Better than most; the Best of Mesquite winners announced

No one can deny that the Mesquite economy for the past half-decade has been a turnip. But now, there’s the slightest hint that the economy may turn up.

Housing is a major driver in an economic recovery and there is new construction going on out Mesquite Heights north of twon and more planned above the Wolf Creek Golf Club and another 40-unit subdivision at Sidewinder Drive and Anthem Ridge out Falcon Ridge Parkway near the Sun City area.

Probably the biggest and most important business news of the past year was the final demolition of the grandfather of Mesquite casinos, the Oasis Hotel and Casino in the 900 block of West Mesquite Boulevard. This clears the way for Mesquite Gaming’s next venture to be built in the prime location visible from Interstate 15 and just off the West Mesquite exit. We all wait with anticipation for whatever and whenever the announcement will come.

Mesquite Gaming also sold the closed Star Hotel to the Urban Land Group, which is owned by the Lee family, owners of the Eureka Casino Resort in Mesquite and the Eureka Casino in Las Vegas.

But while we wait to find out what will be new at those sites, there’s more immediate things happening.

We welcome more new business to town, showing there are entrepreneurs who believe in Mesquite’s future. Dollar General is opening at 342 W. Mesquite Blvd.

That makes three dollar stores in town: the Dollar Tree, 1085 W. Pioneer Blvd., and Family Dollar, 170 Riverside Road. We may need to add a new “dollar-store” category to the 2014 Best of Mesquite Readers’ Poll.

Mesquite Extreme Power Sports Lot, 520 W. Mesquite Blvd., adjacent to the U.S. Post Office, began auto sales in downtown this summer.

And it appears we’ll also have another eatery in Mesquite in the near future. A “coming soon” banner is in the window at the closed Arby’s Roast Beef restaurant, and above the door is the new sign: El Paso Taco Shop. That eat-in or drive-thru facility is attached to the Arco AMPM gas station/mini mart at 325 N. Sandhill Blvd.

The addition of the El Paso Taco Stand will bring Mesquite’s Mexican food outlets to… to… well you can try to count them. Doesn’t anyone eat hot dogs anymore?

El Paso will enter the 2014 poll with some tough competition. Los Lupes, 312 W. Mesquite Blvd., #2, has all but owned the Best Mexican Food category since the reader poll began, and Taco Bell, a new business in the reader poll this year, won top honors for Best Fast Food: it must be those Locos Tacos.

As for “owning” the reader poll, that designation would have to go the Eureka Casino Resort this year. The Eureka, located at 275 Mesa Blvd., won in 13 different categories.

Eureka’s coffee shop, the Mason Street Courtyard won first place for Best Breakfast. Second place in that category went to Peggy Sue’s, 380 N. Sandhill Blvd.

The Experience Buffet inside the north entrance to the Eureka was voted Best Buffet by our readers. It won’t be in next year’s polling, however. It’s been closed, remodeled and reopened today as the Town Square, a buffet with music and events, including the Thursday evening Pasta Garden, a Friday and Saturday seafood buffet and a champagne brunch on Sunday. Readers voted Sierra’s Buffet their second choice. It’s located at 100 W. Pioneer Blvd., inside the Virgin River Casino.

The Eureka also was voted the Best Casino with the CasaBlanca, 950 W. Mesquite Blvd., voted the runner-up.

One of the things that make the Eureka such a success is reflected in its first place finish in Best Customer Service. Shereen’s at 50 S. Arrowhead Lane, Ste. C, was voted second place.

The Season’s Lounge in the Eureka was voted Best Entertainment with its Thursday, Friday and Saturday live performances and dancing. And Season’s outdoor area around the fire pit just makes the experience all the more enchanting now that evening temperatures are no long in three digits. The CasaBlanca was voted No. 2 for its live entertainment at the Skydome Lounge, as well as the summertime Casapoolooza rock’n’roll parties around the outdoor pool.

Season’s Lounge also was rated tops as Best Night Spot, with last year’s winner, Envy, 792 W. Pioneer Blvd, winning second.

Gregory’s Mesquite Grill in the Eureka won the hearts and votes of our readers as Best Fine Dining. Owner Greg Lee pulled out all the stops when he remodeled Gregory’s and put in the Mesquite-wood fired grill. As well as steaks, prime rib and live Maine lobster, the dinner house also features a wide variety of Italian dishes.

With its beef all Chicago Stockyards Prime Beef and tableside preparation for drinks, salads and desserts, Katherine’s at the CasaBlanca edged out other Mesquite dinner houses to finish second in the category.

The Eureka maxed the Best Prime Rib category, with Gregory’s capturing first place and the Mason Street Courtyard earning second place.

The Eureka also won the most votes for Best Hotel/Motel with the CasaBlanca next in line.

Gregory’s also was selected as the Best Restaurant with Katherine’s in second place. Katherine’s also secured the runner-up spot behind The Experience for Best Seafood.

Finishing it first places, the Eureka also was voted Best Slots, Best Table Gaming and Best Video Poker with the Virgin River Casino voted second for Best Slots and Best Video Poker and the CasaBlanca voted No 2 for Best Table Gaming.

The Mason Street Courtyard finished second in three other categories: Best Burger, Best Family Restaurant and Best Oriental Food.

Top votes in those categories went to the Golden West, 91 E. Mesquite Blvd., for Best Burger, although those accompanying homemade potato chips may have helped earn a few votes; Best Family Restaurant was won by Peggy Sue’s; and best oriental food went to the Panda Garden, 12. W. Mesquite Blvd.

Taco Bell, 450 N. Sandhill Blvd., entered the Mesquite Local News Reader Poll for the first time with a first place for Best Fast Food, with Jack in the Box, 330 N. Sandhill Blvd., finishing second.

A newcomer last year, Cucina Italiana, 471 W. Mesquite Blvd., defended its 2012 Best Italian Restaurant award with another first place win this year. Hugo’s Hilltop, 555 Highland Drive, accumulated the second highest vote tally.

Los Lupes added yet another first place for Best Mexican Restaurant, with La Fonda, the newest Mexican restaurant to serve its south-of-the-border fare at Suite 120, 1085 W. Pioneer Blvd., won second place.

And Bella’s, 432 Riverside Road, also gathered another first place win for Best Pizza, with Pizza Hut, 570 W. Pioneer Blvd., #101, coming in second.

Other winners in the 2013 Best of Mesquite Readers’ Poll included the Mesquite Recreation Center, 100 W. Old Mill Road, for Best Athletic Center. Anytime Fitness, 550 W. Pioneer Blvd., #150, won the runner-up.

The Best ATV Service/Repair went to Mesquite Extreme Powersports, 772 Cimarron Court. Polaris World, 215 E. Highway 91, just a smidgen over the Arizona line but still part of the Mesquite community was awarded second place by readers.

Best Auto Repair first place was won by ACT, 770 Cimarron Court, with The Shop, 730 Preston Drive close behind.

Walmart, 1110 W. Pioneer Blvd., provides the Best Oil Change according to the 2013 poll. ACT placed second in the polling.

America First Credit Union, with its main branch at 590 W. Mesquite Blvd., and its satellite branch, 1120 W. Pioneer Blvd., in Walmart received the most votes in the Best Bank category. Wells Fargo, 611 W. Mesquite Blvd., was second.

The Best Cellular Company was won by Verizon, 1135 W. Pioneer Blvd., #103. Second place went to Sprint, 355 W. Mesquite Blvd., C20.

Our readers also selected their favorites in several health-care categories.

Smith’s Drug, 350 N. Sandhill Blvd., was tops as Best Pharmacy. Walgreen’s, 329 N. Sandhill Blvd., finished in second.

Readers named Dr. Philip Hartwell, 190 E. Mesquite Blvd., #1, as Best Doctor. Second place was awarded to Dr. Henry Alfaro, 1301 Bertha Howe Ave., #1.

Dr. Alex Blazzard, 840 Pinnacle Court, #6A, is rated the Best Dentist in Mesquite by our readers, with Virgin Valley Dental, 760 W. Pioneer, #3, their second choice.

And Best Chiropractor was won by Dr. Leigh Roessner, 840 Pinnacle Court, 5A. Dr. Leo Black, 12 W. Mesquite Blvd., #103-104, got the nod for second place.

Sometimes, it’s our pets that need medical attention. The Best Pet Health Care award went to Virgin Valley Veterinary Hospital, 660 Hardy Way, #44. Mesquite Veterinary Clinic, 371 Riverside Road, received the second-highest amount of votes.

If you’re looking for other kinds of professional services, our readers recommend Bill Mitchell of Farmers Insurance, 540 W. Mesquite Blvd., as the Best Insurance Agent in town, but don’t forget Lisa Wilde with State Farm, 355 W. Mesquite Blvd., D40. She was voted No. 2.

Best Real Estate Agent was won by Melanie Cohen, 1055 W. Pioneer Blvd., with Maggie Ireland listed as our readers’ No. 2 choice. You can reach Ireland at 435-650-0763.

Premier Properties, 1055 W. Pioneer Blvd., was deemed the Best Real Estate Office in our poll. Desert Gold, 581 W. Mesquite Blvd., was ranked second.

To get your taxes done or books straightened out, Liberty Tax, 312 W. Mesquite Blvd., #108, was rated at the top for Best Tax Preparer & Bookkeeping. H&R Block, 483 W. Mesquite Blvd., #B, was right behind.

If something or some things are bugging you, check out Jesse’s Pest Control, voted Best Pest Control. Contact the business at 702-346-2224. Bulldog Pest Control, 71 W. First North St., came in second

If you’re looking to have a nice yard, the award for Best Residential Lawn & Tree Care was won by M&M Lawn Care, 702-346-1202. Second place went to Landtrends, 702-346-9115.

Best Commercial Landscaping was won by Kokopelli, 1485 W. Pioneer Blvd. The runner-up was Odyssey, 601 Summit Court.

The Best Plumbing/Appliance Repair category was won by Lindi Corp, 50 N. Sandhill Blvd. The Drain Man Plumbing and Sewer, which can be reached at 702-346-0666, won second place.

Capp Tech, operated by Peggy Pope, was voted Best Computer Repair. You can reach Pope at 702-346-6149. The runner-up was Computer Diagnostics, owned by George Cox. He can be contacted at 702-346-4217

If you need something fixed around the house, Call Joe at 702-526-0274. Call Joe was voted Best Handyman in the 2013 Best of Mesquite Readers’ Poll. Lindi Corp got the nod as number two in the category.

How about you? There’re a lot of businesses in town that will cater to your personal needs.

Try Shereen’s for a new coiffeur. It was tops in polling for Best Hair Salon. Number two, The View, upstairs in Suite 211 at 550 W. Pioneer Blvd., also will do a fine job.

The View was named Best Skin Care in this year’s poll, with the Eureka Spa the runner-up. It also took second place in the Best Spa category.

Mesquite Local News readers voted the CasaBlanca Spa the Best Spa. And it’s secluded, gorgeous setting in a rocky alcove behind the hotel’s outdoor pool only added to its allure.

Rio Nails at 355 W. Mesquite Blvd., D25, was voted the Best Nail Salon with Star Nails at 312 W. Mesquite Blvd., #6, elected to second place.

Now, about how you’re dressed. If you want to look classy, the sales help at Beall’s, 1165 W. Pioneers Blvd., can help you or the spouse find the right evening or casual wear. That’s why our readers voted the store Best Clothing Store. And Walmart, just across West Pioneer Boulevard was voted second place.

But maybe you’re looking for something vintage. Klassik Kloset, 312 W. Mesquite Blvd., #114, has a wide range of apparel from the closets of others. That’s why it was voted Best Consignment Store. Number two in the category doesn’t sell clothes, but Rooster Cottage in the Redd Hills Shopping Center, 748 W. Pioneer Blvd., does have some excellent furniture, accessories and even some great art for your walls.

So you, the family and the house are looking good. But if Fido is a little bit shaggy, you might plan a trip to the winner of the Best Pet Grooming category. Desert Dog Day Spa, 50 S. Arrowhead Lane, Ste. A, has that honor, with Pampered Pooches, 312 W. Mesquite Blvd., #104, winning second place.

We’re near the end of the winners’ list of the 2013 Best of Mesquite Readers’ Poll.

But you really can’t talk about Mesquite, at all without mentioning the community’s seven fine golf courses, which add so much to the lifestyle of this paradise… and the economy.

Our voters rated the Oasis Golf Club, 100 Palmer Lane, as the Best Golf Course in Mesquite. The Oasis is Mesquite’s only 36-hole golf course. It combines the 18-hole Palmer Course, designed by golf legend Arnold Palmer, with the 18-hole Canyons course. The courses set astride the 29,000 square-foot Oasis Golf Clubhouse, which features the Redd Room for fine dining, the Grill Room and the pro shop.

The golf club includes a driving range, chipping green and two putting greens.

The Wolf Creek Golf Club, 403 Paradise Way, was elected to second place out of that field of seven courses.

That concludes all of the defined categories. But there’s one last one. Some businesses are readers’ favorites, but don’t fit into a general category. So there’s the Readers’ Choice award.

The 2013 Best of Mesquite Readers’ Choice winner is Smith’s Express Gas Station, 350 N. Sandhill Blvd. We don’t ask readers to tell us why they vote like they do, but chances are good Smith wins because of the gasoline discounts motorists get by shopping at Smith’s Food & Drug Center. And the runner-up in the Readers’ Choice is Big Guys Small Engine Repair, 621 Hardy Way, #8.

If you are not familiar with any of these businesses, try them out. They likely won for a good reason. And let them know that winning the Best of Mesquite is why you’re shopping with them.

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