The nomination phase of the 2023 Times News Readers’ Choice contest is open through July 25 and several local businesses are hoping to make it five straight years of being named one of the area’s best in their particular category.

“I always find the nomination process and being chosen by the readers very humbling,” said Caitlin Moyer Smith, owner of Cindy’s Deli in Franklin Township.

Readers have voted the business top deli dating back to 2019 and it has also taken multiple top honors in the catering and hot dog divisions.

“I’m very honored that people think of me in that way. I sometimes have a lack of confidence as a business owner and feel as though I don’t have enough experience to compete with the big dogs. Whenever I am chosen for Readers’ Choice, it gives me hope that people consider me to be a staple in this community and someone who can contend with people who I consider better at what they do.”

To vote in this year’s contest, people can go to www.tnonline.com/contests and nominate their favorite business or organization in nine categories with 240 divisions.

One of those divisions is best butchers/meat market. To take that prize, however, someone would have to knock off Thomson’s Meat Market in Walnutport, which has had a stranglehold on the top spot dating back to 2019.

“I love the contest and the support we have received,” Jake Thomson, owner, said. “It goes to show that people are still coming here. We’re still doing what we’re doing and we serve the customers the best we can.”

Contest categories include Auto, Entertainment and Sports, Financial, Food and Drink, For The Home, Health, Shopping, Professional and Specialty and Miscellaneous.

Nominations can be made once every 24 hours.

Best bank and mortgage company honors have gone to Mauch Chunk Trust Company for each of the past four years.

“Mauch Chunk Trust Company is pleased to have been voted as the best bank and mortgage company for several years in the Times News Readers’ Choice contest,” Marty McGuire, MCTC marketing director said. “It means a lot to our hard-working team that we have earned the trust and loyalty of our customers who take the time to vote for us each year.”

Smith has been at Cindy’s Deli for 11 years, but confidence still remains an issue at times.

“I don’t promote being voted for so when it happens it’s really a special feeling,” she said. “The fact that people feel that way about my product and what I do every day, it’s an honor.”

Thomson is also no stranger to his craft, having celebrated 40 years in business in 2022. What is the secret to running a successful local business?

“Treat people with respect,” he said. “We’re very fortunate here that the readers and our customers keep voting for us as the best.”

Some other perennial winners include Becky’s Drive In, who has captured best drive-in theatre since 2019;

Heisler’s, who won best producer of a local product, miniature golf, family entertainment, and secured the top spot in family entertainment and miniature golf in 2020, 2021 and 2022; DiMaggio’s as best Italian restaurant in 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022 and dinner in 2022.

Lehighton Outdoor Center, RA Ahner Furniture, St. Luke’s University Health Network and Lehigh Valley Health Network have also captured honors every year.

The top 5 businesses in each category will move on to a voting period from Aug. 8-31, when readers can once again vote every 24 hours.

Winners will be honored at a special celebration and featured in a special section to be published Oct. 5.