2016 Wrap-Up!!
AUG 15, 2016
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST PETERSBURG, FL – More than 150 local business and nonprofit leaders and community activists packed Marchand’s restaurant at the Vinoy in downtown St. Petersburg on Sunday, Aug 14, for the annual LocalShops1 Community Awards and 8th Birthday Bash.
The event was emceed by Noah Pransky, journalist with 10 News, and featured keynote speaker St Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman, who praised local businesses, touted the city’s commitment to local, and recognized LocalShops1’s mission to boost local businesses as the biggest buy local organization in the state.
The awards, featuring a surprise appearance by Raymond the Rays mascot, included LocalShops1’s Best in Biz finalists and winners in 16 categories and four Community Awards recipients, and named Robin King, co-founder of Three Birds Tavern and founder of Out of the Weeds, as the LocalShops1 member of the year.
LocalShops1’s Community Awards were made possible with the support of Moorman Photographics, DJ MC White and videographer Jade Taylor Isaacs. Table sponsors included C1 Bank, Great Explorations Children’s Museum, My Hope Chest, St Pete Arts Alliance, Three Birds Tavern and writer Cheryl Hollon.
The Community Awards recipients were selected by the Awards Committee consisting of LocalShops1 members Andrea Farnum, Mermaid Bay Mercantile Co.; Michele Tuegel, Michele Tuegel Contemporary; and Robin King, Out of the Weeds & Three Birds Tavern. Each honoree received a custom mosaic designed by Gulfport artist Susanne Vernon. The honorees were:
For the 16 Best in Biz categories, finalists were selected by the committee from a list of more than 500 nominees, and winners were selected from those finalists through an online poll on LocalShops1.com.
Best social media presence
Best branding
Staying power (10+ years)
Favorite newcomer
Most iconic style
Most dog-friendly
Best kept secret
Best hospitality staff member
Area’s biggest cheerleader
Most innovative
Future billionaire
Best 501c3 non profit
Write-in candidate for president
Power couple
Best story/future best-selling author
Favorite mural
The event included prizes from more than two dozen of local businesses, including Beach Drive Inn Bed and Breakfast, Chart 411, C1 Bank, Clothing with a Kiss, D-gallerie, Eco-Musings Soapery and Such, Funky Town Boutique, GateauOChocolat, Grow Financial, Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, Intensity Academy Gourmet Sauces, JewelScent by Charis, Mangia Gourmet, Mermaid Bay Mercantile Co, Michele Tuegel Contemporary, Museum of Fine Arts St Pete, Peace of Yoga, Perfectly Posh Charis, Practically Pikasso, Nauti Narwhal, Olive + Lemon Creations, Out of the Weeds, Radish & Company, Red Hot Tiki Spicy Gourmet Market, Souzou, Stash, Three Birds Tavern and Time Systems.
For media inquiries or more information, please contact Ester Venouziou atester@localshops1.com or 727-637-5586.
About LocalShops1
LocalShops1 is a coalition of hundreds of independently owned businesses and tens of thousands of energetic shoppers with the mission of advocating, promoting and offering support services to companies throughout Tampa Bay. Founded in August 2008, LocalShops1 is the region’s most active voice for small businesses.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
ST PETERSBURG, FL – More than 150 local business and nonprofit leaders and community activists packed Marchand’s restaurant at the Vinoy in downtown St. Petersburg on Sunday, Aug 14, for the annual LocalShops1 Community Awards and 8th Birthday Bash.
The event was emceed by Noah Pransky, journalist with 10 News, and featured keynote speaker St Pete Mayor Rick Kriseman, who praised local businesses, touted the city’s commitment to local, and recognized LocalShops1’s mission to boost local businesses as the biggest buy local organization in the state.
The awards, featuring a surprise appearance by Raymond the Rays mascot, included LocalShops1’s Best in Biz finalists and winners in 16 categories and four Community Awards recipients, and named Robin King, co-founder of Three Birds Tavern and founder of Out of the Weeds, as the LocalShops1 member of the year.
LocalShops1’s Community Awards were made possible with the support of Moorman Photographics, DJ MC White and videographer Jade Taylor Isaacs. Table sponsors included C1 Bank, Great Explorations Children’s Museum, My Hope Chest, St Pete Arts Alliance, Three Birds Tavern and writer Cheryl Hollon.
The Community Awards recipients were selected by the Awards Committee consisting of LocalShops1 members Andrea Farnum, Mermaid Bay Mercantile Co.; Michele Tuegel, Michele Tuegel Contemporary; and Robin King, Out of the Weeds & Three Birds Tavern. Each honoree received a custom mosaic designed by Gulfport artist Susanne Vernon. The honorees were:
- Local Business Success Story: Sarah and Raphael Perrier, Kahwa Coffee
- Business Incubator: Gail Eggeman and Mark Johnson, Saturday Morning Market
- Boosting the Arts: John Collins, St Pete Arts Alliance
- Watchdog Award: Features Staff, Tampa Bay Times
For the 16 Best in Biz categories, finalists were selected by the committee from a list of more than 500 nominees, and winners were selected from those finalists through an online poll on LocalShops1.com.
Best social media presence
- Brocante Market
- Family Foodie
- I Love the Burg
- Intensity Academy Gourmet Sauces -- WINNER
- Mr Strong Foundation
- Pierce Street Market
Best branding
- Brooklyn South
- Casita Taqueria
- Kings Street Food
- Red Hot Tiki Spicy Gourmet Market -- WINNER
- Sunshine Canning
- TeBella Tea Company
Staying power (10+ years)
- Bayprint
- Being, the art of living
- Grand Kitchen & Bath
- Mazzaro’s Italian Market -- WINNER
- Rick’s Home Theatre Store
- Sunshine Automotive
Favorite newcomer
- Cinema Squatch
- Earth Day St Pete
- Magnolia Lane Boutique
- Mermaid Bay Mercantile Company -- WINNER
- Purple Dot Yoga Project
- Swah-rey
Most iconic style
- Carla Bristol, Gallerie 909 -- WINNER
- Duncan McClellan, Duncan McClellan Gallery
- Kevin McBride, Mc B’s Men’s Clothing
- Marina Williams, ARTPool Gallery
- Michele Tuegel, Michele Tuegel Contemporary
- Pia Goff, Pia’s Trattoria
Most dog-friendly
- Dog Bar
- Green Bench Brewery
- Mangia Gourmet
- Stella’s -- WINNER
- Three Birds Tavern
Best kept secret
- Blueberry Patch Gulfport
- Historic Shed
- Humane Education Connection
- Pinellas Chocolate -- WINNER
- St Pete Community Acupuncture
- Tampa Coffee Club
Best hospitality staff member
- Allison Nowicki, Annata
- Jana Armstrong Kelly, Beach Drive Inn B&B
- Justin Cabarga, Three Birds Tavern -- WINNER
- Lisa Bailey, Fergs Sports Bar
- Sam Henderson, Peninsula Inn
- Tyson Savoretti, The Getaway
Area’s biggest cheerleader
- Frank Wells, Venture House
- Hal Freedman, Hal Freedman Real Estate
- Jon Reno La Budde, Weekly Burg Blast & Reno Beach Surf Shop
- St Petersburg Mayor Kriseman
- Raymond, Tampa Bay Rays -- WINNER
Most innovative
- Birthday Candles for Kids
- Community Cafe
- Squaremouth
- Station House
- Takeout Button
- Time Clock Man/Time Systems -- WINNER
Future billionaire
- Desiree Noisette,Cerulean Blu
- Evan Gatscher, Evan Gatscher Studios
- Jason Sulisufay, Sulisufay Property Group
- Mark Ferguson, Ferg’s
- Milind Bharvirkar, Priatek -- WINNER
- Rhonda Shear, Shear Enterprises
Best 501c3 non profit
- CASA -- WINNER
- Limbo Chihuahuas
- PARC
- St Pete Pride
- St Petersburg Preservation
- Women with Purpose
Write-in candidate for president
- Angeline Howell, Great Explorations Children’s Museum
- Barry Rubin, Gulfport Chamber of Commerce & Time Systems
- Jennifer Joern, National Association of Professional Women, St. Pete chapter
- Deputy Mayor Kanika Tomalin, City of St. Petersburg
- Nadine Smith, Equality Florida
- Rita Lowman, C1 Bank -- WINNER
Power couple
- Colleen & Jay Dingman, Barley Mow Brewery
- Gini Carroll & Mike Fagan, Gulfport Beach Bazaar -- WINNER
- Jackie & Todd Wilson, Furnish Me Vintage
- Julie & Steve Weintraub, Gold & Diamond Source
- Leslie & Marvin Gay, Painting With a Twist
- Nancy & Steve Westphal, Go To Steve’s Restaurants & Catering
Best story/future best-selling author
- Alisa Savoretti, My Hope Chest
- Cheryl Hollon, mystery writer
- Howard Johnston, Chart 411
- Kate Bradshaw, Creative Loafing -- WINNER
- Maddy Guenther, Botiki & O’Maddy’s Bar & Grille
- Susan Jacobs, Wheels of Success
Favorite mural
- A Moment to Reflect, Derek Donelly and Sebastian Coolidge
- Alice in Wonderland, Sarah Sheppard -- WINNER
- Art Reflecting History, Patrick Noze
- Rays Tunnel Mural, Ya La’Ford
- Shine, Chad Mize
- State Lines, Tes One and Pale Horse
The event included prizes from more than two dozen of local businesses, including Beach Drive Inn Bed and Breakfast, Chart 411, C1 Bank, Clothing with a Kiss, D-gallerie, Eco-Musings Soapery and Such, Funky Town Boutique, GateauOChocolat, Grow Financial, Gulfport Chamber of Commerce, Intensity Academy Gourmet Sauces, JewelScent by Charis, Mangia Gourmet, Mermaid Bay Mercantile Co, Michele Tuegel Contemporary, Museum of Fine Arts St Pete, Peace of Yoga, Perfectly Posh Charis, Practically Pikasso, Nauti Narwhal, Olive + Lemon Creations, Out of the Weeds, Radish & Company, Red Hot Tiki Spicy Gourmet Market, Souzou, Stash, Three Birds Tavern and Time Systems.
For media inquiries or more information, please contact Ester Venouziou atester@localshops1.com or 727-637-5586.
About LocalShops1
LocalShops1 is a coalition of hundreds of independently owned businesses and tens of thousands of energetic shoppers with the mission of advocating, promoting and offering support services to companies throughout Tampa Bay. Founded in August 2008, LocalShops1 is the region’s most active voice for small businesses.
