Ms. Preeti's 7-Eleven Wins 2020 Heart Of Del Ray Award

ALEXANDRIA, VA — Ms. Preeti's 7-Eleven has won the 2020 Heart of Del Ray Award, the Del Ray Business Association announced Thursday.

Five businesses were nominated for the 2020 award, and a public vote with over 1,000 responses determined the winner. The winning business is described as representing "the heart and soul of Del Ray."

"It's really unusual for a 7-Eleven to become such a huge part of the neighborhood. There's never been a time when we have an event that she hasn't asked, 'How can we help?'" said Del Ray Business Association board member Gayle Reuter. "Ms. Preeti, you are a neighbor. You are a friend. You are family."

Preeti Patel has owned the 7-Eleven at 2108 Mount Vernon Avenue for a decade. Nominators mentioned her warm smile, welcoming nature and support of local events, schools and causes, including the donation of 2,000 hot dogs for the annual Del Ray Halloween Parade.

"I'm so glad to be a part of this community," said Patel. "There are kids who came in here buying candy and Slurpees who now are grown or in college. As a mother myself, I love watching them grow over the years."

The other businesses nominated in 2020 were Lena's Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap, Rock of Ages Music (ROAM), Stomping Ground and Studio Body Logic.

Those businesses have another chance to win next year, because each business can only win the Heart of Del Ray once. Past winners were A Show of Hands, Jen Walker McEnearney Associates, Bobi Bomar Homes of Alexandria, The Neighborhood Pharmacy of Del Ray, Greener Cleaner of Del Ray, Del Ray Pizzeria, Mind the Mat Pilates & Yoga, Caboose Cafe, Del Ray Cafe, Pork Barrel BBQ/Holy Cow/the sushi bar, and Taqueria Poblano.