The Alabama Retail Association recently presented its annual awards to four retailers in the state. The awards are presented to businesses that have provided outstanding service, innovation, leadership and lasting contributions to their communities, according to the Alabama Retail Association’s website.
Taking home the Gold Award is Bernard’s Store for Men in Jasper, which has been serving customers for 77 years. Bernard’s is owned by George “Rusty” Richardson, who started working at the store when he was 16 in 1974 and purchased it in 1988.
Fantasy Island Toys, in Fairhope, received the Silver Award. The store was opened in 1976 by Jeane Byrd. Sisters Amanda Calhoun and Stephanie Bell purchased the store in 2022 and have expanded the store’s reach with a second location in Mobile and a growing e-commerce business.
Jack’s Western and Outdoor Wear, in Cullman, was recognized with the Bronze Award. It opened 50 years ago as a small store connected to Jack’s Truck Stop and Café, and Larry Allred later moved the store into a nearly 30,000-square-foot destination that sits on land previously owned by his great-grandfather. The store is run as a family affair, with Allred’s daughters and son-in-law working there, too.
Jessica Pittman, owner of J. Pittman Interiors in Auburn, received the Emerging Retailer of the Year “Gee Award.” Pittman launched her interior design business four-and-a-half years ago, followed a year later by a storefront. The business offers Pittman’s design aesthetic to customers through a curated collection of home décor, furnishings and gifts.
