The Best of Michigan for 2005

Stuff to Buy: LEISURE

Best place to buy lottery tickets

Meijer

meijer.com

Second place: 7-Eleven

Multiple locations: 7eleven.com

Third place: Dearborn Liquor & Deli

1150 N. Telegraph Rd., Dearborn (313) 730-0404

Velvet S. McNeil / The Detroit News Al Friej's Dearborn Liquor & Deli has a loyal following of lottery ticket buyers.

Best place to find a bargain

Kohl’s

kohls.com

Second place: TJ Maxx

For locations: tjmaxx.com

Third place: HomeGoods

For locations: homegoods.com

Best place to spend your allowance

Best Buy

Bestbuy.com

Second place: AMC Theaters

Locations throughout Metro Detroit

Third place: Northville Downs

301 S. Center Rd., Northville (248) 349-1000

Best selection of cigars

Smokers Only

Locations throughout Metro Detroit

Second place: La Cigar Emporium

22656 Michigan Ave., Dearborn (313) 359-1716

Third place: Smokers Outlet

Locations throughout Metro Detroit

Best sporting goods store

Dunham’s Sports

dunhamssports.com

Second place: Dick’s Sporting Goods

For locations: dickssportinggoods.com

Third place: Cabela’s

110 Cabelas Blvd. E., Dundee (734) 529-4700

Best used bookstore

All Star Books

Warren and Detroit locations

Second place: John King Books

Ferndale and Detroit locations

Third place: Another Look Books

22263 Goddard Rd., Taylor (734) 374-5665

Best dollar store

Dollar Tree

dollartree.com

Second place: Dollar General

For locations: dollargeneral.com

Third place: Family Dollar

For locations: familydollar.com

Best dry cleaning

Martinizing Dry Cleaning

martinizing.com

Second place: 2.89 Quality Cleaners

30426 Milford Rd., New Hudson (248) 446-9430

Third place: Wesch Cleaners

33633 Woodward Ave., Birmingham (248) 644-7044

Best eyewear shop

Steven Franklin Optics

6891 Orchard Lake Rd., West Bloomfield (248) 855-5813

Second place: Doc Optics

Mulitple locations: docoptics.com

Third place: Bifano Eye Care

317 N. Lafayette St., South Lyon (248) 446-1146

Best travel agency

AAA Travel Agency

autoclubgroup.com

Second place: Suburban Travel

919 W. University Dr., Rochester (248) 651-7762

Third place: Bob Neugebauer Travel

16170 E. 13 Mile Rd., Roseville (586) 778-3427

Best mom-and-pop-owned shop

Jack's Self Serve Produce

27508 Schoolcraft Rd., Livonia

(734) 525-7960

Second place: Marco’s Meat & Deli

17850 E. 9 Mile Rd., Eastpointe (586) 772-1699

Third place: Gilbert’s Pro Hardware

21912 Harper Ave., St. Clair Shores (586) 776-9532

Best movie rental shop

Blockbuster Video

blockbuster.com

Second place: Family Video

Locations throughout Metro Detroit

Third place: Hollywood Video

For locations: hollywoodvideo.com

Best place for entertaining the kiddies

Marvin’s Marvelous

Mechanical Museum

31005 Orchard Lake Rd., Farmington Hills (248) 626-5020

Second place: Chuck E Cheese’s

For locations: chuckecheese.com

Third place: Jeepers

Auburn Hills and Roseville locations

Best place to buy dartboards and like stuff

Allstate Billiards & Game Room

14349 Telegraph Rd, Redford (313) 531-1035

Second place: Dunham’s Sports

For locations: dunhamssports.com

Third place: Dick’s Sporting Goods

For locations: dickssportinggoods.com

Best bicycle shop

South Lyon Cycle

209 S. Lafayette St., South Lyon (248) 437-0500

Second place: Anchor Bay Bicycle & Fitness

35214 23 Mile Rd., New Baltimore (586) 725-2878

Third place: Planet Cycle

6074 N. Sheldon Rd., Canton (734) 455-5730

Best get-out-of-trouble-with-the-little-lady store

Visions Spa Salon

26800 Beck Road, Novi (248) 344-9944

Second place: Victoria’s Secret

For locations: victoriassecret.com

Third place: Blossom’s

33866 Woodward Ave., Birmingham (248) 644-4411

Tiffany & Co.

The Somerset Collection, 2801 W. Big Beaver Rd., Troy

(248) 258-4966

Best bookstore to meet people

Borders Books, Music Cafe

43075 Crescent Blvd., Novi

Second place: Barnes & Noble Booksellers

4800 E. Huron River Dr., Ann Arbor (734) 975-4549

Third place: Little Professor Book Center

22174 Michigan Ave., Dearborn (313) 278-6633

Best comic book store

Comic Archives

25650 Plymouth Rd., Redford (313) 937-8860

Second place: Comics Plus

6269 Silverstone Dr., Troy (248) 879-8861

Third place: Time Travelers Comics & Cards

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