The Best of Michigan for 2005

Stuff to Buy: HOMEFRONT

Max Ortiz / The Detroit News Jax Kar Wash in Royal Oak rates as the best place to keep your wheels looking good.

3277 12 Mile Rd., Berkley (248) 548-7213

Best car wash

Jax Kar Wash

jaxkarwash.net

Second place: Mr. C’s Car Wash

Harper Woods and Detroit locations

Third place: Johnson’s Car Wash

Detroit and Wayne locations

Best brake shop

Tuffy

tuffy.com

Second place: Belle Tire

For locations: belletire.com

Third place: Midas

For locations: midas.com

Best department store

Kohl’s

kohls.com

Second place: Marshall Field’s

For locations: marshallfields.com

Third place: Sears

For locations: sears.com

Best appliance/electronic store

Best Buy

Bestbuy.com

Second place: ABC Warehouse

For locations: abcwarehouse.com

Third place: Sears

For locations: sears.com

Best place to find a gift you forgot to get

Hallmark

hallmark.com

Second place: Yankee Candle

For locations: yankeecandle.com

Third place: Pier 1 Imports

For locations: pier1.com

Best place for an oil change

Jiffy Lube

jiffylube.com

Second place: Belle Tire

For locations: belletire.com

Third place: Valvoline Instant Oil Change

For locations: vioc.com

Best place to buy dinnerware

Marshall Field’s

marshallfields.com

Second place: Crate & Barrel

2801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy (248) 643-6610

Third place: Heslop’s

For locations: heslops.com

Best pet store with care

Pet Supplies Plus

petsuppliesplus.com

Second place: Petsmart

For locations: petsmart.com

Third place: Petco

For locations: petco.com

Velvet S. McNeil / The Detroit News Janice Leavitt of Northville checks out the light fixture selection at Brose Electric.

Best place for lighting

Home Depot

homedepot.com

Second place: Brose Electric

Clarkston and Allen Park locations

Third place: Murray Lighting & Electrical

10227 W. 8 Mile Rd., Detroit (313) 341-0416

Best home furnishings store

Art Van Furniture

artvan.com

Second place: Thomasville

For locations: thomasville.com

Third place: Bed Bath & Beyond

For locations: bedbathandbeyond.com

Best locally owned hardware store

ACO Hardware

acohardware.com

Second place: Pointe Hardware

15020 Kercheval St., Grosse Pointe Park (313) 824-5550

Third place: Duke’s Hardware

24910 Ford Rd., Dearborn Heights (313) 561-3710

Best nursery/garden center

English Gardens

englishgardens.com

Second place:

Bordine Nursery

For locations: bordine.com

Third place: Home Depot

For locations: homedepot.com

Best little shop of flowers

Wesley Berry Florist

Multiple locations: www.800wesleys.com or call (800) 628-9371

Second place: Kabloom

6895 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield (248) 626-7400

Third place: Flowers by Gabrielle

15029 Kercheval St., Grosse Pointe Park (313) 331-9250

Best place to buy new tires

Belle Tire

belletire.com

Second place: Discount Tire

For locations: tires.com

Third place: Firestone Tire & Service Center

For locations: mastercareusa.com

Best retail drug store

CVS

cvs.com

Second place: Sam’s Drugs

14200 Fenkell St., Detroit (313) 493-1555

Third place: Walgreens

For locations: walgreens.com

Best store for contemporary furniture

Art Van Furniture

artvan.com

Second place: House of Denmark

For locations: houseofdenmark-usa.com

Third place: Gorman’s

For locations: gormans.com

David Coates / The Detroit News When it comes to keeping pets healthy, readers trust Dr. Lawrence Herzog and the Grosse Pointe Animal Clinic with their four-legged loved ones.

Best veterinarian

Dr. Lawrence Herzog, DVM –

Grosse Pointe Animal Clinic

15135 Kercheval St., Grosse Pointe Park (313) 822-5707

Second place: Dr. Khayya Kelly, DVM –

Madison Veterinary Hospital

240 E. 12 Mile Rd., Madison Heights (248) 399-5225

Third place: Dr. Donald Sturtevant, DVM –

Wyandotte Animal Hospital

4448 Biddle St., Wyandotte (734) 284-6466