Alabama Retail Association announces Retail Day honorees, speaker

October 21, 2019

MONTGOMERY/BIRMINGHAM – The Alabama Retail Association will honor 17 retail businesses with 51 locations in 27 Alabama cities as Retailers of the Year and Centennial Retailers. The retailers will be the guests of honor Tuesday, Oct. 22,  during the 2019 Alabama Retail Day luncheon in Birmingham. Gov. Kay Ivey will be the keynote speaker. Alabama Retail has been presenting the Retailer of the Year Awards since 1999 and the Alabama Centennial Retailer awards since 2002.

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. Each 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. 22 awards luncheon. Detailed news releases on each winner will be issued on the day of the awards ceremony.

Retailers to be honored at the 2019 Retail Day are:

  • David Dawoud, pizza maker, president and owner of nine Domino’s Pizza locations in Vestavia Hills (2), Fultondale, Gardendale, Dora, Hueytown, Fairfield, Oxford and Anniston.
  • Mary Beth Greene, owner of and designer for mb greene llc in Fairhope.
  • Kasey Hope, owner of P’zazz Art Studio in Prattville
  • Brian Kane and Jim Foley, managing partners of Fairhope Brewing Co. in Fairhope.
  • Wesley Lassen, owner of The Cook Store in Mountain Brook.
  • Jim Moeller, owner of two locations of the New York Butcher Shoppe in Birmingham.
  • John “Jay” G. Newman II, founder, owner and chief executive officer, and Matt Tietz, chief marketing officer, for Ugo Convenience Delivery in Tuscaloosa.
  • Jenna Powell, owner of Jennaration Boutique Inc. in Northport, Tuscaloosa and Birmingham.
  • Jamie Pursell, proprietor of Leaf & Petal with four locations – Vestavia Hills (2), Mountain Brook and Birmingham.
  • Jacqueline T. “Jackie” Smith, owner/operator of The Coffee Shoppe in Selma.
  • Dr. Jenny Sobera, founder, owner and president of Village Dermatology in Mountain Brook with satellite offices in Birmingham and Oneonta.
  • Mike and Lee Vinson, president and co-owners, respectively, of Adams Drugs with 12 locations in the River Region – Montgomery (8), Prattville, Millbrook, Wetumpka and Pine Level.
  • Jim Whaley, chief executive officer of the seven locations of Jim Whaley Tires Inc. in Dothan (3), Ozark, Enterprise, Troy and Eufaula.
  • Jimmy Wright, president of Wright’s Market in Opelika.

In addition, three Centennial Retailers will be honored:

  • Capitol’s Rosemont Gardens in Montgomery. Founded in 1892 by William Burns Paterson and currently owned by Lamar Thompson and Martha Moore.
  • Anders Hardware Co. Inc. in Northport and Tuscaloosa. Founded in 1909 by J.H. Anders and Burwell Lewis Anders; currently owned by Richard Rodger Anders.
  • Metzger’s in Mobile. Founded in 1919 by Melvin and Leonard Metzger and currently owned by Ken Metzger.

Photos of the 2019 Retailers of the Year and Centennial Retailers are available upon request.

The Retail Day luncheon begins at 11:30 a.m. Oct. 22 at 400 Beaumont Drive, Birmingham. Media representatives wishing to attend the luncheon should contact Nancy Dennis by Friday, Oct. 4.

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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 CONTACTS:
Nancy King Dennis | 334.551.0643 | 800.239.5423

Initially posted at 1:30 p.m. Sept. 22