For a full list of winners click here.
We have chosen a collection of winning businesses to allow them a little space to tell you a little more about their business and to thank everyone for the support. As we always say here at EXPLORE, please SHOP LOCAL. As you’ll see, these business owners are working tirelessly to make their dreams work, and we are quite proud to provide an opportunity for the local supporting public here in Kendall County show some love to their favorite small businesses and their owners. We thank all of you for the support for this year and can’t wait for next year’s contest!
BEST ORTHODONTIST
FERRIS ORTHODONTICS
Name: Tyler W. Ferris, D.D.S., M.S. & Megan Hembree, D.D.S., M.S.
Business: Ferris Orthodontics: Orthodontics and Invisalign Provider
Year founded: 2001
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
Hands down, it is our outstanding customer service, the hallmark of our practice. The personal time and attention the doctor gives to each patient at each visit, and the expertise and skill they impart, creates the beautiful smiles you see all over our community.
“We Serve, You Smile” is our motto.
What are your next goals for your business?
Ferris Orthodontics has three locations: Boerne, Bulverde and Leon Springs. We are currently a Platinum Plus Invisalign Provider and are fitting more adults, as well as teens, in Invisalign. We continue to strive as a team to provide personalized care and attention to detail while maintaining safety protocols.
Anything to say to the community?
We are so appreciative of your time and most of all your trust in us as professionals and members of this community. It is and honor we take very seriously! Thank you and Line ‘Em Up!
BEST OPTICAL PROVIDOR
Dietz Mclean Optical
Name: Drake Mclean
Business: Dietz-McLean Optical Companyl
Year founded: Dietz Mclean Optical began as a partnership between R.G. McLean of San Antonio and E.A. Dietz of Ft. Worth. The original location was in the Medical Arts Building (now the emily morgan hotel, in downtown san antonio). For many years the company operated retail, wholesale, distribution and equipment sales. We opened our Boerne Store in 2008, bringing the same practices we’ve used serving our customers for over 80 years.
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
We credit our wonderful, loyal customers who appreciate our products and services.
We continue to build on our legacy of innovation, service and quality.
Anything to say to the community?
We love the Boerne Community and are so proud to be part.
BEST LANDSCAPING
Hill Country Scapes & Design
Name: Jeremiah Bowman
Business: Hill Country Scapes & Design
Year founded: 2013
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
HCSD focuses on providing our customers with first-class landscape design and installation services for their home or business. The goal at HCSD is to “Help Make Your Investment Grow”. We credit our success by following our very simple motto, “say what you mean and do what you say.” We feel that it is truly that simple. We are honest, dependable and our customers know that they can count on us to get their job done.
Anything to say to the community?
Thank you to our amazing customers for once again voting us the Best of Best. We truly appreciate you! To our crew, you are the best around, thank you!
BEST ICE CREAM/YOGURT
PARKER’S ICE CREAM
Owners: Andrea and Richard Thorp, Ken Kovats and Hali PiccianoYear founded: We formed our LLC in December of 2017 but it took us well over a year to find a great place to open and build We opened our doors on May 4th, 2019.
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
Success starts with knowing what you want to accomplish and staying true to that vision. Parker’s vision is great artisan ice cream, an exceptional community environment, and a team that understands hospitality. Our small batch ice cream offers both old school flavors as well as unique offerings only possible in a shop that makes its own ice cream.
What are your next goals for your business?
We just hit a major milestone, adding to our ownership team with Ken Kovats and Hali Picciano, two of our long-time friends, fellow veterans and lovers of ice cream. Ken was our first customer back in 2019. You could say he liked it so much he bought part of the business. Hali retired from the Army this year and is studying culinary arts at The Culinary Institute of America. She is a huge advocate for us having Rocky Road in the rotation more often. We are taking a hard look at when and were we open our next location.
Anything to say to the community?
We love this area! Having lived all around the world during our Military careers there is a reason we settled here. A major part of what we want to accomplish with this business is “community” starting with being a great place to be with your family and friends as well as a goal of being an active part of the community Finally, thank you for your continued support of local small businesses.
BEST JEWELER
MORRELL JEWELRY
Name: Jeanette G. Alcazar
Business: Morrell Jewelry
Year founded: 1991
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
We credit the incredible Boerne community for their support of our business. We have been privileged to form relationships and trust that span generations. Our dedicated team has also truly stepped up to the challenges and successes of the last year.
What are your next goals for your business?
We look forward to forming new relationships with the growing Boerne community and to representing the latest and greatest in jewelry fashion. We have also been growing our diamond and gemstone services in the last couple years and look forward to dealing more in precious stones.
Anything to say to the community?
THANK YOU for showing your support for small business! We are grateful to be your family jeweler and look forward to seeing you again soon.
BEST FURNITURE STORE
Boerne Farmhouse
Name: Cindy Carr and Sylvia Griffin
Business: Boerne Farmhouse
Year founded: 2019
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
We owe the victory to an awesome staff, and our loyal customers who shop with us and share our story.
Anything to say to the community?
Thank you so much for your thoughtful cooperation during the Pandemic, and for your commitment to “shop local”! You have no idea how much these efforts have helped our businesses during these trying times.
BEST TACOS
Mary’s Tacos
Name: Gil and Lety Villanueva
Business: Mary’s Tacos
Year founded: 2003
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
We love to thank our hard working staff and our community for always supporting us. We say “Customer service first, quality product at a reasonable price.”
What are your next goals for your business?
Mary’s Tacos is family owned and operated in Boerne, Texas. We have two other locations in Kerrville, Texas and Helotes, Texas. We are a low-key, counter-serve Mexican eatery dishing up a variety of tacos, including breakfast. We are proud to be the home of the best tacos in Kerrville, Boerne, and Helotes, Texas. We would like to keep opening new stores!
Anything to say to the community?
Thank you for supporting us!
BEST DENTIST
Gardner Springs Dentistry
Name: Dr. Brandon M. Gardner, DDS
Business: Gardner Springs Dentistry
Year founded: 2015
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
We have an incredible team of caring dental professionals and incredible patients who are kind enough to share their positive experiences with others.
What are your next goals for your business?
We’ve seen significant growth over the past year, especially with individuals seeking sedation dentistry, implant dentistry, and cosmetic dentistry, but have made and continue to make improvements to increase our availability for new patients.
Anything to say to the community?
Thank you for trusting us with your dental needs, for referring friends and neighbors, and for your kind reviews and support! We couldn’t do it without you!
BEST FLORAL SHOP
THE FLOWER SHOP
Name: Mary Pat Williams, owner of The Flower Shop
Year founded: I worked for previous owner and purchased October 2016. The Flower Shop has been going for more than 65 years.
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
I credit my success to all my staff for their creativity and dedication. And of course the community. Can’t forget customer satisfaction! I can’t thank our Boerne community enough for supporting us. Shopping local and believing in us.
What are your next goals for your business?
My goals for January of 2022 is to have a regrand opening and thanking the community for supporting us. We will be having a little tour of what we are doing to bring The Flower Shop to the next level. And music and food. It’s going to be a blast. As soon as we have a final date we will let you know.
Anything to say to the community?
A big Thank you to all of Our Boerne Family for choosing The Flower Shop for Explore Best Of The Best.
BEST WOMENS CLOTHING
DANG SASSY
Name: Michelle Edge of Dang Sassy Boutique
Year founded: Founded in 2011 and opened in Boerne in 2016
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
We provide an affordable and fun shopping environment for women of all age ranges and body types! Our fun, inviting environment and customer service are priorities to us, which has helped us to build an amazing, supportive customer base.
What are your next goals for your business?
Possibly expanding the Dang Sassy brand into multiple locations.
Anything to say to the community?
We are so immensely happy with the outpour of love and support we’ve received throughout the years. Our customers mean the world to us, and we are truly thankful for each and every one of you! Despite being the craziest year ever, we hit some major goals in 2020, and have only continued to grow in 2021.
BEST PIZZA
Z’S WOOD FIRED PIZZA
Name: Zak Disch, owner of Z’s Wood Fired Pizza
Year founded: 2013
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
It’s a lot of heart and passion that we put into our pizza and our experience. Our ingredients are hand selected and we spend a lot of time and energy on making sure our ingredients are the best we can find. Our ovens are run run by oak wood and really add a lot to what we do. Our staff is considered family here as well, and that extends to our customers. I owe so much of our success to the staff that takes care of so much and ensures the best experience.
What are your next goals for your business?
Our major goal is to get our hand crafted beers to our location, and we want to expand the restaurant to increase our capabilities. We have also gotten the BrewZ brewery going recently, and it’s a great satellite location for our customers to enjoy our craft brews in a similar environment with also another great staff, service, and experience.
Anything to say to the community?
Since the minute we opened, the community has meant everything to us. They have supported us, helped us spread the word, and have just been wonderful to us. They have fast become family and I personally love coming to work everyday to see everyone! Also, we recently lost my father, Mike, who was a large part of our operations here. The outpouring of support from the community has been humbling and I can’t say THANK YOU enough.
BEST BBQ
Klein Smokehaus
Name: Clayton Klein and Colton Sells of Klein Smokehaus
Year founded: 1976
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
We could not have done this without the great people that we work with and our loyal customers. Without them, none of this would be possible.
What are your next goals for your business?
We have plans in the future to add a dine-in area and expand our retail storefront. We would also like to grow our wholesale business.
Anything to say to the community?
We are extremely excited and thankful to have been named best of the best BBQ for the last 13 years. The Boerne community has always been great to us and we look forward to providing them with the best BBQ for many years to come.
BEST ARBOR CARE
ArborCare and Consulting
Name: Kevin Belter
Year founded: 2008
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
I credit my selection as “best of” to my long term commitment to industry excellence and integrity. I am co stantly learning and expanding my knowledge and subsequent practices based on that knowledge. In so doing i provide increasing better results for my customers. I don’t stop there though either – now I am at a place in my career where i have challenged myself to contribute to the expansion of knowledge and practice in the industry.
What are your next goals for your business?
I have many goals that i would like to accomplish. They include becoming the best master arborist of the decade in Texas and the second largest contributor to oak wilt research in the state.
Anything to say to the community?
So much of our history is symbolized through trees and though development is important to our community – there is a need for significant changes in our tree preservation code in order for our beloved trees to be present in the future generations . Please take the time to let your city and county officials know that you expect them to follow science when setting tree preservation codes.
BEST ELECTRICIAN
NH ELECTRIC
Name: NH Electric, Inc.
Year founded: Family owned and operated for over 30 years
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
All the credit goes to our incredible loyal customers in our growing local community.
What are your next goals for your business?
Continue to add to our team of amazing, hard working electricians so we can serve the Boerne community for another 30 years.
Anything to say to the community?
Thank you Boerne!
BEST BREAKFAST
LITTLE GRETEL
Name: Chef Denise Mazal
Year founded: 2009
What do you credit for your victory in the BEST OF contest?
YOU! We can’t create the best authentic dishes in this town without you! Our team works hard and the dedication is nonstop. From the moment we ope our doors to our first and last guest of the day. Our breakfast is successful because of the love of our community and the passion in the kitchen.
What are your next goals for your business?
We strive on keeping the legacy of Little Gretel strong and our Kolaches spreading all over TEXAS!
Anything to say to the community?
Thank you Boerne for almost 13 years of making our dreams come true. We are so honored to be a part of this community for over 30 years!