MONTGOMERY/BIRMINGHAM – The Alabama Retail Association in cooperation with the University of Alabama at Birmingham’s Collat School of Business will honor 20 retail businesses with stores in 30 Alabama cities as Retailers of the Year or Centennial Retailers on Tuesday, Oct. 17, in Birmingham during the 2017 Alabama Retail Day luncheon. Alabama Retail has been presenting the Retailer of the Year Awards since 1999 and the Alabama Centennial Retailer awards since 2002.

Jeffrey A. Bayer, president and chief executive officer of Birmingham-based Bayer Properties, is the keynote speaker for the 36th Annual Alabama Retail Day. Alabama Retail Day began in 1982 at the University of Alabama main campus in Tuscaloosa. In 2006, Retail Day moved to Birmingham under the direction of the Retail Excellence Initiative within the UAB Collat School of Business.

 

 

A panel of judges representing the media, chambers of commerce, retail developers, former Retailers of the Year and the academic community, selected this year’s Retailers of the Year from a large pool of deserving Alabama retailers who have demonstrated a blend of sound business practices along with commitment to their communities, customers and employees. From that same pool, the public chose the Customers’ Choice Award through a contest on the Alabama Retail Association’s Facebook page. The level of the individual awards will be announced at the Oct. 17 awards luncheon. Detailed news releases on each winner will be issued on the day of the awards ceremony.

Retailers to be honored at the 2017 Retail Day are:

• Annie Damsky, Villager Yoga, Mountain Brook
• Komeh Davis, CakEffect, Homewood
• Randy and Sarah Hall, Hall’s RV, Albertville
• Ralph and Annette Harris, Rumors Deli, Cullman
• Ken Hubbard, Western Market in Birmingham, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills, Food Depot in Gardendale and Village Market in Birmingham
• Ryan and Geri-Martha O’Hara, Big Spoon Creamery, Birmingham
• David Oliver, David Oliver Co. LLC, dba Dave’s Market, Valley Grande and Thomaston
• Original Oyster House Team, Original Oyster House Restaurants and Trading Co., Gulf Shores and Spanish Fort
• Andrew Pharo, Cahaba Brewing Company, Birmingham
• Katie Smith, Please Reply LLC, Mountain Brook
• David and Andrea Snyder, Urban Cookhouse, Homewood, Mountain Brook (The Summit), Tuscaloosa and downtown Birmingham
• Jodie and Karen Stanfield, Local Joe’s, Rainbow City and Alexandria
• Kirk A. Stokes, Stokes Automotive, Clanton
• Courtney Thompson and Meagan Richardson, Nellie Mae Boutique, Tuscumbia

In addition, six Centennial Retailers will be honored:

• Founded 1904: Fairhope Pharmacy, Fairhope
• Founded 1915: Ousler Sandwiches, Mountain Brook
• Founded 1916: Edwards Chevrolet, Birmingham
• Founded 1917: Books-A-Million, more than 250 locations, 20 in Alabama, Birmingham-based
• Founded 1917: Chris’ Hot Dogs, Montgomery
• Founded 1917: McCurry Furniture, Warrior

Photos of the 2017 Retailers of the Year can be found on the Alabama Retail Association’s facebook page and are available upon request.

The Retail Day luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 17 at 400 Beaumont Drive, Birmingham. Media representatives wishing to attend the luncheon should contact Nancy Dennis by Friday, Sept. 29.

The cost for individual seats at the Retail Day luncheon is $50. To register, go to alabamaretail.org/retaildayregistration/

The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Through sales of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and more, our 4,200 independent merchant and national company members touch almost every aspect of daily living. Since 1943, we’ve worked to promote what’s best for the retail industry in Alabama. Whether voicing the retail view when public policy is made, educating members about issues that impact them, negotiating rates for benefits and services or communicating the retail story, the Alabama Retail Association and its members are better together.

MEDIA CONTACT:
Nancy King Dennis | 334.551.0643 | 800.239.5423