Retailer of the Year Awards

Since 2008, Retail Alliance has conducted the Retailer of the Year (ROTY) event for Hampton Roads’ retailers. The ROTY awards is our premier signature event that recognizes excellence in retailing while honoring merchants who demonstrate the very best in product quality, customer service and community involvement across retail, service, and restaurant categories. In addition, we recognize Up and Comer retailers for Southside and Peninsula, People’s Choice award (voted by consumers) for LOVEVA businesses, and the Lifetime Achievement Award recipient will also be celebrated and we look forward to honoring their many years in business and the successes and contributions to the retail and wider community.

12 awards were presented at our Retailer of the Year awards ceremony,  held on May 30, 2019. Winners were announced at the event and are listed below.

Award Listing

  • Overall Retailer of the Year Award Winner: Kelsick Specialty Market
  • Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient: Norma Dorey (Changes City Spa/Jake’s Place)
  • Restaurant Award Winner – Up & Comer (<3 years in biz): Alkaline
  • Restaurant Award Winner – Southside: Hummingbird Macarons
  • Restaurant Award Winner – Peninsula: Viking Burger
  • Retail Award Winner – Up & Comer (<3 years in biz): Hickory Trading Company
  • Retail Award Winner – Southside: Mom & Me Boutique
  • Retail Award Winner – Peninsula: Smith’s Florist & Gift Shoppe
  • Service Award Winner – Up & Comer (<3 years in biz): East Beach Urgent Care
  • Service Award Winner – Southside: Beach Gold Assay
  • Service Award Winner – Peninsula: Williamsburg Salt Sp
  • LOVEVA Award Winner: Perfectly Natural Soap

Previous Award Winners (2018)

  • Curvaceous Boutique – Overall Retailer of the Year Award Winner
  • Willis Furniture – Lifetime Achievement Award Recipient
  • Cafe Europa – Restaurant Award Winner – Southside
  • 757 Poke’ – Restaurant Award Winner – Up & Comer (<3 years in biz)
  • Scratch Bakery – Restaurant Award Winner – Peninsula
  • Tidewater Diamond – Retail Award Winner – Southside
  • Great Outdoor Provision Co. – Retail Award Winner – Up & Comer (<3 years in biz)
  • Yolanda’s – Retail Award Winner – Peninsula
  • Escape Room – Service Award Winner – Up & Comer (<3 years in biz)
  • TechArk Solutions, LLC – Service Award Winner – Southside
  • Chase Roofing, LLC – Service Award Winner – Peninsula
  • The Royal Chocolate – LOVEVA Award Winner

Restaurant Peninsula

  1. 8 Shires Coloniale Distillery
  2. LV’s Restaurant
  3. Providence Square Grill
  4. Viking Burger

Restaurant Southside

  1. 1608 Crafthouse
  2. Amazing Glazed
  3. Black Pelican Seafood Co. Greenbrier
  4. Carib Shack
  5. Cinema Café
  6. Froggies
  7. Hook U Up Gourmet
  8. Hummingbird Macarons
  9. Jack Browns Beer and Burger Joint
  10. Jelly Ball
  11. Nothing Bundt Cakes
  12. Pacifica Little Bar Bistro
  13. Pelon’s Baja Grill
  14. Pho 79 Noodles and Grill
  15. SilverSpoon Bakery
  16. Sweetwater Cuisine
  17. The Bold Mariner Brewing Company
  18. The Dirty Buffalo
  19. Totoy’s Filipino Store, Inc.

Restaurant Up & Comer

  1. Alkaline
  2. Billsburg Brewery
  3. Café Crema
  4. California Burrito
  5. Capstan Bar Brewing Company
  6. Coaster Coffee
  7. Island Jerk Hut
  8. Stripers Waterside
  9. Taqueria Jessy’s

Retail Peninsula

  1. 7 Sistas Recycles Jewelry, LLC.
  2. Benton-Knight LTD
  3. Dodd RV of the Peninsula
  4. First Team Hampton Chevrolet
  5. Heroes and Villains
  6. Jack’s Tile and Carpet
  7. Jersey Cards & Comics, LLC.
  8. Kelsick Specialty Market
  9. Lilac Lane Consignments
  10. Shaia Oriental Rugs
  11. Smith’s Florist & Gift Shoppe
  12. The Good Feet Store
  13. The Mariners’ Museum
  14. The Virginia Store
  15. Three Sisters Boutique
  16. Vintage Potential
  17. Virginia Gourmet
  18. Williamsburg Drug Co.

Retail Southside

  1. Ability Center of Virginia
  2. Boyers Diamonds
  3. Cartridge Man
  4. Chrysler Museum of Art
  5. Decorum Furniture
  6. Esprit Décor Home Furnishings
  7. Fairfield Flowers
  8. Floors Alive
  9. Flutterby Soap Company
  10. Great Outdoor Provision Co
  11. Heritage Natural Market
  12. Kathy Knack Interior Designs
  13. M&G Sales Co. Inc.
  14. Mary Barnetts
  15. MED Emporium
  16. Mom and Me Boutique
  17. Nancy’s Nook
  18. Newton Piano Co, Inc.
  19. Norfolk Idea Center
  20. Norfolk Mermaid Market
  21. Once Upon A Child Chesapeake-Greenbrier
  22. Paris Jewelers
  23. Piano Showcase
  24. Play it Again Sports
  25. Portsmouth Armie Navie Store
  26. Segal & Co Fine Jewelers
  27. Simply Unique Image Enhancement Services
  28. Studio Optix of Virginia, LLC
  29. The Creative Wedge
  30. The Main Event by Emily
  31. The Royal Chocolate
  32. The Tile Shop
  33. The Union Mission
  34. Virginia Furniture Co
  35. Virginia Leisure
  36. Woodfellas
  37. Worth the Wait

Retail Up & Comer

  1. Dreamsville Inc.
  2. Endurance Apparel and Gear
  3. Hickory Trading Company
  4. Little Shoppes on High
  5. Mint Julep Antiques
  6. Piccadilly Designs, LLC
  7. Rye’s Flooring
  8. The Teal Eagle Boutique
  9. Vintage Faire LLC
  10. Vintage Trixie
  11. Worn & Homespun

Service Peninsula

  1. Artfully Yours Studio
  2. ArtInspired, LLC
  3. Burks’ Bookkeeping & Tax Service
  4. CuteClickz LLC.
  5. Dust Bunnies of Hampton Roads
  6. Einsteink9 dog training
  7. First Command Financial Planning
  8. Heart Felt Touch Massage Therapy, LLC
  9. LegalShield
  10. Mastertech Auto Care
  11. Old Point National Bank
  12. Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home and Memorial Park
  13. Purrocious Styles and Feline Designs
  14. Signs by Tomorrow
  15. Sonabank
  16. The Krohn Group, Inc
  17. The MeowMANOR
  18. Tick Tock Around the Clock, LLC
  19. Union Bank & Trust
  20. Virginia Peninsula Photography, LLC
  21. Williamsburg Salt Spa, LLC

Service Southside

  1. Beach Gold Assay
  2. BizConnect Hampton Roads
  3. Changes City Spa
  4. Exterior Source
  5. Germono Advertising Company
  6. Interstate Cash Register
  7. Jan Cline Fitness
  8. Marketing & Entrepreneurship at Town Center
  9. Meme G Home Designs
  10. Moms Need Help Too, LLC
  11. Ocean View HairColor Studio
  12. ProMedia Video Services
  13. Tan Media, LLC
  14. TechArk Solutions
  15. The King’s Daughters
  16. Tidewater Arts Outreach
  17. Virginia Beach Schools Federal Credit Union
  18. VSB Spa and Wellness
  19. Womens Workout & Fitness Center
  20. Xanadu Salon and Spa

Service Up & Comer

  1. 4th Generation Luxury Mobile Barber Shop
  2. Coast DIY bar
  3. East Beach Urgent Care
  4. Medical Aesthetics of Virginia
  5. Norfolk Tour Company
  6. Piccadilly Designs, LLC
  7. Rebecca, Life Balance Coach
  8. Spinal Source Chiropractic
  9. Worley’s Home Services

How Were Awards Judged

  • Retail  –  Mystery shops + nomination application
  • Service – Digital/Telephone mystery shops + nomination application
  • Restaurant – “People’s Choice” consumer voting
  • LOVEVA – “People’s Choice” consumer voting

Mystery shop judges are certified mystery shoppers and are independent contractors.

The Retailer of the Year event could not be held without the generosity of sponsors. Sponsorship contributions enable us to offer a discounted admission ticket to each nominee and also contributes to the cost of the event, from venue hire and audio/visual, to decorations, trophies and food. Thank you to our 2019 Retailer of the Year sponsors, listed below.

Presenting Sponsor

Lifetime Achievement Award Sponsor

LOVEVA Sponsor

Opal Sponsor

Platinum Sponsors

Gold Sponsors

Silver Sponsors

Catering Sponsor

Bronze Sponsors

Photo Booth Sponsor

Leadership Circle Contributor

Lynnhaven Mall

  • ROTY 2019 Photos

STRIVE Workshop – Content Marketing

March 3 @ 8:30 am - 9:45 am

Retail Alliance Meet & Greet – Virginia Gourmet

March 10 @ 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm

Retail Alliance Meet & Greet – The Creative Wedge

March 17 @ 8:00 am - 10:00 am

STRIVE Workshop – Email Marketing

April 7 @ 8:30 am - 9:45 am