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BIRMINGHAM – The Alabama Retail Association today recognized 20 retail businesses with operations in 30 Alabama cities as Alabama Retailers of the Year or Centennial Retailers. Together, these businesses employ 2,413 people at 51 locations in Alabama. More than 90 nominations were submitted for the 2017 Retailer of the Year awards. These are the winners. The presentations were made in Birmingham during the 2017 Retail Day luncheon, which was held in cooperation with the University of Alabama at Birmingham Collat School of Business. This marked the 18th presentation of the Retailer of the Year Awards since 1999 and the 13th Alabama Centennial Retailer awards presented since 2002.

2017 ALABAMA CENTENNIAL RETAILERS

• Fairhope Pharmacy: Founded in 1904 by Dr. Clarence Mershon. The current owners are Betty Barnhill and LouAnne Barnhill Harrell. (VIDEO)
• Ousler Sandwiches, Mountain Brook: Founded in 1915 by Dana Ousler. The current owners are Bill and Becky Elmore. (VIDEO)
• Edwards Chevrolet, Birmingham: Founded in 1916 by William Sterling Edwards Jr. The current owners are Leon Edwards and Lee Edwards. (VIDEO)
• Books-A-Million, Birmingham-based with more than 250 locations, 20 in Alabama: Founded in 1917 by Clyde W. Anderson. The Anderson family owns BAM. (VIDEO)
• Chris’ Hot Dogs, Montgomery: Founded in 1917 by Christopher “Chris” Anastasios Katechis. The current owner is Theo Katechis. (VIDEO)
• McCurry Furniture, Warrior: Founded in 1917 by Andrew Jackson McCurry and C.V. Hoover. Now owned by Andrew “Andy” Jackson McCurry III. (VIDEO)

ALABAMA RETAILERS OF THE YEAR

A panel of judges chose the Alabama Retailer of the Year winners in four categories based on annual sales volume. Bronze, silver and gold awards were presented. Those winners have been in business for at least five years and an average of 21 years. The judges also selected an Emerging Retailer of the Year, who has been in business for less than five years. More than 16,000 votes were cast on Facebook for the Customers’ Choice Award.

ANNUAL SALES LESS THAN $1 MILLION

• GOLD AWARD: Annie Damsky, owner of Villager Yoga in Mountain Brook; nominated by Doug Schneider, Bayer Properties.
• SILVER AWARD (3-way tie):
  • Komeh Davis, owner of CakEffect in Homewood; nominated by the Birmingham Business Alliance.
  • Katie Smith, owner and president of Please Reply LLC, Mountain Brook; nominated by the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce.
  • Ralph and Annette Harris, owners of Rumors Deli in Cullman; nominated by Margaret Hamm, Monograms Plus of Cullman.

ANNUAL SALES $1 MILLION TO $5 MILLION

• GOLD AWARD: Jodie and Karen Stanfield, owners of Local Joe’s in Rainbow City and Alexandria; nominated by The Chamber of Gadsden/Etowah County
• SILVER AWARD: Andrew Pharo, chief financial officer and managing partner of Cahaba Brewing Company in the Avondale neighborhood of Birmingham; nominated by the Birmingham Business Alliance.
• BRONZE AWARD: Randy and Sarah Hall, president and vice president, respectively, of Hall’s RV in Albertville; nominated by the Albertville Chamber of Commerce.

ANNUAL SALES $5 MILLION TO $20 MILLION

• GOLD AWARD: The Original Oyster House Team for the Original Oyster House Restaurants and Trading Co. in Gulf Shores and Mobile Causeway; nominated by the Coastal Alabama Chamber of Commerce.
• SILVER AWARD: David and Andrea Snyder, founders of Urban Cookhouse and owners of the Homewood, The Summit, Birmingham and Tuscaloosa locations; nominated by the Birmingham Business Alliance.
• BRONZE AWARD: David Oliver, owner of David Oliver Co. LLC, doing business as Dave’s Market, in Valley Grande and Thomaston; nominated by the Selma and Dallas County Chamber of Commerce.

ANNUAL SALES MORE THAN $20 MILLION

• GOLD AWARD: Ken Hubbard, chairman and chief executive officer of Western Market in Birmingham, Mountain Brook and Vestavia Hills; Food Depot in Gardendale; and Village Market in Birmingham; nominated by the Mountain Brook Chamber of Commerce, Vestavia Hills Chamber of Commerce and Birmingham Business Alliance.
• SILVER AWARD: Kirk A. Stokes, president and dealer for Stokes Automotive in Clanton; nominated by the Chilton County Chamber of Commerce.

GEE EMERGING RETAILER OF THE YEAR

• Ryan and Geri-Martha O’Hara, owners and founders of Big Spoon Creamery in Birmingham; nominated by the Birmingham Business Alliance.

CUSTOMERS’ CHOICE AWARD

•  Courtney Thompson and Meagan Richardson, Nellie Mae Boutique in Tuscumbia; 3,199 of 16,849 votes cast.

“It is a privilege to be able to recognize such an outstanding group of retailers. Each retailer honored is a credit to their community and the retail industry,” said Rick Brown, president of the Alabama Retail Association.

Previous Retailers of the Year

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.

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