Local business owners, public officials, and candidates for office funneled into West Newton Cinema to celebrate six notable local businesses in the first inaugural Newton Small Business Awards, hosted by the Charles River Regional Chamber. Guests enjoyed small bags of theatre popcorn as well as refreshments catered by Flora’s wine bar. Angela Pitter, Chamber board chair, in her opening remarks said the purpose of the event was to appreciate the small businesses in the community.
“Tonight, this is your stage,” Pitter said. “Let’s celebrate the people who keep Newton thriving.”
Greg Reibman, Chamber president and CEO, highlighted the event’s historic venue, West Newton Cinema, purchased a year ago by the West Newton Cinema Foundation (WNCF) with the help of the public, saving it from being shut down. Elizabeth Heilig, WNCF president, said in an interview that the partnership with the Chamber has been beneficial and she was pleased to offer the space for this celebration.
“This is the type of community gathering that we hope we will be continuing to host over the years,” Heilig said.
The Chamber’s open nomination process provided candidates for the awards, and winners were selected by public voting for some categories and by a committee of judges for others. The Chamber estimated that 5,000 votes were cast. Runners-up were announced for each award.
State Representative Greg Schwartz presented the Best New Small Business award to Thiago Silva, the owner of SALT Patisserie. Schwartz said his daughter in high school loves to eat at the bakery, which combines Silva’s Brazilian origins with his expertise in French pastries.
Mayor Ruthanne Fuller presented the second set of awards: Outstanding Independent Restaurant and Outstanding Independent Retailer of the year.
O’Hara’s Food & Spirits won the restaurant award, accepted by owner Patrick O’Hara, whose father started the establishment in 1985. Paddy’s pub, also owned by the O’Hara family, was runner up. “It was a great honor,” O’Hara told Fig City News. “We felt very loved and appreciated to have even been nominated, let alone win.”
Fuller commended the restaurant for being a staple of the community, saying to Patrick O’Hara, “You and your family, for so many years, have developed such a fabulous restaurant.”
Newtonville Books received the Independent Retailer Award. Mary Cotton, who co-owns the beloved bookstore with her husband, accepted the award.
“We desperately need readers today,” Fuller said. “I can personally attest to a great selection there. …This is a store that all of you need to go to. Once you’re in there, you’re never going to be ordering from Amazon again.”
In addition, the Chamber’s committee of judges wanted to draw attention to rising stars in the community. The Business Leader Rising Star award was given to Shara Ertel, owner of Fulfilled Goods — which opened a second location, in Newton Centre, the following weekend. Kelly Comings, founder and executive director of Service Stars, received the Nonprofit Excellence Rising Star award. Service Stars is an after-school program dedicated to giving kids hands-on experiences serving their communities. The two recipients of rising star awards have worked together at times, helping kids learn about sustainable practices.
State Representative Amy Sangiolo presented the Small Business Champion of the Year award to Lauren Berman, founder of the marketing firm All Over Newton. During the pandemic, Berman found a creative way to help struggling businesses by putting her marketing expertise to work. She started by launching a website to connect people to local spots in Newton while telling their stories.
“At its core, Lauren’s work is about more than promotion,” Sangiolo said. “It’s about connection.”
Berman thanked other businesses for sharing their stories to create a network for the community.
“I guarantee you that every small business has a contingent of customers who feel that it is the best business in Newton, and when we can share your exceptionalism with the community, then everyone benefits,” Berman said.
State Senator Cynthia Creem presented the Newton Small Business Person of the Year award to Kay Masterson. Kay and her husband Kevin own Johnny’s Luncheonette and Cabot’s Ice Cream. Joe Prestejohn, former owner of Cabot’s, still serves ice cream at the restaurant and was recognized in audience from the stage at Newton Night.
Sen. Creem praised the Masterson’s for retaining the traditional style of both restaurants as Newtonians love them.
“Both restaurants are beloved Newton institutions and hold a special place in our hearts,” Creem said.
Kay Masterson had not known she had won an award until right before the event. She said she loves her work because of the customers she gets to take care of. “One of the most important measures of success, having had restaurants for the last twenty-some years, is when people feel comfortable dining on their own,” she told Fig City News.
Running a small business can be challenging in the age of delivery applications and other convenient methods to purchase items, she said at the event. “We’ve fallen in love with the idea of convenience.” She added that more people need to start frequenting businesses to keep them going, because “purchases at local businesses are micro-investments in the community.”
“We promise to open our doors, and we all need the public to come in and be in relationship with us,” Masterson said in her speech.
David Sellers, executive director of the John M. Barry Boys & Girls Club of Newton, won the final award – Nonprofit Leader of the Year. Joseph De Vito, president of The Village Bank, presented the award.
“Awards like this are not won by individuals despite being presented to them,” Sellers said. “I am surrounded by a fantastic team of employees who put their hearts and soul into making good things happen for kids.”
Reibman was enlivened to see business owners coming together in support of one another at the inaugural Newton Night.
“It was a blast,” he told Fig City News. “I was really pleased that we were able to shine a spotlight on our local businesses, our restaurants, our retailers, and the people who make those businesses successful.”
This year the Chamber is holding inaugural award events in each of its four communities: Needham Night and Watertown Night were each sold out, and Wellesley Night will be on October 15 at Babson College.
See NewTV’s video of the event.
