Winner: Ricos Products
830 S. Presa St.
(210) 222-1415
ricos.com
As far as San Antonio success stories go, Ricos Products is one for the books. Founded in 1909 by Sicilian immigrant Rosario “Frank” Liberto, the endeavor began as a humble grocery store and butcher shop. Over the years, his Liberto Market and Grocery became a major player in the peanut market, selling to passenger trains and traveling circuses and eventually emerging as one of the nation’s first concessions suppliers. Eventually renamed Ricos Products after his son Enrico, the business expanded across Texas by opening a string of snack bars selling hot dogs, popcorn and snow cones in malls and drive-in theaters. In 1976, Ricos struck gold with the crowd-friendly innovation of “concession nachos” — a winning combination of melted cheese sauce, sturdy tortilla chips and jalapeños. Since becoming a mainstay in movie theaters and stadiums in the 1970s, Ricos nachos have handily conquered the global snack market and are now sold in more than 60 countries around the world. To celebrate this rich history, the family- owned business even established a Ricos Museum at its Southtown headquarters, which also houses a cash-and-carry store echoing its roots as a homegrown grocer.
2. Son of a Sailor
904 Nolan St.
sonofasailor.co
3. Casa Chocolates
555 W. Bitters Road, Suite 127
(210) 570-2225
casachocolates.com
830 S. Presa St.
(210) 222-1415
ricos.com
As far as San Antonio success stories go, Ricos Products is one for the books. Founded in 1909 by Sicilian immigrant Rosario “Frank” Liberto, the endeavor began as a humble grocery store and butcher shop. Over the years, his Liberto Market and Grocery became a major player in the peanut market, selling to passenger trains and traveling circuses and eventually emerging as one of the nation’s first concessions suppliers. Eventually renamed Ricos Products after his son Enrico, the business expanded across Texas by opening a string of snack bars selling hot dogs, popcorn and snow cones in malls and drive-in theaters. In 1976, Ricos struck gold with the crowd-friendly innovation of “concession nachos” — a winning combination of melted cheese sauce, sturdy tortilla chips and jalapeños. Since becoming a mainstay in movie theaters and stadiums in the 1970s, Ricos nachos have handily conquered the global snack market and are now sold in more than 60 countries around the world. To celebrate this rich history, the family- owned business even established a Ricos Museum at its Southtown headquarters, which also houses a cash-and-carry store echoing its roots as a homegrown grocer.
2. Son of a Sailor
904 Nolan St.
sonofasailor.co
3. Casa Chocolates
555 W. Bitters Road, Suite 127
(210) 570-2225
casachocolates.com
Shopping
Winner: Adult Megaplex
Multiple locations
megaplexsa.com
2. Romantix
8622 Huebner Road #101
(726) 223-4666
romantix.com
3. Love Shack Boutique
Multiple locations
theloveshackboutique.com
Multiple locations
megaplexsa.com
2. Romantix
8622 Huebner Road #101
(726) 223-4666
romantix.com
3. Love Shack Boutique
Multiple locations
theloveshackboutique.com
Winner: La Segunda Bartique & Gallery
1302 S. St. Mary's St.
(210) 314-2740
instagram.com/la_segunda_bartiqueandgallery
Some antique outlets and vintage stores exude posh sophistication, while others ooze funky charm. La Segunda Bartique & Gallery is squarely in the latter category, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Tucked into a two-story house in Lavaca, the retail space, bar and neighborhood hangout is chock-full of kitschy, freaky and modishly hip finds, ranging from ’60s and ’70s furniture in eye-popping colors to retro hi-fi gear to mind-melting black-light posters. Crates of vintage vinyl fill one room, and the upstairs clothing selection boasts an abundance of well-worn concert shirts, including a sweet King Diamond tour tee that some metalhead just won’t be able to live without. San Antonio musician Eddie Hernandez, La Segundo’s owner, is adept at playing affable host. On a recent visit, he bounced between running the register, talking to customers and tending the four-seat bar — vintage, of course — which offers craft beer, micheladas and wines by the glass to fuel shopping excursions. No, you probably won’t find a Victorian walnut armoire while browsing La Segunda, but you just may leave with a vibrant velvet painting to liven up your living space. And you’ll have a damn good time making your purchase.
2. Karolina's Antiques
1709 Blanco Road
(210) 731-9787
karolinasantiques.com
3. Armadillo Antiques N More
7243 Blanco Road
(210) 236-5340
instagram.com/armadilloantiquessa/
1302 S. St. Mary's St.
(210) 314-2740
instagram.com/la_segunda_bartiqueandgallery
Some antique outlets and vintage stores exude posh sophistication, while others ooze funky charm. La Segunda Bartique & Gallery is squarely in the latter category, and we wouldn’t have it any other way. Tucked into a two-story house in Lavaca, the retail space, bar and neighborhood hangout is chock-full of kitschy, freaky and modishly hip finds, ranging from ’60s and ’70s furniture in eye-popping colors to retro hi-fi gear to mind-melting black-light posters. Crates of vintage vinyl fill one room, and the upstairs clothing selection boasts an abundance of well-worn concert shirts, including a sweet King Diamond tour tee that some metalhead just won’t be able to live without. San Antonio musician Eddie Hernandez, La Segundo’s owner, is adept at playing affable host. On a recent visit, he bounced between running the register, talking to customers and tending the four-seat bar — vintage, of course — which offers craft beer, micheladas and wines by the glass to fuel shopping excursions. No, you probably won’t find a Victorian walnut armoire while browsing La Segunda, but you just may leave with a vibrant velvet painting to liven up your living space. And you’ll have a damn good time making your purchase.
2. Karolina's Antiques
1709 Blanco Road
(210) 731-9787
karolinasantiques.com
3. Armadillo Antiques N More
7243 Blanco Road
(210) 236-5340
instagram.com/armadilloantiquessa/
Winner: Level Up Bike Shop
1409 E. Commerce St., Suite C
(210) 505-7686
levelupbikeshop.com
2. HUB MRKT Bikes
1407 S. St. Mary's St.
(210) 334-0205
hubmrktbikes.com
3. Britton's Bicycle Shop
434 N. Loop 1604 West #1109
(210) 656-1655
brittonbikes.com
1409 E. Commerce St., Suite C
(210) 505-7686
levelupbikeshop.com
2. HUB MRKT Bikes
1407 S. St. Mary's St.
(210) 334-0205
hubmrktbikes.com
3. Britton's Bicycle Shop
434 N. Loop 1604 West #1109
(210) 656-1655
brittonbikes.com
Winner: Nowhere Bookshop
5154 Broadway
(210) 640-7260
nowherebookshop.com
Native Texan Jenny Lawson — aka The Bloggess — made a name for herself by penning soul- bearing slices of life which have been collected in the New York Times bestsellers Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir (2012), Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things (2015) and You Are Here: An Owner’s Manual for Dangerous Minds (2017). Beloved for her earnest and humorous approach to writing about depression and anxiety, Lawson boasts an irreverent spirit that’s brilliantly reflected in her smartly curated Nowhere Bookshop. Located on a fairly traditional stretch of Broadway in Alamo Heights, Nowhere goes far beyond the expectations of a San Antonio bookstore by stocking an incredibly diverse assortment of titles — not to mention coffee, wine and beer. During a recent visit, we sipped a glass of Pinot Noir while perusing staff-approved books including Johnny Compton’s Gothic horror fantasy Devils Kill Devils, Madeline Miller’s subversive historical fiction Circe and Alex Michaelides’ psychological thriller The Silent Patient. And while books are the main affair at Nowhere, don’t sleep on the excellent assortment of giftables, which run the gamut from LGBTQ+ and pro-choice stickers to artsy greeting cards that employ kitty cats to deliver such pointed messages as “Fuck Elon and His Dumbass Cars and Rockets.”
2. The Twig Book Shop
306 Pearl Parkway #106
(210) 826-6411
thetwig.com
3. Nine Lives Books
7959 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 119
(210) 647-5656
mobile.ninelivesbooks.com
5154 Broadway
(210) 640-7260
nowherebookshop.com
Native Texan Jenny Lawson — aka The Bloggess — made a name for herself by penning soul- bearing slices of life which have been collected in the New York Times bestsellers Let’s Pretend This Never Happened: A Mostly True Memoir (2012), Furiously Happy: A Funny Book About Horrible Things (2015) and You Are Here: An Owner’s Manual for Dangerous Minds (2017). Beloved for her earnest and humorous approach to writing about depression and anxiety, Lawson boasts an irreverent spirit that’s brilliantly reflected in her smartly curated Nowhere Bookshop. Located on a fairly traditional stretch of Broadway in Alamo Heights, Nowhere goes far beyond the expectations of a San Antonio bookstore by stocking an incredibly diverse assortment of titles — not to mention coffee, wine and beer. During a recent visit, we sipped a glass of Pinot Noir while perusing staff-approved books including Johnny Compton’s Gothic horror fantasy Devils Kill Devils, Madeline Miller’s subversive historical fiction Circe and Alex Michaelides’ psychological thriller The Silent Patient. And while books are the main affair at Nowhere, don’t sleep on the excellent assortment of giftables, which run the gamut from LGBTQ+ and pro-choice stickers to artsy greeting cards that employ kitty cats to deliver such pointed messages as “Fuck Elon and His Dumbass Cars and Rockets.”
2. The Twig Book Shop
306 Pearl Parkway #106
(210) 826-6411
thetwig.com
3. Nine Lives Books
7959 Fredericksburg Road, Suite 119
(210) 647-5656
mobile.ninelivesbooks.com
Winner: Julian Gold Bridal
4109 McCullough Ave.
(210) 824-2493
juliangoldbridal.com
2. Olivia Grace Bridal
4343 McCullough Ave.
(210) 876-5366
oliviagracebridalshop.com
3. Bridal Galleria of Texas
2504 N. Main Ave.
(210) 342-5752
bridalgalleriaoftexas.com
4109 McCullough Ave.
(210) 824-2493
juliangoldbridal.com
2. Olivia Grace Bridal
4343 McCullough Ave.
(210) 876-5366
oliviagracebridalshop.com
3. Bridal Galleria of Texas
2504 N. Main Ave.
(210) 342-5752
Winner: Red McCombs Ford
8333 I-10 West
(210) 514-1363
saford.com
2. North Park Subaru
9635 San Pedro Ave.
(210) 817-1000
northparksubaru.net
3. Genesis of Northwest San Antonio
25766 I-10 West, Boerne
(726) 207-3479
genesisnorthwest.com
8333 I-10 West
(210) 514-1363
saford.com
2. North Park Subaru
9635 San Pedro Ave.
(210) 817-1000
northparksubaru.net
3. Genesis of Northwest San Antonio
25766 I-10 West, Boerne
(726) 207-3479
genesisnorthwest.com
Winner: Hazel Sky Smoke & Vape
Multiple locations
hazelskysmokeshop.com
2. Smokerz Paradize
Multiple locations
smokerzparadize.com
3. Smokers Galaxy
Multiple locations
sasmokersgalaxy.com
Multiple locations
hazelskysmokeshop.com
2. Smokerz Paradize
Multiple locations
smokerzparadize.com
3. Smokers Galaxy
Multiple locations
sasmokersgalaxy.com
Winner: Bee’s Wellness Cafe & Juicery
3030 Thousand Oaks Drive, Suite 102
(210) 836-8141
beeswellnesscafe.com
Bee's Wellness Cafe & Juicery is way more than a CBD shop, which helps explain its fourth consecutive win in this category. With a guided wellness program based equally on hard science and holistic practices, it’s a go-to for anyone with chronic stress, fatigue, autoimmune disorders and emotional imbalances. Founded by reiki practitioner Brook "Blazey" Richie and breathwork expert David Richie, the duo takes a root-cause approach to helping their clientele uncover the reasons they feel out of sorts, then offers real-world solutions.
2. Alamo Botanicals
Multiple locations
alamobotanicals.com
3. Creme De La Hemp
(210) 843-2921
facebook.com/cremedelahemp
3030 Thousand Oaks Drive, Suite 102
(210) 836-8141
beeswellnesscafe.com
Bee's Wellness Cafe & Juicery is way more than a CBD shop, which helps explain its fourth consecutive win in this category. With a guided wellness program based equally on hard science and holistic practices, it’s a go-to for anyone with chronic stress, fatigue, autoimmune disorders and emotional imbalances. Founded by reiki practitioner Brook "Blazey" Richie and breathwork expert David Richie, the duo takes a root-cause approach to helping their clientele uncover the reasons they feel out of sorts, then offers real-world solutions.
2. Alamo Botanicals
Multiple locations
alamobotanicals.com
3. Creme De La Hemp
(210) 843-2921
facebook.com/cremedelahemp
Winner: Fox & Tots
502 Embassy Oaks, Suite 109
(210) 502-0004
foxandtots.com
2. Hopscotch Kids Boutique
555 W. Bitters Road
(210) 413-8686
facebook.com/minttobechildrensboutique
3. Bambinos Boutique
5926 Broadway
(210) 824-7676
bambinosboutique.com
502 Embassy Oaks, Suite 109
(210) 502-0004
foxandtots.com
2. Hopscotch Kids Boutique
555 W. Bitters Road
(210) 413-8686
facebook.com/minttobechildrensboutique
3. Bambinos Boutique
5926 Broadway
(210) 824-7676
bambinosboutique.com