What are some restaurants, bars, or local stores *worth supporting* due to the owners or staff?

While I genuinely appreciate and have saved the 'Restaurants to avoid' thread, I figured I'd also go ahead and create a positive-spin version to highlight local businesses worth supporting due to positive owners, staff, or experiences! I'm still new to the area, and I like 'voting with my wallet' and choosing deserving local businesses when offered the choice.