Small Business of the Month presented by FASTSIGNS
Asheville is a small business community. An estimated 58% of Buncombe County's workforce works in a company with fewer than 100 employees. Each month the Chamber celebrates one of these great companies in our community by naming them Asheville'sSmall Business of the Month. If you know of a worthy recipient of this award nominate them today.
Current Small Business of the Month
The Small Business of the Month for the month of June is Mountain Xpress located at 2 Wall Street in Asheville. Mountain Xpress was founded in July, 1994 and has grown to over 30 full time employees. Mountain Xpress is independently owned in Asheville and is a member of the Association of Alternative News Weeklies and the North Carolina Press Association. Xpress has won awards from both of these organizations.
Mountain Xpress promotes civic and social activities that contribute to the improvement of the area through a weekly print publication, distributed through 720 points in 8 counties, a website (mountainx.com) and extensive social networking.
Mountain Xpress chronicles the area’s vibrant arts-and-culture scene and treats its readers as participants in an ongoing civic dialogue. Xpress supports many civic and non-profit groups and events, especially grass roots initiatives of all kinds. The Xpress company “philosophy” is best summed up by the phrase: “Local Matters!”
Recent Small Businesses of the Month
April 2010: Sunny Point Cafe
The Small Business of the Month for the month of May is Sunny Point Café located at 626 Haywood Road in West Asheville. Sunny Point Cafe was established in 2003 and has grown to 35 full and part-time employees. Sunny Point Café offers eclectic Southern fare with specialties (and patron’s favorites) that include huevos rancheros, dynamite rolls, and enchiladas. The restaurant recently installed a patio covering with drop down walls, heating, and cooling to maximize the outdoor dining experience for patrons. Sunny Point Café supports and endorses the Appalachian Sustainable Agriculture Project, which helps create and expand local food markets for growers in our area, and Slow Food, a non-profit dedicated to local food traditions.
March 2010: Bruisin' Ales
The Small Business of the Month for the month of April is Bruisin’Ales
located at 66 Broadway Street in Asheville. Bruisin’ Ales was established in December of 2006 and employs the owners, Jason and Julie Atallah and one other full time employee. Bruisin’ Ales is Asheville’s first retail beer store. The store specializes in Belgian, Belgian-style, high gravity, craft brews, microbrews, and the best beers from around the world! Bruisin’ Ales has a strong support and sponsorship commitment to Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway and has recently supported Mission Manna.
February 2010: Allegra Print & Imaging
The Small Business of the Month for the month of February is Allegra Print & Imaging located at 191 Charlotte St. in Asheville. Allegra was established as Insty Prints on Merrimon Ave. in 1986 and became Allegra 5 years ago at the time of the move to Charlotte St. Allegra employs 7 full time personnel. Allegra offers direct mail printing, copying, color copies, and full color printing. Additionally, the company produces banners, posters, and large format printed items.Allegra supports the Footprint Fund, which invites all non-profits to submit applications for donations once a year. A panel chooses ten of the applicants for donations.
December 2009: BMW of Asheville
The Small Business of the Month for the month of December is BMW of Asheville located at 649 New Airport Road. BMW of Asheville has been in business for over 25 years and employs 36 full time and 2 part time employees. BMW of Asheville has made high end service for their customers a major priority. They offer car storage and airport pick up for customers as well as hand washes for customer’s cars – even if the “other” car isn’t a BMW! The newest perk for customers is self-serve ice cream.
November 2009: Blue Ridge Pharmacy
The Small Business of the Month for the month of November is Blue Ridge Pharmacy located at 948 Tunnel Rd. in Asheville. Blue Ridge Pharmacy was established in August, 2005 and has grown to employ 23individuals. Blue Ridge Pharmacy is a community pharmacy filling prescriptions for customers, practicing the art of compounding to prepare unique and individualized medications which may no longer be commercially available, and serving as a specialty provider for long term care facilities in Western North Carolina. The pharmacists at Blue Ridge are on call 24 hours a day, 365 days a year to ensure the availability of medication to facilities and to support hospice patients through CarePartners.
October 2009: Luella's Barbeque
The Small Business of the Month for the month of October is Luella’s Barbeque. Luella's is in a new location on Merrimon Ave. in Asheville. Luella’s was established in 2007 and has grown to 36 full and part time employees. In a tough economy, Luella’s has continued to grow and prosper, offering delicious pork BBQ and BBQ beef brisket along with scratch made sides. Luella’s takes great pride in training their staff as well as purchasing vegetables from local farms. Luella’s is a major supporter of Manna Food Bank and Chamber events such as the Sky High Growth Awards.
September 2009: IWANNA, Inc.
The Small Business of the Month for September is IWANNA, Inc. located on Sweeten Creek Rd. in Asheville. IWANNA, Inc. was established in April, 1976 and has grown to 55 full time and approximately 30 part time employees in two offices – Asheville, NC and Greenville, SC. In a tough economy, IWANNA has remained solidly profitable, expanding its website and adding a new business and agriculture section. IWANNA is the dominant classified marketplace in print and on-line in its geographic area. IWANNA is a major supporter of Eblen Charities, Meals on Wheels, and other non-profit organizations.
August 2009: The Chocolate Fetish
The Small Business of the Month for August is The Chocolate Fetish located at 36 Haywood St. in Asheville. The Chocolate Fetish was established in 1986 with one employee. In 2002, Bill and Sue Foley purchased the business which has grown in size both at its location and in the number of employees – now 14 full and part-time individuals. With chocolatiers trained both in Europe and the US, The Chocolate Fetish manufactures and markets fine artisan chocolates, using a proprietary blend of chocolates from five different countries to create specific flavor profiles for the many items they produce. The most popular seller is a dark, European chocolate truffle known as the Ecstasy Line.
July 2009: Pomodoros Greek & Italian Cafe
The Small Business of the Month for July is Pomodoros Greek & Italian Cafe with locations at 1070 Tunnel Road and 75 Long Shoals Road in Asheville. The Tunnel Road location was established in 2003 and the Long Shoals Road location opened in December of 2007. Pomodoros employs 40 full time and 40 part time personnel. Pomodoros’ chefs create a special experience with food, using natural ingredients to develop dishes that complement an extensive wine list of over 150 selections as well as over 30 selections by the glass. In addition to the two restaurant locations, Pomodoros offers catering services.
June 2009:Asheville Radio Group
The Small Business of the Month for June is Asheville Radio Group located in newly renovated facility at 1190 Patton Avenue in Asheville. The Asheville Radio Group was established in 2003 and employs 23 full time personnel.Asheville Radio Group reaches thousands of listeners every week on the radio stations of Mix 96.5 WOXL, 105.9 The Mountain, 98.1 the RIVER, ESPN Radio 1310 BIG WISE, and ESPN Radio 970 BIG WISE. Asheville Radio Group has a strong commitment to the community and has donated thousands of dollars in airtime through its five local stations asking listeners to support local businesses – or Buy Local! The group has also donated several hundred thousand dollars in in-kind advertising over the last 12 months.
May 2009: Johnson, Price & Sprinkle, P.A.
The Small Business of the Month for May is Johnson, Price & Sprinkle, P.A. headquartered at 79 Woodfin Place in Asheville. Johnson, Price & Sprinkle has been in business for over 50 years and employs 70 people.As a trusted leader in accounting and consulting services in Western North Carolina for decades, JPS also has offices in Marion and Boone, allowing the company to maintain a community based approach to relationship centered customer service. Areas of expertise include Retail, Construction and Real Estate Development, Manufacturing, Not-for-Profit, and Professional Services with a strong focus on the Health Care industry.