Best Art Gallery: Granary Gallery
636 Old County Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-0455, granarygallery.com
Runner-up: Island Images/ Crossroads Gallery
57 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 774-563-0109, islandimagesgallery.com
Open year-round, the Granary Gallery is a showcase for fine art and antiques. The owners’ collection includes paintings by Thomas Hart Benton and Loïs Mailou Jones, photographs by Alfred Eisenstaedt, sculptural works, and fine jewelry. Photo-oriented Island Images and inspirational photographer Michael Blanchard’s Crossroads Gallery share a space on bustling Circuit Avenue.
Best Bait and Tackle Shop: Coop’s Bait & Tackle
147 Edgartown–West Tisbury Road, Edgartown, 508-627-3909
Runner-up: Dick’s Bait & Tackle
108 New York Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-7669
If you want to catch fish, go to the guy who knows how to catch them. Coop is that guy. A huge variety of fishing gear greets visitors to his shop on the Edgartown–West Tisbury Road, where he hands out advice and instruction to experienced anglers and newbies alike with patience and wisdom. Dick’s Bait & Tackle in Oak Bluffs is another favorite for gear and fishing intelligence.
Best Children’s Clothing: Basics Clothing Company
24 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-8819, facebook.com/basicsandeastaway
Runner-up: Rainy Day
66 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-1830, rainydaymv.com
From winter boots to summer shorts, Basics Clothing Company has a well-stocked kids’ department that more than holds its own with the men’s and women’s selections. Rainy Day sells gift-worthy children’s and babies’ things, including toys, dishes, and clothes. Both shops are open year-round.
Best New Store/Business: Rosewater Wine & Spirits
65 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-939-4459, facebook.com/rosewaterspirits
Runner-up: Sleek MV
30 Main Street, Vineyard Haven
Craft beer, wines, and liquor line the shelves at one of Edgartown’s newest businesses, Rosewater Wine & Spirits. In addition to the standards, you’ll find trendy, up-and-coming brands and a selection of stylish barware. Sleek MV is a welcome addition to Vineyard Haven, with trendy women’s clothing and accessories that never top $100.
Best Flowers: Morrice Florist
149 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-0392, morriceflorist.com
Runner-up: Flowers by Donaroma’s
271 Upper Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-3036, donaromas.com
Morrice Florist is the Island’s go-to for all things floral, from simple bouquets to extravagant arrangements for weddings. The vintage greenhouse is available to rent, and the shop is filled with fresh plants, letterpress cards, and tasteful gifts. Flowers by Donaroma’s sells cachepots, vases, and gifts to complement freshly made, artful arrangements.
Best Furniture/ Home Goods Store: LeRoux at Home
62 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-0030, lerouxkitchen.com
Runner-up: Vineyard Decorators
35 Airport Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-9197, vineyarddecorators.com
Downstairs, LeRoux at Home carries the Vineyard’s most extensive selection of goods for kitchen and table. Upstairs, the store’s bed and bath department spans basic to luxe, with an assortment of other home décor items. Vineyard Decorators has a large selection of indoor and outdoor furniture, window treatments, rugs, and décor. It also offers interior design services.
Best Gift Shop: Rainy Day
66 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-1830, rainydaymv.com
Runner-up: Alley’s General Store
1045 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-0088, mvpreservation.org
Finding the perfect present is a breeze at Rainy Day, where you’ll see everything from affordable trinkets, attractive cards, and by-the-sheet wrapping paper to high-end gifts, linens, and tableware. The historic Alley’s General Store is packed with goods and toys of every description, as well as groceries, coffee, and snacks.
Best Hardware Store: Shirley’s Hardware
374 State Road, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-3070, shirleyshardwaremv.com
Runner-up: Granite
242 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road, Edgartown, 508-627-3232
Shirley’s Hardware earns raves for its staff expertise and well-chosen assortment of goods – clamming gear and Weber grills along with sprinklers and hoses, roof rakes, and household needs. Granite has a fully stocked hardware store downstairs and a wide array of goods, toys, and craft supplies upstairs.
Best Garden Center/Nursery: Jardin Mahoney
45 Edgartown–Vineyard Haven Road, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-3511, jardinmahoneymv.com
Runner-up: Donaroma’s
271 Upper Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8366, donaromasnursery.com
Jardin Mahoney’s fan base keeps growing. The expansive nursery offers not only a vast selection of plants, soils, garden tools, and accessories, but also a highly skilled and knowledgeable staff to answer any questions. Donaroma’s is famous for its
fanciful outdoor displays and well-tended municipal plantings. The greenhouse shop is well stocked even in the winter.
Best Jeweler: CB Stark Jewelers
53A Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-2284
10 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-1260, cbstark.com
Runner-up: Claudia
51 Main Street, Edgartown, 508-627-8306
34 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-5465, claudiamv.com
For more than fifty years CB Stark has dazzled the Island with its original gold and silver creations, including Island-themed necklaces, bracelets, rings, and charms. Claudia, another Island institution, carries a wide selection of jewelry from the U.S. and overseas designers, alongside fine watches, boutique hair accessories, and luxury fragrances.
Best Men’s Clothing: Green Room
71 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6888, vineyardsurf.com
Runner-up: Basics Clothing Company
24 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-8819, facebook.com/ basicsandeastaway
No longer just a surf and skate stop, the Green Room now serves as the Island equivalent of a well-stocked department store, with socks and boxers, sportswear, footgear, and outerwear from Patagonia, North Face, Frye, and other top brands. It’s indispensable Island shopping. Basics lives up to its name with clothing, shoes, boots, and accessories for all seasons.
Best Pharmacy: Leslie’s Drug Store
65 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-1010
Runner-up: Conroy Apothecary
459 State Road, West Tisbury, 508-693-7070
82 Pennacook Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-696-0700, conroyapothecary.net
Leslie’s carries a select assortment of toiletries, stationery, and beach supplies – and, of course, everything you need for your medicine cabinet or first aid kit. The pharmacists will answer your questions with a smile. Conroy’s two locations have gifts, fragrances, snacks, and newspapers, as well as prescription services and other health supplies.
Best Shoes: Green Room
71 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6888, vineyardsurf.com
Runner-up: Basics Clothing Company
24 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-8819, facebook.com/basicsandeastaway
From Vans, Birkenstocks, and Hunter boots to the latest BØrn, Dansko, and Steve Madden designs, the Green Room’s shoe department stocks sought-after brands for women and men. Basics carries comfy sneakers and boots for all ages from brands like Skechers and Crocs, as well as flirty sandals and platforms.
Best Women’s Clothing: Green Room
71 Main Street, Vineyard Haven, 508-693-6888, vineyardsurf.com
Runner-up: Basics Clothing Company
24 Circuit Avenue, Oak Bluffs, 508-693-8819, facebook.com/basicsandeastaway
Whatever the occasion, if it’s happening on the Vineyard you can dress for it from the women’s department at the Green Room, which offers a seasonally updated collection of jeans, sportswear, party clothes, and lingerie, as well as outerwear and accessories. Basics carries popular brands such as Hue, Smartwool, Billabong, and Nautica.