It's Back: Small Biz Tourney, With a Twist!

We had so much fun with the first small business tournament that we ran through the holidays and January that we've decided to do it all over again. But this time, there's a twist! That's right ... We want to hear your voice!

Instead of simply clicking your favorite business through a computer-generated poll, though that's still an option, but this time we're asking you to tell us which business is your favorite. Though the poll is fine, it doesn't really explain why your favorite business is great, so we're using comments as a tiebreaker (also, feel free to click on the link for each business and rate it, though that's an added bonus, not a requirement for this tournament).

Remember, this is all about having fun and supporting local small business, so only vote once, be positive, enjoy it and push your favorite business to victory!

Voting results posted in real time shall not be deemed official until Patch has reviewed and confirmed all of the votes.

Tournament Nuts and Bolts

Bedford has dozens of small businesses lining South River Road and Route 101.

Bedford Patch is featuring a 19-week tournament to determine which small commercial business residents deem tops in town. We'll start with 12 separate categories and take the top vote-getter from each five-day period and advance that business to the next round. We'll start the vote over in the top 12, and then again in the Patch-tastic four and in the championship round of this tournament.

Because this tourney runs through the spring and early summer, the business that claims the crown wins a free feature right here on Bedford Patch in July and, of course, bragging rights for the rest of the year.

We'll start each poll at 5 a.m. Monday and conclude it at 9 a.m. Friday, and we'll pin a link to each vote on the home page so you can keep track of the vote each round. Don't get upset if we miss a local small business (3 local stores or less). Let us know in the poll's comment section, and, if the omission qualifies, we'll add it to the Best of the Rest poll on the final day of the opening round.

Here's the schedule. Don't miss out on your opportunity to support your favorite shop, but remember, only one vote per person!

Schedule:

Monday, Feb. 27 -

Monday, March 5 -

Monday, March 12 -

Monday, March 19 -

Monday, March 26 -

Monday, April 2 -

Monday, April 9 -

Monday, April 16 -

Monday, April 23 -

Monday, April 30 -

Monday, May 7 -

Monday, May 14 -

Monday, May 21 -

Monday, May 28 -

Monday, June 4 -

Monday, June 11 -

Wednesday, June 13 - Patch-tastic 4

Wednesday, June 13  - Patch-tastic 4

Monday, June 25  - Bedford Small Business Championship

Monday, July 2 - Winning Business Announced