Best of Starke County contest winners announced

Posted on Author Becca Shepherd

The results are in for the 23rd annual Best of Starke County contest presented by The Leader and WKVI.

Residents voted for their favorites in dozens of categories covering automotive businesses, dining and food, retail, services, places and entertainment, and individuals in the community.

Among this year’s dining winners, Papa Farm Pizza took first place for chicken wings, family dining, pizza, and restaurant service. Fingerhut Bakery was selected as the top bakery and dessert location, while Birdie’s Main Street Diner took first place for breakfast. Rabbit Coffee Roasting Co. was voted the top coffee location.

Sideline Automotive earned first place in both the oil change and tire store categories, while Anderson Automotive was voted the top auto repair business. Bodine Automotive took first place among used auto dealers, and Knox Chevrolet was selected as the top new auto dealer.

In the retail categories, Pioneer Floral & Gifts took first place for both florist and gift store. Save A Lot was selected as the top grocery store, while Smith Farm Store took first place for hardware store.

First-place service winners included First National Bank of Monterey for bank, Braman & Son Memorial Chapel for funeral home, Teasin’ and Tannin’ for hair salon and tanning salon, and Re/Max – 1st Choice Real Estate for real estate office.

The contest also recognized individuals in the community, with voters selecting favorites in categories including banker, bartender, firefighter, hair stylist, insurance agent, police officer and real estate agent.

The Best of Starke County contest was open to voters age 18 and older, with one ballot allowed per person.

Here is the complete list of first, second and third-place winners:

Best Of Starke County 2026

Auto Repair

  1. Anderson Automotive
  2. The Pit Stop Auto Care
  3. Sideline Automotive

New Auto Dealer

  1. Knox Chevrolet
  2. Lochmandy Ford

Oil Change Place

  1. Sideline Automotive
  2. The Pit Stop Auto Care
  3. Anderson Automotive

Tire Store

  1. Sideline Automotive
  2. The Pit Stop Auto Care
  3. Tony’s Tires

Used Auto Dealer

  1. Bodine Automotive
  2. Knox Chevrolet
  3. Patrick Auto Group

Bakery

  1. Fingerhut Bakery
  2. Alley Side Café & Baked Treats
  3. Five Star

Breakfast

  1. Birdie’s Main Street Diner
  2. Alley Side Café & Baked Treats
  3. Fingerhut Bakery

Chicken Wings

  1. Papa Farm Pizza
  2. 10-56 Brewing and Catering
  3. Irish Pub

Coffee

  1. Rabbit Coffee Roasting Co.
  2. Front Porch Coffee
  3. Alley Side Café & Baked Treats

Desserts

  1. Fingerhut Bakery
  2. Alley Side Café & Baked Treats
  3. Christos’ Family Dining

Family Dining

  1. Papa Farm Pizza
  2. 10-56 Brewing and Catering
  3. Bass Lake Pub & Ristorante

Fast Food

  1. The Point
  2. McDonald’s
  3. Burger King

French Fries

  1. The Point
  2. Bailey Town Burgers
  3. 10-56 Brewing and Catering

Hamburger

  1. Bailey Town Burgers
  2. The Point
  3. Irish Pub

Lunch Spot

  1. Irish Pub
  2. Alley Side Café & Baked Treats
  3. Bailey Town Burgers

Pizza

  1. Papa Farm Pizza
  2. 10-56 Brewing and Catering
  3. Irish Pub

Restaurant Service

  1. Papa Farm Pizza
  2. 10-56 Brewing and Catering
  3. Irish Pub

Soup

  1. Bass Lake Pub & Ristorante
  2. 10-56 Brewing and Catering
  3. Christos’ Family Dining

Convenience Store

  1. Zingo Express
  2. Zip Thru Mart
  3. Dollar General

Florist

  1. Pioneer Floral & Gifts
  2. Bianca Rose Floral Design
  3. Main Street Floral and Gifts

Gift Store

  1. Pioneer Floral & Gifts
  2. Teasin’ & Tannin’
  3. Simon’s Mercantile & Antiques

Grocery Store

  1. Save A Lot
  2. Five Star
  3. Granny’s Market

Hardware Store

  1. Smith Farm Store
  2. Ace Hardware & Keepsakes
  3. Tractor Supply Company

Place to Buy Liquor, Beer & Wine

  1. Knox Liquors
  2. North Judson Bottle Shop
  3. Walgreens

Accounting Firm

  1. JL Widman, Inc
  2. H & R Block
  3. Linda’s Tax Service

Bank

  1. First National Bank of Monterey
  2. First Farmers Bank & Trust
  3. 1st Source Bank

Dental Office

  1. Advantage Dental & Dentures
  2. Starke County Family Dentistry

Electrician Contractor

  1. Busse Electric
  2. H & T Electrical Services
  3. Dan’s Electric

Funeral Home

  1. Braman & Son Memorial Chapel
  2. Rannells Funeral Home
  3. MC Smith Funeral Home

Hair Salon

  1. Teasin’ and Tannin’
  2. Madison Grace Salon
  3. Connie’s Salon

Heating & Air Conditioning

  1. McGrath Heating & Air Conditioning
  2. BC Cooling, Heating & Air
  3. Stacy Heating & Air

Insurance Office

  1. Collins Insurance
  2. 1st Choice Insurance Services
  3. Insurance Consultants

Remodeling/Improvement Co.

  1. Sam’s Siding & Remodeling LLC
  2. Hometown Home Services
  3. D & B Construction and Services, LLC

Lawn Care Company

  1. K&K Lawn Care
  2. Midget Mowing
  3. J&G Lawn & Tree Services

Law Office

  1. Resolution Law, P.C.
  2. Richard L. Ballard, Attorney at Law
  3. Geisler Law Office

Mortgage Company

  1. First Farmers Bank & Trust
  2. First National Bank of Monterey
  3. 1st Source Bank

Physician’s Office

  1. Knox Winamac Community Health Center
  2. Northwest Health – Starke
  3. Healthlinc

Plumbing Contractor

  1. Don’s Sewer And Septic Service, LLC aka DS&S
  2. Forbes Plumbing Inc.
  3. Palm Plumbing

Real Estate Office

  1. Re/Max – 1st Choice Real Estate
  2. Blackrock Real Estate Services
  3. Osborne Advantage

Tanning Salon

  1. Teasin’ and Tannin’
  2. MBS Fitness
  3. MAX 24

Veterinarian Office

  1. North Judson San Pierre Veterinary Clinic
  2. Knox Veterinary Clinic

Apartment Complex

  1. Knox Garden Court
  2. Oak Estates
  3. Mint Valley Manor

Bar or Tavern

  1. 10-56 Brewing and Catering
  2. Irish Pub
  3. Bass Lake Pub & Ristorante

Childcare Center

  1. Natalie’s Childcare
  2. Little Lambs Pre-School
  3. Knox Community Early Learning Center

Banker

  1. Candice Miller (First National Bank of Monterey)
  2. Issac Blue (First Farmers Bank & Trust)
  3. Terri Belcher (1st Source Bank)

Bartender

  1. Amy Coldiron (Bass Lake Pub & Ristorante)
  2. Judy Ringle (10-56 Brewing and Catering)
  3. Amber Frazier (Irish Pub)

Fire Fighter

  1. Steve Berndt (Center Township)
  2. Nathan Henning (North Judson FD)
  3. Kenny Pfoust (Knox FD)

Hair Stylist

  1. Carrie Garbison (Teasin’ & Tannin)
  2. Connie Jordan (Connie’s Salon)
  3. Karamen Mann (The Glamour Nook)

Insurance Agent

  1. Carrie Block (1st Choice Insurance Services)
  2. Jim Collins (Collins Insurance)
  3. Megan Greer (1st Choice Insurance Services)

Police Officer

  1. Frank Thomas (NJ Police Department)
  2. Nathan Chambers (Knox Police Department)
  3. Chad Dulin (Knox Police Department)

Real Estate Agent

  1. Michelle Downs (Listing Leaders Integrity)
  2. Jason Wampler (Re/Max – 1st Choice Real Estate)
  3. Kyle Elem (Blackrock Real Estate Services)