Inweekly Augsut 27 2026 Issue by Inweekly

R EST OF THE BEST 2026 Independent News | August 27, 2026 | Volume 27 | Number 34 | Embroidery by Natalie Allgyer

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Independent News is published by Inweekly Media, Inc., P.O. Box 12082, Pensacola, FL 32591. (850)438-8115. All materials published in Independent News are copyrighted. © 2026 Inweekly Media, Inc. All rights reserved.

$50 million reasons why his last trial opponent hates him. JOE ZARZAUR

BOARD CERTIFIED CIVIL TRIAL LAWYER* PENSACOLA, FL

SERIOUS INJURY • WRONGFUL DEATH 22

*Board Certification by the Florida Bar and the National Board Of Trial Advocacy. Statistical information current as of November 2022.

ihatejoezarzaur.com inweekly.net

August 27, 2026

winners & losers

Marcus Michles / Courtesy Photo

Mike Caruso / Photo Courtesy of clerkcarruso.com

winners

losers

MARCUS MICHLES The University of West Florida announced last week a major partnership with Michles & Booth to support Argonaut Athletics as UWF transitions to NCAA Division I competition. Michles & Booth will become the "Official Law Firm of UWF Athletics," name the press tower pavilion at the new Darrell Gooden Stadium and serve as the program's first-ever uniform patch sponsor. The firm's logo will appear on uniforms for football, cross country and swimming and diving. The press tower, part of the stadium opening in 2027, will house two premium club spaces, 18 luxury suites and the president's box. Marcus Michles, the firm's founding partner, stated the deal marks its commitment to the next 25 years of serving the community.

MIKE CARUSO Palm Beach County Clerk of Court Mike Caruso, a former Republican state legislator whom Gov. Ron DeSantis appointed a year ago, was arrested last week on charges including kidnapping, lewd molestation, lewd exhibition, luring a child and child abuse. Attorney General James Uthmeier announced that DeSantis suspended Caruso from office within an hour of his arrest. Investigators allege that Caruso forced his grandson, under age 12, to perform a sex act during an August 2025 family cruise, with additional abuse reported from Thanksgiving 2024. People wonder how Caruso got past DeSantis' team, which is known to conduct deep-dive background searches on all the governor's appointees. Caruso is on the November ballot against Democrat Yvette Drucker; the arrest's effect on his candidacy is unclear.

MIKE KOHLER Incumbent county commissioners had trouble winning their Aug. 18 primaries in Santa Rosa County. However, Escambia County Commissioner Mike Kohler easily won his District 2 primary, crushing Glenn Dorsey by 24 percentage points. He heads to the general election in November to face Democrat Mathious Robinson. In Santa Rosa, Commissioner Kerry Smith finished fifth in a six-person GOP field, earning 15% of the vote, well behind winner Jeff Ates IV (26%). Incumbent Ray Eddington lost to Dean Light, 51%-48%, in a head-to-head universal primary contest. PENSACOLA YACHT CLUB WOMEN The

sailing team of Katy Morgan, Mallory Edwards, Celia Houston, Aubin Hattendorf and Linnea Forsberg won the 89th annual Gulf Yachting Association Knost Ladies Championship, bringing the Knost Perpetual Trophy back to Pensacola for the first time since 1973. Hattendorf and Forsberg are U.S. Naval Academy graduates and student Naval Flight Officers. Houston, a U.S. Coast Guard Academy graduate, is a student pilot. All three are currently stationed in the Pensacola area. Their connection to Pensacola Yacht Club (PYC) began with Friends of Navy Sailing, an organization dedicated to supporting service academy sailors as undergraduates. PYC created the U.S. Service Academy Membership Program to provide temporary memberships to service academy graduates undergoing flight training in the Pensacola area.

ESCAMBIA COUNTY AREA TRANSIT

Contract workers at Escambia County Area Transit (ECAT) received a surprise notification from their boss at Blue Arbor, one of the county's labor staffing vendors. Their assignments in ECAT's dispatch and call center had been suspended, and they were not to report back to work on Aug. 20. Why? They were only told, "Due to an issue directly with the county department." Sources told us the issue was pastdue invoices that the county hadn't paid. As of our press deadline, we hadn't received any clarification from the county. Check with ricksblog. biz to see if Blue Arbor got paid.

KEVIN GUTHRIE On Aug. 17, Lt. Gov. Jay Col-

lins named Florida Emergency Management Director Kevin Guthrie his running mate in his gubernatorial bid. The next day, the primary election, Guthrie resigned from his job, and that night he learned Collins would not be the Republican gubernatorial nominee. Guthrie led the Florida Department of Emergency Management since 2021, managing more than 20 disaster declarations and six hurricane landfalls. Gov. DeSantis named Transportation Secretary Jared Perdue to replace Guthrie while keeping his current post. Hurricane season runs through Nov. 30. Why did Guthrie jump ship as we headed into the busiest part of that season? inweekly.net

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D4 MUD-SLINGING HAS BEGUN Two days after the Aug. 18 primary, The Floridian published a hit piece on Joe Vinson, a No Party Affiliation (NPA) candidate challenging incumbent District 4 Escambia County Commissioner Ashlee Hofberger, a Republican. The Floridian focuses primarily on Florida and national politics, cheering for President Donald Trump, Gov. Ron DeSantis and other Republican leaders. The digital outlet rarely writes anything about the northwesternmost edge of the state, unless DeSantis is handing out checks (Aug. 12) or Congressman Jimmy Patronis is passing out challenge coins to the Blue Angels (July 22). In fact, those are the only two posts concerning Escambia County for all of 2026. The article attempted to frame Vinson as an independent posing as a Democratic Socialist, out to "secretly" push a socialist agenda past voters and into county government. How did the author arrive at that conclusion? Vinson attends the Unitarian Universalist Church and volunteers as its leadership development director. The author speculates the church's policies align with the Democratic Socialists of America, including defunding the police. Vinson is also a past member of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU). But the author didn't really know Vinson and never talked to him. If he read Vinson's biographical information on escambiavotes.gov, he deliberately chose not to include much of it.

WHO IS JOE VINSON? Joe Vinson is a Pensacola native raised in District 4's Cordova Park and East Hill neighborhoods, son of the late federal judge Roger Vinson and longtime Cordova Park Elementary teacher Ellen Vinson. A public historian with a UWF master's degree, he founded the Pensapedia wiki and created the "Lost Pensacola" and 1821/1776 Sampler projects. He has built a large social media following documenting local history. His civic resume spans nearly two decades: boards for Art, Culture and Entertainment (ACE) Inc., Rotary Club of Pensacola, Gulf Coast Kid's House, Pensacola Heritage Foundation, Escambia County Public Schools Foundation and the Japan-America Society (twice its president). He has been married for 22 years to Bradley, a librarAugust 27, 2026

ian, and they have three children in Escambia public schools. Vinson explained that he's running for county commission as an NPA candidate because of a lifelong conviction that echoes George Washington's warning against partisan division. As a citizen journalist behind the website Pensacola Digest, he has a reputation for promoting government accountability. His resume might frighten those backing Hofberger. His roots are deep in District 4, and his family is well-known and beloved. Judge Vinson was appointed by President Ronald Reagan and considered one of the most conservative federal judges in the country. However, the fact remains that an NPA candidate has never won a county commission race; none have received 40% or higher of the votes cast. Joshua Richardson garnered 38% of the vote in a race against District 5 Commissioner Steven Barry in 2024, and twelve years earlier, Danny Lewis received 35% of the vote against District 1 Commissioner Wilson Robertson.

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SOMEBODY'S WORRIED I talked to political consultants and those who have watched local elections for decades. One possible explanation for The Floridian article is that Hofberger's favorability numbers may not be as strong as her financial supporters would like to see. In late May, she had her aide, Melanie Luna, resign in hopes of clearing up a hiring controversy; among other issues, the two had text messaged negative rumors about a library services director candidate before ultimately hiring their preferred candidate, Christal Bell-Rivera (see ricksblog.biz for details). Maybe getting rid of Luna didn't give her the desired bump, and with Library Services Director Bell-Rivera's recent resignation, the library problem will continue to be in the news for several more months. Another thought is that Team Hofberger panicked when they saw the flyer promoting a Vinson fundraiser with 67 names of well-known leaders who live in District 4. The Floridian article came out the same day as the fundraiser. Either way, mud-slinging this early in a race is never good. It's difficult to throw mud without some of it clinging to you. {in} rick@inweekly.net 7

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REST OF THE BEST 2026

Embroidery by Natalie Allgyer Art direction by Joani Delezen Editing by Tim Bednarczyk Production photos by Geoff Peck

August 27, 2026

Last week, we printed 84 pages—which is about four times the size of a normal Inweekly issue—but even that wasn't enough to cover all the Best of the Coast bases. So we came back, as always, for round two: Rest of the Best.

In this issue, we're celebrating the runners up and giving them their own moment in the spotlight. We're also re-printing the complete 2026 winners and runners up list, in case you missed something or just want to read it again. {in}

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August 27, 2026

COMMUNITY, MEDIA + CULTUR E BEST NONPROFIT Winner: Pensacola Habitat For Humanity Ballet Pensacola Fiesta Pensacola Pensacola Children's Chorus BEST CHARITY EVENT Winner: Children's Treasure Hunt (Fiesta Pensacola) Cabaret (Pensacola Little Theatre) Ovation (Pensacola Children's Chorus) Pensacola Paw-di Gras (WolfGang) BEST PLACE TO WORK Winner: Navy Federal Credit Union Global Learning Academy Gulf Winds Credit Union University of West Florida BEST BOSS Winner: Bridget Middleton (Fiesta Pensacola) Andrea Failing (University of West Florida Continuing Education) Alex Gartner (Pensacola Children's Chorus) Lalla Pierce (Global Learning Academy) BEST POLITICIAN Winner: D.C. Reeves Jasmine Brown Lumon May Gay Valimont

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BEST ADVOCACY/ACTIVIST GROUP Winner: Food Not Bombs Pensacola Party for Socialism & Liberation-Central Gulf Coast Strive Sunday's Child

BEST SPORTS EVENT Winner: Blue Wahoos Home Games Ice Flyers Home Games SEC Women's Soccer Tournament University of West Florida Football Home Games

BEST PLACE TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS Winner: Pensacola Beach Coastal Cat Cafe McGuire's Irish Pub National Naval Aviation Museum

BEST PARADE Winner: Pensacola Grand Mardi Gras Parade Grand Fiesta Parade Pensacola Christmas Parade Pensacola Paw-di Gras (WolfGang)

BEST ANNUAL EVENT Winner: Christmas on the Coast (Pensacola Children's Chorus) Great Gulfcoast Arts Festival The Nutcracker (Ballet Pensacola) Pensacola Beach Air Show

BEST REGULAR/RECURRING EVENT Winner: Gallery Night Going Noir Mysteries ICMT Murder Mystery Company Palafox Market

BEST FOOD EVENT Winner: Pensacola Seafood Festival Pensacola Crawfish Festival Pensacola EggFest Pensacola Greek Festival BEST PET-FRIENDLY EVENT Winner: Pensacola Paw-di Gras (WolfGang) Barktoberfest (Pensacola Humane Society) Danetoberfest (Northwest Florida Great Dane Rescue) Doggone Tuesday (Blue Wahoos)

BEST EXPERIENCE-BASED BUSINESS Winner: Coastal Cat Cafe A Sweet Party Escape on Palafox Glow Paddle BEST FREE THING TO DO Winner: National Naval Aviation Museum Bands on the Beach General Chappie James Memorial Bridge Multipurpose Trail West Florida Public Libraries

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD Winner: East Hill Cordova Park North Hill Scenic Heights BEST PUBLIC PARK Winner: Bayview Park Bruce Beach Veterans Memorial Park Vince J. Whibbs Sr. Community Maritime Park BEST PET-FRIENDLY PARK Winner: Bayview Park Beulah Regional Park Pensacola Beach Dog Park Perdido Key River Road Park BEST PLAYGROUND Winner: Bruce Beach Benny Russell Park Hitzman-Optimist Park Perdido Kids Park BEST YOUTH SPORTS/REC PROGRAM Winner: Gulf Breeze Futbol Academy Greater Pensacola Aquatic Club Greater Pensacola Figure Skating Club Pensacola Youth Soccer BEST DANCE STUDIO Winner: Ballet Pensacola Dance Academy of Santa Rosa

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COMMUNITY, MEDIA + CULTUR E First Dance Ballroom Studio LaBelle Performing Arts BEST AFTER-SCHOOL ACTIVITY Winner: Pensacola Children's Chorus Ballet Pensacola Dixon After Hours Neighborhood Children's Theatre BEST SUMMER CAMP Winner: University of West Florida Explore Camps Ballet Pensacola Neighborhood Children's Theatre Pensacola Children's Chorus BEST PLACE FOR A BIRTHDAY PARTY Winner: Coastal Cat Cafe A Sweet Party Corals Closet Pensacola MESS Hall BEST TV STATION Winner: WEAR Blab TV WKRG WSRE BEST RADIO STATION Winner: Cat Country 98.7 The Beat 107.3 NewsRadio 92.3/1620 WUWF 88.1 BEST RADIO PERSONALITY Winner: Brent Lane (Cat Country 98.7) Chris Clare (Cat Country 98.7) Jordan Glass (SportsRadio Pensacola 99.1/1330) Andrew McKay (NewsRadio 92.3/1620) BEST RADIO SHOW Winner: The Cat Pak Morning Show (Cat Country 98.7) The Glass Half Full with Jordan Glass (SportsRadio Pensacola 99.1/1330) The Morning Sports Take with Zach Schroeder (Fox Sports Pensacola 101.1/1450) Pensacola Morning News with Andrew McKay (NewsRadio 92.3/1620) BEST PODCAST Winner: Voices United in Education The Curious Introvert Debut Writers Naval Aviation Ready Room Podcast BEST WEBSITE Winner: Visit Pensacola (visitpensacola.com) Cat Country 98.7 (catcountry987.com) Downtown Improvement Board (downtownpensacola.com) Local Pulse (localpulse.com)

BEST WAY TO GET CULTURED Winner: Pensacola Opera Ballet Pensacola Pensacola Symphony Orchestra Perfect Day Books BEST ART GALLERY/MUSEUM Winner: Pensacola Museum of Art 309 Punk Project Joe Hobbs Gallery Quayside Art Gallery BEST ARTIST Winner: Joe Hobbs Nate Schweigert Sarah Soule Webb Kelly Whibbs BEST AUTHOR/WRITER Winner: Anne Brooks Courtney Martin Nic Schuck Lachlan Woodson BEST PHOTOGRAPHER Winner: Geoff Peck Blake Jones Sean Mullins Nikki O'Hara BEST MUSIC VENUE Winner: Vinyl Music Hall Betty's on Belmont The Handlebar Saenger Theatre BEST BAND/MUSICIAN Winner: Katie Dineen Nobius Stormfolk Tirra Lirra BEST CONCERT/CONCERT SERIES Winner: Bands on the Beach Bands on the Bayou Christmas on the Coast (Pensacola Children's Chorus) Night Moves Fest BEST THEATRE PRODUCTION Winner: Jekyll & Hyde (Pensacola Little Theatre) The Nutcracker (Ballet Pensacola) Oklahoma! (Pensacola Opera) The Wizard of Oz (Neighborhood Children's Theatre) BEST COMEDIAN Winner: Improvable Cause Lamar DeFore Olivia Searcy Jeremy Young

BEST BUSINESS OR PERSON TO FOLLOW ON SOCIAL MEDIA Winner: Pensacola Vibes Cat Country 98.7 Coastal Cat Cafe Local Pulse August 27, 2026

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HEALTH + WELLNESS BEST GYM Winner: Coastal Fitness Training Anytime Fitness Cantonment Bear Levin Studer Family YMCA REGYMEN Fitness

BEST BOOTCAMP Winner: Coastal Fitness Training 4 Shore Fit Burn Boot Camp Militia Fitness Pensacola

BEST DENTISTRY Winner: Emerald Coast Smiles by Design Gibson & Heath Family Dentistry Spanish Trail Dentistry Summit Dental

BEST PERSONAL TRAINER Winner: Bree Bishop Uher (Anytime Fitness Cantonment) Michelle Brooks (Elevate Training and Fitness) Candace Rorrer (Essentially Fit) Jake Schwartz (Burn Boot Camp)

BEST WEIGHT LOSS PROGRAM Winner: Wali Wellness Evolve Medical ProHealth Labs and Medical Care Thrive Hormone & Longevity Institute

BEST ENDODONTICS Winner: Pensacola Center for Endodontics Elite Endodontics Pensacola Endodontics Speck Endodontics

BEST RUNNING CLUB Winner: Running Wild 200 South Tap House Fleet Feet Pensacola Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar

BEST ORTHODONTICS Winner: Woodfin Cabassa Orthodontics Shehee & Callahan Family Orthodontics Sims Orthodontics Smart Smiles Orthodontics

BEST RACE Winner: Double Bridge Run Fiesta of Five Flags 10k & 5k McGuire's St. Patrick's Day Prediction 5K Run Pensacola Half Marathon & 5K

BEST PEDIATRICIAN Winner: Dr. Randall Reese (Pensacola Pediatrics) Dr. Brandy Boutin (Ascension Medical Group) Dr. Amy Foland (Pensacola Pediatrics) Dr. Tiffany Ramos (Pensacola Pediatrics)

BEST BOUTIQUE FITNESS STUDIO Winner: Wild Lemon Disko Lemonade Elevate Training and Fitness Essentially Fit BEST FITNESS CLASSES Winner: REGYMEN Fitness Burn Boot Camp Coastal Fitness Training Wild Lemon BEST FITNESS INSTRUCTOR Winner: Sarah Jane Blakely (Wild Lemon) Brandee Brinker (Coastal Fitness Training) Jenn Jordan (REGYMEN Fitness) Brenda Reedy (Coastal Fitness Training) BEST YOGA Winner: Disko Lemonade Golden Hour Yoga and Tea House URU Yoga & Beyond Yoga Abode BEST YOGA INSTRUCTOR Winner: Justin Nutt (Community Health Northwest Florida) Donna Dickey (Yoga Abode) Shahana Hanley (Golden Hour Yoga and Tea House) Briana Knight (Disko Lemonade) BEST PILATES Winner: Wild Lemon Disko Lemonade The Gadsden Studio Pure Pilates

August 27, 2026

BEST HOSPITAL Winner: Baptist Hospital Ascension Sacred Heart Gulf Breeze Hospital HCA Florida West Hospital BEST PRIMARY CARE PROVIDER Winner: Dr. Tristan Brooks (Ladder to the Stars Wellness) Dr. Charles Blay (Woodlands Medical Specialists) Katlynn Gilmore, ARNP, FNP-BC (ProHealth Labs and Medical Care) Dr. Jennifer Miley (Woodlands Medical Specialists) BEST CHIROPRACTOR Winner: Dr. Jason Stern (Stern Chiropractic Clinic) Dr. Craig Henry (Henry Chiropractic) Dr. Lindsey Jeudevine (Olde Seville Chiropractic) Dr. Gabriel Waterman (Dynamic Life Chiropractic)

BEST MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONAL Winner: Kam Kingsland, APRN (Apex Psychiatric Services) Tamara Driskell, LMHC (Arya Therapy Services) Scott Durrance, APRN (Apex Psychiatric Services) Eleanor Phoenix, LMHC (Inclusive Counseling) BEST OB/GYN Winner: Dr. Brian Sontag (Ascension Medical Group) Dr. Ana Antonetti (The Women's Group) Dr. Jairan L. Duke-Elmore (Ascension Medical Group) Dr. Noelle Turnbow (Ascension Medical Group)

BEST DERMATOLOGIST Winner: Dr. Sean Branch (Proper Dermatology) Dr. Jenna Beasley (Vital Dermatology) Danielle Farrior, APRN-C (The Dermatology & Laser Center at Medical Center Clinic) Dr. Amy Pote Watson (Pensacola Dermatology) BEST PLASTIC SURGERY Winner: Gulf Coast Plastic Surgery LeBeau Clinic Ortega Plastic Surgery Shaddix Plastic Surgery BEST PHYSICAL THERAPY Winner: SWELL Physical Therapy & Performance Andrews Institute for Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine Renew Integrative Physical Therapy Stark Performance Physical Therapy BEST PHARMACY Winner: First City Drugs Community Health Northwest Florida East Hill Pharmacy Everwell Specialty Pharmacy BEST WALK-IN CLINIC Winner: ProHealth Labs and Medical Care Ascension Sacred Heart Urgent Care Baptist Urgent Care Community Health Northwest Florida BEST CANNABIS DISPENSARY Winner: Sunburn Cannabis Sunnyside Medical Cannabis Dispensary Surterra Wellness Trulieve

BEST OPTOMETRIST Winner: Dr. Jacob Lock (Gulf Coast Vision Center) Dr. Jill Anderson (Clarkson Eyecare) Dr. Lindsay Durtschi (Midtown Vision) Dr. Gene Terrezza (Terrezza Optical)

SERVICES BEST HAIR SALON–PENSACOLA Winner: Loxx Studios Hair + Co The Powder Room Salon San Carlos

BEST MASSAGE Winner: Escape Wellness Spa 12th Avenue Massage Therapy Group Bodyworks of Perdido Key Lovelock Healing Arts

BEST BANK Winner: Regions Bank Hancock Whitney PNC Bank Synovus Bank

BEST APARTMENT COMPLEX Winner: Avalon Apartments Azalea Bay Apartments Lyria Apartments Palmilla

BEST HAIR SALON–GULF BREEZE/ PENSACOLA BEACH Winner: Olli+Izzie Style House All Things Nikki The Blue Magnolia Salon Opulence Salon

BEST MASSAGE THERAPIST Winner: Jen Bryars (Escape Wellness Spa) Jessica Davis (Cordova Skin & Body) Dan Lovelock (Lovelock Healing Arts) Whitney Pike (Escape Wellness Spa)

BEST CREDIT UNION Winner: Navy Federal Credit Union Gulf Winds Credit Union Harvesters Credit Union PenAir Credit Union

BEST ARCHITECTURE FIRM Winner: Dalrymple | Sallis Architecture Brett Duch Architect Caldwell Architects SKG Architecture

BEST HAIR SALON–MILTON/PACE Winner: The Hair Loft The Hair Society Penton House Salon & Day Spa Posh Color Bar

BEST PEDICURE Winner: Élan The Beauty Bar Haus of FIDI Salon & Spa Medina Belleza Vibar Nails

BEST FINANCIAL ADVISOR Winner: Andrew Martin (Atlas Financial Strategies) Jacey Cosentino (Edward Jones) Alex Coyne (Northwestern Mutual) Gulf Coast Business & Wealth

BEST LAW FIRM Winner: Taylor, Warren, Weidner, Hancock & Barnes, P.A. Aylstock, Witkin, Kreis & Overholtz, PLC Crawford Law My Pink Lawyer

BEST HAIR STYLIST Winner: Brittany Hightower (Olli+Izzie Style House) Alex Horne Garcia (Hairy Alex Horne Salon) Gabrielle Montoya (Loxx Studios) Alison Sardina (The Blue Magnolia Salon)

BEST MANICURE Winner: Élan The Beauty Bar Haus of FIDI Salon & Spa HyVy Nail Spa Vibar Nails

BEST ACCOUNTING FIRM Winner: Saltmarsh, Cleaveland & Gund Hale and Doerr John Pharr CPA Warren Averett

BEST NAIL ARTIST Winner: Van Nguyen (Élan The Beauty Bar) Rebekah Elease (Flash House) Savannah Locklin (Gilded Pensacola) Tuyet Nhung Phan (Élan The Beauty Bar)

BEST RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE AGENCY Winner: Levin Rinke Realty Conna O'Donovan Real Estate Innerscope Realty Kuhn Realty

BEST ATTORNEY Winner: Chris Crawford (Crawford Law) Amanda Lynch Elliott (My Pink Lawyer) Stephanie Taylor (Taylor, Warren, Weidner, Hancock & Barnes, P.A.) Aaron Watson (The Watson Firm)

BEST HAIR REMOVAL Winner: Rae & Co Esthetics Studio Beauty and the Beam Laser and Electrolysis Brazilian Wax of Pensacola Escape Wellness Spa

BEST COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE AGENCY Winner: NAI Pensacola Gunther Properties Neal & Company The Zimmern Team

BEST HAIR COLORIST Winner: Linda Krepp (Lox by Linda) Nina Bonita (Nina Bonita Beauty) Jaclyn Garcia (Salon San Carlos) Shannon Pope (Olli+Izzie Style House) BEST BARBER SHOP Winner: Barberos Barbershop East Hill Barbershop The Green Room Barbershop Wilfrids Barber and Fine Goods BEST BARBER Winner: Ka Noel Delarosa (Loxx Studios) Christian Dearman (Time 4A Kut) Joey McClain (Barberos Barbershop) Luna Zepp (Wilfrids Barber and Fine Goods) BEST DAY SPA Winner: Escape Wellness Spa Bodyworks of Perdido Key Stay The Spa Still Waters Day & Medical Spa

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BEST FACIAL/SKIN CARE Winner: Rae & Co Esthetics Studio Escape Wellness Spa Haus of FIDI Salon & Spa Skin by Flynn BEST ESTHETICIAN Winner: Tiffany Miller (Rae & Co Esthetics Studio) Lauren Bell (Escape Wellness Spa) Kaila Danielle (Wink & Wax Beauty Studio) Molly Flynn (Skin by Flynn)

BEST REAL ESTATE AGENT Winner: Simone Sands (Engel & Völkers) Bailie D'Aversa (eXp Realty) Amber Jernigan (Engel & Völkers) Kira Santos (Levin Rinke Realty) BEST BOUTIQUE HOTEL Winner: Celestine Bed and Breakfast Lily Hall Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel Pensacola Victorian B&B

BEST VETERINARY CLINIC Winner: Spanish Trail Veterinary Hospital Davis Animal Hospital East Hill Animal Hospital Pine Meadow Veterinary Clinic BEST DOG GROOMER Winner: The Groomery Cozy Corner Grooming & Boarding Pensacola Pet Resort Premier Vanity Fur BEST DOG TRAINING Winner: K9-KENT Dog Training Elite The Noble Canine Off Leash K9 Training Emerald Coast BEST PET BOARDING/ VACATION CARE Winner: Spanish Trail Veterinary Hospital K9-KENT Miss Pearl's Bed & Biscuit The Noble Canine

inweekly.net

SERVICES BEST CONSTRUCTION COMPANY Winner: Hanto + Clarke General Contractors Greenhut Construction Company, Inc. Homewood Construction Morette Company

BEST TATTOO ARTIST Winner: MacKenzie Erin LeMoine (Sacred Grounds Tattoo Studio) Carrie Daniels (Fortune Tattoo) Dave Ham (The Western Rose) Robert Smith (Fates Tattoo)

BEST LANDSCAPING Winner: Florida Native Landscapes Blue Sky Landscapes Eye Candy Lawns Gulf Coast Tree & Land

BEST SPECIAL EVENT SPACE Winner: Supposey Warehouse & Gardens A Sweet Party Culinary Productions, Inc. Petit Ami Event Venue

BEST PORTRAIT/ FAMILY PHOTOGRAPHY Winner: Christy Kerr Photography Caitlin Nicole Photo Kayla Matthews Beach Photography Lindsey Friar Photography

BEST INTERIOR DESIGNER Winner: Blu Salmon Lacy Phillips Designs Nest Interiors Inc. STUDIO PICA

BEST PARTY DECOR Winner: A Sweet Party Bashes & Bubbly Bubbly Balloon Events Light Bright Events

BEST PHOTOGRAPHY TEAM/COMPANY Winner: Riptide Media McKinley Made PV Cobia Photo + Video Wave Photo by Aislinn Kate

BEST CUSTOM PICTURE FRAMING Winner: Aiken Picture Frames South Framing by Design Just Plain Putter Marty Campbell Gallery & Frame Shop

BEST MOBILE EVENT SERVICE/EXPERIENCE Winner: Whim Cotton Candy One Shot Two Shot Tap the Coast The Thirsty Ranch

BEST TAILOR/ALTERATIONS Winner: Ruthy's Creations and Alterations 3 Muses Costumes & Alterations Bosa's Tailor Shop Swan Alterations

BEST CATERER Winner: Culinary Productions, Inc. Classic City Catering Four Seasons Catering & Eatery Nancy's Catering & Events

BEST CAR WASH/DETAILER Winner: Perdido Auto Spa Eco Car Wash New Era Detail & Wash Ronny's Car Wash

BEST TATTOO & PIERCING STUDIO Winner: Sacred Grounds Tattoo Studio Fates Tattoo Fortune Tattoo The Western Rose

BEST FLORIST Winner: Fiore of Pensacola Celebrations The Florist Hummingbirds Flowers & Events Just Judy's Flowers, Local Art & Gifts

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August 27, 2026

WWW.HOTELTRISTAN.COM | PENSACOLA, FL

BEST NEW BUSINESS Winner: SKG Architecture Gulf Coast Business & Wealth Pretty Little Latte TAME Coffee

WHERE HISTORY AND

Runner Up Best Mental Health Professional

BEST GREEN BUSINESS Winner: Salon San Carlos Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe The Farm Native Plant Company

MODERN COMFORT MEET

Tamara Driskell, LMHC

BEST AUTO SERVICE SHOP Winner: Pensacola A/C & Auto Service Center Cannon Automotive East Hill Automotive Center Evans Automotive Service Center

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WEDDINGS BEST PLACE TO PROPOSE Winner: Pensacola Beach Palafox Pier Yacht Harbor Marina Pensacola Picnic Co. River Woods Ranch Garden at The Farm BEST PLACE TO BUY AN ENGAGEMENT RING Winner: Jewelers Trade Shop Beasley Jewelers and Design Beré Jewelers Elebash's Jewelers BEST CEREMONY VENUE Winner: The Sanctuary Event Venue Pensacola Live Oak Pensacola Old Christ Church Supposey Warehouse & Gardens BEST RECEPTION VENUE Winner: Supposey Warehouse & Gardens 5eleven Palafox Hidden Oak Farm The Sanctuary Event Venue Pensacola BEST OFFICIANT Winner: Bryan Adams Madrina Ciano Lenaha Day Pam Rodgerson BEST BRIDAL STORE Winner: Dare Bridal Boutique The Bridal Suite

August 27, 2026

Nixon's Simply Elegant Couture Bridal BEST BRIDAL MAKEUP ARTIST Winner: Amanda Watkins (Luxe Beauty by Amanda) Kendall Frazee (Skin by Kendall Lyn) Hayley Gurney (Gulf Coast Glam House) Kendra Korn (Kendra K Beauty) BEST WEDDING HAIR SALON Winner: Sharp and the Swann Basis Salon The Powder Room Trends Salon & Spa BEST WEDDING HAIR STYLIST Winner: Chelsey Swann (Sharp and the Swann) Myka Chambers (Myka Abigail Hair Artist) Eleanor Edmonds (Basis Salon) Amanda Mendoza (Trends Salon & Spa)

BEST PHOTO BOOTH Winner: Phocus & Company One Shot Two Shot Rock Your Photo Booth Supposey's The Posey Bus

BEST WEDDING FLORIST Winner: Chrissy Floral Design Fete + Flora Events Fiore of Pensacola Florals by Mallori

BEST WEDDING VIDEOGRAPHY Winner: PV Cobia Photo + Video Aislinn Kate Weddings JD Cobb Films StoryLive Productions

BEST WEDDING RENTALS Winner: Sexton's Event Company Events Styled by LUXE Floral Tree Affairs WeddingWalls

BEST WEDDING BAND Winner: The Six Piece Suits Marvelous Strings Mr. Big and the Rhythm Sisters Stormfolk BEST WEDDING DJ Winner: DJ Phatchi & Co. AnyDayDJ dr0ne Southbay Event Group

BEST WEDDING PLANNING Winner: Supposey Fete + Flora Events Southern Frills Weddings & Events Weddings and Events by Jeff

BEST WEDDING CATERER Winner: Classic City Catering Culinary Productions, Inc. Greek's Catering and Events Nancy's Catering & Events

BEST WEDDING PHOTOGRAPHY Winner: Aislinn Kate Weddings Phocus & Company PV Cobia Photo + Video Rae West Photography

BEST WEDDING CAKE Winner: Craft Gourmet Bakery Betty Weber Cakes Kate's Cakes Moonbeam Bakery

BEST PLACE TO BUY A WEDDING GIFT Winner: Artesana Celebrations The Florist duh for garden and home Rusted Arrow Mercantile BEST PLACE FOR A REHEARSAL DINNER Winner: Brother Fox Angelena's Ristorante Italiano The Grand Marlin Jackson's Steakhouse BEST PLACE FOR OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS TO STAY Winner: Lily Hall Hilton Pensacola Beach Oyster Bay Boutique Hotel The Pensacola Beach Resort

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R ETAIL BEST CAR DEALERSHIP Winner: Frontier Motors Inc. Anderson Subaru Pensacola Honda Sandy Sansing BEST BICYCLE SHOP Winner: Ride MORE Bicycles Bikes Plus CycleSports Bicycles Trek Bicycle Store Pensacola BEST BOUTIQUE Winner: SoBo Boutique Bluetique Gray Boutique Rusted Arrow Mercantile BEST APPAREL Winner: SoBo Boutique Aleuma Bluetique Don Alans BEST CHILDREN'S APPAREL & GIFTS Winner: Artesana Baby & Child Corals Closet Rusted Arrow Mercantile SoBo Boutique BEST ACCESSORIES Winner: Glassy Day Studio Bluetique The Heirloom Indie SoBo Boutique BEST THRIFT STORE Winner: Waterfront Thrift Store Goodwill Gulf Coast St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store Teen Challenge SuperThrift BEST ATHLETIC/OUTDOOR STORE Winner: Running Wild Fleet Feet Pensacola Half-Moon Outfitters Weatherford's BEST FURNITURE/ HOME DECOR STORE Winner: Rusted Arrow Mercantile

August 27, 2026

Alyssa's Etc. & Refinery duh for garden and home Rosie's Antique Emporium BEST ANTIQUES Winner: Rosie's Antique Emporium All About Antiques Blue Moon Antique Mall Oooodles Antiques BEST VINTAGE SHOP/SELLER Winner: West Side Vintage Cofounders Co. Lily's Vintage Finds Rocket To Saturn Vintage BEST MARKET/SHOPPING EVENT Winner: Palafox Market Garden Street Vintage Bazaar Pensacola Arts Market Pensacola Vintage Collective BEST MAKER/ARTISAN Winner: Erika Ceramics Blue House Curio Glassy Day Studio TVV art BEST PALAFOX MARKET VENDOR Winner: Jade Tree Succulents Disco Designs Nate Schweigert Pensacola Candle Company BEST GIFT SHOP Winner: Rusted Arrow Mercantile Artesana The "B" at Bailey's Noteworthy by Laurel Farrell

BEST TOY/COLLECTIBLE STORE Winner: Hyperspace Toys Area 51 Corals Closet Video Game Trading Post BEST NEW STORE Winner: West Side Vintage Cofounders Co. Monkee's of Pensacola Perfect Day Books BEST JEWELER Winner: Jewelers Trade Shop ALK Designs Beré Jewelers Elebash's Jewelers BEST SURF/SKATE SHOP Winner: Waterboyz Bear Walker Innerlight Surf Shop Maverick Board Riding Company BEST NURSERY/PLANTS Winner: Bailey's Produce & Nursery Jade Tree Succulents Native Plant Company Pensacola Seed & Garden BEST HARDWARE STORE Winner: Pensacola Hardware Hall's Hardware & Lumber Pensacola Habitat for Humanity ReStore Scenic Ace Hardware BEST COMPUTER/TECH STORE Winner: Palafox Computers Tech Advanced Computers

The Tech Handyman YourTEK Professionals BEST RECORD STORE Winner: Revolver Records Easy Going Records + Hifi Music Box Pensacola Remember Wynn Records BEST LIQUOR STORE Winner: Richey's East The Bottle Shop Fusion Fine Wine & Spirits Paradise Liquors BEST WINE SHOP Winner: A Curious Wine Shop The Bottle Shop The East Hill Bottle Shop Seville Quarter Wine & Gift Shoppe BEST GROCERY STORE Winner: Apple Market Bailey's Produce & Nursery Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe The Farm BEST PLACE TO BUY PRODUCE Winner: Bailey's Produce & Nursery Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe The Farm Palafox Market BEST INTERNATIONAL/ SPECIALTY FOOD SHOP Winner: Saigon Oriental Market and Deli Four Winds International Market Merefa Tony's Asian Market

BEST BOOKSTORE Winner: The Idle Reader Bodacious Bookstore & Cafe Open Books Perfect Day Books BEST COMIC BOOK STORE Winner: Pensacola Pop Comics Area 51 Mr. Comics TBS Comics

BARS, DR INKS + NIGHTLIFE BEST BAR OVERALL Winner: Dorothy's Alga Beer Co. Betty's on Belmont Play

BEST DRINK SPECIALS Winner: Dorothy's The Florida Room Play The Roundup

BEST SIGNATURE DRINK Winner: Curse of the Poppy (Dorothy's) Chef George Martini (Pearl & Horn) King Koopa (Play) The Old Hickory (Old Hickory Whiskey Bar)

BEST PET-FRIENDLY BAR Winner: Perfect Plain Brewing Co. Alga Beer Co. Coastal County Brewing Wisteria Tavern

BEST NIGHT CLUB Winner: Seville Quarter Betty's on Belmont Dorothy's The Roundup

BEST DAY DRINKING Winner: Alga Beer Co. Garden & Grain Odd Colony Brewing Company Sneaky Tiki Bar

BEST NA DRINK OPTIONS Winner: Pearl & Horn The Kennedy Odd Colony Brewing Company Union Public House

BEST BAR WITH A VIEW Winner: The Rooftop Calvert's in the Heights Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille Sneaky Tiki Bar

BEST BAR–DOWNTOWN Winner: Odd Colony Brewing Company Dorothy's Intermission Play

BEST DRINK MENU Winner: The Florida Room Dorothy's Old Hickory Whiskey Bar Pearl & Horn

BEST BREWERY Winner: Alga Beer Co. Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse Odd Colony Brewing Company Perfect Plain Brewing Co.

BEST BAR AMBIANCE Winner: Betty's on Belmont The Florida Room Sister Hen The Well

BEST DAIQUIRIS/ FROZEN DRINKS Winner: Bamboo Willie's Beachside Bar The Florida Room Juan's Flying Burrito Sneaky Tiki Bar

BEST SELECTION OF BEER ON TAP Winner: Alga Beer Co. 200 South Tap House Odd Colony Brewing Company Perfect Plain Brewing Co.

BEST BAR–CORDOVA AREA Winner: Alga Beer Co. The Burrow East Hill Wine Bar Wisteria Tavern BEST BAR–NORTH PENSACOLA/ NINE MILE ROAD Winner: The Ticket Sports Bar Coastal County Brewing Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse Sammy Barker's

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BEST BLOODY MARY Winner: Pensacola Crawfish Festival Five Sisters Blues Café Garden & Grain Native Cafe

BEST BAR STAFF Winner: Play Alga Beer Co. Dorothy's The Roundup

BEST BAR–WEST PENSACOLA/ PERDIDO KEY Winner: The Elbow Room Flora-Bama Gary's Brewery & Biergarten Perdido Key Sports Bar & Restaurant

BEST MIMOSA Winner: George Bistro + Bar Agapi Bistro + Garden Craft Gourmet Bakery Dorothy's

BEST BARTENDER Winner: Hunter Trudell (The Florida Room) Kelli Burch (Dorothy's) Daniel Davis (The Roundup) Kelly Soto-Medrano (Pearl & Horn)

BEST BAR–PENSACOLA BEACH Winner: Sneaky Tiki Bar Bamboo Willie's Beachside Bar Paradise Bar & Grill The Sandshaker

BEST MARTINI Winner: The Kennedy Pearl & Horn Sister Hen Union Public House

BEST DJ Winner: dr0ne Brody DJ Jay-R DJ Salt

BEST BAR–MILTON/PACE Winner: Gulf Coast Garage Patio Bar Beardless Brewhaus The Country Gym The Oval Office Pub & Grill

BEST WINE MENU Winner: The Wine Bar on Palafox Agapi Bistro + Garden Angelena's Ristorante Italiano East Hill Wine Bar

BEST DRAG PERFORMER Winner: Monica Heart Alexis Milian Andy Rodginous Chesley Polk

BEST NEW BAR Winner: Dorothy's Bar, Justa Bounce Beach Pensacola The Rooftop

BEST MARGARITA Winner: Garden & Grain The Burrow The Florida Room Juan's Flying Burrito

BEST NEIGHBORHOOD BAR Winner: Alga Beer Co. Betty's on Belmont The Burrow Wisteria Tavern

BEST BAR FOR GAMES Winner: Play Coastal County Brewing Dorothy's The Elbow Room BEST TRIVIA NIGHT Winner: Alga Beer Co. Coastal County Brewing Perfect Plain Brewing Co. The Roundup BEST KARAOKE NIGHT Winner: Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse Dorothy's Play The Roundup BEST PUB CRAWL/BAR EVENT Winner: Santa Pub Crawl (O'Riley's Irish Pub Downtown) Oktoberfest (Alga Beer Co.) St. Paddy's Day Pub Crawl (Pensacola Beach Chamber of Commerce) St. Patrick's Day Prediction 5K Run (McGuire's Irish Pub) BEST BAR FOR LIVE MUSIC Winner: The Handlebar Betty's on Belmont Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse Seville Quarter BEST BAR FOOD Winner: Steel Pony Diner (at Dorothy's) Brown Bagger (at Alga Beer Co.) The Burrow Pretty Baked (at Betty's on Belmont)

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August 27, 2026

R ESTAUR ANTS + FOOD RESTAUR ANTS

BEST RESTAURANT OVERALL Winner: Pearl & Horn Angelena's Ristorante Italiano George Bistro + Bar Restaurant IRON BEST RESTAURANT–DOWNTOWN Winner: Angelena's Ristorante Italiano Global Grill Restaurant IRON Union Public House BEST RESTAURANT–CORDOVA AREA Winner: George Bistro + Bar O'Brien's Bistro Sake Cafe Thai Street Food by Chef Eddy BEST RESTAURANT–EAST HILL Winner: The Burrow A Mano Panino East Hill Wine Bar Ozone Pizza Pub BEST RESTAURANT–NORTH PENSACOLA/NINE MILE ROAD Winner: VooDoo BBQ & Grill Goat Lips Chew and Brewhouse Petrella's Italian Cafe Tokyo Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar BEST RESTAURANT–WEST PENSACOLA/PERDIDO KEY Winner: Hub Stacey's at The Point Fisherman's Corner La Barra del Taco Salty Pearl Raw Bar

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The Pointe Tacos Rock BEST RESTAURANT– PENSACOLA BEACH Winner: The Grand Marlin Drift Native Cafe Peg Leg Pete's BEST RESTAURANT–MILTON/PACE Winner: Blackwater Bistro 850 Barbecue Bar515 Brown Bagger BEST NEW RESTAURANT Winner: SalTerra Coastal Taqueria Bistrology Craft Gourmet Bakery & Cafe Prime & Beyond Wagyu Steakhouse BEST BAKERY Winner: Craft Gourmet Bakery J's Bakery and Catering Milton Quality Bakery Moonbeam Bakery BEST BREAKFAST Winner: Aunt Katie's Buenos Dias Cafe Craft Gourmet Bakery & Cafe Native Cafe BEST BRUNCH Winner: George Bistro + Bar The Burrow Five Sisters Blues Café Steel Pony Diner

BEST RESTAURANT–EAST PENSACOLA HEIGHTS Winner: Agapi Bistro + Garden Calvert's in the Heights Craft Gourmet Bakery & Cafe New Yorker Deli & Pizzeria

BEST LUNCH Winner: Carmen's Lunch Bar & Tapas A Mano Panino SaBai on Jefferson VooDoo BBQ & Grill

BEST RESTAURANT–GULF BREEZE Winner: Cutie Patootie Charcuterie & Sweets Buenos Dias Cafe

BEST FOOD TRUCK Winner: Brown Bagger Cutie Patootie Charcuterie & Sweets Flour-ish Comfort Food Truck MI SU Street Food

BEST GREEK CUISINE Winner: Greek's Catering and Events Agapi Bistro + Garden Founaris Bros. Greek Restaurant Levant Mediterranean Grill BEST MEXICAN CUISINE Winner: SalTerra Coastal Taqueria Cactus Flower Cafe La Barra del Taco Taqueria El Asador BEST ITALIAN CUISINE Winner: Angelena's Ristorante Italiano Bonelli's Petrella's Italian Cafe Pizzaioli Italian Cuisine BEST CAJUN CUISINE Winner: VooDoo BBQ & Grill Cafe Nola Cub's Crawfish Restaurant NOLA BEST CHINESE CUISINE Winner: New Hong Kong House Chen's Kitchen Uncle Jiang Xian Noodle Place BEST JAPANESE CUISINE Winner: Sake Cafe Ichiban Kalbi Ichiban Tokyo Japanese Steak House & Sushi Bar BEST THAI CUISINE Winner: SaBai on Jefferson Siam Thai Thai Rice Thai Street Food by Chef Eddy BEST INDIAN CUISINE Winner: Taste of India Dinner India Indian Grill Sree's Kitchen BEST VIETNAMESE CUISINE Winner: Saigon Oriental Market and Deli Basil & Sprout

Pho Real Quickly BEST VEGETARIAN/VEGAN CUISINE Winner: End of the Line Cafe Pretty Baked SaBai on Jefferson Steel Pony Diner BEST SUSHI Winner: Sake Cafe Dharma Blue Ichiban Kalbi Ichiban BEST GLUTEN-FREE OPTIONS Winner: Carmen's Lunch Bar & Tapas Angelena's Ristorante Italiano Jitterbug Beverage Co. Pearl & Horn BEST SEAFOOD Winner: Pearl & Horn The Fish House The Grand Marlin Peg Leg Pete's BEST STEAKHOUSE Winner: Jackson's Steakhouse Coach-N-Four Steakhouse The District: Seville Steak & Seafood McGuire's Irish Pub BEST BBQ Winner: Hot Spot Barbecue 850 Barbecue Five Sisters Blues Café VooDoo BBQ & Grill BEST SOUL FOOD Winner: Five Sisters Blues Café The Dwarf Chicken Stand Family Ty's Good Eats Hattie Marie's Cafe BEST ORIGINAL MENU Winner: Pearl & Horn Angelena's Ristorante Italiano The Burrow George Bistro + Bar

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R ESTAUR ANTS + FOOD BEST CHEF Winner: Ian Gillette (Angelena's Ristorante Italiano) Darian Hernandez (Brother Fox) Carolyn Ore (George Bistro + Bar) Amy Potmesil (The Burrow) BEST UP-AND-COMING CHEF Winner: Alex Caylor (SalTerra Coastal Taqueria) Jared Esmond (Restaurant IRON) Maddi Galvan (Angelena's Ristorante Italiano) Kim Payne (George Bistro + Bar) BEST WAIT STAFF Winner: George Bistro + Bar Angelena's Ristorante Italiano Brother Fox SaBai on Jefferson BEST SERVER Winner: Rinrawee Weerasrinara-Foster (SaBai on Jefferson) Maddie Myers (SaBai on Jefferson) Amanda Resmondo (Angelena's Ristorante Italiano) Winsome Thompson (George Bistro + Bar) BEST COFFEE SHOP Winner: Jitterbug Beverage Co. Fosko Coffee Barre Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar Mrs. Jones Cold Brew Coffee BEST BARISTA Winner: Precious Murphy (Mrs. Jones Cold Brew Coffee) Scout Brannan (Jitterbug Beverage Co.) Mark Crutchfield (George Bistro + Bar) Kylie Williams (Alla Prima Coffee Roaster) BEST OUTDOOR DINING Winner: The Fish House Brother Fox The Burrow Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille BEST PET-FRIENDLY RESTAURANT Winner: The Burrow Jaco's Bayfront Bar & Grille Lucy's in the Square Nolita's Parlor & Eatery BEST TAKEOUT/TO GO Winner: SaBai on Jefferson Carmen's Lunch Bar & Tapas MI SU Street Food VooDoo BBQ & Grill BEST RESTAURANT FOR A DATE Winner: Restaurant IRON Angelena's Ristorante Italiano Brother Fox Union Public House BEST RESTAURANT FOR A BIRTHDAY DINNER Winner: Union Public House Brother Fox August 27, 2026

The Elbow Room Pearl & Horn BEST RESTAURANT FOR SPORTS FANS Winner: Sidelines Sports Bar and Restaurant 200 South Tap House The Pointe Sammy Barker's BEST LATE-NIGHT EATS Winner: Steel Pony Diner The Elbow Room Graffiti Pizza McGuire's Irish Pub BEST RESTAURANT TO TAKE OUT-OF-TOWN GUESTS Winner: The Fish House The Grand Marlin McGuire's Irish Pub Peg Leg Pete's BEST GONE-BUT-NOTFORGOTTEN RESTAURANT Winner: Kingfisher Hopkins Boarding House Nomadic Eats Sluggo's

FOOD

BEST UNIQUELY PENSACOLA DISH Winner: Grits à Ya Ya (The Fish House) Chicken & Dumplings (Restaurant IRON) Fried Red Snapper Collar (Pearl & Horn) Spanish Crab Melt (Carmen's Lunch Bar & Tapas) BEST CUP OF COFFEE Winner: Alla Prima Coffee Roaster Jitterbug Beverage Co. Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar Mrs. Jones Cold Brew Coffee BEST ESPRESSO DRINKS Winner: Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar Craft Gourmet Bakery George Bistro + Bar Jitterbug Beverage Co. BEST COLD BREW Winner: Mrs. Jones Cold Brew Coffee Alla Prima Coffee Roaster Jitterbug Beverage Co. TAME Coffee BEST SPECIALTY/ SEASONAL LATTES Winner: Jitterbug Beverage Co. Good Day, Darling Mrs. Jones Cold Brew Coffee Pretty Little Latte BEST ICED TEA Winner: Sweet Jackson Tea All About Boba Carmen's Lunch Bar & Tapas SaBai on Jefferson

BEST JUICES/SMOOTHIES Winner: Good Day, Darling AguaBerry Cafe Single Fin Sean's Smoothie Shack BEST PIZZA Winner: Flour-ish Comfort Food Truck Graffiti Pizza Lucky Dough Pizza Sky's Pizza Pie BEST STEAK Winner: Jackson's Steakhouse The District: Seville Steak & Seafood Pearl & Horn Restaurant IRON BEST BURRITO Winner: Juan's Flying Burrito Pen-Taco-la Tacos El Fluffy Taqueria El Asador BEST TACO Winner: Taqueria El Asador Taco Mex Tacos El Fluffy Tacos Rock BEST SOUP Winner: Carmen's Lunch Bar & Tapas The Elbow Room SaBai on Jefferson Steel Pony Diner BEST DELI Winner: New Yorker Deli & Pizzeria A Mano Panino Costello's Butcher Shop Cutie Patootie Charcuterie & Sweets BEST BREAD Winner: Craft Gourmet Bakery A Mano Panino Emerald Coast Bread Company Local Thyme Bakery BEST SANDWICHES Winner: A Mano Panino Cutie Patootie Charcuterie & Sweets Hub Stacey's Steel Pony Diner BEST CHICKEN SALAD Winner: Craft Gourmet Bakery Carmen's Lunch Bar & Tapas Good Day, Darling Steel Pony Diner BEST BURGER Winner: MI SU Street Food Brown Bagger The Burrow Sauce Boss Burger Co. BEST APPETIZERS Winner: Pearl & Horn George Bistro + Bar Global Grill Union Public House 25

R ESTAUR ANTS + FOOD BEST PASTRIES Winner: Craft Gourmet Bakery Jitterbug Beverage Co. Maker's Cafe & Espresso Bar Naree's Baked Goods

BEST FRIED CHICKEN Winner: Five Sisters Blues Café The Dwarf Chicken Stand Four Seasons Catering & Eatery McGuire's Irish Pub

BEST DESSERTS Winner: Naree's Baked Goods Angelena's Ristorante Italiano Craft Gourmet Bakery Flour-ish Comfort Food Truck

BEST BREAKFAST DISH/MENU ITEM Winner: Definitely Not A McGriddle (Craft Gourmet Bakery & Cafe) Biscuits & Sausage Gravy (Steel Pony Diner) Chilaquiles (Buenos Dias Cafe) OMGosh Bring Me Hoecakes (Aunt Katie's)

BEST WINGS Winner: MI SU Street Food Five Sisters Blues Café Hub Stacey's Sidelines Sports Bar and Restaurant

BEST ICE CREAM/FROZEN YOGURT/GELATO Winner: Lamonte Gelato Fannie Lou's Ice Cream Nolita's Parlor & Eatery Wild Honey Frozen Yogurt

BEST GRITS Winner: The Fish House Aunt Katie's Coffee Cup Restaurant George Bistro + Bar

BEST OYSTERS Winner: Pearl & Horn The Fish House The Grand Marlin Peg Leg Pete's BEST SALADS Winner: Carmen's Lunch Bar & Tapas The Burrow End of the Line Cafe George Bistro + Bar

BEST DONUTS Winner: Parlor Doughnuts Lickin Good Donuts Más Que Dulces Milton Quality Bakery

BEST VEGETARIAN/VEGAN DISH Winner: Knuckle Sandwich (End of the Line Cafe) "Chicken Parmesan" (Agapi Bistro + Garden) Chickpea Sandwich (Chickpea House) Plant-Based Prego: Steak Sandwich (Steel Pony Diner)

BEST FRIES Winner: MI SU Street Food The Burrow George Bistro + Bar Sauce Boss Burger Co.

BEST CAKES/CUPCAKES Winner: Moonbeam Bakery Craft Gourmet Bakery Kate's Cakes Naree's Baked Goods BEST COOKIES Winner: Kate's Cakes Itsa Cookie J's Bakery and Catering Nolita's Parlor & Eatery BEST LUNCH SPECIALS Winner: Sky's Pizza Pie Carmen's Lunch Bar & Tapas Four Seasons Catering & Eatery McGuire's Irish Pub

BEST WEEKLY SPECIAL Winner: Green Bucket Sundays (The Farm) Girl Dinner Wednesdays (The Burrow) Fajita Mondays (Mama's Tacos) Super Tuscan Tuesdays (Angelena's Ristorante Italiano) BEST COOKING CLASSES Winner: Bodacious Shops Ever'man Cooperative Grocery & Cafe Jackson's Steakhouse Pensacola Cooks Commissary & Classroom BEST FOOD MANUFACTURER Winner: Whim Cotton Candy The Black Garlic Market The Hummus Lady The Sealey Sauce Company BEST BEVERAGE MANUFACTURER Winner: Big Jerk Soda Co. Mrs. Jones Cold Brew Coffee Pensa-Cola Sweet Jackson Tea BEST MOBILE BEVERAGE BUSINESS Winner: Tap the Coast Pretty Little Latte TAME Coffee That Matcha Girl

WINNER:

BEST RESTAURANT FOR A BIRTHDAY DINNER RUNNER UP: BEST RESTAURANT–DOWNTOWN BEST RESTAURANT FOR A DATE

Thank you for voting us Best BBQ 14 consecutive years!

BEST APPETIZERS BEST MARTINI BEST NA DRINK OPTIONS

UNIONPENSACOLA.COM

36 E. GARDEN ST. | 850.607.6320 626 2

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August 27, 2026

Building Vibrant Cities Across America Back for a second year in partnership between the Center for Civic Engagement and Strong Towns, the Civic Leader Summit is a conference for those who believe in the power of place. It equips leaders, public officials, business owners, and active residents with the tools to create communities that are vibrant, resilient, and thriving.

What to Expect

5 Inspiring Keynotes

20 Engaging Breakout Sessions 3 Stunning Downtown Venues Actionable Civic Strategies Meaningful Connections

Oct. 6-8, 2026 | Pensacola, FL

The Center for Civic Engagement, Inc. is a 501(c)(4) nonprofit organization. Strong Towns is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. 828 2

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FEATUR ED RUNNERS-UP COMMUNITY, MEDIA + CULTURE

309 PUNK PROJECT

309punkproject.org If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? The oldest punkhouse in the South. Who or what inspires you to be your best? The community's trust and investment in our work inspires us to keep producing amazing stuff. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our team—our board, volunteers, supporters, our artists in residence—they are just the greatest. We love getting to hang out with them and make cool art events with them. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We're planning the second HalloZine Fest, which will be Thursday, Oct. 29 and Friday, Oct. 30 as a part of Foo Foo Festival. We're bringing some amazing artists for this event, including the band The Linda Lindas along with Martin Wong, Cristy Road Carrera and Bratty Bre. Answers by: Lauren Anzaldo, Operations and Special Projects Coordinator

BALLET PENSACOLA

400 S. Jefferson St., balletpensacola.org If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Enhancing the cultural life of the community by developing an appreciation and knowledge of dance, producing quality dance performances and exceptional dance training. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Pensacola's remarkable growth and innovation inspire us to continually raise the bar and contribute to the momentum shaping our city's future. In a community where art is so important to this growth, we are honored to be trusted as a pillar. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The unwavering commitment of everyone who makes Ballet Pensacola possible. From our youngest students to our longest-standing patrons, each person plays an important role in our story. As any arts organization would understand, it truly takes a village. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our next chapter is centered on expanding Ballet Pensacola's reach by creating more opportunities for

August 27, 2026

students to train, perform and grow while bringing internationally recognized artists to our studios for our professionals. By doing so, we continue our mission of enriching our community through exceptional dance education and transformative performances. Answers by: The Artistic Team

BANDS ON THE BAYOU

bandsonthebayou.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Bringing neighbors together and supporting local nonprofits through a community-centered outdoor concert series in East Hill. Who or what inspires you to be your best? The community. Seeing neighbors and businesses come together, local nonprofits receiving meaningful support and families creating memories at our concerts is a constant reminder of why we do this. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? It's the passion everyone brings. Bands on the Bayou is entirely volunteer-driven, and it's inspiring to see sponsors, musicians and volunteers come together to benefit the community. There's a genuine sense of pride in East Hill, and seeing thousands gather together and connect with their neighbors makes it all worthwhile. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To grow Bands on the Bayou while preserving the neighborhood spirit that makes it unique. To date, we've donated more than $160,000 to local nonprofits. We look forward to expanding that impact, enhancing the concert experience and continuing to make Bands on the Bayou one of Pensacola's favorite annual traditions. Answers by: Lauren Gund, Committee Member/ Past Chair

FIRST DANCE BALLROOM STUDIO

2558 Gulf Breeze Parkway, firstdanceballroomstudio.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We are a dance community where everyone at every age or level can learn to dance. Who or what inspires you to be your best? I want to pass on everything I've learned in my

dance career so the next dancers can be better than me. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I could not ask for better dance students. The love of dance and friendships they have built are so powerful. We also do a lot to help others in our community and make a difference every day. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To continue to help charities in our local community and help others through dance. Answers by: Margaret Takacs, Owner

GEOFF PECK CREATIVE SERVICES

geoffpeckcreativeservices.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Photography and video services for people and brands who value a clean, intentional and a little unconventional aesthetic. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Anyone doing serious work in their craft, their community or on themselves. Photography gives me direct access to people building businesses, raising families, chasing dreams, overcoming and growing. Being that close to it keeps me energized and pushes me to keep growing my own skills toward my absolute best. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I'd rather take the risk of being bad than play it safe and be boring. My clients are willing to go on that ride with me. My community tends to be original, unconventional people and that willingness to take a swing is exactly what makes the work great. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Clients stay the priority, but I'm focusing on growing a photo community through shows, zines, workshops and walks. I want to be a resource—helping new photographers grow, giving established ones a place to be seen and building a scene where everyone grows together. Answers by: Geoff Peck, Owner

GLOBAL LEARNING ACADEMY

100 N. P St., linktr.ee/glapensacola If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? GLA is a Pensacola elementary school driving ac-

ademic growth through a vibrant arts-infused curriculum, hands-on greenhouse, science and a diverse, supportive community. Who or what inspires you to be your best? At GLA, our students are the heart of everything we do. They inspire us daily with their incredible resilience. Witnessing them overcome unimaginable challenges, persevere and achieve their greatest growth is truly extraordinary. Their dedication drives our mission every single day. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Above all, our students' big hearts. Whether helping a younger child tie their shoes, supporting a peer with a disability or showing kindness to adults, their empathy is unquestionable. You simply can't question the incredible heart of our students. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Opened in August 2011, GLA recently achieved a high "C" grade—its highest performance in over a decade. Building on this momentum, our unequivocal goal for this year is an "A." Answers by: Lalla T. Pierce, Principal

GOING NOIR MYSTERIES

goingnoirmysteries.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Cinematic, interactive mysteries brought to life by local artists, where every guest becomes the detective. Who or what inspires you to be your best? A competitive drive to keep raising the standard of live entertainment, the actors who bring the stories to life and every guest we have the privilege to entertain. They challenge me to make each experience bigger, bolder and unlike any other night out. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The commitment, creativity, professionalism and trust my team brings to every production. Our actors give each story its own unique energy, but the audience is the missing piece that makes every show truly come alive. That shared experience is what makes every Going Noir production unique. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To raise the creative and production standard of every show while continuing to pioneer what is possible

in live entertainment. The next chapter is bringing the experience to new audiences, venues and communities without ever sacrificing the elevated quality that defines Going Noir. Answers by: Clayton Habecker, Director

GREAT GULFCOAST ARTS FESTIVAL

ggaf.org If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? GGAF's juried fine art show, heritage arts, music, dance, children's area, food, sponsors and volunteers show their love of the arts and the Pensacola community. Who or what inspires you to be your best? The creativity of the many artists who participate in the event and the joy the festival brings to the community. When we see people walking around Seville Square with big smiles, it makes us proud to be a part of it. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? It takes a lot of dedicated committee members, hardworking volunteers and business sponsors to be able to put on Pensacola's celebration of the arts each year. We appreciate that people continue to step up to make it happen for free. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We hope to continue to improve how we get things done and keep the tradition alive into the next 50 years. That means we welcome involvement of new people and their fresh ideas. Answers by: Joy Ward, Art Show Committee Member

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GREATER PENSACOLA FIGURE SKATING CLUB

201 E. Gregory St., pensacolafigureskating.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Where skaters of all ages and abilities are welcomed, confidence is built, character grows and excellence is inspired through figure skating. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our skaters. Watching someone gain confidence, overcome challenges and accomplish something they once thought was impossible reminds me why creating opportunities through skating is so important. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The passion and dedication of our coaches and volunteers, and the trust and enthusiasm of our skaters and families. Together, they've built a welcoming community where everyone is encouraged to learn and grow. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our vision extends beyond our club. We continue to advocate for year-round ice in Pensacola, creating consistent opportunities for local families to enjoy skating while supporting athlete development, expanding community programs, attracting competitions and strengthening our local economy. Answers by: Lucy Washinger, President

ICMT MURDER MYSTERY COMPANY

icmtheatre.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be?

Interactive, family-friendly murder mystery dinner theatre serving the Gulf Coast and beyond. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Founded in Pensacola in 2016, ICMT is dedicated to providing a unique theatre experience to both our actors and our audience. We love what we do, and I would say that, more than anything else, inspires us. Our guests become family because our actors create that bond at every performance. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? ICMT has not only some of the most talented actors in our area, but also the kindest. Everyone in ICMT is dedicated to making our business the best it can possibly be. My team excels in creating a memorable customer experience because they truly enjoy what they do. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? ICMT is constantly innovating and improving our product. We launched a successful side project at Pensacon in 2026, "Improbable Journey," and we're excited to do it again this year. We just celebrated 10 years in business of quality performances along the Gulf Coast and our goal is many more. Answers by: Nicole Dickson, Founder/Owner

NEIGHBORHOOD CHILDREN'S THEATRE

2800 Wilde Lake Blvd., neighborhoodchildrenstheatre.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Engaging electives, education and entertainment for children and children at heart.

Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our students. When we (the teachers) show up prepared, positive and authentic, it creates an environment where our students feel empowered to do the same. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our team shares a commitment to seeing each child as more than a performer. We celebrate things like personal growth, taking initiative and choosing kindness just as much as talent. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? After an incredible year of growth and recognition, our next goal is to continue expanding opportunities for students, both onstage and behind the scenes. We're excited to foster technical theatre skills, further develop student leadership and create more ways for young people to discover their unique place in the arts. Answers by: Kayla May, Executive Director

PENSACOLA GREEK FESTIVAL

1720 W. Garden St., pensacolagreekfestival.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Three days of authentic Greek culture, cuisine and celebration. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Community. The friendships we've built within our parish and the support we've received from Pensacola inspire us to make each festival better than the last. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our vol-

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unteers' time and dedication make this festival possible. It may last only three days, but the work that goes into it all year long is truly a labor of love. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Since COVID, we've been working to bring back our famous calamari. It's a festival favorite, but finding right way to offer it again has been a challenge. We're hopeful you'll see it return to the menu in 2027. Answers by: Brianna White, Festival Marketing Chair

PENSACOLA MESS HALL

418 E. Wright St., pensacolamesshall.org If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Inspiring curiosity, experimentation and creative problem-solving through the exploration of math, engineering, science and stuff. Who or what inspires you to be your best? We are always striving to provide our visitors and program participants a moment that excites them and makes them want to investigate further. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our team is constantly curious and experimenting to find new ways to share inspiring science experiences for everyone. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We are seeking to build our in-house after-school program to engage more kids with science. We also hope to increase our adult programming so that we can become a hub of science for our community. Answers by: Megan Pratt, Executive Director

PENSACOLA OPERA

75 S. Tarragona St., pensacolaopera.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Our mission is to enrich Northwest Florida by producing professional opera performances, educational programs and community events for people of all ages, interests and backgrounds. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our community. Our patrons, donors, sponsors, students and artists keep us continually striving for artistic excellence and good community stewardship. As long as support is present, we will continue to produce opera and opera-related programming and events of the highest quality for our region. We cannot thank this community enough. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our team of artists is incredible. When your job is to share an incredible art form with your community, it brings so many rewards. Even amid political challenges and rising costs, the unwavering dedication of our staff and artists is the foundation of everything we accomplish at Pensacola Opera. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our upcoming season is one of our most exciting yet. From the breathtaking drama of "Tosca" to the irresistible charm of "The Elixir of Love," the powerful military story of "The Falling and the Rising" and an all-new Rock the Runway experience, there's something extraordinary for everyone this opera season. Answers by: Alex Hilkey, Director of Advancement August 27, 2026

SANTA ROSA ISLAND AUTHORITY

1 Via de Luna Drive, visitpensacolabeach.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Mission: to preserve our natural resources, manage growth and promote eco-friendly tourism in a clean, safe community environment. Who or what inspires you to be your best? My hardworking team, successful friends and supportive family. Their dedication, encouragement and belief in me continually challenges me to grow, work harder and strive for excellence in both my personal and professional life. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I'm grateful to be part of the small but mighty team at the Santa Rosa Island Authority. Together, we proudly serve our full-time residents, leaseholders and the millions of visitors who enjoy our beloved island, working every day to preserve and enhance Pensacola Beach for generations to come. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? As we wrap up another successful summer, we're looking ahead to a busy fall on Pensacola Beach. Our focus is delivering memorable events like BeachO-Ween and Cinemas in the Sand while finishing the Bands on the Beach season strong and continuing to create exceptional experiences for our community and visitors. Answers by: Robbie Schrock, Director of Administration

HEALTH + WELLNESS

COMMUNITY HEALTH NORTHWEST FLORIDA

healthcarewithinreach.org If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Healthcare within reach. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our patients bring out the best in us. We're here for them every day, regardless of income or insurance status. If you need us, we're here. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Everyone who works at Community Health Northwest Florida moves with the mission in mind—ensuring anyone who wants healthcare can have it. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We continue to grow in service of our mission to help as many people as we can, as well as we can. Answers by: Chandra Smiley, CEO

TAMARA DRISKELL, LMHC

7004 Pine Forest Road, tamaradriskell.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Helping people master life, death, love, sex, money and power with existential psychology and radical honesty. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Mortality. The awareness that none of us are here forever keeps me curious, grateful and unwilling to waste time, live in regret or let anyone else do so either. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? People who are willing to outgrow old identities. Watching someone stop asking, "Who am I supposed to be?" and start asking, "Who do I want to become?" never gets old. 31

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? I'm creating more ways for people to engage with this work beyond weekly therapy, including one-day intensives, workshops and writing that help people build lives they don't need to escape. Answers by: Tamara Driskell, Therapist/Coach

ESSENTIALLY FIT

6707 Plantation Road, Unit A, essentiallyfit.org If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Strength made personal. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Helping others discover their own strength. There's nothing more rewarding than seeing someone accomplish something they once thought was impossible—whether it's lifting heavier, moving without pain, gaining confidence or simply feeling healthier. Fitness is about more than exercise; it's about building resilience, confidence and a better quality of life. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? My clients' commitment, courage and trust. Every workout is a step toward becoming stronger, healthier and more confident, and I'm grateful to be part of that journey. Their dedication inspires me every day. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? I just recently expanded my fitness studio to include Power Plate fitness classes. My next goal is to create a fitness community where people of all ages and abilities feel supported, challenged and empowered. I want to expand my impact by

helping more people improve their strength, mobility and confidence. Answers by: Candace Rorrer, Founder/ Head Trainer

EVOLVE MEDICAL

24 N. Tarragona St., evolvemedicalcare.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Helping you optimize your health through personalized weight loss and lifelong metabolic care with an evidence-based approach. Who or what inspires you to be your best? The opportunity to change lives. Every patient has a unique story, and helping them achieve better health through personalized, evidence-based care motivates us to keep learning and providing the highest quality care. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our team shares a genuine passion for helping people feel their best. Together, we're committed to creating a welcoming, supportive experience where every patient feels heard, valued and cared for. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We're expanding our personalized metabolic health programs, growing access to hormone optimization and making evidence-based care more convenient through innovative memberships and telehealth services. Answers by: Angela Beck, Practice Manager

GIBSON & HEATH FAMILY DENTISTRY

13 Center Road, ghsmile.com If you had to define your business with just

a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? General dentists creating healthy smiles for all ages. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Fostering a comfortable and calm environment for our patients, ensuring the highest quality of dental care—preventative, restorative and comprehensive. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Whether you are a new or established patient, feeling like family is at the core of our team's care. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Continuing the mission of patient-centered care that makes you smile in our new state-of-the-art dental home. Answers by: Nicklaus Heath, DDS

ELEANOR PHOENIX, LMHC WITH INCLUSIVE COUNSELING

4300 Bayou Blvd., Ste. 21, counselinginpensacola.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? You deserve a therapist who gets it. Inclusive, affirming therapy for every identity, every story and every stage of healing. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Every client who chooses healing in a world that has not always made space for them. Witnessing their courage to challenge harmful messages, navigate oppression and reclaim and redefine who they are pushes me to continue learning and showing up as the best therapist I can be. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The willingness

my clients have to be seen fully and trust even when they've been rejected many times before. Many have spent years trying to fit the mold, and I'm honored to witness them reconnect with their strengths, identities and parts of themselves they were taught to hide. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Continuing to expand my clinical skills through somatic training to help clients move through what feels stuck, and integrating neurodiversity-affirming tools like the MIGDAS-2 to support clients in understanding themselves, embracing their identities and navigating the world authentically. Answers by: Eleanor Phoenix, LMHC/Owner

SIMS ORTHODONTICS

1100 Airport Blvd., Ste. A, simsorthodontics.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Transforming smiles and so much more. Who or what inspires you to be your best? My grandfather, Max. He ran the pharmacy in Gulf Breeze for decades. If a doctor called at midnight, he would drive to the store and fill it himself. Never for credit, but because it was needed. I didn't inherit a business, but a way for showing up for my patients. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? My team shows up every day genuinely caring about the patients in our chairs. Some of them have been with me for years. They know our patients by name, and the big moments going on in their lives, and celebrate every de-band like it's the first they have seen.

—Celebrating 30 Years Of Business—

Thank You Pensacola For Your Continued Support

Certified Picture Framers On Staff

Conservation Framing • Shadowboxes • Specialty Mats • Needlework • Photos • Prints

Open Tuesday–Friday 9:30–6:00 • Saturday 9:30–2:00 4718 North W St. • 850-432-5519

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RUNNER UP BEST AUTO SERVICE SHOP Thank You, Pensacola!

1501 N. Palafox St. • 850.932.7575 www.cannonautomotiveservice.com

August 27, 2026

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We're launching a brand new website to help families get honest answers about treatment. We want to be the place people go to for a straight answer. Beyond that, the goal stays the same: take care of Pensacola, Gulf Breeze and Crestview one smile at a time. Answers by: Dr. Clay Sims, Orthodontist

SERVICES

BASHES & BUBBLY

bashesandbubbly.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We create elevated celebrations on the Emerald Coast by providing thoughtfully designed setups that offer convenience and make the client feel confident, valued and speechless. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our incredible community of guests, family and friends inspire us to keep pushing towards being the best every year. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Their trust in and commitment to Bashes & Bubbly from the first inquiry to the day of the event. Our guests' reactions, kindness, recommendations to others and appreciation for what we do never goes unnoticed and is something we are extremely grateful for. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We are launching something very exciting on Nov. 1, but we can't share too much just yet. Stay tuned and follow us on social media. Answers by: Savannah, CEO/Founder

BEAUTY AND THE BEAM LASER AND ELECTROLYSIS

4515 Woodbine Road, beautyandthebeamle.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Permanent hair removal, tattoo removal and skin care. Who or what inspires you to be your best? We truly love what we do—so it's easy. We love helping people find their confidence. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I am so grateful to have a team and clientele that genuinely feels like family. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Continue to help people put their best self forward. Answers by: Amanda Hartz, Owner/ Service Provider

BLU SALMON

33 W. Garden St., Ste. 10, blusalmon.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Design differently. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Impacting people's lives. Design changes the patterns of our everyday moves; that's impactful. It changes us physically and emotionally. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our team works as a team to deliver consistently creative solutions and make the entire process feel effortless for our clients. We don't take shortcuts, and we don't do boring.

What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To share the design journey with our clients, spark the idea, create the vision and help them transform their spaces. Answers by: Teresa Dos Santos, President

THE BLUE MAGNOLIA SALON

2878 Gulf Breeze Parkway, bluemagnoliasalon.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A full-service boutique salon where talented artists, great energy and beautiful results all come together. Who or what inspires you to be your best? My family, my team and our clients. I want my children to see what hard work can build, my team to feel proud of where they work and every client to leave feeling like the best version of themselves. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I love that every person on our team brings something different to the table. Our clients are truly the best—they trust us, grow with us and keep laughing with us, even on our busiest salon days. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Growing without losing what makes Blue Magnolia special. That means continued education, expanding our hair and beauty services and creating more opportunities for our team—while preserving the welcoming atmosphere and personal connection our clients know us for. Answers by: Alison Sardina, Owner

BODYWORKS OF PERDIDO KEY

12385 Sorrento Road, Ste. D1, bodyworksofperdido.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? It's not just self-care … it's caring for people. Who or what inspires you to be your best? The relationships we've built. Many guests have trusted us for years, and it's a privilege to be part of their wellness journey and celebrate life's milestones alongside them. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The trust our guests place in us and the heart my team brings every day. Together, we've created a place where people feel genuinely cared for, not just treated. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To continue growing without losing what makes us special—personalized care, an exceptional team and meaningful relationships with every guest who walks through our doors. Answers by: Cindy Rodriguez, Founder/Owner

FRAMING BY DESIGN

4718 N. W St., framingbydesignpensacola.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Custom picture framing at its finest. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Customers, when they pick up the finished framing and are excited for what we have done to make their items look great. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Customers' trust and continued support. Same for the team as well,

Adoption • Paternity • Dependency/DCF Hearings Prenuptial Agreements • Postnuptial Agreements Divorce • Child Custody and Timesharing Child Support • Child Support Modifications Alimony • Collaborative Divorce • Divorce Mediation • Pre-Suit Family Law Mediation

127 Palafox Place Suite 100 (850)466-3115 autumnbeckblackledge.com 434 3

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GULF WINDS CREDIT UNION

220 E. Nine Mile Road, gogulfwinds.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Helping our members and communities succeed financially. Who or what inspires you to be your best? The spirit of people helping people, and the financial success of our members and communities. Every day, we work to ensure those we serve are one step closer to unlocking financial greatness. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The dedication our teams and members have to building lasting relationships with each other. Our members work hard to move forward on their financial journeys, and Gulf Winds is driven by our mission to support them along the way. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our future is full of growth and opportunity. Stay tuned to our socials to see what's next. Answers by: Meghan Lyons, Communication Specialist

HAIR + CO

1627 W. Garden St., hairandco.salon If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A neighborhood luxury salon dedicated to exceptional hair, authentic relationships and helping every guest look and feel their absolute best. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our clients inspire us to be better artists, better listeners and better people. Every appointment is an opportunity to make someone feel seen, valued and beautiful—that's a responsibility and privilege we never take lightly. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? We're incredibly thankful for a team that leads with heart and clients who make coming to work a joy. Together, they've created a salon that feels less like a business, and more like a community. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To continue expanding our luxury experiences—including extensions (silk weft, petite weft, ktips and tape-ins), head spa and skin care, while investing in education. We are always striving to provide an unforgettable experience for every guest who walks through the door. Answers by: Jodie and Team

HAIRY ALEX HORNE SALON

2590 N. 12th Ave., Ste. 508, linktr.ee/hairyalexhorne If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A one-on-one salon experience that is professional, fun and intentionally customized to each client. Who or what inspires you to be your best? The drive to show up for my clients the best way August 27, 2026

I can will always keep me going, and the community of talented stylists we have in this town will always push me to do my best and take time to be thoughtful in my business decisions. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The variety that I get to see and feel on a day-to-day basis. All my clients are walking different paths in this world while simultaneously trying to live their best lives. I feel genuinely lucky to be picked to be a small part in their journeys. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Dare I say, to keep up the good work. I would just like to continue honing my skills and bringing updated techniques to my clients as well as being a light in our community for people and other stylists who need a safe space to be themselves. Answers by: Alex Horne Garcia, Owner/Stylist

but also, their dedication to giving the customers the best product possible. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To continue to do the best picture framing in the years to come, and next year to be at the top of this list instead of a runner up (*wink*). Answers by: Gyna Sellers, CPF, Owner/President

AMBER JERNIGAN WITH ENGEL & VÖLKERS

amberjhomes.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? From first time to luxury, when you need a realtor, I'm your new best friend. Who or what inspires you to be your best? All of my clients, friends and family who have trusted me over the years. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I love when we become friends throughout the process and they become a part of my life for years to come. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Launching a new luxury townhome development in the next month. Stay tuned. Answers by: Amber Jernigan, Realtor

November 6-8 • Seville Square ggaf.org Be a part of Pensacola’s premier festival – ggaf.org/volunteer

KUHN REALTY

1718 N. Ninth Ave., kuhnrealty.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We're simply different. We may not be the biggest brokerage or No. 1, but we're intentional about how we serve our clients and support our agents. Who or what inspires you to be your best? My family, friends, agents at KR and clients. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I feel incredibly fortunate to work with some of the best agents in town. They consistently deliver what I believe is the highest level of service in our market. I'm proud of their work ethic, their dedication and their commitment to being the very best for our community. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We have several exciting developments coming to Pensacola that will help shape the downtown skyline. Watching Pensacola grow, serving as an ambassador for the city and knowing that my team and I are a part of that growth is truly special. Answers by: Larry Kuhn, Broker/Owner

NAI PENSACOLA

24 W. Chase St., naipensacola.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? We are a full-service commercial real estate company specializing in sales, leasing and property management. 35

Who or what inspires you to be your best? The opportunity to create lasting value for our clients, strengthen the communities we serve and build trusted relationships through integrity, expertise and exceptional results. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Their unwavering commitment to each other and to our clients. They communicate openly, solve problems creatively and consistently go the extra mile. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To become the trusted first choice in every market we serve. We aim to grow with purpose by strengthening client relationships, expanding our market presence and delivering exceptional results. Answers by: DeeDee Davis, Owner/Broker

genuinely cares about one another and our customers. That culture is built through servant leadership, accountability and shared values. We're equally grateful for a community whose trust has allowed us to grow from one location to two in under three years. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? It's not simply to grow bigger. It's to build a business that lasts for generations by investing in our people, developing future leaders and continuing to earn our customers' trust every single day. If we do that well, growth will naturally follow. Answers by: Tonya and Brett McCabe, Co-Owners

PENSACOLA A/C & AUTO SERVICE CENTER

220 W. Garden St., Ste. 125, kira.levinrinkerealty.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Turning houses into homes, with honesty, expertise and heartfelt service. Who or what inspires you to be your best? My children. Watching them grow, learn and dream reminds me daily why I do what I do. They motivate me to be better—more patient, more dedicated and more passionate about helping other families find a home where their own memories and stories can unfold. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? About the clients I serve—their trust and courage. Buying or selling a home is deeply personal. I'm honored when people invite me into that journey, sharing their

72 E. Nine Mile Road and 5868 McAllister Ave., pensacolaautosc.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Auto repair from people who care. Honest service, quality workmanship and treating every customer like family, every single day. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our customers. We believe auto repair is more than fixing vehicles. It's about helping parents get their kids to school, making sure families get to work safely and giving people peace of mind when they get behind the wheel. Earning that trust is our greatest responsibility and our greatest privilege. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our team

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KIRA SANTOS WITH LEVIN RINKE REALTY

dreams, stories and next chapter with me. Their openness and resilience inspire me every day. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To keep growing as an agent so I can help even more families find their perfect home. Longer-term, I'm excited about eventually building my own team—creating a group of caring professionals who share the same client-first values and love for our community. Answers by: Kira Santos, Real Estate Agent

SKIN BY FLYNN

1108 N. 12th Ave., Unit A, skinbyflynn.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A modern facial studio blending corrective skin care, facial sculpting and whole-body wellness. Who or what inspires you to be your best? My clients. Watching someone regain confidence after struggling with their skin reminds me why I changed careers. I'm also driven by lifelong learning—combining evidence-based skin care with functional health to continually provide the best care possible. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I'm grateful for clients who are willing to look beyond quick fixes and invest in their long-term health. Their commitment, trust and willingness to learn make true transformation possible—and it's an honor to be part of that journey. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? I'm continuing to build the Skin By Flynn brand while

completing massage school, expanding education for local spa professionals and developing innovative products that elevate both the client and provider experience. Answers by: Molly Flynn, Integrative Health Practitioner/Licensed Esthetician

STEPHANIE A. TAYLOR WITH TAYLOR, WARREN, WEIDNER, HANCOCK & BARNES

1700 W. Main St., Ste. 100, twwlawfirm.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? TWWH&B helps people in our community level the playing field by resolving insurance disputes and serious injury claims. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Two things: one, knowing that I am making a positive difference in my clients' lives, and two, seeing how dedicated my partners, associates and staff are to achieving the best results for our clients. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our team's commitment to improving their skills as attorneys and legal professionals and their genuine concern for our clients' needs. Our clients' confidence and faith that our firm will do the very best we can to represent them at an extremely difficult time in their lives. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Giving back to and supporting our local community is very important to the firm. We are currently working on a new outreach project that will sup-

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port our community and local charitable organizations that we hope to announce in the near future. Answers by: Stephanie A. Taylor, Attorney/Partner

THE THIRSTY RANCH

thethirstyranch.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? The Gulf Coast's award-winning bar service. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our clients; we do it for them. It is a blessing to be part of their special moments. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? My team shares the vision of the business. It's all about Southern hospitality. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Unsure of what is next. Answers by: Melissa Weber, CEO

WEDDINGS

BASIS SALON

2040 N. 12th Ave., basissalon.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Leave the world better than you found it. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our amazing clients who continuously choose us. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? We're lucky to be a team that constantly shows up for each other, even on the hard days. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? As hairstylists, we're always learning and evolving with the trends, so I'm excited to get back into educating for our color line, Davines. Answers by: Eleanor Edmonds, Owner/Stylist

FETE + FLORA EVENTS

fetefloraevents.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Timeless aesthetics. Romantic designs. Thoughtfully curated celebrations that transform your vision into unforgettable moments. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our clients. Their vision and individuality inspire us to think outside the box, creating spaces that thoughtfully bring their ideas to life while celebrating the unique qualities that make each event one of a kind. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? We value the incredible vendor teams we have the privilege of collaborating with. Every event is a true team effort, with talented professionals coming together, supporting one another and working seamlessly behind the scenes to bring each client's vision to life. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To continue providing exceptional service and unforgettable event experiences for our clients while expanding the use of our tabletop rental collection, CURIO, across more events, creating beautifully curated celebrations with even greater attention to detail. Answers by: Rebekah Frenkel, Lead Planner and Jennifer Counselman, Lead Designer August 27, 2026

FLORAL TREE AFFAIRS

floraltreeaffairs.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Where every celebration blooms. From florals to rentals to coordination, we bring every detail to life. Who or what inspires you to be your best? The amazing people around us—our families, fellow vendors and wonderful clients. They challenge us to dream bigger, create more beautifully and keep pushing the boundaries of what's possible. Being part of life's biggest celebrations motivates us to make every event even more unforgettable than the last. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our team is made up of absolute rock stars—creative, adaptable and always ready to go above and beyond for our clients. We love serving couples who dream big, think outside the box and trust us to bring their vision to life while embracing the unexpected with grace. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We're always on the hunt for one-of-a-kind rental pieces that pair beautifully with our custom floral designs. Our goal is to create celebrations that make guests stop and say, "Wow—that's so them." Every detail should feel unique, intentional and perfectly tailored to each client's vision. Answers by: Aidan Witt, Owner

Voted Runner Up Best Wedding Rentals & Among the Best Every Year Since 2014

(850) 995-9988 | www.weddingwalls.com

FLORALS BY MALLORI

instagram.com/floralsbymallori If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Creating florals that celebrate the lives and stories of the couples we serve. Who or what inspires you to be your best? This year I'd like to acknowledge my mom, who won in her category for her small business in healthcare in Best of the Coast 2024. She fought a short battle with brain cancer last year and passed away in October. She is forever my inspiration for every goal or accolade I receive. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? My sister, Jodi, has designed with me for several years now, and it has been one of the most special times of my life, getting to create alongside and learn from her. We have been very lucky with the couples and families we serve; they are the best. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? I am excited to transition my business structure in the coming year with the hopes of being able to serve clients with more inclusivity, better attention and a more streamlined approach to designing their florals. Answers by: Mallori Clement, Lead Designer/Owner

JD COBB FILMS

jdcobbfilms.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? High-energy wedding films for the lovers, the go-getters and the once-in-a-lifetimers. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Every couple is so different, and telling a story in a way that matches them is something that inspires me. 37

Congratulations, Justin Nutt! Best Yoga Instructor

We’re also honored that you chose us as Runner Up Best Pharmacy Runner Up Best Walk-In Clinic

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What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I get to work alongside a team that shares my obsession with storytelling and excellence on a regular basis. That collective drive elevates everything we do. We are pushing each other to raise the bar with every single film we create. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To keep finding creative ways to capture a wedding day that no one else is doing. Thinking about different angles, moments and storytelling approaches that go beyond the standard shot list. We want to push the line so every couple's film feels like nothing else out there. Answers by: JD Cobb, Filmmaker/Owner

LIVE OAK PENSACOLA

7874 Beulah Road, liveoakplantation.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? At Live Oak, no detail is too small. Our wedding production team consisting of seven professionals ensures that all weddings are exactly as ordered and seamlessly flawless. Who or what inspires you to be your best? The trust our couples place in us. Knowing we have one opportunity to make one of life's most important days perfect motivates us to pursue excellence in every detail. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our hardworking and passionate team truly cares about every couple and treats each wedding as if it were for family. Sharing in one of life's most meaningful moments and creating memories they'll cherish forever is the greatest reward we could ask for. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? The shade from nine-centuries-old legacy live oaks creates a unique challenge to keep the sprawling lawn luscious and green. Every season, a huge undertaking is to remove and re-sod the entire venue between back-to-back events to ensure it is always thick, green and beautiful. That project's up next. Answers by: Donna Meeks, Owner

RAE WEST PHOTOGRAPHY

raewestphotography.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Capturing the moments you'll feel forever. Your story deserves to be felt, not just seen. Who or what inspires you to be your best? My faith in Jehovah. It reminds me to love people well, serve with humility and give my very best. My family and every couple or family who trusts me with their story motivate me to create photographs they'll cherish for generations. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The genuine connections I build with every client. Their trust allows me to document not just how their lives looked, but how those moments felt, creating memories they'll revisit for years to come. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? I'm working toward opening a creative studio where I can expand into fine art portraiture while combining photography with painting and handcrafted ceramics. My goal is to create meaningful artwork my clients can experience, display and treasure for generations. Answers by: Rachel Westley, Owner August 27, 2026

SOUTHERN FRILLS WEDDINGS & EVENTS

southernfrillsevents.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Pensacola's full-service wedding planning company for couples who want a luxury day that feels unmistakably, entirely theirs. Who or what inspires you to be your best? My daughters, 8 and 11 years old. They get to see a little bit of behind-the-scenes, and what all I pour into my work. I hope they see the effort and love. I want to show up as the best version of myself for them and my clients. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? It doesn't get better than my team. They strive for the best and deliver things to clients that are just absolutely unfathomable and I couldn't be more proud. Their work ethic and passion is next level. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Currently, our team is looking to branch out and focus more on destinations, including Italy and Greece. Stay tuned. Answers by: Kelly Rhodes, Owner

SUPPOSEY

101 S. F St., supposey.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? An event atmosphere atelier, specializing in creating idyllic environments for weddings and largescale community events. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Each couple's unique personalities and love story, artfully weaving their essence into every exquisite detail. The result is a wedding that is deeply personal, effortlessly luxurious and thoughtfully designed to immerse guests in an unforgettable celebration of two people promising forever. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I'm grateful for a team that shares our passion for exceptional celebrations and our commitment to serving couples in our community. Together, we create meaningful, elevated experiences that honor each love story with care, creativity and heartfelt hospitality. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our vision continues with the opening of the new Supposey Ballroom, a premier destination for events up to 1,000 guests. This expansive venue will offer elevated amenities, refined experiences and endless possibilities for bringing extraordinary celebrations to life. Answers by: Chloe Sexton, Owner

TRENDS SALON & SPA

5018 Grande Drive, trendssalonpensacola.org If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Trends is a full-service salon with experienced stylists to fit all your beauty needs. We take pride in our customer service and relaxing atmosphere. Who or what inspires you to be your best? To offer an experience and atmosphere to our guests that is signature to Trends. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? That we all are team players in providing a salon and services that the guests want to return to. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To continue 39

providing services with a staff that has the same goals in mind for our guests and each other. Answers by: Laurie Martinez, Owner/Stylist

WEDDINGS AND EVENTS BY JEFF

Runner Up Best Hair Salon: Gulf Breeze/Pensacola Beach & Best Hair Stylist: Alison Sardina

eventsbyjeff.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Wedding and event planner/coordinator. Who or what inspires you to be your best? My parents. They showed me that hard work pays off. I aspire to be as hardworking and successful as they are. I also hope that I am equally as great of a parent like they have been to me. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? My clients and my team show so much love and appreciation. The ultimate, amazing feeling of having their trust to make their event visions come to life is like no other. You can count on me shedding a tear for every client's wedding, and busting out a dance move. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Long-term, having my own wedding and event venue. My yearly goals are to continue to grow and fill my calendar to serve as many clients as I can. Answers by: Jeffrey Blanchard-Pattillo, Owner/Wedding and Event Planner

WEDDINGWALLS

850.733.9774 2878 GULF BREEZE PKWY. W W W.BLUEMAGNOLIASALON.COM

Thank you Gulf Breeze!

weddingwalls.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Transforming spaces. Elevating every celebration. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our clients. After more than 20 years in the wedding and event industry, we still love seeing a space completely transformed and watching a client's vision come to life. It's such a magical moment. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The trust our clients place in us, and our team that works hard behind the scenes to make it happen. Every event is very special, and we never forget that. Being part of someone's most meaningful celebration is something we truly value. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Out next chapter is all about continuing to evolve creatively—bringing fresh ideas, elevated designs and unforgettable transformations to celebrations of every size while staying true to the personal service that has always been at the heart of WeddingWalls. Answers by: Tracy and Steve Lastinger, Owners

RETAIL

BLUE HOUSE CURIO

bluehousecurio.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Floral flair and whimsyware. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Originally, I would have said my clients, but that should go without saying. Now that she has been born, my daughter inspires me to be more proud, intentional and diligent with my work. She is everything to me. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The diversity in the people I serve. I have had the privilege of creating art that is inclusive to 040 4

a wide variety of clients. Nothing makes me more happy than creating an environment where all feel welcome. Everyone should have a seat at the table. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To find more sustainable ways to make art. Now that I don't use resin anymore, it's key that I shift my focus toward creating pieces that have the ability to last longer or have the opportunity to grow into something useful. Answers by: Erin Clancy, Owner/Maker

NOTEWORTHY BY LAUREL FARRELL

314 E. Romana St., noteworthygift.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Original art, gifts and decor to help people connect and celebrate life's most meaningful moments. Who or what inspires you to be your best? My children. I love showing them how important it is to find your purpose and follow your dreams. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I'm so grateful for the Pensacola community that supports my business and me. I truly could not do it without the best customers that make it all possible. I am so proud to be from Pensacola. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Opening our downtown showroom has been such a rewarding experience. I'm excited to continue growing Noteworthy by expanding into more boutiques nationwide through our wholesale collection while creating even more meaningful products inspired by my original artwork. Answers by: Laurel Farrell, Artist/Founder

PERFECT DAY BOOKS

instagram.com/perfectdaybookstore If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A queer and radical bookstore on wheels. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Great works of literature and art inspire us to operate with a sense of passion and reverence. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The queer and allied folks who share how much they have longed for an inclusive space. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? A book mobile tour of the United States with a special creative project as catalyst. Answers by: Hannah Burns, Owner

THE TECH HANDYMAN

6224 N. Ninth Ave., Ste. 6, techhandymanfl.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Expert computer, phone and technology repair with honest service, fast turnaround and solutions for homes, businesses and more. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our customers. When you can turn a customer's bad day into a great day for a quick repair, it's worth it. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? We have a great team; several of our employees have been with the company for over ten years. inweekly.net

They are very knowledgeable and customers love them. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Continue offering great service to our area. We are dabbling more into social media to get ourselves out there, but we love our returning customers; they keep us in business. Answers by: Ryan Galvan, Owner

BARS, DRINKS + NIGHTLIFE

THE HANDLEBAR

319 N. Tarragona St., thehandlebar850.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A music venue and community space for the underground scene. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Always trying to find the next big band we can look at a decade down the road and say, "Yeah, we believed in them first." What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Proud to still have the same core of employees since the reopen, and proud to still have so many regular show-goers who continue to support our business and the bands we bring to town. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To continue bringing more outdoor concerts to Maritime Park, Museum Plaza and other large spaces. Answers by: Robert Goodspeed, General Manager

SEVILLE QUARTER

130 E. Government St., sevillequarter.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? The Gulf Coast's No. 1 entertainment and dining destination since 1967. Who or what inspires you to be your best? It comes from Bob Snow's original vision: create a special place where people come together for great music, great hospitality and good times. More than 58 years later, we're inspired to carry that tradition forward and create unforgettable Seville Quarter memories for the next generation. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our incredible "Good Time Gang" and the generations of loyal guests who have made Seville Quarter a Pensacola tradition. Our team brings the energy, personality and genuine Pensacola hospitality that make Seville special, and our guests give us the opportunity to create memories every day. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? It's simple: keep raising the bar. We want to improve every part of the Seville Quarter experience, from entertainment and food to service, atmosphere and hospitality. After nearly 60 years, we're still evolving, still improving and still committed to being the Gulf Coast's premier entertainment and dining destination. Answers by: Buck Mitchell, Marketing Director

RESTAUR ANTS + FOOD

AUNT KATIE'S

3102 E. Cervantes St., auntkatiesbreakfastnlunch.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Welcome to breakfast. August 27, 2026

Who or what inspires you to be your best? Family, crew and our amazing customers. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? We are family. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Continue to serve quality meals with great customer service. Answers by: Katie Scheuch, Co-Owner

THE DISTRICT: SEVILLE STEAK & SEAFOOD

123 E. Government St., districtsteaks.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Making history in historic downtown Pensacola. Exceptional steaks, fresh Gulf seafood, fine wine, craft cocktails and genuine Pensacola hospitality. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our guests. Whether celebrating a birthday, anniversary, business dinner or simply a great night out, we have the opportunity to make that occasion memorable. That responsibility inspires our team to continually raise the standard of food, service and hospitality at The District. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The passion and dedication of our entire team and the incredible support of our guests. Our staff takes pride in creating memorable dining experiences, while our loyal locals and visitors continue to challenge us to improve, innovate and deliver genuine Pensacola hospitality every day. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To take The District to the next level, from exceptional steaks and fresh seafood to an award-winning wine program, craft cocktails and outstanding service. We want to continue developing our team and establish The District as one of the premier steakhouse dining experiences on the Gulf Coast. Answers by: Buck Mitchell, Marketing Director

Voted Runner Up

BEST DONUTS

Follow me on Facebook to be in the know on what’s new, how to order, and where to find me:

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GREAT SOUTHERN RESTAURANTS

600 S. Barracks St., greatsouthernrestaurants.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Each of our restaurants has its own distinct personality, and they all share one purpose: bringing people together to celebrate, connect and create lasting memories. Who or what inspires you to be your best? The people of Pensacola. Our guests, our team members and our community. Their loyalty, passion and support motivates us to keep evolving while staying true to the hospitality and quality that have defined us for decades. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? The relationships we have built over the years, including our team members who grow with us and guests who celebrate life's everyday moments (as well as their biggest moments) at our tables. Those connections are incredibly important. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Continually elevating the guest experience through a myriad of culinary offerings coupled with Great Southern hospitality, while remaining true to the values that have made Great Southern Restaurants a Pensacola favorite for decades. Answers by: Maria V. Goldberg, Director of Marketing and Events 41

ITSA COOKIE

itsacookiebakery.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Flavorful cookies inspired by music and unexpected combinations. Who or what inspires you to be your best? The creativity and passion of the people around me. Whether it's musicians or customers, I'm surrounded by people who remind me how meaningful it is to create something unique and share it with others. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? I love how the music community shows up for one another. Whether they're supporting a local band or a small business, they understand that every connection matters. It's an honor to contribute something sweet to a scene built on creativity and belonging. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? To continue growing our band-inspired cookie collaborations through partnerships from our local music community at The Handlebar. This October, we'll showcase those collaborations at Fest in Gainesville with even more cookies inspired by the bands performing there. Answers by: Katie Kralick, Owner

RESTAURANT IRON

22 N. Palafox St., restaurantiron.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Refined Southern kitchen.

Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our guests motivate us. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Our people are passionate about creating a memorable dining experience for our guests. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Finding a way to grow our concept so more people can enjoy an IRON experience. Answers by: Nathan Delaware, General Manager

SAUCE BOSS BURGER CO.

319 N. Tarragona St., saucebossburger.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Sauce is the boss. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Sauce Boss has seen me through so many phases of life since its inception. My passion for food and service have carried me so far in my career, but the things that inspire me the most are my gorgeous wife and the baby boy we are expecting later this year. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? We are blessed to have such a strong leadership team in both of our projects. Seeing the passion multiplied through the whole team is one of the most gratifying experiences one can find in this industry. A shared vision of great food and greater service is not always easily found. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? We re-

cently debuted our new partnership with The Sandshaker on Pensacola Beach as we head up their new food program. Putting in the sweat equity (and I do mean sweat) has been such a thrilling adventure. I'm excited to see where this partnership takes us and what comes next. Answers by: Eli Cook, Owner/Chef

TAME COFFEE

319 N. Tarragona St., tamecoffee.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? Good coffee made by good people for good people. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our community. Seeing our regulars' faces each week (and meeting new people) makes it all worth it. We wouldn't be in business without our community turning up time and time again just to drop by, share a laugh and a good cup of coffee. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? We would not be in business without our baristas; they're the most dedicated workers you'll meet. You've chatted with Grace at the register, but behind the scenes she's doing both manual and creative labor. And Nate is our new barista, but he's already a 'spro slayer behind the bar. What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Our regulars know that we have been regularly popping up at The Handlebar each weekend with our coffee cart. Our big news is that partnership is now permanent. We're moving the ma-

chine from the cart to the bar and expanding our hours to be open longer. Answers by: Avery Vinson, Owner

UNION PUBLIC HOUSE

36 E. Garden St., unionpensacola.com If you had to define your business with just a tagline, sentence or phrase, what would it be? A place where the community comes together for great food, drink and conversation. Who or what inspires you to be your best? Our staff and guests. What do you appreciate most about your team and/or the people you serve? Ever heard that song "The Best" by Bonnie Tyler? What's the next goal or project on the horizon for you and your business? Cool li'l breakfast/lunch/event space in 2027. Follow @honeybear_pensacola on Instagram for upcoming teasers. Answers by: Blake Rushing, Chef/Owner

We are a family owned and operated Saucery, born on the Gulf Coast, producing small batch craft sauces in Pensacola, FL.

Retail Locations can be found on social media @Sealeysauceco

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