The 4th Annual South Florida Independent Retailer Awards® brought together over 250 shopping center owners, leasing agents and other real estate professionals for an event to honor growing entrepreneurs in South Florida. The event, held at the Signature Grand in Davie, recognized emerging local entrepreneurs offering unique concepts to the tri-county market.
This year’s awards featured 32 small businesses nominated in nine categories. Each finalist was featured in a short video with the live audience voting via text message for their favorite business, with real-time results displayed on a large screen. The 2022 South Florida Independent Retailer Awards® winners are:
Best Beauty Retailer: The Studio Nail & Beauty Supply
Best Café Bakery: La Boulangerie Boul’Mich
New to South Florida: Norman Love Confections
Best Dessert Shop: Sweet Melody Crafted Ice Cream
Best Fast Casual Restaurant: Papamigo’s
Best Healthy Restaurant: Fresh Kitchen
Best Hospitality Group: La Latina / Miami Slice
Best Retailer: PetNmind Naturals and Self-Wash
Best Sit-Down Restaurant: Phat Boy Sushi, Kitchen & Bar
“I would like to congratulate all our winners,” Beth Azor says, CEO of Weston-based Azor Advisory Services and co-founder of SFIRA®. “This year’s awards come at a time where the local retail industry is stronger than it has been in some time, despite what we are experiencing in the broader economy,” said Beth Azor, CEO of Weston-based Azor Advisory Services, co-founder of SFIRA®. “All of our small businesses in South Florida should be saluted for what they do to create jobs and support the local economy.”
Each nominee was required to have two retail locations currently and actively looking for additional space.
“I want to thank the awards committee for shining a positive light on small businesses,” John Maser says, of Phat Boy Sushi, Kitchen & Bar, which has six locations in Broward County. “It is very nice to be recognized for doing what we love to do and bringing value to a local community.”
Before the awards presentation, the audience was treated to a live landlord-tenant negotiation in a Retailer’ Shark Tank’ segment. Sproutz, a health food concept with four Miami-Dade locations, pitted four landlords against one another to see who would offer them the best deal for their fifth location. After much consideration, Sproutz chose a 1,949-square-foot space in Miami’s Wynwood district that Newmark presented.
The organizing committee annually donates net proceeds to a worthy local cause, with $20,000 in scholarships given to students at the University of Miami, Florida International University, Florida Atlantic University and Nova Southeastern University in 2022.
