Best of Virginia Winners

Agee’s is a fourth generation cycling company. Founded in 1910, it serves the families of Central Virginia for all their cycling needs. The shop offers repairs, bike service, and retail of brands like Schwinn, Trek, Electra, Bontrager, and Yakima. Agee’s now carries the Schwinn IC4 Indoor Cycling Bike.

Clementine has been selling women’s contemporary and designer fashion on consignment in Richmond since 2003. Every item is selected for quality and style, offering customers a curated collection of unique clothes, shoes, and accessories, both in store and online. Items that don’t sell in stores are donated to local nonprofits and public schools, keeping unwanted textiles out of landfills.

Whether it’s keeping an eye on quality craftsmanship, ensuring the proper fit of a garment, or welcoming and treating every customer as if they were entering their home, quality has always guided the mission and vision of this family business. Franco’s offers a large selection of menswear brands from sartorial business clothing to modern sportswear, outerwear, and shoes.

Carytown comprises more than 230 businesses, including restaurants, retail, and services, making it a place to “eat, shop, and play.” In 2020, locals will enjoy a new shopping center, plans for a hotel, and the opening of Pho Luca and Kokee Tea. The Zombie Walk, Cone Parade, and 37th Annual Watermelon Festival will take place throughout the year, as well.

Short Pump Town Center is Richmond’s premier lifestyle center, featuring Nordstrom, Pottery Barn, Orvis, and Crate & Barrel. It has landscaped walkways, intimate gathering spaces, tranquil water features, and retail, dining, and entertainment options. New retailers opening in 2020 include Casper, Richmond Virginia Orthodontics Invisalign Studio, and The Container Store.

Chop Suey Books, started in 2002, sells a highly curated selection of over 45,000 quality books at the best prices possible. The inventory features “a little bit of this and a little bit of that,” and appearances by WonTon, the popular shop cat. The shop buys books, hosts multiple events per month, and even offers publication.

Established in 1947, Green Top has expanded to a 67,000-square-foot retail space with 24 indoor, climate-controlled shooting range lanes. Buyers attend trade shows throughout the year to stay updated on the latest gear. Being one of the largest sporting goods retailers in Virginia, Green Top is often the first to receive new products from vendors.

Schwarzschild Jewelers is a fifth-generation family-owned jeweler that has operated in Richmond since 1893. In addition to selling respected timepiece and jewelry brands, Schwarzschild is a full-service jeweler offering extensive on-site customer services, including comprehensive jewelry and watch repair, custom jewelry design, and appraisals.

Saxon Shoes offers Virginia’s widest selection of styles and sizes for men, women, and children, carrying brands like Toms, Cole Haan, Nike, and Ugg. The owners travel to international trade shows in Italy to research the latest silhouettes and trends in footwear, many of which are found in Saxon’s spring and fall 2020 collections.

This third-generation women’s boutique began in the 1920s with a mission to bring accessible fashion to customers of all ages and help them find the right clothing for their lifestyle. It offers a selection of designer pieces, such as Kate Spade, Nicole Miller, and Marisa Baratelli. 

Family owned and operated in Richmond since 2004, Tweed offers unique gifts, fashion accessories, apparel, and home decor, with a strong emphasis on customer service. The shop offers personalization of items with embroidery, engraving, or monogram. Brands carried include HOBO, Nora Fleming, Whiskey River, Scout Bags, and Yeti.

West End Antiques features 60,000 square feet of antiques from more than 200 dealers. Dealers offer furniture, glassware, jewelry, fine art, mirrors, lighting, pottery, porcelain, silver, carpets, textiles, and much more. Selections change daily, including classical French and English antiques, American primitives, pre-war goods, and mid-century modern décor. Open seven days a week.