technical athletic apparel for yoga, running, dancing and most other sweaty pursuits,” so it is no wonder it wins your vote for your favorite calorie-burning clothes. And its community events—like a free cross-training boot camp— make Lululemon less of a store and more of an experience.
2 It’s Good
1113 Third Ave., Spring Lake, 732.974.0005
3 Lightly Salted
Surf Mercado 1000 Ocean Ave., Asbury Park, 732.455.3460
BEST MEN’S FASHION
1 Garmany
121 Broad St.
Red Bank
732.576.8500
garmany.com
2 Michael Duru Clothiers
685 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.741.1999
michaelduru.com
3 Northshore Menswear
1080 Ocean Ave.
Sea Bright
732.842.9909
northshoremenswear.com
BEST PET BOUTIQUE
1 The Hungry Puppy
1288 Route 33
Farmingdale
732.938.4470
thehungrypuppy.com
2 Cosmopawlitan
325 Route 34
Colts Neck
732.683.1985
1046 Route 35 South
Middletown
732.275.1905
cosmopawlitan.com
3 The Dog Spaw
333 Silverside Ave.
Little Silver
732.747.9744
thedog-spaw.com
BEST SHOE STORE
1 If the Shoe Fits
18 Broad St.
Red Bank
732.741.7273
2 Coco Pari
270 Norwood Ave.
Deal
732.517.1227
17 Broad St.
Red Bank
732.212.8111
cocopari.com
3 Footnotes
280 Norwood Ave.
Deal
732.531.9734
footnotesonline.com
BEST SPORTS SHOP
1 The Sport Spot
660 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.747.0585
thesportspotnj.com
2 Miles Ahead Sports
2100 Route 35
Wall
732.223.0444
milesaheadrunning.com
3 The Racquet Shop
411 Route 34
Colts Neck
732.462.8866
theracquetshop.com
BEST SWIMWEAR
1 The Sport Spot
660 Broad St., Shrewsbury, 732.747.0585
thesportspotnj.com
The Sport Spot has been family-owned and -operated for more than four decades, selling tennis snowboarding and ski gear, but you can’t stop yourself from stocking up on its swimsuits. Maybe there’s a big race on the way, you are gearing up for lifeguard duty or you just want to soak up the sun. Whatever the basis of your suit needs, the three dozen brands of swimwear and accessories here will satisfy them.
2 Femme by Ashley
15 Broad St., Red Bank, 732.747.1073
femmebyashley.com
3 Everything But Water 3710 Route 9, Freehold, 732.577.8577
everythingbutwater.com
BEST TOY STORE
1 Jackrabbit Toys
2157 Route 35
Sea Girt
732.449.0018
540 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.530.7700
jackrabbittoys.com
2 Fragile Earth Stuffed Animals
9 Monmouth St.
Red Bank
732.759.0016
feplush.com
3 Distinctive Toys
595 River Rd.
Fair Haven
732.747.8080
BEST WOMEN’S FASHION
1 Glow
567 Broad St.
Shrewsbury
732.747.2262
shopglowonline.com
2 Coco Pari
270 Norwood Ave.
Deal, 732.517.1227
17 Broad St.
Red Bank
732.212.8111
cocopari.com
3 Garmany
121 Broad St.
Red Bank
732.576.8500
garmany.com
