Share Your Favorite Small Business for a Chance to Win!

My favorite small business is Eso Wan Books in Los Angeles, California.  They are a great black bookstore and community gathering center.  They have wonderful events, authors as speakers and afro-centric gifts.

Basil & Rose in Bountiful, Utah (about 10 minutes north of downtown Salt Lake City) is owned by a fellow single mother over 50. Her store focuses on plants you can eat! But not only does she sell plants and seeds to establish your own garden, she sells all kinds of fun gifts relating to edible plants, fruits & vegetables, gardening, bees, flowers, and all kinds of fun things! She also hosts other small businesses and crafters, and offers classes when COVID restrictions permit. If you're ever in the SLC area, her store is worth the extra few minutes drive!

One of my favorite restaurants in Athens, Ohio, is The Village Bakery.  They bake wonderful breads, serve salads, sandwiches, quiche and delicious baked deserts.  All the ingredients are local and organic. It is a friendly place to meet with a friend and share a meal.   In addition,  Chris and Bob support the local farmers who provide the produce used in the restaurant, even by demonstrating against possible polluters.  In addition, The Bakery uses solar panels and geothermal energy to provide the energy for the restaurant's heat and electricity. Bob and Chris are truly active members in our community, and by their example, leaders in preserving our environment, combating climate change and nourishing our stomachs and our spirits.

I’d like to honor my favorite small business in Harrisburg, NC.  Sunflour Baking Company offers a wonderful fresh food experience with great beverages, sandwiches, and exceptional sweet treats.  They are very involved in the community and have been extremely supportive in donating to local charities  including my personal connection to the Greater Charlotte Autism Speaks as I  have a son on the spectrum.  Sunflour Baking Company has 4 local bake shops in the Charlotte Area.  Best place, best people, best food, best heart ❤️ 
Submitted by Barbara Tappy

My favorite small business is connecting grandchildren with grandparents in a fun, exciting way.. through good old fashioned snail mail.  Such a unique gift for birthdays and holidays -- Snail Mail for Kids has created a mascot, Sunny the Mail Snail, who sends kids their very own letter every week.  All kids love mail so much and hearing from a friend every week is perfect for kids stuck at home or lonely throughout this pandemic.  Plus, it keeps kids reading and learning about the world too.  Created by an "over 50" mom who was looking for a creative way to get her son reading, now she has started her own business with letters going to kids all over the world.  She turned Sunny the Mail Snail into a fun little plush snail kids can snuggle with while they read their mail.  We all love mail and everyone needs something special in the mail every week.  The kids solve secret codes, collect little treasures, color bookmarks and more. It's a really fun small business putting smiles on faces everywhere.  I hope I haven't posted too many pictures...

My favorite community business is Sage and Attachments in Flemington, NJ . Not only do they have wonderful items for children, clothing, jewelry  for women and gifts that are just great but the owner is constantly finding ways to give back to the community. Thieve two sister stores are great and the owner deserves this recognition.

My most favorite local business is "THE ORIGINAL GARDEN OF BEADIN' in Garberville California. Through thick and thin, for 35 plus years, Charlotte has kept an impressive bead store... and it is so much more. It is a hub in a small community, it has been a great place of employment for so many woman. There are bead classes, online shopping and a selection of beads that can't be beat. It is beautiful! She is an active community member that gives back to the community in so many ways. 

Lots of great businesses in Seattle. Two come to mind that do good for the community. Half Price Books and Silver Platters. Both are about recycling old Books and Music.  HPB has thousands of books, they buy and sell. Silver Platters does the same service except for old music, records, tapes, CDs!  They have been around forever supporting the needs of the locals, keeping folks employed and giving great bargains to all!

Small business revenues have plunged during the Covid-19 pandemic and among the hardest hit and severely impacted has been jobs in the restaurant industry.  The Market Place Grill Cafe in Downey, California is one of the restaurants that have been severely impacted.  During the work week, a line would form at least 20 people deep during the busy lunch hours.  Lately, however, this is not the case.  

Market Place Grill has been my favorite lunch spot, and occasionally dinner spot for years.  The menu is casual American & Mediterranean  food with the philosophy serving healthy, simple and delicious foods with low sodium recipes and the extensive use of Greek Extra Virgin Olive Oil.  The menu includes vegetarian, vegan, and clean food choices.  My favorites include a salmon salad, avocado panini and baklava.  Their menu includes breakfast with numerous choices such as french toast and eggs, to a greek vegetarian omelet and lunch menu include greek wraps or pita to chicken tenders, burgers and ribeye salad.  All the salads have a wonderful greek olive oil based dressing served in an oversized bowl.  Tasty, healthy and esthetically pleasing, this local favorite is delicious.  

Market Place Grill is a great place to catchup with old friends, new friends and also to share a meal with your family.  What makes this place so special?  Not just the wonderful and healthy food, and exquisite desserts and but also the wonderful people that work there.  All employees are dressed in black slacks and a black shirt with a black apron along with a smile.  

I'd like to recognize Smokin Toads BBQ Restaurant in Sarver, PA for all their hard work and fantastic food!