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- Alamo Drafthouse Cinema was awarded Business of the Year by the Lake Highlands Chamber of Commerce. Pictured from left: Sally Ackerman of Advocate Magazine; Alamo Drafthouse representative Tim Conkey; Chamber board President Ted Hill. (Photo by Carol Toler)
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- The Store in Lake Highlands was named Small Business of the Year by the Lake Highlands Chamber of Commerce. Pictured from left: last year’s winner Terri Hoover; The Store’s owner Cheryl Calvin; and Chamber board President Ted Hill. (Photo by Carol Toler)
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- RM 12:20 Bistro was named New Business of the Year by the Lake Highlands Chamber of Commerce. Pictured from left: Sally Ackerman of Advocate Magazine; Bistro owner and executive chef Erin Willis; Chamber board President Ted Hill. (Photo by Carol Toler)
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- Cedar & Vine was named Restaurant of the Year by the Lake Highlands Chamber of Commerce. Pictured from left: Chamber board President Ted Hill; Cedar & Vine representative Ashlee Carter; and JJ’s Cafe owner Jose Ramirez. (Photo by Carol Toler)
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- ClickIt4Life was named Nonprofit of the Year by the Lake Highlands Chamber of Commerce. Pictured from left: Chamber board President Ted Hill; ClickIt4Life founder Terri Hoover; and Jill Goad of Feed Lake Highlands. (Photo by Carol Toler)
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- Rev. Pam Cark of Lake Highlands United Methodist Church received the Legacy Award from the Lake Highlands Chamber of Commerce. Pictured from left: Chamber board President Ted Hill; Rev. Pam Clark; and Advocate Magazine owner Rick Wamre. (Photo by Carol Toler)
The Lake Highlands Chamber of Commerce’s We Love Lake Highlands award ceremony welcomed some 150 people Tuesday to the Royal Oaks Country Club, at 7915 Greenville Ave., to celebrate the best businesses, nonprofit organizations and people of the neighborhood.
Media veteran Brett Shipp was the events keynote speaker. He urged the audience to cherish local media and support news outlets so they can continue to shine light on issues in the community. Shipp has earned three Peabody Awards, two Columbia DuPont Silver Batons and one Gold Baton, and he’s won multiple Edward R. Murrow Awards, Emmys and other honors.
Winners were chosen from a pool of 25 candidates for this years We Love Lake Highlands awards.
Business of the year: Alamo Drafthouse Cinema
The eat-in theater at 6770 Abrams Road runs a variety of new releases and old movies. Customers can also enjoy dinner and drinks while watching a featured film. Drafthouse offers a kids menu and vegan options as well.
Small business of the year: The Store in Lake Highlands
The small boutique and gift shop at 10233 E. Northwest Highway has been a neighborhood staple for 17 years after opening in 2002. Owner Cheryl Calvin said the support she’s received from the community as a small business owner is great.
“The more support, the more small businesses you’ll get,” she said.
New business of the year: RM 12:20 Bistro
This french-inspired restaurant opened last year by neighbor Erin Willis at 9850 Walnut Hill Lane offers a seasonal, rotational menu and specially crafted cocktails.
Willis said opening her restaurant and winning the new business of the year award was a “dream come true.”
Restaurant of the year: Cedar & Vine
Cedar & Vine, described as a community kitchen that serves up American food along with beer, wine and cocktails, was started by two Lake Highlands couples at 9661 Audelia Road.
Nonprofit of the year: ClickIt4Life
Terri Hoover started ClickIt4Life after her 18-year-old son Jake died in a car accident after his speeding car flipped over in 2005. The heart broken mother has made it her mission to lobby teens around the country to wear seat belts while driving.
Legacy Award: Rev. Pam Clark
Rev. Pam Clark of Lake Highlands United Methodist Church received the Legacy Award for her ministry work with refugees and Lake Highlands neighbors. She started both The New Room and Audelia Manor ministries out of her passion for God and encouraging others to find a religious home. Clark has worked in ministry for 20 years.
