Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce presented its annual Business Awards to local businesses on August 25 at a luncheon held at the Magnolia Hotel. Congressman Jeb Hensarling was in attendance to present the awards.
The 2017 winners are: Lucky Dog Books, Jeb Hensarling Business of the Year; Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, Chairman’s Award; Momo Italian Kitchen, Entrepreneur of the Year; The Store in Lake Highlands, Live Local Award; Vickery Trading Company, Live Local Award; Preservation Dallas, R. S. Munger Business Pioneer.
Lucky Dog Books – Marquetta and John Tilton - Jeb Hensarling Business of the Year
For over 40 years, Lucky Dog Books has served the East Dallas area. Established by Marquetta and John Tilton, they have worked together to further the love of reading. It started as Paperback Plus in 1976 and the name was changed to Lucky Dog Books to reflect that they carry more than just paperbacks. They just relocated to Casa Linda Plaza. They continue to get amazing collections of books, music and video DVDs and CDs, Blueray and vinyl. It is a neighbor gathering place where untold number of events have taken place including Writer’s Garrett, neighborhood associations, yoga, readings, book signings, card groups, music, poetry readings, book clubs and other events - too numerous to list. Lucky Dog Books has garnered numerous accolades and awards through the years from D Magazine, Word Space and others.
Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden – Mary Brinegar - Chairman’s Award
The Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden is one of the top 10 display gardens in North America and considered the crown jewel of Dallas. The economic impact of the Dallas Arboretum exceeded $170 million in each of 2012 and 2013, according to a study. More than one million visitors from all 50 states, as well as 90 countries, came through the gates in 2016 and it has over 38,000 members. The Dallas Arboretum offers the public an array of popular annual events and outdoor concerts along with its many permanent gardens including A Woman’s Garden which turns 20 this year, the Children’s Garden and the newly opened A Tasting Place. The Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum celebrates its 35th anniversary this year and through the years, members have raised hundreds of thousands of dollars through fundraising efforts. The Arboretum has been listed among the top arboretums in the world and the number of honors is so extensive it is listed on their website. Here are just a few of recent accolades: Southern Living Magazine called it “One of the South’s Best Botanical Gardens”; Architectural Digest named it “One of the 15 Breathtaking Botanical Gardens in the World”; and USA Today’s 10 Best named it “Top Botanical Garden”.
Momo Italian Kitchen – Wende Stevenson and Aaron Gross - Entrepreneur of the Year
Momo Italian Kitchen is a family business that celebrated its 30th Anniversary last year. The restaurant has a loyal following because of the excellent authentic Italian cuisine. Food never varies in taste or quality! The chef has been there nearly 30 years several of the staff have been there over 17 years. The food, service and ambiance keeps this restaurant popular. Momo’s is a BYOB restaurant - Bring Your Own Bottle. Once you get the bill, you will not believe your eyes when you see how low the total amount is! The neighborhood restaurant has a very loyal following and there are customers that have come every week for 25+ years! Mention the name Momos, and everyone all over the city knows it. The restaurant requires reservations because of its popularity and there is a waiting crowd on the weekends. It has received numerous awards through the years including D Magazine’s Top 25 Restaurants and Dallas Observer’s 100 best restaurants.
The Store in Lake Highlands – Cheryl Calvin - Live Local Award
The Store in Lake Highlands recently celebrated its 15th Anniversary and ranked #8 for Best Women's Boutique on the Dallas A List. Boutique shopping in East Dallas has never been like this. The Store in Lake Highlands has clothing, fashion accessories and gifts. Personal shopping assistants provide service you can appreciate. It is the go-to place for gift giving needs: Birthdays, Anniversary, Wedding, Baby showers, and just because you care gifts for friends and loved ones. It carries unique items of local flavor by local designers. The Store’s stock of trendy and classic casual/chic clothes and accessories rotate quickly – there’s always something new. And there is a customer reward program. Events are held regularly from Trunk Shows to Ice Cream Socials…and all holidays are celebrated. The staff are always helpful and friendly. And they gift wrap!!
Vickery Trading Company – Stephanie Giddens - Live Local Award
Vickery Trading Company manufactures and sells children’s clothing that helps local refugee women with the challenges they face after relocating to the US. It began in 2008 when Stephanie Giddens visited Uganda in East Africa and bought a handmade paper necklace from a local artisan. There was extreme poverty all around, but by purchasing the woman’s handiwork, it allowed dignity in a way that charity never could. In 2011, she helped to develop a project that partnered businesswomen in Dallas with like-minded women in Rwanda. They raised money for leadership training and microfinance lending to launch Rwandan businesses and many thrived. Later in 2011, she was confronted and horrified by the proliferation of human exploitation. She recognized again what she’d seen in Uganda – the unbelievable redemption and freedom that dignified work affords the human soul. Her church in Dallas began to engage refugees that lived in Vickery Meadows and in 2015 Vickery Trading Company was born. These refugee women earn fair wages while learning to adjust into American culture. They are provided training, care and income. The refugee women are given dignity as they learn the skills and earn fair wages by making children’s clothes. She is helping to empower vulnerable women.
Preservation Dallas – David Preziosi - R. S. Munger Business Pioneer Award
For 45 years Preservation Dallas has used innovative programs and advocacy tools in the fight to preserve the historic resources of Dallas. Many successes have helped to advance preservation in Dallas. Preservation Dallas was founded in 1972 as the Historic Preservation League (HPL) by concerned citizens to advocate for historic places in a city with a preference for “new” and “modern.” HPL led the city to pass its first preservation ordinance in 1973 and designate its first historic district, Swiss Avenue. HPL changed its name to Preservation Dallas (PD) in 1994. Preservation Dallas has kept preservation in the forefront through highly publicized tours and awards. In 45 years Preservation Dallas has done an extraordinary amount of work to preserve the city’s historic resources despite terrible odds, reluctant city leadership, and developers with the money, power and will to demolish historic buildings. A small staff, dedicated volunteer board and members have fought tirelessly for historic structures that have no voice and have worked to protect the city’s neighborhoods and historic buildings by designating them historic districts and landmarks. Preservation Dallas continues that fight and builds upon its successes to save the historic places that define Dallas.
Photos by Carol Hensley