Richmond continues to move forward in its desire to provide more name-brand entities to whet the palate of consumers. But apart from the glitz of the new Kohl's and the impending Richmond Centre, there are already some local favorites that draw students.…

Jeremy Williamson stands behind the counter with another Penn Station employee, discussing the upcoming Kansas vs. Memphis NCAA championship game. It is between lunch and dinner rushes at the "East coast" sandwich joint, located at the corner of the Eastern Bypass and Lancaster Avenue.…

The name of the Winner's Circle Plaza on the Eastern bypass holds true. The aptly-named plaza is home to the winner of the best salon in Richmond: Accents salon. Accents is located in Suite 5 between a check exchange and a dentist's office and has been housed there for more than five years, said owner Becky Turpin.…

Out of the seven Madison County golf courses, EKU students have chosen their king of greens. The Gibson Bay Golf Course, which borders Lake Reba, was voted The Best Golf Course in the Eastern Progress Best of Richmond competition.? "We get a big part of our business from EKU students," said Jason Eberle, Gibson Bay general manager and head golf pro.…

You know you're onto something when you win not one, but two "Best of Richmond" awards. That distinction goes to T-Bombadils, which earned the prizes for best bar/nightclub, as well as best live music venue. Commonly called T-Bombs (it's easier to pronounce when you're drunk), the place is easy to find on First Street in downtown Richmond, and has everything you want in a neighborhood bar: embarrassing drunks, groping hands and the occasional stolen kiss.…

When it comes to college towns like Richmond, you don't have to look far to spot a liquor store overflowing with business on a weekend evening. Liquor stores around here are a dime a dozen; as easy to spot as a nerd watching Star Trek. However, if you're going to get into the liquor business in this town, you'd better keep prices low, set yourself apart and, most importantly, make students love you.…

With a gym on campus, who knew there was room for two in town? The Richmond Athletic Club has been on the Eastern Bypass since November 2006 and has a lot to offer. From a post-baby mom to an out-of-shape client looking to tone the abs, the RAC provides a wellspring of variety for every Richmond resident.…

There's no denying the popularity of downtown Richmond on a Thursday night. But some Eastern students end up going elsewhere to do fun things-like renting tacky shoes and knocking down pins at Galaxy Bowling, the winner for best alternative entertainment in Richmond.…

"They're not the best barber shop in town, but they're definitely the best looking," said Darren Day, a Richmond resident and long-time customer of Kevin's Barber Shop. He added, "I just come to make sure my wife isn't here." That's the kind of atmosphere you can expect at Kevin's Barber Shop, voted 2008's best barber shop in Richmond.…

If you're looking to find the best Chinese place in Richmond you don't need to go farther than downtown. Downtown Richmond is home to Tsing Tao, the winner of the Best of Richmond competition for best Chinese restaurant. Ken Wong, owner of Tsing Tao, said part of its success is because "we cook our food way good and we have good service.…

Eastern students stood in line anxiously in the middle of the day on Monday-and not for concert tickets, a hot meal or a free t-shirt. They were waiting on open beds at Richmond's newest tanning salon. Sun Tan City, located next to Penn Station in the University Shopping Center, opened in December of 2007.…

Of all the budget-friendly foods students eat, no cuisine is more closely associated with the collegiate lifestyle than pizza. A celebrated contributor to the freshman 15, pizza earned its much sought-after place on the food pyramid with endless topping choices, reasonable prices and convenient, shareable shape.…

Students love watching movies at home or in the dorm. You avoid the crowds of the local multiplex, and you don't have to worry about some kid with a big forehead kicking the back of your seat. Unfortunately, depending on where you rent your flick of choice, you might pay almost as much as a movie ticket.…

With several Facebook groups dedicated to a love for Casa Fiesta and even more pages mentioning the restaurant as a favorite, it may not be a surprise that Casa Fiesta won best local restaurant in the Progress Best of Richmond poll. Casa Fiesta (better known to patrons as Casa) was built in Richmond in 2000, about 8 years ago, said Gabriel Hidalgo, a manager at the popular establishment.…