Customer service is a consistent theme among winners in the new Leader Reader’s Choice awards.

Listening, interacting and even laughing with customers make a difference, because the bottom line is, it’s repeat business in a rural community that makes for year-round success.

HENERY HARDWARE

Henery Do it Best Hardware, a second-generation, family-owned business is going strong in Jefferson County and beyond. It’s no surprise its daily efforts at customer service are recognized. Henery received more individual votes in the "Hardware Store" category than any other entry in the Reader's Choice contest, which provides simple confirmation that yes, the store's daily efforts are noticed and appreciated.

"It's huge," Matthew Henery, co-owner of the business with his wife, Tara, said of the honor. "The best way for us to know we're doing the right thing is for the customer to let us know."

The foundation of the business is a knowledgable, friendly staff to help customers with projects large and small.

"We pride ourselves on being an old-fashioned 1950s, service-orientated hardware store and we are there to take care of our community."

There are Henery Hardware stores in five locations: Port Townsend, Quilcene, Bremerton, Kingston and Anacortes. The Port Townsend store opened in 1994, and now has about 30 employees.

"Our team is really part of our family," he noted. "We pride ourselves on the family environment."

ARROW LUMBER

Arrow Lumber has been giving and gaining in the community since first opening in 2008 along the highway just outside Port Townsend; a showroom building opened in 2015. The operation here has 12 employees.

"You form relationships and are able to cultivate and let them grow," said Cadian Hendricks, manager of Arrow Lumber, which was voted tops in the Reader's Choice “Building Supplies” category. "Our reputation is a big deal to us, whether it's mine or our team.

"You work it day to day and listen to your customers. It's pretty basic, really."

READER’S CHOICE

People like to be acknowledged for a job well done, and that's where the Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader's 2016 Reader's Choice awards come in.

After 20 years of a "Best Foods" contest, for which Leader readers were asked to vote for favorites related to food and drink, in 2016 the theme shift to Reader’s Choice for listing readers' favorites in Jefferson County, with some 87 categories.

Of course, Reader’s Choice is not a scientific survey; it reflects the opinions of people who participated over a four-week period by using newspaper ballots or voting online. There are plenty of businesses that merit recognition.

Such acknowledgment brightened the day of those who received a Leader Reader’s Choice first-place certificate.

Chef Thysen Scott was touched emotionally by the out-of-the-blue customer-appreciation moment, as he prepared GBF Catering (God Bless Food) to feed 2,000 people during the holiday season.

Jane Bonstra at Easy Times Espresso used the award opportunity for a staff celebration, complete with a crown. That’s what happens when one business is rated tops in “Coffee,” “Service” and “Individual Barista.”

Roger and Cindy Ramey and the staff at Penny Saver Mart in Port Townsend enjoyed a big cheer with the public recognition.

John Coon and the crew at Coon Plumbing, a young business with a lot going on, came clean about how being so busy made such unexpected public kudos truly mean something.

Kody McConnell at Chimacum Cannabis appreciated that he was top rated, especially since this is only his first year in business.

QFC Port Hadlock took first in the "Favorite Sandwich” category, and the deli crew was ecstatic to be so noticed.

Cindy Brown at the Valley Tavern was stirred to be a favorite in the "Bartender” category; the patrons cheered when she shared the news.

Amanda Webby at Dog Townsend was very pleased to know people appreciate how she handles their pets. She presented the award at a staff meeting to much surprise and excitement.

Ben Richardson and the crew at Satch Works Auto Repair in Port Hadlock fix vehicles every day to keep drivers on the road. Richardson said it was a boost to pause and realize that yes, people appreciate their efforts at customer service.

AND THE WINNERS ARE....

The Port Townsend & Jefferson County Leader offered a "Reader's Choice" ballot in our print edition and on our website to encourage your votes in 87 "Best of Jefferson County" categories. If your favorite business did not make the grade you feel it deserves, look for our contest to return in the Fall of 2017, and make your opinion known. Here are the 2016 Leader Reader's Choice award recipients:

Antiques

1) Port Townsend Antique Mall

2) Cherry Blossom

3) Bergstrom Antique & Classic Autos

Art Gallery

1) Port Townsend Gallery

2) Northwind Arts Center

3) Earthenworks Gallery

Asian Restaurant

1) 123 Thai

2) Banana Leaf Thai Bistro

3) Hanazono Asian Noodle

AutoBody/Paint

1) All City Autobody & Towing

2) Renaissance Auto Design

3) Satch Works Auto Repair

Auto Mechanic

1) Satch Works Auto Repair

2) Autoworks

3) Don Barrows, Don’s Automotive

Auto Parts

1) Westbay (NAPA) Auto Parts

2) O’Reilly Auto Parts

Auto Repair Shop

1) Satch Works Auto Repair

2) Autoworks

3) Don’s Automotive Service

Bank

1) Kitsap Bank

2) First Federal Savings & Loan

3) Chase

Banker

1) Luxmi Love, First Federal

2) Allison Alwin, J.P. Morgan Chase advisor

3) Anita Schmucker, First Security Bank, Port Hadlock

Bar

1) Sirens

2) Pourhouse

3) Valley Tavern

Barista

1) Jamie Montgomery

2) Holly Chute

3) Angela Knutson

Bartender

1) Cindy Brown, Valley Tavern

2) Melissa Bixby, Pourhouse

3) Victor Paz, Disco Bay Detour

BBQ

1) Mo-Chili BBQ

Books

1) William James Bookseller

2) Imprint Bookstore

3) Castaways Thrift Shop

Breakfast

1) Blue Moose Cafe

2) Spruce Goose Cafe

3) The Cup

Building Supplies

1) Arrow Lumber

2) Hadlock Building Supply

3) Carl’s Building Supply

Burger

1) Burger’s Landing

2) Valley Tavern

3) Sirens

Business Owner

1) Kris Nelson

2) Wendy Davis

3) Chuck & Karen Russell

Cannabis Store

1) Chimacum Cannabis

2) Sea Change Cannabis

3) Reefer Den

Carpenter

1) John Gieser

2) Tim Quiggle

3) Gene Gardner

Chiropractor

1) Dr. Michael Dam

2) Dr. Calah Tenney

3) Dr. Chris Davis

Clam Chowder

1) Scampi & Halibuts

2) Silverwater Cafe

3) Blue Moose Cafe

Coffee/Espresso

1) Easy Times Espresso

2) Mean Bean Coffee

3) Velocity Port Townsend

Cook/Chef

1) Thysen Scott, GBF Catering

2) Aaron Stark, Jefferson Healthcare

3) Lori Lanza, Lanza's Ristorante

Convenience Store

1) Penny Saver Mart

2) Aldrich’s Market

3) Port Ludlow Village Store

CPA

1) Gooding O’Hara & Mackey PS

2) Charley Kanieski

3) Nancy Scott

Credit Union

1) Kitsap Credit Union

2) Peninsula Credit Union

Day Care

1) Cedarbrook Early Learning Center

2) Castle Hill Preschool

3) Janet Nolan

Dentist

1) Dr. Steven Scharf

2) Dr. Donald Young

3) Dr. Tyler Fordham

Desserts

1) Elevated Ice Cream & Candy Shop

2) Courtyard Cafe

3) Sweet Laurette’s

Doctor

1) Dr. Joseph Mattern

2) Dr. Shannan Kirchner

3) Dr. Todd Carlson

Dog Groomer

1) Sheila Westerman, Park Place

2) Karina Clark

3) Dog & I

Elected Official

1) Kathleen Kler, BOCC Dist. 3

Electrician

1) Fredrickson Electric

2) Cascade Electric

3) Reed Electrical

Fish and Chips

1) Sea J’s Cafe

2) Scampi & Halibuts

3) Doc’s Marina Grill

Fitness Trainer

1) Teresa Hoffman

2) Bruce Fountain

3) Catherine Herrick

Flooring

1) Peninsula Floors & Furnishing

2) McCrorie Carpet & Floors

Food Truck

1) Mo-Chilli BBQ

Grocery

1) QFC Port Hadlock

2) Food Co-op

3) Chimacum Corner Farmstand

Hair Salon

1) Salon Delucca

2) The Salon in Port Hadlock

3) Posh Hair Salon & Day Spa

Hardware Store

1) Henery Do It Best Hardware

2) Hadlock Building Supply

3) Arrow Lumber

Health Clinic

1) Jefferson Healthcare

2) Madrona Hill Urgent Care

3) South County Medical Clinic

Home Builder

1) G. Little Construction

2) Rich Staph Construction

3) Nieman Construction

Insurance Agent

1) Steve Williams, State Farm

2) Gary Baird, Farmers Insurance

3) Linda Lopeman, KMi Insurance

Jewelry

1) Lisa’s Jewelry

2) Derr Jewelry

3) Lila Drake Jewelry

Laundry

1) Mom’s Laundromat

2) Port Townsend Laundromat

3) Port Hadlock Speed Wash & Dry Cleaning

Lawyer

1) TIE: Peggy Ann Bierbaum

1) TIE Joe Schodowski

3) David Faber

Liquor Store

1) Safeway

2) QFC Port Hadlock

3) QFC Port Townsend

Locally Crafted Drink

1) Port Townsend Brewing

2) Finnriver Farm & Cidery

3) Sirens

Locksmith

1) Terry’s Lock & Safe

2) Petrick Lock & Safe

Lunch Value

1) Don’s Soda Fountain

2) 123 Thai

3) Little Rose Thai To Go

Massage Therapist

1) Kelly Barlow

2) Cristie Vancamp

3) Piper Diehl

Manicure

1) Kathy’s Nails

2) DK Nails

3) Posh Hair Salon & Day Spa

Mexican Restaurant

1) Fiesta Jalisco

2) Fiesta Mexican

3) El Guadalajara

Nurse

1) Jeinell Harper

2) Sarah Bacica

3) Marcia Dean

Officer of the Law

1) TIE Jason Greenspane, PTPD

1) TIE Andy Pernsteiner, JCSO

3) David Stanko, JCSO

Optometrist

1) Dr. David Schores

2) Dr. Greg Hare

3) Dr. Andrew Noble

Outdoors Store

1) Quimper Mercantile

2) Sport Townsend

3) PT Outdoors

Pedicure

1) Kathy’s Nails

2) DK Nails

3) Posh Hair Salon & Day Spa

Pet Motel

1) Dog Townsend

2) LuLu’s B&B

3) Pet Townsend

Pharmacy

1) Don’s Pharmacy

2) Tri-Area Pharmacy

3) QFC Port Hadlock

Photographer

1) Deja Webster

2) Busy Bee Photography

3) Keith Lazelle Nature Photography

Physical Therapist

1) Max Selisch, Physical Therapy

2) Rick Perez , Uptown Physical Therapy

3) Amy Irene Lynch, Discovery Physical Therapy

Plumber

1) Coon Plumbing

2) Brother’s Plumbing

3) Aloha Plumbing

Real Estate Agency

1) John L. Scott

2) Coldwell Banker

3) Remax First

Realtor

1) Trevor Huntingford

2) Richard Hild

3) Michelle Sandoval

Rental Agency

1) Townsend Bay Property Management

2) TIE: John L Scott Property Management; A+ Rentals; and Olympic Equipment Rentals

Restaurant

1) Doc’s Marina Grill

2) Fountain Cafe

3) Silverwater Cafe

Romantic Dinner

1) Lanza’s Ristorante

2) Fountain Cafe

3) Alchemy Bistro & Wine Bar

Salesperson

1) Jen Clark

2) Dan McSherry

3) Lois Venarchick

Sandwich

1) TIE Courtyard Cafe

1) TIE QFC Hadlock

3) Jordini’s On the Water

Seafood

1) Scampi & Halibuts

2) Key City Fish

3) Doc’s Marina Grill

Secretary

1) Jan Boutilier, Port Townsend High School

2) Vicky Grauberger, First Presbyterian Church

3) Sue Nelson, Port of Port Townsend

Service

1) Easy Times Espresso

2) Fountain Cafe

3) PT Food Bank

Senior Living

1) Seaport Landing

2) Victoria House

3) Discovery View

Shellfish

1) Key City Fish Co.

2) Hamma Hamma Oyster Bar

3) New Day Fisheries

Smoke Shop

1) Smoker Friendly

Soup

1) Hillbottom Pie

2) Courtyard Cafe

3) Food Co-op

Spa

1) Fusion Spa

2) Izadora’s Tanning & Day Spa

3) Face of Grace

Steak

1) Ajax Cafe

2) Silverwater Cafe

3) The Belmont

Storage Facility

1) Sound Storage

2) Rhody Drive Self-Storage

3) Beaver Valley Storage

Stylist/Barber

1) Juliet Martin, Salon DeLucca

2) Dawn Gately, The Parlour Salon

3) Rhonda Rutter, Jim’s Barber Shop