‘Best of Lehigh’ businesses recognized

By Staff | Oct 31, 2018

More than 2,000 Citizen readers voted for the “best” businesses in Lehigh Acres, casting ballots on everything from best restaurant to best window tinting.

The winners got together at El Tarasco Mexican Restaurant last week to be honored for their recognition at the Best of Lehigh Acres event hosted by the paper.

For the Lehigh Acres Citizen, it is a way to say thank you. For businesses, it was customer and client -based recognition of a job well done.

Stu Johnson, account executive for the Citizen in Lehigh, said the idea is to highlight the best businesses in Lehigh as voted on by readers.

“People can advertise that they won a Best of. We feel it’s important. It’s also a great builder for the business community for them to work together,” Johnson said. “They’re mixing together even if they don’t know each other.”

For some companies the readers poll and resulting awards luncheon has become an annual rite of passage. Livingston Air won Best AC and Heating Company for the 19th straight year, while Your Neighborhood Shipping Store won for the 10th straight year.

It also never gets old for companies such as Emjay’s Tavern & Grill, which took home five awards as did Lehigh Regional Medical Center. Lehigh Realty took home four, while Country Roads Caf and Goodlad State Farm each earned three.

“Lehigh really needed something family oriented, good clean fun and I like being in the community with all the locals,” said Murielle Lallabe, owner at Emjay’s. “It’s recognition we’re doing something right and we appreciate that and it never gets old.”

“Being the only hospital in Lehigh, I’m not surprised we won, but we are very involved in the community and people decided to give us a pat on the back and we appreciate that,” said Gary Bell, CEO of Lehigh Regional Medical Center. “We’ve invested a lot of money into the hospital and we’re really happy to be recognized.”

There were a lot of first-time winners, such as Culver’s, which opened two years ago and earned Best New Restaurant honors, which is rare for a franchisee (it barely missed the deadline when it first opened).

“It’s an honor. It’s not exactly new, but since it’s new to everyone here, it’s an honor,” said general manager Miguel Carmona. “We strive for hospitality and great food and it’s great to be recognized.”

El Tarasco won best Mexican Restaurant for the fourth year in a row and has had the honor of hosting the event the last two years.

Owner Francisco Solis said it’s great to host the best businesses in the area.

“We have done really well thanks to the community and the businesses, the Citizen, are awesome,” Solis said. “It says a lot about the team and the people who come here. We do something good and we do all we can to please our customers. It’s a privilege to have everyone here.”

2018 Best of Winners

Pet Grooming

A + Pet Grooming

Title Company

Accurate Title Services

Hardware Store

Ace Hardware

Commercial Real Estate Broker

Kyle Deodat

Commercial Real Estate Team

Achievers Realty

Pet Care/Veterinarian

Animal Medical Center

Building Lot Sales

American Heritage Real Estate

Buffet

Asian Buffet

Hair Salon

At The Top Salon

Nail Salon

At The Top Salon

Day Spa

Tropical Beauty Shop

Massage

Tropical Beauty Shop

Accountant

Robert Bowers

Accounting Firm

Bowers Accounting

Liquor Store

Homestead Liquors

Chinese Restaurant

China Star

Breakfast Place

Country Roads Cafe

Live Entertainment

Country Roads Cafe

Cafe

Country Roads Cafe

Ice Cream

Country Style Ice Cream

Barber Shop

Cutting Edge Barber Shop

Seafood Market

Deb’s Seafood

Mexican Restaurant

El Tarasco

Burger

Emjay’s Tavern & Grill

Chicken Wings

Emjay’s Tavern & Grill

Bar

Emjay’s Tavern & Grill

Sports Bar

Emjay’s Tavern & Grill

Happy Hour

Emjay’s Tavern & Grill

Auto Body Repair

Expert Auto Body

Sleep Disorder Center

Florida Lung & Sleep Associates

Lung Cancer Diagnostic Center

Florida Lung & Sleep Associates

Independent Living

Retirement Community

Fountain Crest

Italian Food

Friend’s Pizza

Pizza

Friend’s Pizza

Auto Repair

Frog’s Automotive

Auto Service

Frog’s Automotive

Insurance Agent

Teresa Goodlad State Farm

Insurance Agency

Goodlad Insurance Agency State Farm

Financial Services

Goodlad Agency State Farm

Auto Oil Change

Grease Monkey

Tire Service

Grease Monkey

Construction

Gulf Coast Construction & Design

Guns & Ammo

Gunsmoke and Lead

Bakery

Publix

Health Food Store

Healthy Gourmet

Funeral Home

Hodges Funeral Home

Window Tinting

In Your Ear Stereo Gear

Plumbing Company

Katz Plumbing

Home Builder

Adams Homes

Community Organization

Kiwanis Lehigh Acres

Thrift Shop

Kiwanis Lehigh Acres

Association Property Mgmt.

Landex International Corporation

Hospital