Best of the Quad Cities 2005: Business

Alternative-health-care provider 1. Palmer Chiropractic Clinic 2. Dennis Hagemann, Hagemann Chiropractic Center 3. Brad Merritt, Merritt Chiropractic Clinic Best alternative health care- Palmer Chiropractic Clinics This year, Davenport's Palmer Chiropractic Clinic received the Reader's citation for best alternative health care in the Quad Cities, and because it's been around forever, it's safe to say it did have a leg - as well as a neck, spine, and lower back - up on the competition. D.D. Palmer, in fact, founded the chiropractic profession here in 1895, and two years later, he created the institution that would become the Palmer College of Chiropractic; more than 100 years later, the Davenport campus employs 427 faculty and staff members and includes 1,631 students, and the name Palmer has become synonymous with affordable, high-quality health care provided by - as described by Director of Media Relations Lori Leipold - "a team of doctors and student externs committed to helping them [patients] achieve optimum health." Leipold adds that "because of its history, its leadership, and its reputation for educational and clinical excellence," Palmer is the ideal destination for those "looking for non-invasive, natural options for their health-care needs," and Leipold is excited about the 2007 opening of Palmer's Chiropractic Learning Resource Center, "which will include a world-class, state-of-the-art outpatient clinic." 2007 might mark the institute's 110th birthday, but it sounds like Palmer patients are the ones who'll be receiving the gift.

- Mike Schulz

Fitness club
1. YMCA
2. Gold's Gym
3. Ultimate Fitness

Flower shop
1. Hy-Vee Food Stores
2. K'nees Florists
3. Colman Florist & Greenhouses

Best flower shop - Hy-Vee Food Stores

Price, variety, freshness, and service are the keys to Hy-Vee's success in the floral business. Paula Evans, self-proclaimed "most experienced designer" at the Utica Ridge Road and 53rd Street store in Davenport, says Hy-Vee's popularity is due, in part, to its wide variety of styles - anywhere from traditional to contemporary.

"Our arrangements are reasonably priced," added Evans, "and we keep our flowers very fresh. If anything looks iffy, out it goes. We have a very friendly and knowledgeable staff." Evans herself has a college degree in floral culture.

Additionally, Hy-Vee staff will do everything possible to meet customer expectations - from designing arrangements for specific events to finding an out-of-season flower. "If a customer wants something, we do our best to get it," Evans said. "We call around to vendors 'til we find what they're looking for."

For Valentine's Day, Hy-Vee will have in-house displays ranging in price from $17.50 to $35. "In our location we have people on fixed budgets and others who are willing to spend any amount," Evans said. "We'll have Valentine arrangements from $250 to $300."

Hy-Vee flower-shop numbers are listed in the telephone book by location.

Johanna Welzenbach-Hilliard

Place to buy cool home accessories/furnishings
1. Pier 1 Imports
2. Gordmans
3. Target Stores

Liquor/beer/wine store
1. Hy-Vee Food Stores
2. Gendler's Wine & Spirits
3. World of Spirits

Place to pamper yourself
1. William Wesley Salon & Day Spa
2. John Taylor Salon & Day Spa
3. The Spa at Five-Star Salon

Thrift/collectible store
1. Goodwill Stores
2. Ritzi Reruns
3. Salvation Army

Place to buy unique gifts
1. Pier 1 Imports
2. Isabel Bloom (tie)
2. Ritzi Reruns (tie)
2. Watermark Corners (tie)

Clothing store
1. Kohl's Department Stores
2. Ritzi Reruns
3. Von Maur

Sporting-goods/outdoors/camping store
1. Dick's Sporting Goods
2. Gander Mountain Retail Stores
3. Temples Sporting Goods

Tattoo/piercing shop
1. O'Tool Design
2. Rights of Passage (tie)
2. The Scorpions Den (tie)

Most honest auto-repair mechanic
1. Emeis Automotive
2. Chris Connor
3. Duck Creek Tire & Service