BOARDER/GROOMER
Reader Pick: The Retreat, Arlington Heights Animal Hospital
Our readers piled on with votes for The Retreat, the extension of Arlington Heights Animal Hospital that offers grooming, “PlayCare” daycare, and overnight stays. In the Spa, choose “Deluxe Bath” or go all-out with the “Cowtown Ultimate Spa” package, customized to your – and, of course, your pet's – wants. The Retreat includes two indoor, air-conditioned playrooms. Guests can stay overnight in “Retreat Rooms” and “Seaside Cottages on the Boardwalk.” Seaside guests receive a “relaxing massage” during their stay. If you're boarding a cat (why?), The Retreat offers “kitty condos.” Overnight stays range from $30 for the 21-square-foot “Cozy” Retreat Room to $70 for the 70-square-foot “V.I.P.” Seaside cottage. PlayCare costs $15 for a half-day session or $25 for a full “Parent's Day Out.” Don't worry about your pet being bullied by another. The staff conducts a social assessment of your pet upon arrival to determine how well he or she plays with others. Arlington Heights Animal Hospital, headed by the father-son team of Drs. Billy and Jimmy Davis, has come some distance since it was located in a small house on Camp Bowie Boulevard and Tremont Avenue.
1712 Montgomery St., Fort Worth, 76107, 817.735.8700, cowtownvet.com
Staff Pick: Your Pet Staff
Owners Kelly and Mary Claire Sullivan “bring professional pet care to you” with Your Pet Staff, now in its 20th year of offering pet and house sitting, dog walking and mobile grooming.
yourpetstaff.com
BOOT CAMP
Reader Pick: Fit Body Boot Camp
6489 Southwest Blvd., Benbrook, 76132, 682.704.9698, fitbodybootcamp.com
Staff Pick: Camp Gladiator
Multiple locations, campgladiator.com
CAR REPAIR
Reader Pick: 2J’s Automotive
2J's, family-owned and in business for seven years, calls itself “Your Transmission Physician,” specializing in transmissions, axles, CV joints, boots, U-joints, differentials, auxiliary coolers, fluid changes, and rear and front differentials.
836 S. Saginaw Blvd., Saginaw, 76179, 817.232.9866, 2jsautomotive.com
Staff Pick: Lone Star Bavarian
Lone Star is a regular on our Best Of Fort Worth lists. Trent and Patricia Cole formed the company in January 2001, financing it with savings and a small SBA loan. The business, which started with a 2,500-square-foot building, moved in 2008 to its 13,000-square-foot current location.
3800 W. Vickery Blvd., Fort Worth, 76107, 817.732.4888, lonestarbavarian.com
CAR WASH
Reader Pick: University Car Wash
3124 Collinsworth St., Fort Worth, 76107, 817.714.5290, washology.com
Staff Pick: Red Carpet Car Wash & Lube Center
5829 Curzon Ave., Fort Worth, 76107, 817.732.8651, redcarpetftw.com
CHILD CARE
Reader Pick: Camp Fire First Texas Child Development Center
Camp Fire's center provides early education and care for children ages six weeks through pre-K, using state-approved curriculum, research-based teaching and social-emotional connection development through creative and developmentally appropriate classroom practices.
2700 Meacham Blvd., Fort Worth, 76137, 817.831.2111, campfirefw.org
Staff Pick: Lena Pope Early Learning Center
Lena Pope's program, designed for children ages six weeks through 5 years, is based on three tenets: building children's strengths leads to long-term success; children learn best through play and exploration; and family involvement is key to a child's success.
3200 Sanguinet St., Fort Worth, 76107, 817.255.2571, lenapope.org
DANCE STUDIO
Reader Pick: Texas Dance Conservatory
3901 S. Hulen St., Fort Worth, 76109, 817.717.4544, texasdanceconservatory.org
Staff Pick: Dance Concept Fort Worth
4809 Bryant Irvin Road North, Fort Worth, 76107, 817.738.8763, dance-concept.com
DAY SPA
Reader Pick: Daireds Salon and Spa
Named by Elle magazine in 2013 as one of the nation's top 100 salons, Daireds' panoply covers everything from hair to cosmetic enhancements. Patrons can snack on The Café's continental, soups, salads, sandwiches, wraps and desserts. Go deeper in Spa Pangea for massage, body wrap, scrubs, baths, facials, peels and resurfacing, waxing, and pedicure and manicure services. You'll find cosmetic enhancements and laser treatments in the Med Spa. And Daireds even offers “New Talent” packages for youth. The complete Brides package goes for $360 and comes with three visits: consultation, rehearsal visit to go over hair and makeup details, and the final wedding day visit that includes hair, makeup application, manicure, and gifts of powder and lipstick for touchups.
2400 W. I-20, Arlington, 76017, 817.465.9797, daireds.com
Staff Pick: Relache Spa
You could spend a vacation inside the cavernous Gaylord Texan. Relache Spa, a 25,000-square-foot, European-styled day spa, gives you another reason to think twice about leaving the grounds.
1501 Gaylord Trail, Gaylord Texan Resort & Convention Center, Grapevine, 76051, 817.778.1000, Marriott.com
DRY CLEANER
Reader Pick: Kite’s Custom Cleaners
Multiple locations, kitescleaners.com
Staff Pick: Twin Kell Cleaners
Multiple locations, twinkellcleaners.com
EXTERMINATION
Reader Pick: Ideal Partners
Ideal Partners, one of Fort Worth, Texas magazine's annual Dream Home partners, sells a range of pest control, landscape, security, and fire protection services, pitching the convenience of bundling.
6913 Camp Bowie Blvd., #181, Fort Worth, 76116, 866.573.1795, idealpartnerstx.com
Staff Pick: Metro Guard Termite & Pest Control
817.468.2847, gotbugs.com
FACIAL
Reader Pick: Ageless Perfection Skin Care Studio
900 Hemphill St., Fort Worth, 76104, 817.888.5247, agelessperfectionskincare.skincaretherapy.net
Staff Pick: European Skincare & Med Spa
6038 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 76116, 817.731.0707, euroskincare.com
FITNESS PROGRAM
Reader Pick: CrossFit Iron Horse
The magazine's voters lavished the votes (more than 14,000, breaking last year's record for anybody) on CrossFit Iron Horse, which likes to say its coaching and programming set it apart. “CrossFit strives to break away from the current, flawed fitness model we see so prevalent in America,” it says. “You won't find fancy equipment, or a juice bar. What you will find are all the tools necessary to build elite levels of fitness. In most gyms, these tools are relegated to a dark, dusty corner; at CrossFit, barbells, dumbbells, rowers, kettle bells, medicine balls, rings, pull-up bars, and other ‘basic' and ‘old-school' fitness implements are cherished above all else.”
5200 W. Vickery Blvd., Fort Worth, 76107, 817.922.8200, crossfitironhorse.com
Staff Pick: Zyn22
Zyn22, the growing Southlake-based chain of spin studios, opened its fourth studio in mid-May in its hometown of Southlake. The company's indoor cycling classes combine cardio, weight training, and movement to music for a full-body workout.
Multiple locations, zyn22.com
HAIR SALON
Reader Pick: Whistle & Sway Salon
701 Barden St., #101, Fort Worth, 76107, 817.882.6188, whistleandsway.com
Staff Pick: Shelton’s Salon & Spa
Multiple locations, sheltonssalon.com
HOLISTIC HEALTH-WELLNESS
Reader Pick: Green Lotus Spa & Wellness
6201 Colleyville Blvd., Suite 200, Colleyville, 76034, 817.488.3763, thegreenlotusspa.com
Staff Pick: The Wellness Center
2481 Forest Park Blvd., Fort Worth, 76110, wellnesscenterpage.com
HOME BUILDER-REMODELER
Reader Pick: HGC
Founded 17 years ago by Karl Hahnfeld, John Giordano, and Rob Cocanower, HGC is building high-end homes these days around Fort Worth, viewing its business model as highly replicable. It has sites in Riverhills, Monticello, Chamberlain Heights, Arlington Heights, Rivercrest and Montserrat.
200 Bailey Ave., Suite 309, Fort Worth, 76107, 817.336.5172, hgcrealestate.com
Staff Pick: Glendarroch Homes
Glendarroch specializes in custom luxury homes and is building today in Mira Vista, Montserrat, Thomas Crossing at Southern Oaks, and other Fort Worth-area sites. Glendarroch is also a high-end remodeler.
3840 Hulen St., Suite 602, Fort Worth, 76107, 817.966.9751, glendarrochhomes.com
HOME REPAIR SERVICES
Reader Pick: Windows with Sparkle
817.312.5478, windowswithsparkle.com
Staff Pick: Mr. Handyman
Multiple offices, mrhandyman.com
INTERIOR DESIGN FIRM
Reader Pick: The ARTEC Group
817.528.1027, artecgroupinc.com
Staff Pick: Beckley Design Studio
beckleyds.com
LANDSCAPE DESIGN/LAWN CARE
Reader Pick: Mean Green Lawn and Landscape
Mean Green works residential and commercial landscapes, fences and pagodas, water features, stone work, and landscape lighting.
817.995.0324, meangreenlawncare.com
Staff Pick: Clearfork Lawn Care
817.631.3241, clearforklawncare.com
LASER HAIR REMOVAL
Reader Pick: Daireds Salon and Spa
2400 W. I-20, Arlington, 76017, 817.465.9797, daireds.com
Staff Pick: Dr. William Cothern
4201 Camp Bowie Blvd., Suite A, Fort Worth, 76107, 817.377.1243, skinlasercare.com
MANICURE
Reader Pick: Chandelier Nail and Brow Bar
2713 W. Berry St., Fort Worth, 76109, 682.312.7160
Staff Pick: Skyline Nails and Spa
501 Carroll St., Suite 624, Fort Worth, 76107, 817.885.7333, skylinenailsandspa.com
MASSAGE
Reader Pick: CR Massage
Cyril Russell launched CR Massage in 2005 and is fully certified in active release therapies, a soft tissue massage technique that treats problems with muscles tendons, ligaments, fascia and nerves.
1808 Forest Park Blvd., Fort Worth, 76110, 214.405.6521, cyrilmassage.com
Staff Pick: Mokara Spa at Omni Fort Worth Hotel
1300 Houston St., Omni Fort Worth Hotel, 76102, 817.350.4123, mokaraspas.com
MOVING SERVICE
Reader Pick: Firefighting’s Finest Moving and Storage
Firefighting's Finest, staffed by, you guessed it, firefighters, sells residential and commercial moving services, manpower for loading or unloading, packing, or moving items around your home, and short and long-term storage.
3101 Reagan Drive, Fort Worth, 76116, 817.737.7800, fortworthmovers.com
Staff Pick: H&E Movers
3333 May St., Fort Worth, 76110, 817.926.8614, handemovers.com
PAINTING COMPANY
Reader Pick: Southern Painting
Mark Collins, a University of Texas at Arlington graduate, founded Southern Painting in 1980. Today, the company has 20 offices statewide, offering full-service interior and exterior painting.
Multiple offices, 855.252.6200, southernpainting.com
Staff Pick: KGs Paint and Texture
3105 Sappington Place, Fort Worth, 76116, 817.696.7914
PHOTOGRAPHER
Reader Pick: Brian Luenser
Fort Worth's favorite photographer can often be seen downtown, where he lives, lugging cameras and chronicling moments.
brianluenser.com
Staff Pick: Amanda Marie Lackey
Brian Luenser has been such a mainstay on this list, it can be difficult for anyone else to elbow in. But we noticed Amanda Marie Lackey, a local photographer who believes “every day should begin with coffee, prayer, and a whole lot of gratitude. If it happens to rain, well then I believe you're in for a real treat.” Lackey started her portrait business in 2008, specializing in weddings and brand photography. Follow her Instagram, @amandamarielackey, where she photographs everything from food to interiors around the local scene, for a glimpse into her vision.
amandamarieportraits.com
PLUMBING
Reader Pick: Hawk Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning
8506 Spring St., Fort Worth, 76179, 817.236.8482, hawkphac.com
Staff Pick: Larry Stinson Plumbing
7725 Maplewood Ave., North Richland Hills, 76180, 817.453.2008, larrytheplumberguy.com
POOL COMPANY
Reader Pick: Westside Pools & Service
9617 Santa Paula, Fort Worth, 76116, 817.560.0081, westsidewatershapes.com
Staff Pick: J. Caldwell Custom Pools
5744 Boat Club Road, Suite 200, Fort Worth, 76179, 817.237.POOLbetter , jcaldwellcustompools.com
REAL ESTATE FIRM
Reader Pick: Williams Trew
It's hard to keep up with consolidation among residential real estate agencies these days. Williams Trew, founded in 2000 by former William Rigg agents, was sold in late 2014 to Ebby Halliday and continues to operate under the Williams Trew name in Fort Worth.
Multiple offices, 817.732.8400, williamstrew.com
Staff Pick: Brigg’s Freeman Sotheby’s International
And, speaking of consolidation, Briggs Freeman Sotheby's significantly increased its Tarrant County footprint in 2015, merging with Brants Realtors, Mira Vista Realtors and Bloom Real Estate Group.
Multiple offices, 214.350.0400, briggsfreeman.com
ROOFING COMPANY
Reader Pick: D&G Roof Systems
8901 W. Freeway, Suite 105, Fort Worth, 76116, 817.696.8800, dgroofsystems.com
Staff Pick: Ramon Roofing
3027 Ramona Drive, Fort Worth, 76116, 817.924.1645, ramonroofing.com
SUNLESS TANNING
Reader Pick: Tan 2 Glow
3501 Blue Bonnet Circle, Fort Worth, 76109, 817.400.GLOW, tan2glow.com
Staff Pick: Vanity Room Waxing Boutique
5013 Byers Ave., Fort Worth, 76107, 817.348.8400, vanityroombeauty.com
TAILOR
Reader Pick: Tailoring by Rios
6717 Calmont Ave., Fort Worth, 76116, 817.732.5235, tailoringbyrios.com
Staff Pick: Pro Tailor & Alterations
4942 Overton Ridge Blvd., Fort Worth, 76132, 817.294.0900
TEETH WHITENING
Reader Pick: Art District Dental
3609 W. 7th St., Fort Worth, 76107, 817.737.8731, artdistrictdental.com
Staff Pick: Mitch Conditt, DDS
6316 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 76116, 817.900.0696, mitchconditt.com
VET
Reader Pick: Arlington Heights Animal Hospital
1712 Montgomery St., Fort Worth, 76107, 817.735.8700, cowtownvet.com
Staff Pick: Boat Club Road Animal Hospital
9635 Boat Club Road, Fort Worth, 76179, 817.236.2000, bcrah.com
YOGA
Reader Pick: Sumits Hot Yoga
6370 Camp Bowie Blvd., Fort Worth, 76116, 817.924.1334, sumitshotyogafw.com
Staff Pick: Indigo Yoga
Indigo Yoga, one of Fort Worth's most popular yoga studios, is stretching out. In May, it celebrated 10 years in business by opening a new, 4,800-square-foot studio at the corner of Pershing and Camp Bowie Boulevard, and a pop-up studio downtown at Fire Station No. 1. Co-owners Brooke Hamblet and John Cornelsen, who recently took an equity stake in Indigo, want to turn the temporary studio into a permanent one at Sundance Square. “Brooke and I are optimistic that downtown residents and workers will help us transition this temporary studio into a permanent Sundance Square location soon,” Cornelsen says. The pop-up studio will initially offer classes Monday-Friday during lunch and after work, and a Saturday class. “We'll gladly add classes to the schedule after a few weeks, based on customer feedback and use,” Hamblet says.
5100 Pershing St., Fort Worth, 76107, 817.735.9642, indigoyoga.net
