With schools out and masks off, there is no better time to celebrate the many people, services and businesses that make the Tristate such a great place to raise a family. From chicken nuggets and pizza to orthodontists and tax professionals, we cover it all in this feature. Thousands of people voted in this online competition for their favorites in 157 categories. We asked each of the winners to share what makes their business, location or individual stand out from the pack, and we’ve included a selection of their responses in the following pages.
Sweets
Cakes
The BonBonerie
2030 Madison Rd, Cincinnati.
Candy Store
Chamoda’s Candy Café
11512 Chester Rd, Cincinnati.
Cookies
Sugarmill Sweets
15 Pete Neiser Dr, Alexandria, Ky.
Cupcakes
Gigi’s Cupcakes Cincinnati
7940 Hosbrook Rd, Cincinnati.
Desserts
Sweet Petit Desserts
3546 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati.
Ice Cream
Putz’s Creamy Whip
2673 Putz’s Place, Cincinnati.
Tasty Eats
BBQ
Sweets & Meats BBQ
2249 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati.
Breakfast/Brunch
Grassroots Kitchen
5850 Princeton Rd, Hamilton.
“I think Grassroots Kitchen stands out in this category because of all the fresh local ingredients we used paired with our housemade sauces. Our meats are sourced locally, bagels from The Bagelry, veggies grown by Pippin’s Produce. It’s a delicious blend of farm-to-table and comfort food.”
– Sam Heareth, Owner & Chef
Burger
Blue Goose Sports Cafe
11060 Reading Rd, Cincinnati.
Butcher Shop
Lehr’s Prime Market
740 Main St, Milford.
Chicken Strips/Nuggets
CityBird Tenders
Multiple locations including Cincinnati (1344 Vine St).
Date Night Restaurant
Sotto
118 E 6th St, Cincinnati.
Donuts
Peace Love and Little Donuts of Hyde Park
3440 Edwards Rd, Hyde Park.
Fine Dining
Boca
114 E 6th St, Cincinnati.
Food Truck
Marty’s Waffles
300 Washington St, Ste 6, Alexandria, Ky.
Fresh Catch (Seafood)
Pelican’s Reef
7261 Beechmont Ave, Cincinnati.
Fried Chicken
The Eagle
1342 Vine St, Cincinnati.
Grilled Cheese
Melt Revival
4100 Hamilton Ave, Northside.
Hot Dog
Senate
1100 Summit Place Dr, Blue Ash.
Italian
Sotto
118 E 6th St, Cincinnati.
Kid-Friendly Restaurant
Barleycorn’s
Multiple locations including Florence, Ky. (8544 U.S. 42).
Local Bakery
Bluebird Bakery
29 Village Sq, Cincinnati.
Local Pizzeria
Joe’s Pizza Napoli
507 Chamber Dr, Cincinnati.
Macaroni & Cheese
Keystone’s Mac Shack
249 Calhoun St, Cincinnati.
Meal-To-Go
Casual Chinese
88 Carothers Rd, Newport, Ky.
Mexican Cuisine
Agave & Rye
Multiple locations including Rookwood (3825 Edwards Rd).
Patio Dining
Urban Grill on Main
6623 Main St, Newtown.
Sandwich/Sub
Sub-Station II
1826 Dixie Hwy, Ft Wright, Ky.
Steaks
Trotta’s Steak & Seafood
441 6th Ave, Dayton, Ky.
Sushi
Asiana Hyde Park Thai & Sushi
3922 Edwards Rd, Cincinnati.
View From a Restaurant
Incline Public House
2601 W 8th St, Cincinnati.
Wings
Knuk-N-Futz
5468 Taylor Mill Rd, Taylor Mill, Ky.
Drink
Brewery (Family Friendly)
Braxton Brewing Company
Multiple locations including Covington, Ky. (27 W 7th St).
Independent Coffeehouse
Coffee Emporium
Multiple locations including Over-the-Rhine (110 E Central Pkwy).
Milkshake
Graeter’s Ice Cream
Multiple locations including Hyde Park (2704 Erie Ave).
Auto
Auto Dealer New
Jeff Wyler Florence
949 Burlington Pike, Florence, Ky.
Auto Parts Store
KOI Auto Parts
Multiple locations including Reading (2015 E Galbraith Rd).
Auto Repair Garage
Don Baxter Auto Repair
9574 Alexandria Pike, Alexandria, Ky.
“Our business stands out due to customer satisfaction and customer trust! Our pricing is typically lower than other garages in the area and we offer the best parts available on the vehicles we repair. We are family-owned and operated (three generations of Baxters working at shop), honest, affordable, and very active within our community.”
– Don Baxter
Tire Center
Tire Discounters
Multiple locations including Kenwood (7381 Kenwood Rd).
Education
Child Care Center
The Goddard School of Mason
754 Reading Rd, Mason.
Local Community College
Cincinnati State Technical and Community College
Multiple locations including Clifton (3520 Central Pkwy).
Local University
Xavier University
3800 Victory Pkwy, Cincinnati.
Preschool
The Goddard School of Mason
754 Reading Rd, Mason.
Private School (High School)
Covington Latin School
21 E 11th St, Covington, Ky.
“Covington Latin School aims to form Christian leaders by challenging its students to attain their academic, intellectual, social and moral potential. For many of these students, acceleration and a classical education offer a more challenging and rewarding educational experience than a regular grade progression-based process.” – Christin Reynolds, Director of Admissions & Communication
Private School (K-8)
Villa Madonna Academy
2500 Amsterdam Rd, Villa Hills, Ky.
Public School (Elementary)
Indian Hill Elementary School
6100 Drake Rd, Cincinnati.
“Ranked as a top K-12 learning institution nationally and in the state of Ohio, the Indian Hill School District is committed to developing learners as doers, learners as Individuals and learners as the whole child. Our #IHPromise prioritizes our students by empowering their voice in a personalized, collaborative and inclusive learning environment.” – Heather Higdon, Chief Communications Officer
Public School (High School)
Oak Hills High School
3200 Ebenezer Rd, Cincinnati.
Public School (Middle School)
Princeton Community Middle School
200 Viking Way, Cincinnati.
SAT/ACT Prep
Villa Madonna Academy
2500 Amsterdam Rd, Villa Hills, Ky.
School Spirit (College)
University of Cincinnati
2600 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati.
School Spirit (High School)
Notre Dame Academy
1699 Hilton Dr, Park Hills, Ky.
Tutoring/Learning Service
NEST Community Learning Center
11905 Rich Rd, Loveland.
“NEST Community Learning Center believes education will truly change the trajectory of the lives of at-risk kids. Through its innovative mobile classrooms, NEST delivers year-round academic and non-academic programs right to the front door of at-risk suburban kids. We help when kids need it and where kids need it!”
– Kelli Smith, Executive Assistant
Enrichment
Arts and Crafts Classes
ArtsConnect
9158 Winton Rd, Building A, Cincinnati.
“ArtsConnect is a premier destination for art classes, camps, workshops and events. Adults can grow their artistic skills with drawing, painting, blacksmithing, woodworking, pottery, stained glass, leatherworking, cosplay, line dancing, Tai Chi, drone lessons and so much more. Children can develop their love for music, cooking, sewing, magic, digital art animation, pottery, painting and beyond.” – Kimberlee Flamm, Executive Director
Cooking Class
The Learning Kitchen
7659 Cox Ln, West Chester.
Dance Instructor
Stacie Hawley, Midwest Elite Dance Center
1329 Ohio Pike, Amelia.
Dance Lessons
Technical Dance Center
7355 Eagle Creek Rd, Cincinnati.
“At Technical Dance Center, we are much more than just a dance studio; we’re a family. We offer classes and performance opportunities for dancers of all levels and are home to an award-winning competition team. Our mission is to teach our kids to be the best they can be through dance in a safe and fun learning environment.” – Diane Campbell, Owner
Day Summer Camp
YMCA of Greater Cincinnati
Multiple locations incliuding Over-the-Rhine (1105 Elm St).
Musical Instrument Lessons
Cincinnati Music Academy
7420 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati.
“The Cincinnati Music Academy provides lessons to children and adults of all ability levels. We have children starting their first lessons, students learning an instrument casually, high school students preparing for college auditions and performing professionals who want to continue their development. Our lessons include piano, voice, guitar, violin and many more.”
– Joel Greenberg, co-owner
Overnight Summer Camp
YMCA Camp Ernst
7615 Camp Ernst Rd, Burlington, Ky.
Visual Arts Instruction
Art Academy of Cincinnati
1212 Jackson St, Cincinnati.
Voice Lessons
Cincinnati School of Music
Multiple locations including Mason (6682 Tri Way Dr).
Entertainment
Holiday Lights Display
Pyramid Hill Sculpture Park & Museum
1763 Hamilton Cleves Rd, Hamilton.
Live Theater Venue
The Children’s Theatre of Cincinnati
4015 Red Bank Rd, Cincinnati.
Local Fair/Festival
Taste of Cincinnati
Downtown Cincinnati
Movie Theater
Mariemont Theatre
6906 Wooster Pike, Cincinnati.
“Being a locally owned and independent theater in Cincinnati, we are able to do things that the chain theaters are often unable to do. We are thrilled we are able to give Cincinnati moviegoers the personal touch they deserve.” – Julianne Reisenfeld, VP of Operations
Social Media Account
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
3400 Vine St, Cincinnati.
Family Fitness
Family Fitness Center
Mayerson JCC
8485 Ridge Rd, Cincinnati.
“Mayerson JCC connects people so they can live happier and fuller lives, creating a more vibrant Jewish community. With an expansive fitness center, award-winning early childhood and senior centers, top arts and cultural events, and classes for every age, the J connects more than 27,000 visitors per month. The J welcomes everyone, regardless of race, religion or ability.” – Eliana Rantz, Administrative Assistant
Fitness Center/Gym
Silverlake The Family Place
301 Kenton Lands Rd, Erlanger, Ky.
Group Fitness Program
Five Seasons Family Sports Clubs
Multiple locations including Cincinnati (11790 Snider Rd).
Yoga Studio
Move Your Hyde Power Yoga
3500 Michigan Ave, Hyde Park.
Family Fun
Arcade
Wondercade
3143 Harrison Ave, Cincinnati.
Carousel
Carol Ann’s Carousel
8 E. Mehring Way, The Banks.
Corn Maze
Shaw Farms
1737 OH-131, Milford.
Fruit Farm
Blooms & Berries Farm Market and Garden Center
9669 S OH-48, Loveland.
“Our family and team work hard to always have something new with each visit. There are always new opportunities like experiencing a crop of u-pick blackberries, or making furry friends in our brand new petting farm! That’s what makes us stand out: The constant evolving adventure to create the best experience possible for our guests.” – Valerie Link, Digital Marketing Specialist
Pool
Sharonville Family Aquatics Center
10990 Thornview Dr, Sharonville.
Pumpkin Patch
Burger Farm & Garden Center
7849 Main St, Newtown.
Trampoline Park
Urban Air Adventure Park
Multiple locations including Oakley (3321 Alamo Ave).
Waterpark
Coney Island
6201 Kellogg Ave, Cincinnati.
Family Health
Dentist
Peter Family Dentistry
2025 Declaration Dr, Suite B, Independence, Ky.
Doula Midwife
Charissa D. Newton, CNM, Center for Women’s Health and Wellness
7450 S Mason Montgomery Rd, Unit 201, Mason.
Emergency Room
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital – Liberty Campus
7777 Yankee Rd, Liberty Township.
Eye Care
Cincinnati Eye Institute
Multiple locations including Eastgate (601 Ivy Gateway, Ste 301).
Family Chiropractor
Live Well Chiropractic Center
6860 Tylersville Rd, Ste 1, Mason.
Health Shop
Clifton Natural Foods
336 Ludlow Ave, Cincinnati.
Hospital
The Christ Hospital Health Network
Multiple locations including Mt. Auburn (2139 Auburn Ave).
In-Home Health Care
Visiting Angels Cincinnati West
9019 Colerain Ave, Cincinnati.
Medical Facility
Artis Senior Living of Bridgetown
5799 Bridgetown Rd, Cincinnati.
OB/GYN
Mercy Health – West Hospital Women’s Center
3300 Mercy Health Blvd, Ste 1140, Cincinnati.
Orthodontist
Gruelle Dempsey Orthodontics
Multiple locations including Montgomery (9675 Montgomery Rd, Ste 100).
Pediatric Dentist
David Rider, DMD
1809 Alexandria Pike, Ste A, Highland Heights, Ky.
Pediatrician
Pediatric Associates of Cincinnati, Inc.
4370 Malsbary Rd, Ste 100, Cincinnati.
Place to Have a Baby
St. Elizabeth Edgewood Hospital
1 Medical Village Dr, Edgewood, Ky.
Rehabilitation Center
Encompass Health
Multiple locations including Norwood (4953 Section Ave).
“Encompass Health of Cincinnati is the leader for inpatient rehabilitation services in the Cincinnati market with two locations, Encompass Health at Drake Center and Encompass Health. Our hospitals provide a higher level of care with daily physician visits, three hours of therapy per day in our state-of-the-art gyms and a low nurse-to-patient ratio.” – Julie Young
Family Services
Car Wash
Mike’s Carwash
Multiple locations including Beechmont (507 Ohio Pike).
Dry Cleaner
Tide Cleaners
Multiple locations incliuding Blue Ash (9610 Kenwood Rd).
Family Photographer
Jennifer Lynn Pictures
Verona, Ky.
Florist
Swan Floral & Gift Shop
4311 Dixie Hwy, Erlanger, Ky.
Manicure/Pedicure
Ambiance Nail Salon & Spa
Multiple locations including Eastgate (720 Eastgate S Dr).
Newborn Photographer
db photography
“What makes db photography stand out is that I celebrate the differences of every family and baby. I love that the world is made up of wonderful diversity and I want the photos I deliver to reflect that. Every baby, every family is different and I want to capture their essence in that moment.” – Dawn Burgan
Family Shopping
Bike Shop
West Chester Cyclery
9304 Cincinnati Columbus Rd, West Chester.
Consignment Shop
Clothes Mentor
Multiple locations including Hyde Park (3880 E Paxton Ave).
Farmers Market
Findlay Market
1801 Race St, Cincinnati.
“Findlay Market’s mission is to connect farmers, producers, sellers and customers in a dynamic, diverse public marketplace. We take seriously our core values, including ‘Local’ being at the center of almost everything we do. Findlay Market has been serving the OTR and Greater Cincinnati neighborhoods for 170 years and is proud to receive this award!”
– Kelly Lanser, Director of Communications & Strategic Initiatives
Garden Center/Nursery
Natorp’s Nursery Outlet & Landscaping
8601 Snider Rd, Cincinnati.
Grocery Store
Kroger
Multiple locations including Oakley (4613 Marburg Ave).
Hardware Store
Klingenberg’s Hardware & Paint
Multiple locations including Covington, Ky. (26 W 7th St).
Jewelry Store
Dave Faigle & Son Jewelers
6355 Harrison Ave, Unit 1, Cincinnati.
Local Store for Baby Gifts
The Spotted Goose
3048 Madison Rd, Cincinnati.
Monogramming
Bunches of Bows
2497 Dixie Hwy, Ste B, Ft Mitchell, Ky.
Place for Home Accessories
Grace & Mae Boutique
10 Miranda St, Morrow.
“Grace & Mae opened in November 2020. Owners and friends Dawn Murray and Stacia Rumbarger named the shop after their daughters. Our shop is filled with an assortment of home decor, clothing and gifts. We have 10 local vendors that beautifully create unique and custom items for our customers.” – Dawn Murray
Shopping Center
Kenwood Towne Centre
7875 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati.
Speciality Gift Shop
The Fig Leaf
2736 Erie Ave, Cincinnati.
For The Home
Carpet Cleaner
Steam Clean Cincy LLC
333 S Charity St, Bethel.
“We focus on lifetime relationships. Our desire is that we become the only carpet cleaner you’ll ever want. We only use safe chemicals (no harsh chemicals). We also do upholstery, hardwood floor cleaning, leather, LVT flooring, strip and wax.” – Nick Newman
Carpet Store
McSwain Carpets & Floors
Multiple locations including Mason (5222 Bardes Rd).
Frame Shop
Framed NKY
2519 Ritchie Ave, Crescent Springs, Ky.
Heating/Cooling Service
Arlinghaus Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
40 Cave Run Dr, Erlanger, Ky.
Home Builder (New Homes)
Drees Homes
Home Remodeler
Staley Transformations
“Staley Transformations is a family-owned ‘not so general’ contractor that transforms customer visions into realities by exceeding expectations! We deliver exceptional performance, adaptability, strength of character and a purpose that brings honor to God.” – JD Staley
Landscaper
Evans Landscaping
Multiple locations including Newtown (3700 Round Bottom Rd).
Lumber Yard
Menards
Multiple locations including Loveland (3787 W OH-22 3).
Plumber
Jolly Plumbing
Parent Resources
Financial Institution
Stock Yards Bank & Trust
Multiple locations including Hyde Park (2651 Observatory Ave).
Financial Planner
Total Wealth Planning
4665 Cornell Rd, Ste 160, Cincinnati.
Funeral Home
Chambers & Grubbs Funeral Homes
Multiple locations including Florence, Ky. (8461 Dixie Hwy).
Insurance Agent
Adkisson Insurance Agency
1511 Cavalry Dr, Ste 101, Florence, Ky.
“We are a family-owned, independent insurance agency that has been a trusted resource for insurance needs big and small since 1976. We’re here to help you protect what matters most in life. Our greatest joy comes from making our clients lives a little less stressful and a lot more secure.” – Stephen Appenfelder, President
Real Estate Agency
The Cindy Shetterly Team
7210 Turfway Rd, Florence, Ky.
Retirement Facility
St. Charles Community
600 Farrell Dr, Covington, Ky.
Tax Service
Rudler, PSC
Multiple locations including Ft Wright, Ky. (809 Wright’s Summit Pkwy, Ste 200).
“Rudler, PSC is an independent, full-service public accounting and business advisory firm for closely held businesses, individuals and families. Our mission is to provide advice and counsel that allows our team, the clients we serve and the community in which we live to thrive and reach their fullest potential.” – Laura Blair
Party Time
Birthday Entertainment
Scene75 Entertainment Center Cincinnati
876 OH-28, Milford.
Birthday Party Location
Archery Arena
4950 Provident Dr, West Chester.
Caterer
McHale’s Events and Catering
1622 Dixie Hwy, Park Hills, Ky.
Party Rentals
Prime Time Party & Event Rental
1025 Laidlaw Ave, Cincinnati.
Pets
Pets Pet Boarding
Allie’s Walkabout
2844 Crescent Springs Pike, Erlanger, Ky.
Pet Store
LuLu’s Pet Pantry
2510-A Burlington Pike, Burlington, Ky.
“Our goal is to offer natural, healthy and fun pet products at the best prices. Our friendly staff loves helping customers find the right products for their pets’ individual needs. We also have three shop cats and various adoptable rescue kitties in store who love to show off all of our fun toys and treats.”
Veterinarian
Montgomery Animal Hospital
7670 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati.
Places to Go
Bowling Alley
Main Event West Chester
9477 Oxford Way, West Chester.
Family Attraction
EnterTRAINment Junction
7379 Squire Ct, West Chester.
Family Day Trip
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
3400 Vine St, Cincinnati.
Family Staycation
Great Wolf Lodge Water Park
2501 Great Wolf Dr, Mason.
Field Trip
Cincinnati Museum Center at Union Terminal
1301 Western Ave, Cincinnati.
Golf Course
Pendleton Hills
317 Country Club Dr, Butler, Ky.
Hiking Spot
Cincinnati Nature Center
Rowe Woods (4949 Tealtown Rd, Milford).
Hotel/Motel
Hotel Covington
638 Madison Ave, Covington, Ky.
Local Park
Summit Park
4335 Glendale Milford Rd, Blue Ash.
Museum
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
50 E Freedom Way, Cincinnati.
Place for a Family Day
Kings Island
6300 Kings Island Dr, Kings Island.
Place For A Picnic
The Marmalade Lily
9850 Schlottman Rd, Loveland.
Place to Camp/Campground
Big Bone Lick State Historic Site
3380 Beaver Rd, Union, Ky.
“Big Bone Lick State Historic Site stands out because of the campground’s amenities, children’s activities, friendly staff and maintained grounds. Guests can enjoy their time in the campground or venture out to explore the park’s museum, active salt springs, 5 miles of hiking trails or to visit the park’s live bison herd!” – Claire Kolkmeyer, Park Interpreter
Place To Go For A Walk Or Run
Little Miami Scenic Trail
Playground
Smale Riverfront Park
100 W. Mehring Way, Cincinnati.
Rainy Day Outing
EnterTRAINment Junction
7379 Squire Ct, West Chester.
Tourist Attraction
Cincinnati Zoo & Botanical Garden
3400 Vine St, Cincinnati.
Sports
Gymnastics Center
TGC – The Gymnastics Center
5166 Crookshank Rd, Cincinnati.
Indoor Sports Facility
Sports Plus
10765 Reading Rd, Cincinnati.
Local College Sports Team
University of Cincinnati
2600 Clifton Ave, Cincinnati.
Local High School Sports Team
Archbishop Moeller High School
9001 Montgomery Rd, Cincinnati.
Swim Lessons
Goldfish Swim School – West Chester
7058 Ridgetop Dr, West Chester.
“Goldfish Swim School is the premier learn-to-swim provider in the Greater Cincinnati area. Our mission is to help children learn to be safer in and around the water, while also having fun and growing a love of the water and of swimming. Classes are offered by specially trained instructors in a safe, child-friendly and fun environment using our research-based philosophy.”
Youth Sports Program
Five Seasons Family Sports Clubs
Multiple locations including Cincinnati (11790 Snider Rd).
