Red Hot Best 2021: The Best of Benzie & Leelanau

by Rachel Souillere | Jun 9, 2021 | Counties, Food & Drink, Red Hot Best, Towns, Vacation

You voted and the results are in! From the region’s best beaches to Veterinarian Practices making a local impact, here are your 2021 Leelanau & Benzie Region Red Hot Best winners. Explore the top three in each of the 47 categories to find Red Hot Best winners near you.

A record-breaking 16,000 people voted in MyNorth’s 2021 Red Hot Best Awards. Red Hot Best recognizes winners across seven Northern Michigan regions in 47 unique categories. These categories include restaurants, wineries, front line workers, home healthcare, golf courses, trails and so much more. Through Red Hot Best we recognize Northern Michigan’s top businesses, entrepreneurs, events and places.

Read on to see who took home first, second and third place in all of Benzie and Leelanau’s 47 2021 Red Hot Best categories.

Searching for the full winner’s list? From Benzie and Leelanau to across the bridge in the Upper Peninsula, here are the Red Hot Best Winners 2021: The Best of Northern Michigan.

Attorney

  1. Pete Miller, Pete Miller Law, Leland
  2. John B. Daugherty, Daugherty Law Office PLC, Beulah
  3. Lisa J. Vogler, L.G. Vogler Law PLC, Beulah

Auto Dealer

  1. Watson Benzie, Benzonia
  2. M37 Motors, Maple City

Auto Repair

  1. Van’s Garage, Leland
  2. Bayshore Tire & Auto, Elberta
  3. Mr. Hoxie’s Garage, Suttons Bay

Bank/Financial Institution

  1. Honor Bank, Honor
  2. Fifth Third Bank, Suttons Bay
  3. Huntington, Northport

Beach

  1. Frankfort Public Beach & Playground, Frankfort
  2. Empire Beach, Empire
  3. Good Harbor Bay Beach, Maple City

Brewery

  1. Hop Lot Brewing Co., Suttons Bay
  2. Stormcloud Brewing Company, Frankfort
  3. Lake Ann Brewing Company, Lake Ann

Dentist

  1. Steve Hall, DDS, Suttons Bay Dental Center
  2. Lisa M. Musgrave, DDS, Beulah
  3. Lisa Siddall DDS, Holistic & High Tech Dentistry, Lake Leelanau

Event

  1. Frankfort 4th of July
  2. Leland Wine & Food Festival
  3. Suttons Bay Arts Festival

Facebook/Instagram

  1. Instagram: @sundogkennel
  2. Facebook: Overheard in Leelanau County
  3. Facebook & Instagram: @fishtownmi

Family Physician

  1. Tie: Jessica Paquette DO, Leelanau Family Practice, Suttons Bay & Gerard J. Mahoney DO, Crystal Lake Health Center, Frankfort
  2. Jacob Flynn MD, Crystal Lake Health Center, Interlochen
  3. Nancy Smith MD, Frankfort Medical Group

Financial Service Advisor

  1. Justin Keillor, Edward Jones, Benzonia
  2. Kevin Dunklow, Edward Jones, Glen Arbor
  3. Eric Haan, Agape Global Investments Corporation, Frankfort

Fishing Charter

  1. Tiny Bubbles Charters, Frankfort
  2. Sport Fish Michigan
  3. Whitecap Charters, Leland

Floor Covering

  1. Classic Interiors & Design, Beulah

Food Truck

  1. Mary’s Asian Cuisine, Beulah
  2. Taqueria Las Lagunas, Suttons Bay
  3. Upriver Wood Fired Pizza, Honor

Front Line Worker

  1. Danny Albarran, Deli Clerk, Hansen Foods
  2. Michele Nugent, ICU Nurse, Munson
  3. Kyle Dunklow, EMT

Golf Course

  1. Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville
  2. Crystal Lake Golf, Beulah
  3. Bahle Farms, Suttons Bay

Happy Hour

  1. Fischer’s Happy Hour Tavern, Northport
  2. Cabbage Shed, Elberta
  3. St. Ambrose Cellars, Beulah

Heating & Cooling Business

  1. Moore Mechanical, Honor
  2. Nye Plumbing & Heating, Benzonia
  3. Westshore Plumbing & Heating, Beulah

Hiking Trail or Area

  1. Empire Bluff Trail, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
  2. Pyramid Point Trail, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore
  3. Sleeping Bear Point, Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore

Home Health Care

  1. Benzie Home Health Care, Honor

Locally Made Cider or Seltzer – Benzie & Leelanau: Smackintosh, Tandem Ciders, Suttons Bay

Photo by Dave Weidner

Hotel, Inn or Resort

  1. Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville
  2. The Homestead, Glen Arbor
  3. Falling Waters Lodge, Leland

Local Artist/Maker

  1. Ken Scott Photography, Suttons Bay
  2. Holly Therrien, Wandering Waters Designs, Maple City
  3. Corey Bechler, Bechler Pottery, Honor

Locally Made Cider or Seltzer

  1. Smackintosh, Tandem Ciders, Suttons Bay
  2. X.R. Cyser, St. Ambrose Cellars, Beulah
  3. Power Island, Suttons Bay Ciders

Local TV Person

  1. Natalie Spala, 7&4 News
  2. Brittney Buti, 7&4 News
  3. Mark Watkins, 7&4 News

Optometrist

  1. Edward Scarbrough OD, Scarbrough Family Eyecare, Beulah
  2. Andrea S. Becker OD, Insight Optometry, Suttons Bay
  3. Kevin R. Nelson OD, Bay Eye Associates, Frankfort

Outdoor Dining

  1. Hop Lot Brewing Co., Suttons Bay
  2. The Cove, Leland
  3. St. Ambrose Cellars, Beulah

Pet/Wildlife Nonprofit

  1. Wings of Wonder, Empire
  2. Animal Welfare League of Benzie County, Beulah
  3. The Munchkins’ Mission, Suttons Bay

Place for a Wedding

  1. Inn at Black Star Farms, Suttons Bay
  2. The Cherry Barn Wedding at Nugent Orchards, Frankfort
  3. Crystal Mountain, Thompsonville

Place to Buy a Book

  1. The Bookstore, Frankfort
  2. Bay Books, Suttons Bay
  3. Cottage Book Shop, Glen Arbor

Place to Buy a Gift

  1. The Front Porch, Suttons Bay
  2. Poppy Things, Suttons Bay
  3. Two Fish Gallery, Leland

Place to Buy Jewelry

  1. Becky Thatcher Designs, Glen Arbor & Leland
  2. Korner Gem, Traverse City
  3. Tampico Imports, Leland

Place to Buy Pet Items

  1. Tractor Supply, Benzonia
  2. Benzie Pets, Benzonia
  3. Northwoods Hardware Home & Garden, Glen Arbor

Place to Buy Windows

  1. Honor Onekama Building Supply, Honor
  2. Bunek True Value Hardware, Lake Leelanau
  3. Frankfort Hardware

Place to Get Active/Outdoor Wear & Gear

  1. Crystal Lake Adventure Sports, Beulah & Frankfort
  2. Bahle’s of Suttons Bay
  3. Suttons Bay Bikes

Place to Get Global Food

  1. The Roadhouse Mexican Bar & Grill, Benzonia
  2. NJ’s Grocery, Lake Leelanau
  3. The Fusion, Frankfort

Place to Get Takeout

  1. Village Cheese Shanty, Leland
  2. The Roadhouse Mexican Bar & Grill, Benzonia
  3. Market 22, Maple City

Plumber

  1. Nye Plumbing & Heating, Benzonia
  2. Westshore Plumbing & Heating, Beulah
  3. Tie: Frankfort Plumbing & Heating & Lane Plumbing & Heating, Elberta

Radio Personality

  1. Christal Frost, WTCM 103.5
  2. Ron Jolly, WTCM 103.5
  3. Amanda Sewell, Interlochen Public Radio

Real Estate Agent

  1. Kari King, Century 21 Northland, Frankfort
  2. Jonathan Oltersdorf, Oltersdorf Realty, Suttons Bay
  3. Jon Zickert, Real Estate One, Beulah

Residential Cleaning

  1. Chris Etc. LLC, Frankfort
  2. Gleaming Glass LLC, Frankfort
  3. Moses Window Cleaning, Suttons Bay

Restaurant

  1. Martha’s Leelanau Table, Suttons Bay
  2. Hop Lot Brewing Co., Suttons Bay
  3. The Roadhouse Mexican Bar & Grill, Benzonia

Salon

  1. Refuge Salon, Suttons Bay
  2. Salon Dahlia, Beulah
  3. Solé Salon, Beulah

Tattoo Artist

  1. Glen Weber, GlenArt’s Studio, Suttons Bay

Tax Prep Service

  1. Amy M. Plumstead, Plumstead PC, Frankfort
  2. Jennifer Christopher, Christopher & Co. CPA, Beulah
  3. Linda Pershinske PC, LPPC, Traverse City

Teacher

  1. Raquel Huddleston, Benzie Central, Benzonia
  2. Melissa Kittleson, Frankfort Elementary
  3. Arden Wilson, Leelanau Montessori, Lake Leelanau

Veterinarian Practice

  1. Suttons Bay Animal Hospital
  2. Betsie River Veterinary Clinic, Benzonia
  3. Platte Lake Veterinary Clinic, Honor

Winery

  1. Blustone Vineyards, Lake Leelanau
  2. St. Ambrose Cellars, Beulah
  3. Rove Estate Vineyard & Winery, Traverse City

Hiking Trail or Area – Cadillac, Manistee & Ludington: Ludington State Park

Photo by Lydia Mejia

Find this article and more in the June 2021 issue of Traverse, Northern Michigan’s Magazine; or subscribe and get Traverse delivered to your door each month.

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