Oxford’s Local Favorites: The Townies 2025 Results

Another year, another round of Townies!

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! Besides just wrapping up another trip around the sun, we also get to shine a spotlight on the people, places, and things YOU love about Oxford. We think this town is pretty awesome, and we are so proud to present to you the 16th Annual Local Favorites Awards for 2025. Congratulations to all the winners and runner ups! Bragging rights for all of the year!

RESTAURANT

1. Volta Taverna
2. Saint Leo
3. SoLa
   HM: Ajax Diner, Moe’s, McEwen’s, Circle & Square, Snackbar, Beacon, City Grocery

Patio or Deck

1. Volta Taverna
2. Funkys
3. Bouré
   HM: Circle & Square, Proud Larry’s, Opa, Tarasque, The Coop, City Grocery, Saint Leo

Salad

1. Volta Taverna
2. Saint Leo
3. Newk’s
   HM: Oby’s, Bouré

Vegetarian

1. Volta Taverna
2. Living Foods
3. Byrdhouse Cafe
   HM: Zaap Thai, Blind Pig

Boss

1. Brooke Krizbai, Volta
2. Erika Lipe, SoLa
3. John Allgood, Moe’s
   HM: Wayne Andrews (YAC), Emily & Joie Blount (Saint Leo), Lee Harris (Funkys)

Bar

1. Funkys
2. Moe’s Penny Bar
3. Library Sports Bar
   HM: Bar Muse, City Grocery, Volta, Circle & Square, Blind Pig, Saint Leo, Snackbar

Pizza

1. Funkys
2. Fergndan’s
3. Lost Pizza
   HM: Saint Leo, Pizzashop, Fox’s Den, Proud Larry’s, Marco’s, Rosati’s, Square Pizza

Asian Food

1. Jinsei
2. Rice & Spice
3. Toyo
   HM: Noodle Bowl, Zaap, Kabuki, China Royal, H20

Bakery

1. Bottletree Bakery
2. Bremma’s Sweet Treats
3. Community Donuts
   HM: Just Cake It, Nothing

Barbecue

1. Moe’s Original BBQ
2. Handy Andy
3. B’s BBQ
   HM: Booth’s Barbeque

Trivia Night

1. Moe’s Tuesdays
2. Circle & Square Wednesdays
3. Blind Pig Mondays

Beer Selection

1. Circle & Square
2. Growler
3. Cash Saver
   HM: Blind Pig, Moe’s

Breakfast

1. Big Bad Breakfast
2. First Watch
3. The Beacon
   HM: Waffle House, Circle & Square, Bim Bam Breakfast

Brunch

1. SoLa
2. Saint Leo
3. Big Bad Breakfast
   HM: First Watch, McEwen’s, Good Day Cafe, Grit, Tallahatchie Gourmet, Waffle House, Quack’s

Burger

1. Handy Andy
2. Good Day Cafe
3. Oxford Burger Company
   HM: Phillip’s Grocery, Bim Bam Burgers, Mugshots, Circle & Square, Snackbar, Ajax, Blind Pig

Cajun Food

1. Oby’s
2. The LandShark
3. Bouré
   HM: Walk-On’s, The Velvet Ditch, Ajax

Catering

1. My Michelle’s
2. Taylor Grocery
3. Moe’s BBQ
   HM: A&N, South Depot, Volta, Elizabeth Heiskell

Catfish

1. Taylor Grocery
2. Oby’s
3. Ajax
   HM: LandShark, Moe’s

Chicken/Wings

1. Southern Coop
2. Moe’s Original BBQ
3. Jinsei
   HM: Ole Coop, Buffalo Wild Wings, City Grocery, Connie’s, Guthrie’s, Popeye’s, Zaxby’s
   

Cocktails

1. Bar Muse
2. Saint Leo
3. Snackbar
   HM: SoLa, Volta, City Grocery, McEwen’s, Jinsei, The Sipp, Funkys

Coffee

1. Heartbreak Coffee
2. High Point Coffee
3. Shadrachs
   HM: Cafecitos, Common Ground, Circle & Square, Exporadora, Saint Leo, Lost Dog

Cook/Chef

1. Erika Lipe, SoLa
2. Vishwesh Bhatt, Snackbar
3. Jon Davis, City Grocery
   HM: Joel Miller (Kingswood), John Stokes (Tarasque), Rob Brown (Volta), Eric Tait (McEwen’s)

Crawfish

1. The LandShark
2. Velvet Ditch
3. Crawdad Hole
   

Delivery Service

1. Fetcht Delivery
2. Door Dash
3. Take a Break
   HM: Uber Eats, Jimmy John’s

Dessert

1. Ya Ya’s
2. Oxford Creamery
3. McEwen’s
   HM: Snackbar, Saint Leo, Volta, Insomnia Cookies, Ajax, Bouré, Bremma’s

Doorman/Security

1. Maurice Pomerlee
2. Frankie Shugart
3. Brycen Bartel

Fine Dining

1. Saint Leo
2. SoLa
3. City Grocery
   HM: McEwen’s, Snackbar, Kingswood, Oxford Grillehouse, Lenora’s, Tico’s, Tarasque

Fries

1. Saint Leo
2. Proud Larry’s
3. Volta Taverna
   HM: Snackbar, McDonald’s, Five Guys, Blind Pig, G&G’s Fry Co, Oxford Burger Company, Sonic

Food Truck

1. El Colibri
2. Cafecitos
3. Fresh Out The Water
   HM: G&G’s Fry Co., Soul2Soul

Late-Night Food

1. Cookout
2. Waffle House
3. Chicken on a Stick, 4 Corners Chevron
   HM: Uno Mas, Square Pizza, Taco Bell

Margarita

1. Uno Mas
2. Volta Taverna
3. El Agave
   HM: El Charro, SoLa, Casa Mexicana, Circle & Square, La Perla, Costa Mexicana, South Depot

Mexican Food

1. El Agave
2. El Charro
3. La Perla
   HM: Uno Mas, Casa Mexicana, El Colibri, Costa Mexican, Los Parrilleros, Mis Raíces Sabor Latino

Pasta

1. Tarasque Cucina
2. Saint Leo
3. Amore
   HM: SoLa, Lenora’s

Sandwich

1. Blind Pig
2. Good Day Cafe
3. Newk’s
   HM: Oby’s, Sammy’s, Volta, Ajax, Circle & Square, Pizza Den, Saint Leo

Server

1. Gabby Lott, SoLa
2. Mandy Hunter, Volta
3. Katrina Khonsari, Funkys
   HM: Judy Petite (Beacon), Zoe Wilson (Ajax), Malik Richardson (Saint Leo), Max Mobley (Snackbar), Caroline Kasem (McEwen’s), Chelsea Brock (Snackbar/Jinsei), Georgia Hogue (City Grocery)

Soul Food

1. Ajax
2. Mama Jo’s
3. Moe’s BBQ
   HM: Tallahatchie Gourmet, Volta, Oxford Meat Market, Soul2Soul, Larson’s Cash Saver, B’s BBQ, The Beacon

Steak

1. Oxford Grillehouse
2. Tico’s
3. Lenora’s
   HM: Sizzler, Saint Leo, McEwen’s, SoLa, Ajax, Boure, Como, Taylor Grocery

Sushi

1. Toyo
2. Jinsei
3. Kabuki
   HM: Kroger, Noodle Bowl

Local Business

1. Square Books
2. Volta Taverna
3. Anubis Improv
   HM: Circle & Square, Chicory Market, Magnolia Rental, Annie Paige Photography, Magnolia Cannabis, End of All Music, Moe’s

Most Missed Business

1. Local Color
2. Two Stick
3. The Hoka Theater
   HM: Ruby Chinese, The Gin, Lamar Lounge, Abner’s, Oxford Canteen, Danver’s, Ravine

Antique Mall

1. The Depot
2. Mustard Seed
3. Sugar Magnolia

Auto Dealership

1. Cannon Motors
2. Belk Ford
3. Allen Samuels

Auto Service

1. Deal’s Automotive
2. Brannan Auto
3. Belk Ford
   HM: Dipstix, Gateway

Boutique/Clothing Shop

1. Hinton & Hinton
2. Lulus
3. I Just Have to Have It
   HM: Landry’s, Neilson’s

Cannabis Dispensary

1. Magnolia
2. Star Buds
3. Slackers

Farm or Farmer

1. Billy Ray Brown, Brown Family Dairy
2. Reed Falkner, Falkner Farms
3. Farmstead Florals
   HM: Poultry in Motion, Doug Davis (Yoknabottoms Farm)

Grocery Store

1. Chicory Market
2. Larson’s Cash Saver
3. Kroger

Gym

1. Planet Fitness
2. The YMCA
3. Ole Miss Rec Center

Liquor Shop

1. High Cotton Wine & Spirits Warehouse
2. Social Wine & Whiskey
3. Campus Wines & Spirits
   HM: Magnolia Wine & Spirits, Kiame Package Store, Vone Bottleshop, Oxford Wine & Spirits, Safari Liquors

Market (Pop-up, art, flea, etc.)

1. Oxford Community Market
2. Punk Flea Market
3. Farmer’s Market
   HM:Midtown Farmer’s Market, Ox4d Vintage Clothing

Music Shop or School

1. End of All Music
2. Oxford House of Music
3. Roxford
   HM: Ron’s Music, Rebel Music

Nonprofit

1. Yoknapatawpha Arts Council
2. OXCM
3. United Way

Pharmacy

1. Chaney’s
2. OxfordRx
3. G&M
   HM:Myers’ Apothecary, Kroger, Walmart, Walgreens

Radio Station

1. Bullseye 95.5
2. 94.7 The Buzz
3. MPB 90.3
   HM: Supertalk 93.7, Rebel Radio 92.1, Z-98.5

Salon

1. Nolan Taylor
2. Element on South 11th
3. Emma J’s
   HM: Studio, DMR Salon, Alice & Co., Amara, Apex, Nailbar, LaRousse

Stylist

1. Margaret Hood, Nolan Taylor
2. Stephanie Whaley
3. Katelyn Berrey
   HM: Dallas Cupit (Mod & Polish), Sarah Kate Purvis (The Studio)

Smoke/Vape Shop

1. Slackers Supply
2. Yaz Pokémon & Vape
3. Spring Street Cigars

Local Band

1. Proud Hound
2. Kudzu Kings
3. Mustache
   HM: Yalobushwackers, Great Dying, Modern Bodies, Happy Landing, Joe Austin & the Tallahatchies, KC & The Moonshine Band, Neon Junkies
   

Bass Player

1. Kane Harrell
2. Nate Robbins
3. Dave Woolworth
   HM: Newt “Cooter” Rayburn, Greg Johnson, Jesse Sutton, Laurie Stirratt, Matt Patton, Slade Lewis

Drummer

1. Justin Webb
2. Ricky Burkhead
3. Bradley Gordon
   HM: Joe Wells, Beau Bourgeois, Fred Dunlap, Kenny Graeber

New Band

1. Neon Junkies
2. Michael Farris Smith & The Smokes
3. Proud Hound

Actor

1. Jake Hall
2. Susan McPhail
3. Davis Coen
   HM: Alyssa Lee, Johnny McPhail

Art Gallery

1. Southside
2. Oxford Treehouse Gallery
3. Powerhouse Community Art Center
   HM: University Museum
   

Artist (Visual)

1. Anne Scott Barrett
2. Bradley Gordon
3. Charlie Buckley
   HM: Jere Allen, Ruth Hogue, Lee Harper, Blair Hobbs, Johnathan Kent Adams

Comedian

1. Connor King
2. David Hamilton
3. Devon Blackmon
   HM: Ayric Bradley, Sophie Krumhansl, Bruce Butler, Logan Little, Stacey Speihler

DJ or Emcee

1. Chris Green (94.7)
2. Clay Hale
3. Jacova Jenkins
   HM: Jim Dees, Max Victory

Filmmaker

1. Antonio Tarrell
2. Arkasha McGinnis
3. Christopher Tyrell
   HM: Bill Perry, Jr., Shannon Cohn, Jonathan Clayton, John Rash, Thad Lee, Sarah Hennigan

Guitarist

1. Clint Jordan
2. Connor Alexander
3. Tate Moore
   HM: Eric Deaton, Garry Burnside, Kody Harrell, Tyler Keith, Jason Cain, Jesse Pinion

Horn Player

1. Casey Lipe
2. Jeff Callaway
3. Adam Davenport
   HM: Daniel Hodges, Charles Washington

Keyboardist / Pianist

1. Bill Perry, Jr.
2. Marc Yakavone
3. Eric Carlton
   HM: Clint Jordan, Damein Wash, Price Walden

Photographer

1. Annie Paige Fields Photography
2. Bruce Newman 
3. Jim Hendrix
   HM: Paul Gandy, Tenola Plaxico

Songwriter

1. Tate Moore
2. Clay Hale
3. Connor Alexander
   HM: Tyler Keith, Will Griffith, Andrew Bryant, Zach Tillotson, Charlie Mars, Kyle Kite, Heather Laswell

Sound Engineer / Studio

1. Shelby Rayburn, Mustache, Vault Entertainment, The Lyric
2. Nate Robbins, RNN Studios
3. Dial Back Sound
   HM: Jeffrey Reed (Taproot Audio), Blake Gardiner (Proud Larry’s)

Tattoo Artist

1. Doug Hollis, Oxford Tattoo
2. James Taylor, I Love Tattoos

Vocalist

1. Effie Burt
2. Connor Alexander
3. Damein Wash
   HM: Tate Moore, Zechariah Tillotson

Writer

1. Michael Farris Smith
2. Ace Atkins
3. Clay Hale
   HM: Randy Weeks, Wright Thompson, Beth Ann Fennelly, John T. Edge, Max Hipp, Shane Brown

Most Underrated Musician

1. Clay Hale
2. Baxter Arender
3. Haggard Collins
   HM: Kane Harrell, Kyle Kite, Paul Tate

Entertainment Venue

1. Proud Larry’s
2. The Lyric
3. The Powerhouse
   HM: Voyager’s Rest, Ford Center, Foxfire Ranch

Athlete

1. J.J. Pegues
2. Jaxson Dart
3. Sam Kendricks

Attorney

1. Matt McKenzie
2. Rhea Tannehill
3. Kevin Frye
   HM: Jay Carmean, Josh Turner, Blake Douglas, Mona Pittman, Rosamond Posey

Celebrity Sighting

1. Kevin Costner
2. Morgan Freeman
3. Emeril Lagassi
   HM: Dave Portnoy, Eli Manning

Coach

1. Lane Kiffin
2. Yolett McPhee-McCuin
3. Chris Beard
   

Community Leader

1. Mayor Robyn Tannehill
2. Wayne Andrews (Arts Council)
3. Andy Spaulding
   HM: Betsy Chapman, Fr. Mark Shoffner, Krik Brummett, Brent Larson, Erin Smith, Jeff McCutchen

Healthcare Provider

1. Rachel Sledge, Urgent Care
2. Cassie Austin, DNP, FNP
3. Meredith Griffin, Oxford OB/GYN
   HM: Nicole Turner, Shaun Helmhout

Realtor

1. Mary Aquino, Element Properties
2. Dasha McGuiness
3. Shea Turner Foxx
   HM: Adam Quick, Brooke Worthy

Taxi

1. Roy Watson / Roy Boy Taxi
2. Uber
3. Austin Taxi

Teacher/Professor

1. Cynthia Joyce
2. Ryne Bankston (OHS)
3. Ronnie McGennis
   HM: Sommer Husbands (OHS), Cody Donahue

Children’s Event

1. Christmas Parade
2. 4th of July Parade
3. Square Books Jr. Story Time
   HM: Holly Jolly Holidays, Princess Ball

Church

1. Saint Peter’s
2. OUUMC
3. St. John the Evangelist Catholic Church
   HM: Oxford Church of Christ, First Baptist Oxford, First Presbyterian, Pinelake

Family Entertainment

1. Premiere Lanes
2. Malco Commons
3. Sports events
   HM: Christmas Parade, Double Decker

Local Event

1. Double Decker
2. The Armando,Anubis Improv 
3. Iron Bartender
   HM: North Mississippi Hill Country Picnic, Oxford Film Festival, Tackie Townie Christmas, 4th of July Parade, Thacker Mountain Radio

Mississippi Brand

1. Cathead Vodka
2. Wonderbird Spirits 
3. Wildfire in Wonderland

New Addition to Town

1. The Velvet Ditch
2. Circle & Square
3. Connie’s Chicken
   HM: Myers Apothecary, Element Properties, Magnolia Dispensary, Booth’s BBQ, Exploradora Coffee, Myers’ Apothecary

Place for a First Date

1. Saint Leo
2. Sola
3. Volta
   HM: Snackbar, Circle & Square

Public Art

1. Yokna Sculpture Trial
2. “Here in Spirit,” Hoka mural
3. Greetings from Oxford mural

Townie

1. Chico Harris
2. Randy Yates
3. Bruce Newman
   HM: Jim Dees, Randy Weeks, Andy Douglas, Dudley Prewitt, Freddie Foster, Wayne Andrews

Roundabout

1. HWY 30 / Molly Barr
2. none of them!
3. Old Taylor Rd.
   HM: S. Lamar & Belk Blvd