Check out the 2020 Readers' Choice Winners!

In case you missed our Nov. 25 print and e-editions, here are the winners of the Gonzales Inquirer's 2020 Readers Choice Awards! 

You may click the link to the left to view digital versions of the pages, or scroll the list below!

For the first time in its history, the Gonzales Inquirer’s Readers’ Choice Contest used online voting in addition to in-paper ballots. The results were nearly 3,000 people took part in voting, casting more than 73,000 votes across more than 140 categories!

The in-paper voting was conducted in April before COVID-19 pandemic restrictions and shutdowns hit schools and businesses. Several hundred ballots were submitted.

Given the shutdowns, The Inquirer decided to add online voting through its web site, www.gonzalesinquirer.com, in late October and early November.

The results you find in this section reflect the combined print and online totals. Both votes used the same categories and finalists.

As we look forward to 2021, we’d like to know which categories you want us to consider adding. The Inquirer is already planning an expanded food and drink competition. Maybe there are some categories that you would like to see end? Either way, just drop an e-mail to publisher Steve Fountain at steve.fountain@gonzalesinquirer.com.

You will find two lists below and in the digital version. The first is a list of winners by category. The second is a list of winners by their name, so you may see how many awards each business or individual won.

Congratulations to all of our winners!

Winners by Category

 

Best Accountant

1. DeeDee Larum

2. Suzanne Zaitz

3. Leann Wolf

Best Antique Store

1. Main Street Antiques

2. Laurel Ridge

3. 321 Popup

Best Appliance Store

1. Edwards

2. Kessler Appliance

3. Rent-A-Center

Best Appetizers

1. Running M Bar and Grill

2. Come & Take It Bar & Grill

3. Elks Lodge

Best Architect

1. Tom Gescheidle

2. Arnold Guerra

3. Joel Villegas Construcción

Best Auto Parts

1. Auto Zone

2. O'Reillys

3. NAPA Irle Auto and Truck Parts

Best Auto Repair

1. Allen’s Body Tech

2. Jeff’s Auto

3. A.C. Collision Center

Best Backhoe/Tractor Service

1. EF Ehrig & Sons LTD

2. DJ Richter

3. C.J.

Best Bank/Financial Institution

1. RBFCU

2. Sage Capital Bank

3. First National Bank

Best Bank Teller

1. Jerica (Sage Capitol)

2. Krystal Pullin (FNB)

3. Symantha (Sage Capital Bank)

 

Best Barbecue

1. Baker Boys

2. Gonzales Food Market

3. Sonny’s

Best Barber

1. Rocky Gallegos (Come and Fade It)

2. Chachi Carrizales (Gentlemans Barber Shop)

3. Vic and Joe’s

 

Best Bartender

1. Bessie Gegaj (Come and Take It Bar and Grill)

2. Madison Musick (Running M)

3. Davilla Arriola (Mr. Taco)

 

Best Beautician

1. Cynthia De La Rosa (Studio Envy)

2. Jamie Burton (Thrive)

3. Vanessa Vara (Better Image)

 

Best Beauty Shop

1. Studio Envy

2. Shear Designs

3. Come And Style It & Company

Best Bed and Breakfast

1. Belle Oaks

2. Big D Ranch Bunkhouse

3. Annie Oakley Bed & Breakfast

Best Body Shop

1. Allen’s Body Tech

2. A.C. Collision Center

3. Jeff’s Auto Paint & More

Best Boutique

1. Angels and Outlaws

2. Shear Designs

3. China Basket

Best Breakfast

1. Matamoras

2. Mi Lupitas

3. Cow Palace

Best Breakfast Tacos

1. Matamoras

2. Mi Lupitas

3. Mr. Taco

Best Buffet

1. Cow Palace

2. Toni’s

3. Yang’s

Best Building Supply

1. McCoys

2. Gonzales Building Center

3. W.B. Farm & Ranch Supply

Best Car Salesperson

1. Bret Hill (Caraway Ford)

2. Arnold Guerra (Seguin Chevrolet)

3. Curtis Schramm (Benny Boyd Gonzales)

 

Best Carpenter

1. Arnold Guerra

2. Tommy Huber

3. Raymond Malatek

Best Cashier

1. Liz (Dollar Tree)

2. Tiffany Lamprech (McCoys)

3. Billy (H-E-B)

Best Caterer

1. Baker Boys

2. Guerra’s

3. Werners/Shiner

Best Cattle Company

1. Gonzales Livestock Market

2. Graham Cattle Company

3. Southern Livestock Co.

Best Child Care

1. Happy Apache Academy

2. Christian Kids

Best Children’s Wear

1. Walmart

2. China Basket

3. Angels & Outlaws, Inc

Best Chicken Fried Steak

1. Cow Palace

2. Guerra’s Grill

3. Blakes

Best Chili

1. Sonny’s

2. Guerra’s Grill

3. Cow Palace

Best Campground/RV Park

1. Palmetto State Park

2. Lake Wood Park

3. 4L RV Ranch

Best Chiropractor

1. Gary Heximer

2. Healing Hands (Seguin)

3. Walter Nickells

Best Civic Club

1. Lion’s Club

2. 4-H

3. Pilot Club of Gonzales

Best CNA

1. Tony Vega (Gonzales Memorial Hospital)

2. Courtney Voight (Heights)

3. Laura Romo (Gonzales Memorial Hospital)

 

Best Coach

1. Joey Carrizales (Gonzales High School)

2. Donna Smith (Gonzales Elementary School)

3. Coach Pruitt (Gonzales High School)

 

Best Coffee

1. Texpresso

2. McDonald’s

3. Mr. Taco

Best Community Festival/Event

1. Come and Take It

2. Main Street Concert Series

3. City-Wide Yard Sale

Best Community Icon

1. Daisy Scheske Freeman

2. Rob Brown

3. Liz Reilly

 

Best Community Volunteer

1. Daisy Scheske Freeman

2. Britney Jones Caka

3. Jessie Holt Campion

 

Best Computer Service

1. Greg’s Computer Service

2. Cliff Davis

3. Colden Gillet

Best Contractor/Remodeling

1. Landry Remodeling

2. Arnold Guerra

3. Tommy Huber

Best Convenience Store/Gas

1. Buc-ee’s

2. Diamond A/Goss

3. Circle G Truck Stop

Best Cosmetics

1. Hayley Lavon Makeup

2. Makeup By Kali (Kali Sepulveda)

3. Walmart

Best Costume Jewelry

1. Angels and Outlaws

2. Walmart

3. Shear Designs

Best Craft Store

1. Dollar Tree

2. Purple Cactus Potteri

3. Walmart

Best Deli

1. HEB

2. Saint George’s Deli

3. Subway

Best Delivery Driver

1. David Janota

2. Josh Daniel

3. Monte Hernandez

Best Dentist

1. Senan Abd (Gonzales Dental)

2. Dr. Haug

3. Dr. Adam Panos

Best Detail Shop

1. Sudz Car Wash

2. Eric’s Detail Shop

3. West Motors (Felicia Rios)

 

Best Doctor

1. Commie Hisey (Sievers Medical Clinic)

2. David Meredith

3. Todd Crawford

Best Dollar/Discount Store

1. Dollar Tree

2. Dollar General

3. Family Dollar

Best Doughnuts

1. Daylight Donuts

2. Hometown Donuts

3. Snowflake Donuts

Best Drilling Company

1. Lonestar Drilling

2. Hazelett Drilling, Inc.

3. Link Bensen

Best Drive Thru

1. D&D Liquor

2. Dairy Queen

3. Sonic

Best Dry Cleaners

1. Victory Cleaners

2. City Dry Cleaners

3. Come and Wash It

Best Elected Official

1. Pat Davis

2. Connie Kacir

3. Lona Ackman

Best Electrician

1. Brian Massie (BNM Electric)

2. Tommy Avant (T Electric)

3. Frank Wallace Electric

Best Electrician Business

1. Brian Massie (BNM Electric)

2. T ELECTRIC (Tommy Avant)

3. Roeber Electric

Best EMS Worker

1. Jennifer Miller

2. Jess Fullilove

3. Allen Linebrink

Best Family Entertainment

1. Lynn Theatre

2. Palmetto State Park

3. Purple Cactus Potteri

Best Farm Equipment

1. E-Barr

2. W B Farm & Ranch Supply

3. Tractor Supply

Best Farm Supply Store

1. E-Barr

2. Fehner & Sons

3. Tractor Supply

Best Feed Store

1. Fehner & Son Grain Co. LP

2. E-Barr

3. Purina Mills

Best Fertilizer

1. Lindemann

2. E-Barr

3. 7-H Hand Farm

Best Fine Dining

1. La Bella Tavola

2. GiGi’s

3. Running M

Best Fine Jewelry

1. Storey Jewelers

2. Spaces Sublime

Best Firearms

1. Fehner & Son Grain Co. LP

2. Seguin Gold & Guns

3. Boedeker Brothers Armory

Best Firefighter

1. Cody Whitehead

2. Wade Zella

3. Keith Schmidt

Best Fishing Hole

1. Guadalupe River

2. Palmetto State Park

3. Lake Wood

Best Florist

1. Persons

2. BZ’s

3. H-E-B

Best French Fries

1. McDonalds

2. Whataburger

3. Guerra’s Grill

Best Fried Chicken

1. Rusty Rooster

2. Golden Chick

3. Cow Palace

Best Funeral Services

1. Seydler-Hill Funeral Home

2. Buffington Funeral Home

3. Harris Funeral Home Inc

Best Furniture Store

1. Edwards

2. Spaces Sublime

3. Rent-A-Center

Best Gift Shop

1. China Basket

2. Spaces Sublime

3. D & D Liquor

Best Government Employee

1. Joesph “Poochie” Kridler

2. David Jonota

3. Liz Longoria

Best Grocery Store

1. HEB

2. Farmer’s Daughter

3. Walmart

Best Hamburger

1. Guerra’s Grill

2. Cow Palace

3. Friday’s (Shiner)

Best Hardware

1. McCoys

2. Gonzales Building Center

3. W B Farm & Ranch Supply

Best Health/Fitness Business

1. Thrive

2. Revival

3. Diamond Gym

3. Polemistis CrossFit

Best Heating/AC

1. Harwood Heating

2. Kardosz Inc

3. GVEC

Best Hiking Trail

1. Palmetto State Park

2. City Park

Best Hospital

1. Gonzales Memorial Hospital

2. Seton E.B. Davis (Luling)

3. Guadalupe Regional Medical Center

Best Hot Sauce

1. Matamoras

2. Guerra’s

3. Mi Lupitas

Best Hotel/Motel

1. Dilworth Inn

2. The Alcalde Hotel by OYO

3. La Quinta Inn

Best Ice Cream/Yogurt

1. Dairy Queen

2. Sweet B’s

3. H-E-B

Best Iced Tea

1. Matamoras

2. Golden Chick

3. Cow Palace

Best Insurance Agent

1. Scott Dierlam (State Farm Insurance)

2. Brittney Caka (Farm Bureau)

3. Renee Rathmann (Logan Insurance)

 

Best Insurance Company

1. State Farm Insurance

2. DuBose Insurance

3. Texas Farm Bureau Insurance Company

 

Best Internet Provider

1. GVEC

2. GVTC

3. Spectrum

Best Italian Food

1. La Bella Tavola

2. Olive Garden (New Braunfels)

3. GG Steaks & Spirits

Best Investment Firm

1. Edwards Jones (Dane King)

2. Edward Jones (Stephanie Hendershot-Hill)

3. RBFCU Wealth Management

Best Kids Meal

1. McDonalds

2. Guerra’s Grill

3. Dairy Queen

Best Landscaping/Ground Maintenance

1. John Parr

2. Ibarra and Son

3. GLZ Landscaping

Best Law Firm

1. Ortman/Fullilove

2. Reese & Escobar, LLP

3. Burns & Burns

Best Lawn and Garden Products

1. Walmart

2. H-E-B

3. Tractor Supply Co.

Best Lawyer

1. Christie Fullilove

2. Robert Bland

3. Eddie Escobar

Best Liquor Store

1. D&D Liquor

2. First Shot

Best Live Play Performance

1. Running M Bar and Grill

2. Crystal Theatre

3. Templin

Best Loan Company

1. RBFCU

2. Sage Capital

3. Gonzales National Bank

Best Local Band or Musicians

1. Brandi Behlen

2. D.J. Ritcher

3. 183 South Band

Best Lunch Special

1. Cow Palace

2. Mi Lupitas

3. Running M

Best Manicurist

1. Ms. Nails

2. Linda’s Nails

3. HA Country Nails

Best Margarita

1. Mr. Taco

2. Running M

3. Come and Take It Bar and Grill

Best Marketing/Design

1. Jessie Holt

2. Reese’s Print Shop & Office

3. Personal Impressions

Best Massage Therapist

1. Michelle Decker

2. Lenore Estrada

3. Tara Stuart

Best Mechanic

1. Benji Hill (3-G Livestock)

2. Joe Zuniga (Quality Tire)

3. Jeffrey (Jeff’s Auto)

Best Mexican Food

1. Mi Lupitas

2. Matamoras

3. Mr. Taco

Mr. Gonzales County

1. Pat Davis

2. Forrest Hamilton

3. Tommy Huber

Mrs. Gonzales County

1. Daisy Scheske Freeman

2. Deidra Voigt

3. Shirley Goss

Best Mixed Drink

1. Come and Take It Bar and Grill

2. Running M

3. GG Steaks and Spirits

Best Money Management Co.

1. Edwards Jones (Stephanie Hendershot-Hill)

2. RBFCU - Credit Union

3. Edward Jones (Dane D King)

Best Monument Company

1. Capitol Monument

2. IOOF Cemetery

3. Seydler-Hill Funeral Home

Best Movie Theater

1. Lynn Theatre

2. King Ranger (Seguin)

Best Music Venue

1. Templin

2. Running M

3. Come and Take It Bar and Grill

 

Best New Car Dealership

1. Benny Boyd Chrysler Dodge Ram

2. Caraway Ford/Gonzales

3. Seguin Chevrolet

Best Newspaper

1. Gonzales Inquirer

2. Victoria Advocate

3. Cannon

Best Night Club/Bar

1. Come and Take It Bar and Grill

2. Running M

3. GiGi’s

Best Nurse

1. Carrie Tinsley (Gonzales Home Health)

2. Stacy Davis (Sievers)

3. Kelly Rathmann (Dr. Koerner)

 

Best Nurse Practioner

1. Todd Crawford (Sievers)

2. Diana Picha

3. Diane (Sievers)

Best Nursing Home/Assisted Living

1. Heights

2. Texan

3. Romberg House

Best Oil Change

1. Quick Lube

2. Texas Express Lube & Auto

3. Caraway Ford

 

 

Best Pest Control

1. Annie Oakley

2. Orkin/Wilbert Benes

3. Angel Pest Control

Best Pet Grooming

1. Stacy Garcia (Comfy Pet)

2. Shiner Bark Pet Re