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