Nominees Announced for 2016 Heart of Del Ray Award

PHOTO from 2015: Sara VanderGoot (Mind the Mat), Jen Walker (McEnearney Associates), Serdar Basegmez,(Greener Cleaner), Bobi Bomar (Homes of Alexandria), Eric Reid (Del Ray Pizzeria), Pat Miller (A Show of Hands), & Megan Brown (Mind the Mat). Missing Stacey Swartz (Neighborhood Pharmacy)/Photo courtesy of DRBA

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ALEXANDRIA, VA -- The “Heart of Del Ray Award” is annually presented by the Del Ray Business Association during the Valentine’s Day holiday to the business that serves as the heart and soul of Del Ray.

“We want to thank everyone that nominated a business -- over 35 wonderful businesses were nominated making it very tough to narrow it down to just five,” DRBA board member Gayle Reuter said in a letter to participants. “Many of you also expressed your continued strong support for past winners which is a tremendous compliment to them and reaffirms how lucky we are to have such great businesses in Del Ray.”

“We are excited that you, our neighbors, customers and friends will determine the winner of this prestigious award,” Reuter said. “Selection should be based on which business best demonstrates their warm and welcoming attitude to the community/customers, their commitment and generosity to the community, and to their overall contribution to what makes Del Ray the best place in the world to live, work and shop! In other words, what business warms your “heart” when you here its name?”

The following five businesses are the nominees for the 2016 Heart of Del Ray Award:

• Affordable Signs & Banners
• Caboose Cafe & Bakery
• Holy Cow/Pork Barrel BBQ (voting for both counts as one vote)
• Taqueria Poblano
• Truly-Life Eco Gifts

Voting

Each person is only allowed one vote by emailing heartofdelray2016@yahoo.com.

“If we get more than one vote per email, none will qualify and be counted,” Reuter said. “You can vote anytime between now and 5 pm on Wednesday, Feb. 10. Once votes are calculated and a winner is determined, a large heart shaped award will be displayed on the winning business on Friday, Feb. 12 to greet them for the Valentine’s Day holiday. We will also notify the various list serves of the winner so you can stop by and congratulate the winner.”

Last year over 1,600 neighbors, friends and customers voted so we encourage you to tell your neighbors to be sure and support their favorite nominee, Reuter said.

A business can only win once and we congratulate our past winners which include: 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, and Mind the Mat.

Happy Valentine’s Day and be sure to shop for that special Valentine at one of Del Ray’s many businesses.

(Republished from Del Ray Business Association.)