The Alabama Retail Association has named six retail businesses in its Retailer of the Year awards. Together, the businesses employ 181 people at nine Alabama locations.
Former Retailer of the Year winners were the judges for the categories based on annual sales volume. Category winners have been in business at least five years. These judges also selected two Emerging Retailers of the Year, which have been in business for less than five years. An online and Facebook contest determined the Customers’ Choice Award.
“It is an honor to be able to recognize such an outstanding group of retailers,” said Rick Brown, president of the Alabama Retail Association. “Each retailer honored is a credit to their community and the retail industry.”
And the winners are:
Annual sales less than $1 million: Epiphany Boutiques, with locations in Athens and Madison, offers curated women’s clothing. It is owned by mother-daughter duo Dawne Douthit and Jessica Douthit Clark. The retailer was nominated by Pammie Jimmar, president of the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce.
Annual sales $1 million to $5 million: Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in Spanish Fort, is owned by Linda, Larry, Nick and Joel Kessler. The restaurant offers burgers, tacos, wings, fajitas and surf and turf. The Kesslers and their business were nominated by Casey Williams, president and CEO of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.
Annual sales more than $5 million: ChurchStreet Family Restaurant and Hospitality Group, with locations in Huntsville and Athens, is made up of nine restaurants. Owned by Matthew and Stephanie Mell, the company was nominated by Ashley Engles-Ross, vice president of small business for the Huntsville-Madison County Chamber of Commerce and by Pammie Jimmar, president of the Athens-Limestone County Chamber of Commerce.
Gee Emerging Retailers of the Year: Bandwagon in Homewood and Vestavia Hills offers sporting equipment and uniforms. Owned by David and Leah Knight, Bandwagon was nominated by Shay Gartman, executive director of the Homewood Chamber of Commerce. Also winning this award was Kind Café in Fairhope, owned by Alex Pikul. Kind Café was nominated by Casey Williams, president and CEO of the Eastern Shore Chamber of Commerce.
The Customer’s Choice Award was presented to Wills Creek Clothing in Attalla. Owned and operated by Paige Ledbetter and Leigh Anne Kelley, Wills Creek offers trendy women’s clothing. It was nominated by Christie Robinson, president, and Jonathan Vo, marketing and events manager, for the Etowah Chamber of Commerce.
The Retailer of the Year awards have been presented since 1999.
