Meet your 2024 Alabama Retailers of the Year

Since 1999, the Alabama Retail Association (ARA) has honored businesses across the state for their excellence.

This year, six retailers serving eight states took home awards across five categories:

• Annual sales under $1M
• Annual sales between $1-5M
• Annual sales over $5M
• Emerging retailers
• Customer’s choice

A panel of judges chose finalists, save for the customer’s choice, which was determined by a social media poll.

Sales under $1M: Epiphany Boutiques

A mother-daughter duo is the force behind the Athens-Madison powerhouse of Epiphany Boutiques.

Dawne Douthit and Jessica Douthit Clark took their love of shopping together and used it to start a boutique empire, curating high-quality clothing that is comfortable for women at all stages.

“We know women have so many roles to play, whether they’re a trendy grandma, a working lady or a mom on the go. Our goal is to curate clothing that’s fuss free, but still beautiful so she can go out and conquer her world.”

Dawne Douthit

The business started 13 years ago, in a used textbook store. Their first standalone store opened in Madison in 2013. A second standalone store opened in Athens the following year.

“Athens and Madison are great places to live and work, and the Lord has been kind to allow us the opportunity to serve these communities with our business.”

Dawne Douthit and Jessica Douthit Clark

Judges commended the women for their focus on sourcing authentically handmade, local goods and their active role in the community.

Sales between $1-5M: Beef ‘O’ Brady’s (Spanish Fort)

The Beef ‘O’ Brady’s in Spanish Fort is truly a family business. Linda and Larry Kessler own the operation, which is staffed largely by their children and grandchildren.

They fell in love with the family-friendly yet still sports bar reminiscent atmosphere of Beef ‘O’ Brady’s long before deciding to open one for themselves in 2006. But they opened much more than a burger joint, they created a community center.

Sports teams host their end-of-season parties here, host a Christmas toy drive, craft goodie bags for teachers during back-to-school and so much more.

“People always ask how/why we support and give so much. We say, the community supports us, and we just try and give as much support back as possible. We couldn’t do it without our employees.”

Linda Kessler

Judges were impressed by the family’s commitment to the community they’ve built with their restaurant, and how a six-week closure during a relocation didn’t harm business one bit.

Sales over $5M: ChurchStreet Family Hospitality and Restaurant Group

Nine separate businesses make up the menagerie of hospitality endeavors under the direction of Huntsville’s Matt and Stephanie Mell. From oyster bars to speakeasies and authentic Italian food—the ChurchStreet Family Hospitality and Restaurant Group has certainly left a mark on Huntsville and Athens.

“We strive to use the art of hospitality to not only deliver unique one-of-a-kind menu items but build on that to bring memorable experiences that our guests cannot get anywhere else.”

Matt and Stephanie Mell

Here’s a list of the storefronts under the Mell’s leadership:

• ChurchStreet Wine Shoppe: a wine bar so successful they were able to open a second shop | 501 Church St NW, Huntsville, AL 35801 + 485 Providence Main St NW STE 101, Huntsville, AL 35806
• Purveyor: a fine-dining experience that’s all about bourbon | 201 Jefferson St N, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Pourhouse: a swanky rooftop bar | 3414 Governors Dr SW, Huntsville, AL 35805
• Sea Salt: an oyster bar | 114 Clinton Ave E, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Catacomb 435: an underground speakeasy | 100 Jefferson St N Unit 435, Huntsville, AL 35801
• Mazzara’s Vinoteca: authentic Italian food based on Stephanie’s Nonna’s recipes | 102 Gates Ave SW, Huntsville, AL 35801
• L’il Mazzara’s: so nice they had to do it twice—a second location in Athens | 102 Washington St E, Athens, AL 35611
• ChurchStreet Test Kitchen: a huge kitchen along the concourse of the Orion Amphitheater | 701 Amphitheater Dr NW, Huntsville, AL 35806

Gee Emerging Retailer: Bandwagon

Started in just 2021, Homewood’s Bandwagon has changed the game (pun intended) when it comes to all-things-sports attire.

From sporting gear to a custom tee shirt for sitting in the stands, Bandwagon has you (and your team) covered. And it’s forging bonds with those teams—and the community that supports them—that’s been their “secret sauce” for success.

“Bandwagon is the reason why local retailers, if they recognize and focus on the importance of community, will always triumph over national chains.”

Alabama Retail Association judge

Bandwagon doesn’t just focus on players on the field—they have a huge selection of attire for sports fans of all ages—so from baby’s first game to granny’s 50th homecoming, you’ll always have something to wear and show support for your local team.

Gee Emerging Retailer: Kind Cafe

Also opened in 2021, Kind Cafe is a Fairhope breakfast spot that specializes in freshly made NYC-style bagels, delicious nitro cold brew coffee and plain simple kindness.

Yep, owner Alex Pikul is selling an emotion. And doing a pretty good job at it, too.

“Our vision of ‘People First, Kindness Always’ has guided us from the start, and receiving this award reaffirms our commitment to serving our community with care and excellence.”

Alex Pikul

The cafe set out to create an authentic third space, where folks can build a community around their daily caffeine consumption.

“We’ve found that the more involved we are in the community, such as promoting other local businesses, the more we see growth in sales.”

Alex Pikul

Customer’s Choice: Wills Creek Clothing

Your Customer’s Choice Retailer of the Year is Attalla’s own Wills Creek Clothing.

They garnered over 700 of the 7,777 votes on the ARA’s open contest, hosted on social media.

Owners Paige Ledbetter and Leigh Anne Kelley curated a space that hosts a selection of boutique-style clothing at off-the-rack prices, for all body types.