Apple Annie's Bake Shop has grown its reputation over 30 years in Wilmington. Owner Rob Cooley said the bakery works to give customers its best, and loyal patrons give back in their own way.
Two years in a row, voters have chosen Apple Annie's as Best Bakery and Best Sweet Shop in StarNews Media's ShorePicks: The Best of the Cape Fear Region. The poll started in 2013 and lets readers rank their local favorites in food, business, locations and personalities.
Cooley said he's grateful for all the Apple Annie's patrons that voted for the business.
"We have customers that have been coming to us for 30 years," he said. "It's a phenomenal recognition of the great team that we have here and the high-quality products that we bring to our customers."
ShorePicks recognizes Wilmington staples and newer favorites alike. Winning for Best Restaurant to open in 2014 is Tropical Smoothie Cafe, located at 2804 S. College Road in the Long Leaf Mall.
Owner Brandon Korman, who opened the franchise restaurant in July with his wife, Deena, said the win was a happy surprise.
"It just feels extraordinary to be a part of the community so fast," Korman said, adding that while the cafe has been open for just four months, it already has regulars. "They've really opened their minds to us."
Some ShorePicks awards focus on individual excellence. Winning for Best Hair Stylist this year is Sammie McGee of Tanglez Salon & Spa.
McGee started at Tanglez in February and said she owes the award to the support she gets at the salon.
"Everybody here's very talented and very driven and there's a lot of education that happens here," she said. "I'm humbled because I feel like I learned from the best."
McGee said she's especially thankful for her clients, who supported her in ShorePicks.
"They're like my family," she said.
Here's the complete list of 2014 ShorePicks winners:
Bakery
WINNER: Apple Annie's, multiple locations
FINALISTS: 9 Bakery and Lounge, 9 S. Front St.; Sweet n Savory Cafe, 1611 Pavillion Place
Bar
WINNER: Satellite Bar and Lounge, 120 Greenfield St.
FINALISTS: Blue Post Billiards, 15 S. Water St.; Fat Pelican, 8 S. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
Barbecue
WINNER: Jackson's Big Oak Barbecue, 920 S. Kerr Ave.
FINALISTS: Mission BBQ, 351 S. College Road, Wilmington; Smithfield's Chicken 'N Bar-B-Q, multiple locations
Beer Selection
WINNER: Lighthouse Beer and Wine, 220 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach
FINALISTS: Cape Fear Wine and Beer, 139 N. Front St.; Front Street Brewery, 9 N. Front St.
Breakfast
WINNER: Sweet n Savory, 1611 Pavillion Place
FINALISTS: Dixie Grill, 116 Market St.; Salt Works, 6301 Oleander Drive
Brunch
WINNER: Boca Bay Restaurant, 2025 Eastwood Road
FINALISTS: 9 Bakery and Lounge, 9 S. Front St.; The Basics, 319 N. Front St.
Burger
WINNER: PT's Grille, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Five Guys Burgers and Fries, 6801 Parker Farm Drive; Fork N Cork, 122 Market St.
Burrito
WINNER: Flaming Amy's Burrito Barn, 4002 Oleander Drive
FINALISTS: K38 Baja Grill, 5410 Oleander Drive; Moe's Southwest Grill, multiple locations
Catering
WINNER: Middle of the Island, 614 S. College Road
FINALISTS: Jerry Rouse Catering, 7220 Wrightsville Ave.; Pine Valley Market, 3520 S. College Road
Chinese Restaurant
WINNER: Indochine, 7 Wayne Drive
FINALISTS: Double Happiness, 4403 Wrightsville Ave.; Szechuan 132, 419 S. College Road
Cocktail Selection
WINNER: Manna, 123 Princess St.
FINALISTS: The Blind Elephant, 21 N. Front St.; Cameo 1900 Restaurant and Lounge, 1900 Eastwood Road
Coffee
WINNER: Port City Java, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Starbucks, multiple locations; Java Dog, 303 N. Front St.
Dive
WINNER: Fat Pelican, 8 S. Lake Park Blvd., Carolina Beach
FINALISTS: Barbary Coast, 116 S. Front St.; Duck & Dive Pub, 114 Dock St.
Doughnuts
WINNER: Britts Donuts, 11 Boardwalk, Carolina Beach
FINALISTS: 9 Bakery and Lounge, 9 S. Front St.; Krispy Kreme, 2822 S. College Road
Family-Friendly Restaurant
WINNER: Rucker Johns, 5564 Carolina Beach Road
FINALISTS: Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, 905 International Drive; Tropical Smoothie Café, 2804 S. College Road
Fine Dining
WINNER: Catch, 6623 Market St.
FINALISTS: Caprice Bistro, 10 Market St.; Manna, 123 Princess St.
Frozen Yogurt
WINNER: Fuzzy Peach, multiple locations
FINALISTS: BrrrBerry, 6815-120 Parker Farm Road; Orange Leaf, 1319 Military Cutoff Road
Hot Dog
WINNER: Trolly Stop Hotdogs, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Paul's Place Famous Hotdogs, 11725 U.S. 117, Rocky Point; Peacock Alley, 702 S. 17tSt.
Ice Cream
WINNER: Kilwins Chocolates, 16 Market St.
FINALISTS: Boombalatti's, 1127 Military Cutoff Road; Bruster's Real Ice Cream, 4414 S. 17th St.
Italian Restaurant
WINNER: Osteria Cicchetti, 1125 Military Cutoff Road
FINALISTS: Antonio's Pizza and Pasta, multiple locations; Elizabeth's Pizza, 4304 Market St.
Japanese Restaurant
WINNER: Hiro's Japanese Steakhouse, 222 Old Eastwood Road
FINALISTS: Bento Box, 1121 Military Cutoff Road; Yosake Downtown Sushi Lounge, 33 S. Front St.
Late Night Food
WINNER: Slice of Life, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Jimbo's Breakfast & Lunch, 1529 S. College Road; Cookout, multiple locations
Local Brewery
WINNER: Front Street Brewery, 9 N. Front St.
FINALISTS: Broomtail Craft Brewery, 6404 Amsterdam Way; Wilmington Homebrew Supply, 824 S. Kerr Ave.
Mexican Restaurant
WINNER: K38 Baja Grill, multiple locations
FINALISTS: El Cerro Grande, multiple locations; La Costa, 3617 Market St.
Outside Dining
WINNER: Bluewater, 4 Marina St., Wrightsville Beach
FINALISTS: Dockside Restaurant & Bar, 1308 Airlie Road; Indochine Restaurant, 7 Wayne Drive
Pizza
WINNER: Pizzetta's Pizza, 4107 Oleander Drive
FINALISTS: Slice of Life, multiple locations; Antonio's Pizza Pasta, multiple locations
Restaurant to open in 2014
WINNER: Tropical Smoothie Café, 2804 S. College Road
FINALISTS: Canape, 1001 N. Fourth St.; Fork N Cork, 122 Market St.
Romantic Restaurant
WINNER: Circa 1922, 8 N. Front St.
FINALISTS: Caprice Bistro, 10 Market St.; Little Dipper Fondue, 138 S. Front St.
Seafood Restaurant
WINNER: Cape Fear Seafood Company, 5226 S. College Road
FINALISTS: Bluewater Grill, 4 Marina St., Wrightsville Beach; Jack Mackerel's Island Grill, 113 K Ave., Kure Beach
Sports Restaurant/Bar
WINNER: Copper Penny, 109 Chestnut St.
FINALISTS: Buffalo Wild Wings, multiple locations; Carolina Ale House, 317 S. College Road
Steakhouse
WINNER: Port City Chop House, 1981 Eastwood Road
FINALISTS: Ruth's Chris Steak House, 301 N. Water St.; Texas Roadhouse, 230 Eastwood Road
Sub/SandwicH Shop
WINNER: Chop's Deli, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Jersey Mike's Sub, multiple locations; Wayfarer Delicatessen & Bistro, 110 S. Front St.
Sushi
WINNER: Nikki's Sushi, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Bento Box, 1121 Military Cutoff Road; Yosake Downtown Sushi Lounge, 33 S. Front St.
Sweet Shop
WINNER: Apple Annie's, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Kilwins Chocolates, 16 Market St.; Sweet n Savory Cafe, 1611 Pavillion Place
Thai Restaurant
WINNER: Indochine, 7 Wayne Drive
FINALISTS: Big Thai, 1319 Military Cutoff Road; Southern Thai, 3715 Patriot Way
Takeout/Delivery
WINNER: Antonio's Pizza Pasta, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Peking Gourmet, 120 S. Front St.; Wok & Roll Restaurant, 2013 Olde Waterford Way, Leland
Vegan/VegetariaN
WINNER: Whole Foods, 3804 Oleander Drive
FINALISTS: Epic Food Co., 1113 Military Cutoff Road; Sea Level City Gourmet, 1015 S. Kerr Ave.
Wings
WINNER: Buffalo Wild Wings, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Copper Penny, 109 Chestnut St.; Wild Wing Café, 1331 Military Cutoff Road
Bed and Breakfast
WINNER: The Verandas, 202 Nun St., Wilmington
FINALISTS: Camellia Cottage Bed & Breakfast, 118 S. Fourth St.; C.W. Worth House, 412 S. Third St.
Bike Shop
WINNER: Two Wheeler Dealer, 4408 Wrightsville Ave.
FINALISTS: Bike Cycles, 6801 Parker Farm Drive; TrySports, 925 Town Center Drive
Bike/Walking Trail
WINNER: John Nesbitt Loop at Wrightsville Beach, 1 Bob Sawyer Drive, Wrightsville Beach
FINALISTS: Hugh MacRae Park, 1799 S. College Road; The Gary Shell Cross-City Trail, throughout city
Country Club
WINNER: Cape Fear Country Club, 1518 Country Club Road
FINALISTS: Country Club of Landfall, 800 Sunrunner Place; Porters Neck Plantation & Country Club, 8403 Vintage Club Drive
Dog Beach/Park
WINNER: Hugh MacRae Park, 1799 S. College Road
FINALISTS: Empie Dog Park, Independence Boulevard and Park Avenue; Oak Island Beach, 3003 E. Oak Island Drive, Oak Island
Family Attraction
WINNER: N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, 900 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach
FINALISTS: Battleship North Carolina, 1 Battleship Road NE; Jungle Rapids, 5320 Oleander Drive
Farmers Market
WINNER: Riverfront Farmers Market, Water Street
FINALISTS: Carolina Beach Farmers Market, Carolina Beach Lake Park, South Lake Park Boulevard, Carolina Beach; Poplar Grove Plantation, 10200 U.S. 17 North
Golf Course
WINNER: Magnolia Greens Golf Plantation, 1800 Linkwood Circle Leland
FINALISTS: Cape Fear National Golf Course at Brunswick Forest, 1281 Cape Fear National Drive, Leland; Country Club of Landfall, 800 Sunrunner Place
Hotel
WINNER: Holiday Inn Resort Wrightsville Beach, 1706 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach
FINALISTS: Blockade Runner Beach Resort, 275 Waynick Blvd., Wrightsville Beach; Hilton Wilmington Riverside, 301 N. Water St.
Marina
WINNER: Bradley Creek, 6338 Oleander Drive
FINALISTS: Joyner Marina, 401 Marina St., Carolina Beach; Seapath Yacht Club, 330 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach
Music Venue
WINNER: Greenfield Lake Amphitheater, 1941 Amphitheater Drive
FINALISTS: Downtown Sundown, Water Street; Ziggy's by the Sea, 208 Market St.
Place for Karaoke
WINNER: Seawitch Café & Tiki Bar, 227 Carolina Beach Ave N., Carolina Beach
FINALISTS: Banks Channel Pub & Grille, 530 Causeway Drive, Wrightsville Beach; Brown Coat Pub & Theatre, 111 Grace St.
Surf Shop
WINNER: Sweetwater Surf Shop, 10 N. Lumina Ave., Wrightsville Beach
FINALISTS: Bert's Surf Shop, 5740 Oleander Drive; Hot Wax Surf Shop, 4510 Hoggard Drive
Tourist Attraction
WINNER: N.C. Aquarium at Fort Fisher, 900 Loggerhead Road, Kure Beach
FINALISTS: Battleship North Carolina, 1 Battleship Road NE; Carolina Beach Boardwalk Amusement Park, 100 Cape Fear Blvd., Carolina Beach
Antiques/Collections
WINNER: The Ivy Cottage, 3020 Market St.
FINALISTS: Cape Fear Antique Center, 1606 Market St.; Michael Moore Antiques, 539 Castle St.
Appliance Store
WINNER: Atlantic Appliance & Hardware, 914 S. Kerr Ave.
FINALISTS: Best Buy, 309 S. College Road; Island Appliance, 5946 Carolina Beach Road
Bookstore
WINNER: Barnes & Noble Booksellers, 850 Inspiration Drive
FINALISTS: Books-A-Million, 3737 Oleander Drive; Old Books on Front Street, 249 N. Front St.
Car Dealership
WINNER: Stevenson Honda, 821 S. College Road
FINALISTS: Bob King Automall, 5115 New Centre Drive; Jeff Gordon Chevrolet, 228 S. College Road
Consignment Clothing
WINNER: Vintage Values, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Clothes Mentor, 4720 New Centre Drive; Encore Consignment Boutique & Gallery, 5814 Oleander Drive.
Consignment Shop
WINNER: Ivy Cottage, 3020 Market St.
Finalists: Kids Teens and Beyond, 5905 Carolina Beach Road; Vintage Values, multiple locations
Florist
WINNER: Julia's Florist, 900 S. Kerr Ave.
FINALISTS: Sweet Nectar, 473 Olde Waterford Way, Leland; Verzaal's Florist, 2516 Independence Blvd.
Furniture Store
WINNER: Custom Home Furniture Galleries, 3514 S. College Road
FINALISTS: Ashley Furniture, multiple locations; Mango Furniture Unlimited, 1319 Military Cutoff Road
Garden Center/Nursery
WINNER: The Plant Place, 6114 Market St.
FINALISTS: Pender Pines Garden Center, 20949 U.S. 17, Hampstead; The Transplanted Garden, 502 S. 16th St.
Grocery Store
WINNER: Harris Teeter, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Trader Joe's, 1437 S. College Road; Whole Foods, 3804 Oleander Drive
Health Food Store
WINNER: Whole Foods, 3804 Oleander Drive
FINALISTS: Lovey's Natural Foods & Cafe, 1319 Military Cutoff, Suite H; Tidal Creek Co-op, 5329 Oleander Drive
Jeweler
WINNER: Reeds Jewelers, 3500 Oleander Drive
FINALISTS: Perry's Emporium, 2520 Independence Blvd.; Kingoff's Jewelers, 3501 Oleander Drive
Mattress Store
WINNER: A Goodnight SleepStore, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Fred's Beds, 11125 U.S. 17; Mattress Firm, multiple locations
Organic Food Selection
WINNER: Whole Foods, 3804 Oleander Drive
FINALISTS: Tidal Creek Co-op, 5329 Oleander Drive; Trader Joe's, 1437 S. College Road
Pawn Shop
WINNER: Jim's Pawn & Guns, 4212 Oleander Drive
FINALISTS: Danny's Pawn Shop, 16865 U.S. 17, Hampstead; Pawn USA, multiple locations
Pet Store
WINNER: Pet Smart, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Aunt Kerry's Pet Stop, 3600 S. College Road; Trulie Dogs, 8258 Market St.
Pre-Owned Car Dealership
WINNER: Bruce Cavanaugh's Automart, 6321 Market St.
FINALISTS: Auto Wholesale, 6003 Market St.; Seasell Auto, 6611 Market St.
Seafood Market
WINNER: Motts Channel Seafood, 120 Short St., Wrightsville Beach
FINALISTS: Cape Fear Seafood Company, 5226 S. College Road; Seaview Crab Company, 6458 Carolina Beach Road
Tattoo Shop
WINNER: Artfuel, 1701 Wrightsville Ave.
FINALISTS: New Union Tattoo Studio, 119 Dock St.; Port City Tattoo, 1305 S. College Road
Wine Shop
WINNER: Wilmington Wine, 605 Castle St.
FINALISTS: Red Bank Wine, 1001 International Drive; The Wine Sampler, 4107 Oleander Drive
Auto Repair Shop
WINNER: Hughes Brothers, 1101 Market St.
FINALISTS: Mobile Tech, 1022 Market St.; Randy's Auto Repair, 3615 Carolina Beach Road
Bank
WINNER: BB&T, Multiple locations
FINALISTS: State Employees Credit Union, multiple locations; Wells Fargo, multiple locations
Car Wash
WINNER: Cruiser's Car Wash, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Buffmasters, 1202 S. College Road; Coastal Car Wash, multiple locations
Cleaning Company
WINNER: Merry Maids, 3201 Randall Parkway
FINALISTS: Dust Bunnies, 4421 Jay Bird Circle; TruShine Custom Cleaning, Wilmington
Door and Window Company
WINNER: Strickland's Window Coverings, 2817 N. 23rd St.
FINALISTS: Window Gang, multiple locations; Window World, 6500 Windmill Way
Fitness Center
WINNER: Planet Fitness, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Gold's Gym, multiple locations; O2 Fitness, multiple locations
Hair Salon
WINNER: Bangz, 1203 S. 43rd St.
FINALISTS: Tanglez Salon & Spa, 4107 Oleander Drive; Paradigm a Fine Salon, 5101 Dunlea Court
Kitchen/Bath Remodeling
WINNER: Dynamic Kitchens & Interiors, 1815 Carolina Beach Road
FINALISTS: Bath Fitter, multiple locations; Kitchen Tune-up, 5751, Oleander Drive
Landscaping Company
WINNER: Middle Sound Landscaping, 1121 Military Cutoff Road
FINALISTS: Bowman's Lawn Care, 5207 Wrightsville Ave.; Gill-T Landscape/Maintenance, 3120 Braemar Lane
Nail Salon
WINNER: Bangz, 1203 S. 43rd St.
FINALISTS: Groove Jet Salon + Spa, 112 Princess St.; Tanglez Salon & Spa, 4107 Oleander Drive,
Pet Grooming/Boarding
WINNER: Paw Beach Pet Resort, 6101 Market St.
FINALISTS: Ginger's Going Green Pet Spa, 8001 Market St., Wilmington; Trulie Dogs, 8258 Market St.
Pharmacy
WINNER: CVS, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Rite Aid, multiple locations; Walgreens, multiple locations
Place to Get a Massage
WINNER: Massage Envy, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Coastal Massage & Bodywork, 2030 Eastwood Road; Ki Spa Salon, 1125 Military Cutoff
Plumber
WINNER: Wrightsville Beach Plumbing Co., 146 Hinton Ave.
FINALISTS: Eastern Plumbing Co., 313 Walnut St.; Stephen D. Jackson, 377 Friday Drive
Real Estate Company
WINNER: Intracoastal Realty, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Advantage, multiple locations; Lanier Property Group, 2512 Independence Blvd.
Tire Shop
WINNER: Black's Tire & Auto Service, multiple locations
FINALISTS: Aspen Tire & Auto, 4306 Wilshire Blvd.; Hughes Brothers, 1101 Market St.
Car Salesperson
WINNER: Kevin Dineen, Bob King, 5115 New Centre Drive
FINALISTS: Scott Mele, Stevenson Honda Acura, 821 S. College Road; Robert Baransky, Jeff Gordon Chevrolet, 228 S. College Road
Chef
WINNER: Keith Rhodes, Catch, 6623 Market St.
FINALISTS: Blake Archer, Antonio's Pizza and Pasta, multiple locations; James Doss, Pembroke's, 1125-A Military Cutoff, and Rx, 421 Castle St.
Chiropractor
WINNER: Sito Chiropractic, 1904 Eastwood Road
FINALISTS: King Chiropractic, 1904 Eastwood Road; Glen Lundy, Ogden Family Chiropractor, 106 Marshall Court
Dentist
WINNER: Albert Bozart, DDS, Bozart Family Dentistry, 6132 Carolina Beach Road
FINALISTS: William Salling, DDS, Salling and Tate, 2002 Eastwood Road; Tim Swing, DDS, Brush Dental Care, 1300 Bridge Barrier Road, Carolina Beach
Doctor
WINNER: Jeremy Holdsworth, MD, Wilmington Family Physicians, 4141 Shipyard Blvd.
FINALISTS: Sandy Brannin, DO, FACOI, Wilmington Health, 6781 Parker Farm Drive; Christopher Cosgrove, MD, Intracoastal Internal Medicine, 4114 Shipyard Blvd.
General Contractor
WINNER: Bill Clark Homes, 127 Racine Drive
FINALISTS: Herrington Homes, 5416 Old Garden Road; M. Fox Construction Inc., 3110 Scarborough Drive
Hair Stylist
WINNER: Sammie McGee, Tanglez Salon & Spa, 4107 Oleander Drive
FINALISTS: Katie Lewis, Bangz Hair Salon, S. 43rd St.; Holly Wright, Paradigm A Fine Salon, 5101 Dunlea Court
High School Coach
WINNER: Scott Braswell, Hoggard High School, 4305 Shipyard Blvd.
FINALISTS: Kevin Motsinger, New Hanover High School, 1307 Market St.; Colleen St. Ledger, Hoggard High School
Lawyer
WINNER: Herbert J. Zimmer, Zimmer and Zimmer, LLP, 111 Princess St.
FINALISTS: Andy McVey, Murchison, Taylor, Gibson PLLC, 16 N. Fifth Ave.; Steve Porter, Law office of Steve Porter, 802 Princess St.
Local Band
WINNER: Machine Gun
FINALISTS: L Shape Lot; South of K
Personal Trainer
WINNER: Bronson Apple, Gold's Gym, 4310 Shipyard Blvd.
FINALISTS: Monty Miller, Monty's Boot Camp, 5605 Oleander Drive; LaMaine Williams, The Fitness Squad, 1904 Eastwood Road
Preacher
WINNER: Mike Ashcraft, Port City Community Church, 250 Vision Drive
FINALISTS: Jim Everette, First Baptist Church, 411 Market St.; Paul Phillips, Christ Community Church, 4555 Fairview Drive
Real Estate Agent
WINNER: Stephanie Lanier, Lanier Property Group, 2512 Independence Blvd.
FINALISTS: Kathleen Baylies, Just For Buyers Realty, 5 Silva Terra Drive; Brett Knowles, Coldwell Banker Sea Coast Realty, 1001 Military Cutoff Road
Teacher
WINNER: Ashley Wells, Holly Tree Elementary School, 3020 Web Trace
FINALISTS: Sharon Radford, Parsley Elementary School, 3518 Masonboro Loop Road; Nicki Richmond, Hoggard High School, 4305 Shipyard Blvd.