News & Articles

Best Realtor: Brenda Uotinen (Photo by Roger Lepage)

Best Attorney
Eric Beyer

“I enjoy helping each of my clients know their legal rights, and fighting for them to obtain fair compensation for their injuries,” says Personal Injury and Workers’ Compensation Attorney Eric Beyer. A Duluth native and magna cum laude graduate of the University of Minnesota-Duluth, Eric has been recognized by Super Lawyer as a “Rising Star” honoree six times. After more than 18 years of legal practice in personal injury law with Falsani, Balmer, Peterson, Quinn & Beyer in Duluth, Eric joined SiebenCarey’s Duluth office in 2016. In his spare time, he still plays hockey and curls on both the Two Harbors and Duluth Curling clubs.

Best Auto Repair
Kari Toyota

“If you give the customer a fair deal and take care of them after the sale, they will come back to do business with you again.”
Those words of Kari Toyota founder Henry Kari still guide the family business today. The Kari family has been serving the Northland since 1933, offering new and used vehicle sales and service that keeps loyal customers returning and voting for them year after year.

Best Local Credit Union
Members Cooperative

Members Cooperative and Superior Choice traditionally vie for the top spot, and this year it goes to members. It started out as the Cloquet Co-Op Credit Union in 1936. It’s now the tenth largest credit union in Minnesota, providing banking services to more than 52,000 members, with branches in Moose Lake, North Branch, Aitkin, Isanti, McGregor, Grand Rapids, Sandstone and Cloquet, plus three locations in Duluth.

Best Bank
National Bank of Commerce (NBC)

For more than 80 years, National Bank of Commerce has been serving the communities of the Twin Ports in Wisconsin and Minnesota. Our readers must notice that NBC donates to the Duluth Legacy Endowment Fund, hosts regional economic seminars and is a good community neighbor; returning NBC to first place in this year’s voting. Steve Burgess, CEO, says, “We exist to help the people, businesses and organizations within our region achieve greater things, grow within our economy and live full lives. Their recent pledge is another example of how NBC makes that possible.” NBC has several branches in Northwest Wisconsin and one at 13th Avenue East and Superior Street.

Best All Ages Hangout
Adventure Zone

Whether you are old or young, Duluth has a lot of short cold days when you don’t want to be outside longer than you have to. The next best thing being outside on a warm day is being inside a giant warm building jam-packed full of fun. Whether it is miniature golf, batting cages or hundreds of video games, the Adventure Zone has everything kids of all ages need to have a blast. “We’ve got so much great stuff here,” said assistant manager Boyer Alseth. “It just gives people lots of great things to do in the winter when it is too cold to go outside.”

Best Chiropractor
Dr. Dane Laughlin

Dr. Dane Laughlin of the Lange-Laughlin Chiropractic Center in Superior takes a “whole person” approach in chiropractic care, which means looking for the underlying causes of disease, discomfort and pain, as opposed to just treating the symptoms. To that end, Dr. Laughlin is also certified in nutritional counseling because of his strong interest in how clinical nutrition applies to health and recovery from injury. He sees his mission to help patients improve their health and wellness in all areas of their lives, whether they are having problems with back or neck pain, or just want to start feeling better when they wake up in the morning.

Best Dentist
Dr. Kathrynne Dryke

Dr. Dryke‘s passion for the creative arts and the sciences has made dentistry a natural career choice. After receiving her Bachelor of Science degree in biology and a minor in German language studies from the University of La Verne, Cal., she earned her Doctor of Dental Surgery degree from the University of Minnesota. She has received the Crawford Award for excellence in dental research and presented her research findings at dental meetings in Singapore, Las Vegas, Orlando and San Francisco.

Best Optical
Vision Pro

Here is your history and science lesson for the day. Lenses are important devices that evidence suggests were known to some ancient Greeks and Romans. Because glass has a higher index of refraction than air, light entering glass from the air slows down. If the glass is curved then the light entering is bent. By carefully putting the correct curves into glass, the lens maker is able to have the light bend in just the right way before it enters our eyes.
The trusted professionals at Vision Pro Optical have been using these laws of physics to help people see better for many years. They currently have nine locations to serve the public better.

Best Optometrist
Dr. Beth Fischer, Vision Pro

Dr. Fischer is a graduate of the Pacific University of Optometry, 2001. In her spare time she enjoys scuba diving, traveling and spending time with her dogs.

Best Florist
Engwall

Ulysses S. Grant was president when Engwall began providing flowers and floral arrangements for Duluthians way back in 1876. In addition to a large inventory of fresh flowers, you can also get tropicals, plants, high-style arrangements, silk or dried arrangements, wedding consults, funeral designs, as well as carrying an extensive gift line, gourmet and fruit baskets and candles.

Best Green Business
Whole Foods Co-op

Whole Foods CO-OP won in this year’s category for “Best Green Business.” Another way to state this is people are aware of the store’s efforts to be sustainable. This means they work to have a positive impact on the environment or to at least damage the environment as little as possible. One way they help the environment is by reducing the amount of trash they put into it.
“One example is we source our packaging to use compostables like in our deli-to-go items,” said Marketing Manager Marci Strach.
While this is an example of the Co-op trying not to give nature anything it can’t break down, they also focus on serving resources nature is able to replenish. In part, they source renewable items by working with local farmers to provide local food year-round. Also, the hillside store is currently installing solar panels to use the limitless energy of the sun.
“So we are looking to cut our footprint a little bit when we tap into that resource,” said Marci.

Best Catering
Kurtz Catering

Unlike most businesses, catering businesses do almost all their customer interaction away from their headquarters. While Kurtz Catering serves thousands of guests at places around the Northland, they cook this food at a location that is kind of hidden. Interestingly, this business is in a building blending into a quiet neighborhood in Billings Park that you might just think is an oversized garage if you happened to drive by.
“We are in a building behind a house,” said owner Paul Kurtz. “We pay commercial property tax on the building. I rent the house out to one of my employees.”
People driving by might be surprised how much business is going on in this particular block of Ohio Avenue.
“I have 16 commercial ovens in my kitchen, nine doors of refrigerator, a walk-in cooler, and five doors of freezer space. We’ve got a lot of stuff.”
Casual onlookers might notice the vans parked next to the low-key headquarters. During a normal non-pandemic year these vans carry food to about 575 events.“We do about 125 weddings, 250 funerals and another 200 other events,” said Paul.
This business has been impacting people for many years. Paul’s father Al Kurtz founded the company in 1979. About 10 years ago Paul bought the business from him. During all these years of business, they have created many connections and have perfected serving food in the Northland.
“We provide the best service and quality food at a reasonable price,” said Paul. “We’ve been in business for 43 years now.”

Best Hair Salon
Serenity Spa & Salon

Serenity Spa & Salon in Superior serves the Twin Ports with a variety of hair, spa and beauty services along with a trendy boutique. Owners Jessica and Raya are committed to making every visit a relaxing one. It is their goal to pamper you from head to toe and bring out your individual, natural beauty.  The experienced and talented staff members are among the most qualified in the industry. Whether you need a full day of rest and relaxation, a completely new hairstyle, a quick lunchtime manicure, or even a new outfit, you can find it at Serenity.

Best Veterinarian Clinic
Superior Animal Hospital

Fully equipped small-animal medical and surgical practice committed to staying at the forefront of modern veterinary medicine. Their mission is to provide clients and their pets with the opportunity to receive high quality, progressive and compassionate services.

Best Photographer
Berini Photography

Bri Berini is a Minnesota native who became a photographer after being inspired by the prints and photo albums of her grandfather. “Capturing candid memories and emotions just how you are, whether they’re silly or loving is my passion. It’s not always simply for a pretty photograph, photographs truly capture those feeling in a moment that nothing else can bring. Whether it be your little one’s first birthday, that little one is all grown up and graduating, or your wedding day I would love to help capture whatever memories you wish to keep close to your heart.”

Best Place of Worship
Cathedral of Christ the King, Superior

If you dig masses, this apparently is the place to go.

Best Realtor
Brenda Uotinen

Licensed in both Minnesota and Wisconsin, Brenda Uotinen of Bachand Realty has been selling real estate for more than 35 years. “Finding a home for a buyer is a challenge and it is very satisfying when the challenge has been completed. Helping seller’s market their home is just as rewarding! Most of my clients and customers become friends and we continue to be in touch after the property is sold,” Brenda says. Bachand Realty has 100 years of combined real estate brokerage experience in the Northland.

Best Retirement/Assisted Living Facility
Keystone Bluffs

Keystone Bluffs is a beautiful facility in the beautiful wooded hills in Duluth. The modern apartments are all on one floor, making it easier for all the residents to visit one another and hang out in the public areas like near the fish tank and the fireplace.
As for the private areas, each apartment has modern amenities such as air conditioning, a full-size refrigerator, and a view of the woods or the courtyard. If a potential resident feels no apartment is complete without their little buddy, they will be happy to know Keystone Bluffs is pet-friendly.

Best Small Employer (25 or Less)
Zeitgeist

Zeitgeist is a nonprofit arts and community development organization committed to growing and sustaining a community that is inclusive, diverse and equitable; artistic and vibrant; environmentally conscious; and a place where every individual can thrive.

Best Large Employer
Duluth Grill/OMC/Corktown

Tom Hanson’s businesses celebrating food and drink in the Lincoln Park neighborhood have led to a renaissance in that part of Duluth. Starting with the Duluth Grill in 2008 (Hanson had been operating it as an Embers franchise prior to that, since 2001), the business has grown to include 150 employees at the three locations.

Best Service (Non-Restaurant)
Vision Pro Optical

With locations throughout the Twin Ports and beyond, the folks at Vision Pro Optical have worked very hard to be a very convenient business, which probably explains why the business tops the list again this year. “Customer service is huge here,” said VP of Operations Gwyn Bell.

Best New Business
Jam Rock

Jam Rock Cultural restaurant is your Northland location for “delicious Caribbean cuisine and authentic jerk chicken.” Owner Tony O’Neil was born in Miami and raised in Jamaica, where his grandparents originally had a restaurant. Tony learned to cook with them and has continued the family tradition here up north.
Tony started his current business out of his house during COVID. He now has a location at 1901 Tower Ave., Superior.

Best Day Care
Lakeside Early Learning

hTe former St. Michael's Lakeside Early Learning is now Lakeside Early Learning and is no longer a part of St. Michael's Church. It’s still in the same building (the former Lakeside School) with the same director and teachers. LEL serves children beginning at age 16 months and continuing until they enter kindergarten. Lakeside Early Learning has 4 preschool classes and 3 toddler classes. They provide a faith-based, developmentally appropriate program with emphasis on healthy attachment, self-regulation, social interactions, and developmental skill competencies. The curriculum has been carefully selected to include dramatic and imaginative play, creative thinking, problem solving, self-sufficiency, and life skills.