This September, the Pearl District Business Association (PDBA) opened nominations for its fifth annual Pearl District Business Awards to recognize individuals and businesses that are making a difference within Portland’s flourishing Pearl District. The award winners (listed below) were honored at a luncheon on Wednesday, November 6th, 2019, at The Eleanor, hosted by Ciara Pressler of PREGAME.
Congratulations to the 2019 Award winners!
Business of the Year: Arts – Gallery 114
One of the Pearl’s oldest galleries, Gallery 114 is operated by a cooperative board offering their members absolute artistic freedom. Their work with Street Roots in 2019 to give artists within that organization a place to be heard brought the community together.
SPONSORED BY PORTLAND STREETCAR INC.
Business of the Year: Business Service Provider – Merchant Concepts
Merchant Concepts and founder William Mitchell go above and beyond for their clients. They know what they need to be successful and help clients to identify what is needed to be more productive and profitable. They are also immensely supportive of the community by visiting local businesses and offering a helping hand regardless if they are a client or a neighbor.
SPONSORED BY FIREBRAND SPORTS
Business of the Year: Consumer Service Provider – Pearl District Cleaners
Pearl District Cleaners values family above all else and care about their customers as an extended part of their family. They are eco-friendly and go above and beyond the call of duty for their customers on a daily basis.
SPONSORED BY CHOWN HARDWARE
Business of the Year: Fitness – barre3
barre3 Pearl is the flagship studio and opened in 2008. The company has now grown to six company-owned locations and over 160 franchises across the United States and Canada. They foster a culture where existing and new clients are both welcomed in with open arms and really care about protecting the existing culture and chose the Pearl for their flagship because of that strong sense of culture and support of the local.
SPONSORED BY COMMONGROUNDS WORKPLACE
Business of the Year: Quick Service Food & Beverage – Burrito Bar
Locally and family-owned, the Burrito Bar is known in the Pearl for providing high quality, locally sourced food. They take pride in showcasing Portland artists on their walls and in participating in the community. Their regulars are part of their family.
SPONSORED BY MERCHANT CONCEPTS
Business of the Year: Real Estate – Debbie Thomas Real Estate
Debbie Thomas Real Estate is a woman-owned, boutique commercial and residential firm specializing in both fields equally. Founded in 1996, Debbie Thomas Real Estate has grown up with the Pearl and have been a part of the sales and leases of many of the new buildings around the district.
SPONSORED BY BREWERY BLOCKS
Business of the Year: Restaurant – Can Font – Modern Spanish Cuisine
The motivation behind Can Font is simple, to provide the very best in guest experience, from the food to the wine to the service, and they do that in spades. Providing a consistent, high-end experience, residents and visitors alike enjoy the small bites, and unique wine list.
SPONSORED BY CHARLIE’S PRODUCE
Business of the Year: Retail – Sabina’s Style
For Sabina Kuplas, it’s about your experience. Providing a personalized experience and developing close relationships with designers and clients alike, it’s no wonder that the Pearl District residents praise her unique items from around the world and pieces you can’t find anywhere else in the region.
SPONSORED BY STRIDE PDX
Business of the Year: Salon/Spa – LunchboxWax
The team at LunchboxWax are strong believers in evolving and refining themselves and their business. They use a proprietary softwax and an exclusive technique developed by their founder that makes for a better guest experience. Their dual focus on the client and the community give their employees outlets to participate and to become active members of the community surrounding them.
SPONSORED BY STYLE AESTHETICS BY RAJANI MD
Business of the Year: Wellness – Therapydia Pearl
In just 18 months, Therapydia Pearl has proven to be a top stop for physical therapy in the Pearl District. Their 1:1 care model and deep care for patient satisfaction have helped raise them to the top tier in the district. Customers from all over the region come into the Pearl District to receive treatment.
SPONSORED BY REALLY BIG VIDEO
Emerging Business of the Year – The Remedy Barbershop & Social Club
The Remedy Barbershop & Social Club is bringing the Barbershop back to its original roots, a place where all feel welcome. One of the first things owner Shane Fattarino did upon opening the business. was hold a fundraising event for Brain Injury Connections Northwest and he continues to give back to the community today.
SPONSORED BY URBAN RESTAURANT GROUP
Family-Owned Business of the Year – Chown Hardware
Founded in 1879, prior to bridges in Portland, Chown Hardware is the oldest, family-owned builders hardware store in North America and is still run by the family with the fifth generation at the helm. Chown is inspired by a strong belief in their local community and generously supports the neighborhood, City and local non-profits.
SPONSORED BY (W)HERE REAL ESTATE
Minority-Owned Business of the Year – Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen
Bambuza Vietnam Kitchen is a family-owned and operated business that started in founder Daniel Nguyen’s mom’s kitchen over 35 years ago. With five locations open throughout the Pacific Northwest, including the original locations here in Portland as well as at PDX and SEA-TAC airports, Bambuza is redefining mom-and-pop shops by thinking big.
SPONSORED BY PEARL DISTRICT NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION
Non-Profit Business of the Year – Alzheimer’s Association
The Alzheimer’s Association is the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Alzheimer’s research and has an office right here in the Pearl. What started in 1982 with one half-time employee, is now a team of nearly 20 staff members in five offices across Oregon and SW Washington. In the last year, this team has taught more than 400 educational classes and hosted 80 diverse support groups across the region.
SPONSORED BY COLUMBIA BANK
Women in Business Champion of the Year – Erica Lurie of Garnish
Erica Lurie shows a dedication to her employees and clients that goes above and beyond. Garnish provides high touch customer service that larger businesses try to emulate, but only a small business with a specialized staff and a designer working in the boutique can provide. Erica put it best, “If I can help one woman to have the confidence to achieve their goals, I have done my job”.
SPONSORED BY PREGAME
Business Person of the Year – Seth Hosmer of Hosmer Chiropractic Health
Seth Hosmer founded Hosmer Chiropractic Health 12 years ago with no staff and has grown the business to two locations and over 30 employees. His care for the community and customers extends to every employee at Hosmer including a community program focused on outreach and support of local events and initiatives. The holistic look at health and comprehensive solutions all stem from Seth’s care and vision.
SPONSORED BY HOYT REALTY GROUP
About the Pearl District Business Awards
This is the fifth annual Pearl District Business Awards honoring greatness in the Pearl and the second year that the event is produced entirely by Pearl District businesses. Event sponsors include: Chown Hardware, Really Big Video, The Brewery Blocks, Charlie’s Produce, Columbia Bank, Firebrand Sports, Greenleaf Juicing Company, Hoyt Realty Group, Merchant Concepts, The Pearl District Neighborhood Association, Portland Streetcar, Inc., PREGAME, Sammy’s Flowers, Sisters Coffee, Stride PDX, Style Aesthetics, Urban Restaurant Group – Brix & Carlita’s, and (w)here Real Estate.
