You put your money where your home is. Xpress readers love to buy local, and we can prove it. In almost every instance where a local store was up against the "big box" chains, it was the locals that ended up on top when votes were tallied.

For example, locally owned True Blue Art topped the second-place winner, national chain Michael's for the "Best Arts Supply Store," while Lexington Avenue hot-spot Minx placed ahead of mall-based stores like Dillard's for "Best Women's Clothing." Downtown lit-haven Malaprop's Bookstore & Cafe even beat out behemoth booksellers Barnes & Noble (which took second) and Books-A-Million (third) for "Best Bookstore."

That said, the competition among locals was substantial. In the majority of categories, all the finalists were local businesses, and many of those contests were almost too close to call. Local health-conscious groceries Greenlife and Earth Fare, for example, were almost neck-and-neck for the "Best Grocery" title, with locally-based Ingles coming in third (blocking the larger chains from a shot at the category).

Strangely, the biggest exception to this trend came from clothing retailers, with the nonprofit retailer Goodwill Industries taking first place from both local and national for-profit retailers in "Best Kids Clothing" and "Best Men's Clothing", while handily placing in the top three in every remaining clothing category.

Local shoppers may be loyal, but it seems that all bets are off when it comes to finding a good bargain.

-- Steve Shanafelt

Antiques Store

1. Antique Tobacco Barn -- Hall of Fame

75 Swannanoa River Rd., Asheville, 252-7291

2. Screen Door

115 Fairview Rd., Asheville, 277-3667

3. Oddfellows Antique Warehouse

23 Rankin Ave., Asheville, 350-7800

Arts Supply Store

1. True Blue Art Supply

30 Haywood St., Asheville, 251-0028

2. Michaels Arts & Crafts Store

299-F Swannanoa River Rd., Asheville, 299-0183

3. A C Moore

800 Fairview Rd., Asheville, 299-0777

Bike Shop

1. Pro Bikes

610 Haywood Rd., Asheville 253-2800

2. Liberty Bikes

1378 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, 274-2453

3. Hearn's Cycling & Fitness

34 Broadway St., Asheville, 253-4800

Bike Repairs

1. Pro Bikes

610 Haywood Rd., Asheville 253-2800

2. Liberty Bikes

1378 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, 274-2453

3. Hearn's Cycling & Fitness

34 Broadway St., Asheville, 253-4800

Bookstore, New

1. Malaprop's -- Hall of Fame

55 Haywood St., Asheville, 254-6734

2. Barnes & Noble Booksellers

89 S Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 296-9330

3. Books-A-Million

136 S Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 299-4165

Bookstore, Used

1. Downtown Books & News

67 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 253-8654

2. Reader's Corner

31 Montford Ave., Asheville, 285-8805

3. Relaxed Reader

721 Haywood Rd., Asheville, 225-6677

Cards/Stationary

1. M'Press Cards

61 Haywood St., Asheville, 236-2282

2. Hallmark

Various locations

3. Baggie Goose

3 Swan St., Asheville, 274-3333

Car Repair

1. Jimmy's Automotive Center

277 Weaverville Hwy., Asheville, 658-3030

2. Mike Byer Auto & Truck Repair

91 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, Mike Byer Auto & Truck Repair

3. Mostly Toyota

253 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 253-4981

Cars, New

1. Apple Tree Honda

195 Underwood Rd., Fletcher, 684-0777, 684-4400

2. Jim Barkley Toyota

777 Brevard Rd., Asheville, 667-8888

3. Deal Motors

136 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 232-4000

Cars, Used

1. Jim Barkley Toyota

777 Brevard Rd., Asheville, 667-8888

2. Mike Warner Imports

38 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 254-8779

3. Apple Tree Honda

195 Underwood Rd., Fletcher, 684-0777, 684-4400

Clothing, Kids

1. Goodwill

Multiple locations, 252-7680

2. Target

115 River Hills Rd., Asheville, 298-4262

3. Gap Kids

Asheville Mall, 3 S. Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 298-5560

Clothing, Men's

1. Goodwill

Multiple locations, 252-7680

2. Chicago Hi Fashions

4 Battery Park Ave., 253-8100

3. Dillards

Asheville Mall, 3 S. Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 298-2611

Clothing, Women's

1. Minx

64 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-5680

2. (Tie) Constance Boutique

2 Hendersonville Rd., Asheville, 252-4002

2. Goodwill

Multiple locations, 252-7680

3. (Tie) Dillard's

Asheville Mall, 3 S. Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 298-2611

3. Steinmart

848 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 253-9962

3. Wink

18 Brook Street, Suite 103, Asheville, 277-4070

Clothing, consignment or vintage

1. Hip Replacements

72 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 255-7573

2. Goodwill

Multiple locations, 252-7680

3. Enchanted Forestt

235 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 236-0688

Environmentally Friendly Store

1. Greenlife

70 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-4943

2. Earth Fare

66 Westgate Pkwy., Asheville, 253-7656

3. French Broad Food Co-Op

90 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-7650

Fabric/yarn shop

1. Make Me!

108 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 225-6005

2. Yarn Paradise

6 All Souls Crescent, Asheville, 274-4213

3. Waechter's Silk Shop

94 Charlotte St., Asheville, 252-2131

Flower Shop

1. KaBloom

77-B Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 350-1722

2. Bloomin' Art

60 Haywood St., Asheville, 254-6447

3. Shady Grove

65 N Lexington Ave., Asheville, 236-1713

Garden Supply

1. BB Barnes -- Hall of Fame

831 Fairview Rd., Asheville, 274-7301

2. Reem's Creek Nursery

70 Monticello Rd. Weaverville, 645-3937

3. Jesse Israel & Sons Garden Center, Inc.

WNC Farmers Market, Asheville, 254-2671

Grocery

1. Greenlife

70 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-4943

2. Earth Fare

66 Westgate Pkwy., Asheville, 253-7656

3. Ingles

Various locations

Jewelry Store

1. Jewels That Dance

63 Haywood St., Asheville, 254-5088

2. Blue Goldsmiths

1 Swan St., Asheville, 277-2583

3. D.C. Creasman

269 Tunnel Road, Asheville, 252-9891

Locally produced food product

1. Tree Huggin' Treats

2. Apples

3. Spinning Spider Cheese

Spinning Spider Creamery, 689-5508

Music Store

1. Harvest Records

415 Haywood Rd., Asheville, 258-2999

2. Karmasonics

14 Haywood St., Asheville, 259-9949

3. In Your Ear Music Emporium

781 Haywood Rd., 252-1515

New Age/Spiritual Store

1. Mystic Journeys

333 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 253-4272

2. Crystal Visions

5426 Asheville Hwy., Naples, 687-1193

3. Cosmic Connections

18 Wall St., Asheville, 281-2464

Outdoor-gear shop

1. (Tie) Black Dome Mountain Sports

140 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 251-2001

1. Diamond Brand

US Hwy 25, Naples, 684-6262

2. Second Gear

11 Arden Rd., Asheville, 258-0757

3. Mast General Store

15 Biltmore Ave., Asheville (and locations throughout WNC), 232-1883

Realty Company

1. Beverly Hanks -- Hall of Fame

Various locations throughout WNC

2. Keller Williams

86 Asheland Ave., Asheville, 221-7253

3. Appalachian Realty Association

23 Arlington St., Asheville, 255-7530

Tailgate / Farmer's Markets

1. French Broad Food Co-op -- Hall of Fame

90 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 255-7650

2. Haywood Road Market

771 Haywood Rd., Asheville, 225-4445

3. WNC Farmer's Market

570 Brevard Rd., Asheville, 253-1691

Tobacco Shop

1. Bonnie's Little Corner

1 Pack Square, Asheville, 252-1611

2. Bruce's Pipe Shop

377 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 253-8822

3. Octopus Garden

80 N. Lexington Ave., Asheville, 254-4980; 1062 Patton Ave., Asheville, 232-6030; 140 Airport Rd., Asheville, 654-0906

Toy Store

1. Enviro Depot

58 College St., Asheville, 252-9007

2. Dancing Bear

144 Tunnel Rd., Asheville, 255-8697; 418 N. Main St., Hendersonville, 693-4500

3. Toy Box

793 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-8697

Wine-and-beer shop

1. The Wine Guy -- Hall of Fame

1200 Merrimon Ave., Asheville, 254-6500

2. Asheville Wine Market

65 Biltmore Ave., Asheville, 253-0060

3. Weinhaus

86 Patton Ave., Asheville, 254-6453