Julia Austin, center, of FiFi’s Fine Resale was honored as Lake Norman Chamber Small Business of the year. With her, from left, chamber chair Mike Russell, Cornelius Commissioner Woody Washam, chamber CEO Bill Russell, and hiding in back, Joe Vagnone. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)
FiFi’s Fine Resale and owner Julia Austin were honored Friday afternoon as the Lake Norman Chamber’s Small Business of the Year. Other businesses honored included The Wine Cellar, Alton’s Kitchen & Cocktails, Kilwin’s, and Lake Norman Woman magazine.
The annual awards were the culmination of a series of Small Business Week events organized by the chamber. Winners were honored during a reception Friday afternoon at the Visit Lake Norman visitor’s center on Catawba Avenue.
Joe Vagnone, who helped organize the program, said this year’s nominees were the best he has seen. And 2015 Lake Norman Chamber chair Mike Russell, who was among the judges, said the choice was difficult.
“There was a tremendous amount of quality businesses, and it was very difficult, once we got all the nomination packages,” Russell said.
The winners:
- Small Business of the Year: FiFi’s Fine Resale, Fresh Market Plaza, Torrence Chapel Road, Cornelius – Mike Russell noted that Austin bought the existing consignment shop in Magnolia Plaza in 2007 when it had just one employee. In 2012, she moved to a new location off Torrence Chapel Road near Exit 28, and now has six full time and 10 part time employees. fifislkn.com/
- Spinnaker Award: The Wine Cellar – A spinnaker is the lead sail on a sailboat. Owner Alain Jeantet was honored for being, as the award’s name suggests, a leader in the use of social media and in promoting his wine bar, on West Catawba Avenue. (Related story, “Around Cornelius: A chat with The Wine Cellar owner Alain Jeantet”) Info: winecellarlkn.com
- Finalist: Alton’s Kitchen & Cocktails, in Jetton Village, Cornelius, and owner Alton Updike
- Finalist: Kilwin’s in Birkdale Village, and owner Bill Kenney
- Finalist: Lake Norman Woman magazine
The honorees were chosen from among about a dozen companies nominated for the awards by other business people.
At the reception, chamber CEO Bill Russell told the nominees, “The fact that other people, customers and clients, nominated your businesses says a lot.”
Alain Jeantet (left) of the Wine Cellar won the Spinnaker Award. That’s Woody Washam, Cornelius town commissioner, with him. (David Boraks/CorneliusNews.net)
