Photos by David Uhrin
Retail Alliance announced the winners for the 2019 Retailer of the Year Awards (ROTYs) at their celebration on May 30 at NOAH’s Event Venue in Chesapeake. “Retailer of the Year is our annual awards event that celebrates the retail industry in Hampton Roads,” said Kylie Ross Sibert, vice president of Communications at Retail Alliance.
Retail Alliance recognized Gloucester’s Kelsick Specialty Market as the overall winner for ROTY 2019, the best retailer in the region. The decision was based on independent judging of Kelsick Specialty Market’s superior customer service, visual merchandising, inviting aesthetics, product knowledge, cleanliness and neatness of store, signage and more.
Twelve awards were given out during the ROTYs celebration to local retailers after being reviewed by impartial judges for criteria including web presence, consumer reviews, signage, customer service, product knowledge, visual merchandising, community involvement, overall customer experience and aesthetics.
Restaurant nominees were voted on by consumers during March and April. The LOVEVA Buy Local award is also a consumer-voted award for local businesses listed on the LOVEVA app rewarding consumers for shopping at local businesses.
The 2019 winners are as follows:
Kelsick Specialty Market—Overall Retailer of the Year Award Winner (the winner is the highest scorer from the retail category across the region)
Hummingbird Macarons—Restaurant Award Winner—Southside
Alkaline—Restaurant Award Winner—Up & Comer
Viking Burger—Restaurant Award Winner—Peninsula
Mom & Me Boutique—Retail Award Winner—Southside
Hickory Trading Company—Retail Award Winner—Up & Comer
Smith’s Florist & Gift Shoppe—Retail Award Winner—Peninsula
East Beach Urgent Care—Service Award Winner—Up & Comer
Beach Gold Assay—Service Award Winner—Southside
Williamsburg Salt Spa—Service Award Winner—Peninsula
Perfectly Natural Soap—LOVEVA Award Winner
Norma Dorey (Changes City Spa/Jake’s Place)—Lifetime Achievement Award Winner
