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
- 8 Shires Coloniale Distillery
- LV’s Restaurant
- Providence Square Grill
- Viking Burger
Restaurant Southside
- 1608 Crafthouse
- Amazing Glazed
- Black Pelican Seafood Co. Greenbrier
- Carib Shack
- Cinema Café
- Froggies
- Hook U Up Gourmet
- Hummingbird Macarons
- Jack Browns Beer and Burger Joint
- Jelly Ball
- Nothing Bundt Cakes
- Pacifica Little Bar Bistro
- Pelon’s Baja Grill
- Pho 79 Noodles and Grill
- SilverSpoon Bakery
- Sweetwater Cuisine
- The Bold Mariner Brewing Company
- The Dirty Buffalo
- Totoy’s Filipino Store, Inc.
Restaurant Up & Comer
- Alkaline
- Billsburg Brewery
- Café Crema
- California Burrito
- Capstan Bar Brewing Company
- Coaster Coffee
- Island Jerk Hut
- Stripers Waterside
- Taqueria Jessy’s
Retail Peninsula
- 7 Sistas Recycles Jewelry, LLC.
- Benton-Knight LTD
- Dodd RV of the Peninsula
- First Team Hampton Chevrolet
- Heroes and Villains
- Jack’s Tile and Carpet
- Jersey Cards & Comics, LLC.
- Kelsick Specialty Market
- Lilac Lane Consignments
- Shaia Oriental Rugs
- Smith’s Florist & Gift Shoppe
- The Good Feet Store
- The Mariners’ Museum
- The Virginia Store
- Three Sisters Boutique
- Vintage Potential
- Virginia Gourmet
- Williamsburg Drug Co.
Retail Southside
- Ability Center of Virginia
- Boyers Diamonds
- Cartridge Man
- Chrysler Museum of Art
- Decorum Furniture
- Esprit Décor Home Furnishings
- Fairfield Flowers
- Floors Alive
- Flutterby Soap Company
- Great Outdoor Provision Co
- Heritage Natural Market
- Kathy Knack Interior Designs
- M&G Sales Co. Inc.
- Mary Barnetts
- MED Emporium
- Mom and Me Boutique
- Nancy’s Nook
- Newton Piano Co, Inc.
- Norfolk Idea Center
- Norfolk Mermaid Market
- Once Upon A Child Chesapeake-Greenbrier
- Paris Jewelers
- Piano Showcase
- Play it Again Sports
- Portsmouth Armie Navie Store
- Segal & Co Fine Jewelers
- Simply Unique Image Enhancement Services
- Studio Optix of Virginia, LLC
- The Creative Wedge
- The Main Event by Emily
- The Royal Chocolate
- The Tile Shop
- The Union Mission
- Virginia Furniture Co
- Virginia Leisure
- Woodfellas
- Worth the Wait
Retail Up & Comer
- Dreamsville Inc.
- Endurance Apparel and Gear
- Hickory Trading Company
- Little Shoppes on High
- Mint Julep Antiques
- Piccadilly Designs, LLC
- Rye’s Flooring
- The Teal Eagle Boutique
- Vintage Faire LLC
- Vintage Trixie
- Worn & Homespun
Service Peninsula
- Artfully Yours Studio
- ArtInspired, LLC
- Burks’ Bookkeeping & Tax Service
- CuteClickz LLC.
- Dust Bunnies of Hampton Roads
- Einsteink9 dog training
- First Command Financial Planning
- Heart Felt Touch Massage Therapy, LLC
- LegalShield
- Mastertech Auto Care
- Old Point National Bank
- Parklawn-Wood Funeral Home and Memorial Park
- Purrocious Styles and Feline Designs
- Signs by Tomorrow
- Sonabank
- The Krohn Group, Inc
- The MeowMANOR
- Tick Tock Around the Clock, LLC
- Union Bank & Trust
- Virginia Peninsula Photography, LLC
- Williamsburg Salt Spa, LLC
Service Southside
- Beach Gold Assay
- BizConnect Hampton Roads
- Changes City Spa
- Exterior Source
- Germono Advertising Company
- Interstate Cash Register
- Jan Cline Fitness
- Marketing & Entrepreneurship at Town Center
- Meme G Home Designs
- Moms Need Help Too, LLC
- Ocean View HairColor Studio
- ProMedia Video Services
- Tan Media, LLC
- TechArk Solutions
- The King’s Daughters
- Tidewater Arts Outreach
- Virginia Beach Schools Federal Credit Union
- VSB Spa and Wellness
- Womens Workout & Fitness Center
- Xanadu Salon and Spa
Service Up & Comer
- 4th Generation Luxury Mobile Barber Shop
- Coast DIY bar
- East Beach Urgent Care
- Medical Aesthetics of Virginia
- Norfolk Tour Company
- Piccadilly Designs, LLC
- Rebecca, Life Balance Coach
- Spinal Source Chiropractic
- 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
Kaycee McCoy, CEO & Creative Director of Create/Captivate Digital Marketing, is hosting a unique STRIVE Workshop with the goal of showing you how to turn your business into a fan favorite business.
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Retail Alliance STRIVE Workshops provide local brick & mortar retailers a monthly live-streamed workshop that focuses on topics of interest in today’s retail environment. For a retailer to succeed they must become a destination for consumers while also wearing many hats and holding a multitude of responsibilities as a business owner.
This month’s STRIVE Workshop focuses on customer growth. You’ll learn what you can do to increase customers for your business.
Attendees will walk away with at least three to-dos they can implement immediately in their business on various trending topics.
Three Takeaways:
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All STRIVE Workshops are available in-person or online.
STRIVE Workshops provide local brick & mortar retailers a monthly one-hour in-person or live streamed workshop that focuses on topics of interest in today’s retail environment. For a retailer to succeed they must become a destination for consumers while also wearing many hats and holding a multitude of responsibilities as a business owner.
This month’s STRIVE Workshop focuses on customer retention. You’ll learn how to create a customer retention strategy that keeps your current customers engaged and happy and coming back!
Attendees will walk away with at least three to-dos they can implement immediately in their business on various trending topics.
Three Takeaways:
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All STRIVE Workshops are available in-person or online.
STRIVE Workshops provide local brick & mortar retailers a monthly one-hour in-person or live streamed workshop that focuses on topics of interest in today’s retail environment. For a retailer to succeed they must become a destination for consumers while also wearing many hats and holding a multitude of responsibilities as a business owner.