By Cyrus Guccione
Mail

Fountain Hills restaurant Sipps Eatery was recently awarded Retailer of the Year.

The award was presented by the Arizona Retailers Association (ARA) which holds an Annual Awards Luncheon, providing state legislators an opportunity to nominate a retailer in their legislative district based on criteria including product, business acumen and community service and involvement.

State Senator John Kavanagh nominated Sipps Eatery which scored highly on all accounts.

“It’s an excellent coffee shop for breakfast and lunch,” Kavanagh said. “It’s very comfortable and you don’t get rushed out.”

This is the sixth year the ARA has hosted the awards according to Michelle Ahlmer, ARA’s executive director, who enjoys creating a connection between elected officials with businesses in their legislative district.

“Retailers work so hard and so it’s really an opportunity for the association to recognize small businesses especially,” Ahlmer said.

Sipps Eatery was one of six Arizona restaurants that achieved the award.

A community-based restaurant

Sipps Eatery is owned by Chris Heath and Stacy Kurdzialek, who combined their passions for coffee and homemade food to start their restaurant.

When it comes to schools, Sipps is always first in line to donate their time and talent, which raised over $500 for students to visit Washington D.C., given out $10 gift cards for all graduating seniors and donated shirts to the senior powder puff and buff puff teams.

Sipps also donated lunch to the FHHS front office for their hard work, held a silent auction for FHUSD students’ Ukraine Relief paintings, hosted a spaghetti dinner to raise funds for the local Inspiration Academy and sold school fundraising cards at its place of business.

Sipps has also donated its time, food and drinks to support its community, including the Fountain Hills Community Garden, local nurses and teachers and several social clubs.

For breast cancer awareness, Sipps offered “wear pink” discounts and raffles and even painted one of its walls bright pink, inviting patrons to pin pictures, notes and words of inspiration for those dealing with breast cancer.

Sipps has donated over 300 drinks to the Teen Taker for the Boy’s & Girl’s Club, handed out gift cards at the Brenton Car Show Fundraiser, raised $400 for the local Boy Scouts Troop and donated drinks to first responders in uniform.

With a long and growing list of community efforts, it was only a matter of time before they earned the ARA Retailer of the Year Award.

“The Arizona Retailers Association recognizes the value of small businesses in Arizona and we are pleased to publicly acknowledge the impact of these retailers and reward them for their efforts,” Ahlmer said. “After all the fears and all the have-to-do’s that keep retailers up at night, we are happy to celebrate their accomplishments.”

The other Arizona-based restaurants that won the ARA Retailer of the Year award include Olsen’s for Healthy Animals in Prescott, Sugar and Lace Bakery in Phoenix, Moon Valley Nursery in Phoenix, Pizza Heaven Bistro in Phoenix and Blue Corn Café and Bakery in Glendale.

The ARA is a membership organization representing both independently owned retail businesses as well as national chain stores throughout the State of Arizona. For more information, visit azretailers.com or call 480-833-0009.