Businesses nominated for the inaugural Best of Bayside contest announced

Following three months of voting, the nominees for the inaugural Best of Bayside contest, organized by the Bayside Business Association, are here. 

Voting for the contest opened in October in an effort to highlight popular establishments in Bayside.

With over 50 members, the BBA seeks to empower business owners through networking and education. Since 1997, it has also been involved in a range of beautification projects in the community such as street cleaning, tree planting and graffiti removal. 

Several nominees were selected across 15 different categories that ranged from real estate to pet services. And some Bayside businesses even appeared across more than one category. 

A nonprofit used bookstore on Bell Blvd., called Turn the Page…Again!, was featured in three categories – Arts & Entertainment, Education and Shopping. The shop, which employs individuals with a mental health diagnosis, is operated by Transitional Services for New York Inc, a nonprofit organization based in Whitestone that offers rehabilitative and social services. TSINY was also one of the nominees in the professional category.

Three eateries, AVO TACO, Bourbon Street and One Station Plaza, were also featured in both the Bars & Nightlife and Restaurants categories.

“The BBA’s Best of Bayside” serves as yet another compelling avenue for our association to place a spotlight on our local businesses, underscoring their invaluable contributions to making this the great community that it is,” said Ed Probst, the President of the BBA. “With this initiative, we have the opportunity to bolster and showcase the exceptional businesses that define Bayside’s distinct character.”

Voting to select one business out of the nominees will remain open until Jan. 20. The winners will be announced at the BBA’s annual membership meeting, and made public online, in March. 

In the meantime, the BBA is encouraging local residents to rally their friends, family and neighbors to cast their votes for their favorite nominated businesses.

Arts & Entertainment

1. Turn the Page…Again!
2. Queensborough Performing Arts Center
3. Philanthropy in Phocus
4. Bayside Dancing Art Club

Automotive

1. Great Bear Auto
2. Helms Brothers
3. V&S Motor Service
4. Bayside Chrysler Jeep Dodge

Bars & Nightlife

1. AVO TACO
2. Bourbon Street
3. One Station Plaza
4. Monohan & Fitzgerald

Education

1. Turn the Page…Again!
2. Sacred Heart Catholic Academy of Bayside
3. Mud Genius Inc
4. Queensborough Community College

Fashion & Clothing

1. Bell Formal Wear
2. Alicia’s Jewelers
3. Kukbo Men
4. Best Total Wedding Plaza

Financial Services

1. DIME Community Bank
2. Meltzer Accounting & Tax Service
3. Andrew Tsiolas – Ameriprise Financial Services – Financial Advisor
4. Ridgewood Savings Bank

Health & Wellness

1. Center for Smiles
2. Dashing Diva
3. Empowering Health Acupuncture
4. High Performance Martial Arts
5. Allergy & Asthma Family Care / Robert Mittman

Insurance

1. Montini Xavier – State Farm
2. Vanguard Benefits
3. Daniella Smolanick – State Farm
4. Nationwide Insurance (Shinok Kim & Chang Lee)

Pet Services

1. Bobby & Paws
2. Modern Pet
3. Vanity Pups
4. Bayside Animal Clinic

Professional

1. Transitional Services for New York, Inc.
2. Peter Gordon
3. Douglas Elliman Real Estate
4. Elle & Nina

Real Estate

1. Douglas Elliman
2. Karten Real Estate Services
3. Bell Realty
4. Keller-Williams Realty Landmark

Restaurants

1. One Station Plaza
2. AVO TACO
3. Masala Box
4. Bourbon Street

Shopping

1. Turn the Page…Again!
2. PC Richard and Sons
3. Athena Jewelry
4. Bayside Florist

Special Event Services

1. Cocktails on the Move
2. DJS Event Planning
3. Slow MO Party
4. DJ El Jesse

Sports & Activities

1. Bayside Little League
2. American Golf Corporation
3. Tiger Tennis Academy
4. Prana Hot Yoga