Could the U.S. Business of the Year be in Wheaton?

Voting has ended to narrow the U.S. Chamber of Commerce top 100 Dream Big Small Business of the Year Awards down to 7 regional finalists. Local business owners Sandy Koropp, owner of Prairie Path Books, Gatherings and Great Reads and Tyler Fivecoat, who co-owns River City Roasters with Erich Goetel now have to wait until March 18 to find out if either of them have advanced as a regional finalist.

The business who is named Small Business of the Year will receive a $10,000 prize, money that Fivecoat said will go into the business.

“We would use it to finish updating our space and getting everything we want in the store to give the customer the best experience they can get,” he said.

Both businesses entered the contest after Wheaton Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kerry O’Brien encouraged them to do so.

“I knew there were lots of businesses in Wheaton that met their criteria,” O’Brien said of the U.S. Chamber of Commerce contest. “What I find fascinating about both of these businesses is that they are succeeding against the odds.”

O’Brien likes what stands out about these two businesses as well. River City Roasters, which opened its Wheaton location in December 2013.

“They do everything from scratch; they invent their own recipes and they work on a global scale,” she said.

At Prairie Path Books, Gatherings and Great Reads, which shares space with Toms-Price, it is the unusual approach to a bookstore that makes O’Brien appreciate the business.

“It’s just such an interesting collaboration,” she said. “Sandy has made books into an experience.

“The events she has made in selling books connects people.”

The top 100 businesses, 7 regional finalists and the winning business will be honored at the 2015 Your Business Your Voice America’s Small Business Summit, June 8 to 10.