Local businesses, destinations lauded as ‘Best of Logan County’
Area residents have cast their ballots for their favorite businesses, public agencies, events and local landmarks this fall, and in a spirit of thankfulness to these organizations for their diligent work to overcome the challenges of a pandemic year, the Bellefontaine Examiner and the Logan County Visitors Bureau today are announcing the winners of more than 60 categories in the 2020 Best of Logan County Contest.
Logan County Visitors Bureau Director Haley LaBatt and Bellefontaine Examiner Advertising Director Bob Chapman said approximately 500 ballots were cast for the contest that stretched throughout October. Participants could submit a paper ballot that was found in the newspaper or weigh in with their opinions through online voting.
Categories ranged from medical care providers to favorite dining spots, auto repair, retirement communities, grocery and retail stores, home improvement and repair, golf courses, banks and financial institutions, law offices, insurance companies, city and county offices and many more.
“Looking at all of our winners, it’s amazing all that Logan County has to offer,” Chapman said. “This has been a nice way to highlight our community to promote our local businesses and recognize everything they do for us.”
“It was so exciting watching the votes come in,” LaBatt said. “At first some businesses were neck and neck with each other, and then another business would start taking the lead on votes. “I honestly was shocked at the response; I thought we would be lucky to receive 100 ballots. I think this high turnout shows that we live in a community that truly cares about seeing their small businesses succeed.”
During the course of the contest as well, the Visitors Bureau director said she received feedback from area residents who said they enjoyed the chance to pay it forward to local businesses, whose employees have given of their time and talents while facing the stress of the health crisis.
“We got a couple of messages on the Visitors Bureau Facebook Page thanking us for doing this because they knew that COVID-19 has given small businesses a rough year and they felt like they were able to give back to their favorite stores by voting for them,” LaBatt said.
Among the winners (listed below), Richwood Bank received the honor of Best Place to Work in the county. In addition to the local business and agency results, some of the activity and tourist spots around Logan County that were selected by voters included these favorites: Art Fair — Art on the Beach; Attraction — Ohio Caverns; Bike Trail — Simon Kenton; Community Parade — Bellefontaine Hometown Christmas; Event — West Liberty Labor Day; Fireworks — Belle Center; Hiking Trail and Best Place to See Fall Leaves — Myeerah Nature Preserve; Historic Property — Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek; Historic Landmark — Holland Theatre; Long Weekend Destination and Summer Destination — Indian Lake; and Winter Destination — Mad River Mountain.
Each of the winners will receive a framed certificate to recognize their achievement for being named a county favorite in this inaugural contest.
During the next month, the entities also will be recognized through posts on the Visitors Bureau’s and Bellefontaine Examiner’s Facebook pages, as well as the Visitors Bureau’s website, experiencelogancounty.com.
In the years to come, LaBatt said the Visitors Bureau is looking forward to the chance to host the contest again in partnership with the newspaper, and to generate even more responses through online sharing and promotion.
“The positive response we received the first time doing this contest was amazing and some of the categories even shocked me at the different responses. I am so grateful for the partnership that we have with the Bellefontaine Examiner.
“Hopefully, next year we can have an even bigger response and more of our local businesses get into the spirit of the competition by sharing the contest on their social media sites, websites and more.”
BEST OF LOGAN COUNTY OFFICIAL WINNERS
- Airbnb/Cottage: Bobbi’s Bungalow
- Antiques: LT’s Uniquities LLC
- Art fair: Art on the Beach
- Assisted Living: The Homestead at Logan Acres
- Attraction: Ohio Caverns
- Auctioneer: Logan Auction
- Auto Repair Shop: Jacobs Auto Repair & Transmission
- Bank: Citizens Federal Savings and Loan
- Best Place to work: Richwood Bank
- Bike Trail: Simon Kenton
- Breakfast: Bob Evans
- Campground: Indian Lake State Park
- Car Dealer: Steve Austin’s Auto Group
- Casual Dinning: Don’s Downtown Diner
- City Office: Mayor’s Office
- Coffee Shop: Sweet Aromas
- Community Parade: Bellefontaine Hometown Christmas
- County Office: Sheriff
- Crematory: Jennings Farley & Seeley Funeral Home and Crematory
- Credit Union: Kemba
- Deli: Hurley Farms
- Dental Office: Logan Dental Care
- Doctor’s Office: Maple Leaf Family & Sports Medicine
- Event: West Liberty Labor Day
- Farm Market: Logan County Farmers Market
- Financial Planner: Edward Jones – Colton Lowry
- Fireworks: Belle Center
- Florist: A New Leaf
- Funeral Home: Eichholtz Daring & Sanford Funeral Homes & Cremation Center
- Furniture Store: Tanger’s Furniture
- Golf Course: Liberty Hills Golf Club
- Grocery Store: Krogers
- Health Care Provider: Mary Rutan Hospital
- Hiking Trail: Myeerah Nature Preserve
- History Museum: Logan County History Center
- Historic Property: Piatt Castle Mac-A-Cheek
- Historic Landmark: Holland Theatre
- Home Improvement/Repair: Reliant Mechanical
- Hospice: Universal Home Health & Hospice Care
- Hotel: Comfort Inn
- Ice Cream: Whit’s Frozen Custard
- Independent Boutique: Hanger Boutique
- Information Technology Company: NetGain
- Insurance Company: CoverLink
- Jewelry Store: Michael Eller
- Kids Camp: Marmon Valley Farm
- Kids Store: The Fun Company
- Law Office: Thompson, Dunlap & Heydinger, Ltd.
- Lawyer: Jacob Estes
- Long Weekend Destination: Indian Lake
- Non-profit organization: United Way of Logan County
- Ohio Made Candy: Marie’s Candies
- Optometrist: Swartz Family Eyecare
- Outdoor Dining/Patio: Cranberry Resort Bar & Grill
- Pet Crematory: Jennings Farley & Seeley Funeral Home and Crematory
- Pizza Shop: Six Hundred Downtown
- Place to get a Beer: Brewfontaine
- Place to see Fall Leaves: Myeerah Nature Preserve
- Real Estate Office: Royer Realty
- Realtor: Teri Frymyer
- Rehab Facility: Logan Acres Senior Community
- Restaurant: Iron City Sports Bar
- Retail Store: Four Acres Clothing
- Retirement Community: Green Hills Community
- Salon: Studio CSM
- Shoe Shop: Lee’s Shoes
- Spa: Skin Sanctuary
- Summer Destination: Indian Lake
- Tire Shop: Allen Tire
- Water Company: Easton Water Solutions
- Winter Destination: Mad River Mountain