Top Small Businesses: Earlier this year, financialdosh asked our readers to tell us about their favourite small businesses in the U.S. We got a lot of suggestions for restaurants, coffee shops, Etsy shops, arcades, and more.
16 Top Small Businesses Spotlighted in 2022
Bakester’s Pastries is an Arizona bakery in Willcox.
Bakester’s Pastries is a bakery and deli-style sandwich shop that serves sandwiches on freshly baked bread as well as cinnamon rolls, cookies, and biscuits and gravy.
West Palm Beach, Florida, has Blue Mountain Coffee.
The founder of Blue Mountain Coffee, Allison Boettcher, was born and raised in St. Andrew, Jamaica. She got the idea to harvest and roast coffee beans from the Blue Mountain on her family’s estate after seeing how much cacao and Caribbean fruits were inspired in her home country. Boettcher now sells her own private label of Blue Mountain Coffee in her shop. She also serves traditional foods like pancakes, sandwiches, salad, and pastries, as well as Jamaican dishes like ackee and saltfish and curry chicken.
“Never go into business just to make money, or it will be a waste of time chasing a pile of paper,” she said. “Instead, choose to enjoy the journey as you work toward your goals.”
Bradley Bake Shop in New Jersey’s Bogota
Bradley Bake Shop makes treats that are gluten-free, sugar-free, vegan, and keto, like keto-friendly carrot cake and gluten-free sea salt brownies. The shop’s owner, Eleanor Bradley, opened her store in Bogota, New Jersey, in 2016 after the cookies she made for her gluten-free husband became popular with the locals. She was also a teacher when she first opened the business, but she quit her job to focus on the bakery full time.
“Being my own boss and making my own decisions and seeing the business grow from nothing to the point where people come in is the most rewarding part,” Bradley said. “Just last week, a couple of people came in and told us that friends or family members had told them about us. That makes me happy, because I put my whole heart into what I do.”
Phoenix Brunch Snob
The husband and wife team of Keith and Celene Hillsbery own the breakfast restaurant Brunch Snob, which serves “comfort food with a twist.” “We don’t simply serve your normal breakfast,” says Celene. We don’t do anything typical, to be honest.”
Celene said, “We can’t believe how busy we are and how crazy people are about the restaurant, how cute the inside is, and how good the food is.” “We’ve said to each other more than once, ‘Did you ever think we’d be so busy?’ Both of us said, “No way.” We didn’t think we’d be this busy.”
Doo’s Amazing Tours is in St. Petersburg, Florida.
Doo’s Amazing Tours is a tour company run by a woman. It offers guided tours on paddle boards, Segways, and bikes that focus on St. Petersburg, Florida’s history, plants, and animals. The business was opened by its owner, Louisa Scopacasa, in 2012. Since then, it has won many local and national awards, including the 2020 Travelers’ Choice Award from Tripadvisor.
Scopacasa said, “The best part of being a business owner is knowing that I made a memorable difference in a customer’s vacation.” “I love it when customers tell me that the tour I took them on was the best part of their trip. I also like to think that I have inspired young women to follow their own dreams and maybe even open their own businesses.
Far Out Arcade in Manhattan, Kansas
Every Thursday through Sunday, people can spend the night at the Far Out Arcade playing old video arcade games. Scott Anderson is the owner of the arcade. He has lived in Manhattan, Kansas, for 20 years and has run Far Out Arcade for two years.
“We serve the whole community because we are affordable, easy to find, and kind,” Anderson said. “In reality, Far Out Arcade has become its own community within the community. When I couldn’t be there in May because of things that were out of my control, volunteers stepped up and hosted in my place.”
Happily Handmade in Chicago by Anna and Julianna
Anna and Julianna Babin, mother and daughter, run the Etsy shop Happily Handcrafted By Anna & Julianna. Julianna’s love of crafts gave her the idea. The two used to sell their items at local craft fairs, but they decided to open an Etsy shop to reach more people. Their shop has things made out of polymer clay, things decorated with decoupage, ribbon bookmarks, and more.
They said, “We love talking to our customers and telling them the stories and processes behind our work.” “Now that we’re on Etsy, we still talk to our customers on social media, and we love getting feedback and suggestions for what they want us to make next.”
Miramar, Florida, Litwickscandle
Tracy Welsh started Litwickscandle because she liked candles and wanted to sell them. During the pandemic, she was inspired to start making her own things. Now, she sells candles and other products made from 100% natural ingredients.
“I used to shop a lot at Bath and Body Works. “When COVID-19 hit and we couldn’t go to the stores anymore, I had to figure out how I was going to get my candles,” she said. “The light bulb went off when I realised how much I was spending on candles! I decided to learn how to make candles myself, and Litwickscandle was born.”
The Naughty Pine Brewing Company is in the California town of Westlake Village.
People like Naughty Pine Brewing Company because it feels like a speakeasy from the 1920s. Brittany Brouhard is the owner. She co-founded and opened a brewery in Maui almost 10 years ago, and she is now celebrating the first anniversary of her new business.
“I get ideas from a lot of different places,” Brouhard said. “Other brewery owners I’ve become friends with over the years, my husband and his family, who all run small businesses, and friends who took the same leap I did in 2020 all give me ideas.” “And my daughter. My daughter was a big reason and inspiration for me to make this choice.
“Moving out on my own means I can change my plans at any time if my daughter needs me at home, has a field trip, or a dance recital,” she said. “It also means building a place we can call our own, giving her a second home, showing her how to be a good mom and business owner, and giving her a place she might one day take over.”
Psychic Teaz in the Washington town of Maple Falls
Psychic Teaz began many years ago when the husband of co-owner Susan Lautner, Daniel Muffoletto, created a special blend of tea for musicians on tour to help them stay mentally and physically balanced. This tea is one of the four flavours that make up the brand Psychic Teaz. The company’s goal now is to help people “heal and feel better” everywhere.
Lautner said, “I think it’s very important to help people.” “This is what keeps me going and why I want to reach a lot of people.”
Cleveland’s A Separate Reality Records
Augustus Payne, a veteran of the music business and cancer survivor, opened a record store in Cleveland called A Separate Reality Records. It was nominated for a second time this year.
“It’s an amazing feeling when people really love the records you’re selling,” Payne said. “This is not only my business, but also something I do because I love it.”
SK Butterflies in Miami
Kiki Sylvain has spent the last ten years at her company, SK Butterflies, breeding butterflies. When she found a dead butterfly on the floor of her greenhouse, her husband, Sedrick, suggested she put it in a frame. This was the start of her company. Sedrick said, “I love it!” when he saw the finished product. “Yes, I’d buy that.” The couple decided to start SK Butterflies when they realised that Kiki’s new hobby could be turned into a business. In addition to breeding butterflies, the company sells jewellery and home decor made from recycled butterfly wings.
“Raising butterflies is fun, but it can be hard,” Sylvain said. “I need to make sure that the butterflies are not hurt by animals from the outside. I do everything I can to make sure they have the best chance of surviving. All of them deserve to have a good life.”
Poway, California’s Smokin’ J’s BBQ
Joshua George, his brother Jeremy George, and Jeremy’s wife, Mckenzie George, started this barbecue place. Slow-smoked barbecue and rubs and sauces made in-community are available at Smokin J’s BBQ. In addition to serving a variety of meats, the restaurant near San Diego tries to make sure that every customer feels like an old friend when they walk in.
Joshua said, “One of the best parts of owning a small business was when we realised that we had not only made a living for ourselves, but also for the lives and families of many of our employees.” “It still makes me feel warm and fuzzy to think that we’ve created a business that is successful enough to pay our employees the way we do.”
Where Willcox, Arizona, gets its coffee
Source of Coffee is a family-run coffee shop that focuses on making espresso from Arizona-roasted organic coffee. The owners, Benjamin Morgan, Dana Suorsa, and Debra Suorsa, said that their cafe has a European feel that makes people want to stay for a while and play chess or read by the fire. Source of Coffee prides itself on actively supporting its local community by hosting free events and bringing in other local businesses for its on-site farmers market.
The owners said, “Each cup we serve is just as important as the first, and the reward is that our community keeps choosing us.” “We’re a real coffee house, not a drive-thru or quick-fix shop, and we’re proud of it.”
Sunrise Coffee Shop and Wine Cellar in Madison, Florida
Sunrise Coffee Shop and Wine Cellar is a cafe/restaurant that serves coffee, tea, wine, and farm-to-table food like sandwiches, soups, and salads. The venue also hosts private events, murder mystery dinners, wine tastings and live music. Owner Moruna Sheppard describes her business as “a touch of vintage nostalgia, combining a love of people, antiques, travel, coffee, teas, fine wines, beers, wholesome organic foods and fresh baked goods in a cosy and quaint restaurant lounge.”
She said, “Sunrise is more like a “garden” where all the seeds of love are planted.” “It’s sprouted such beauty and unexpected friendships, fruitful and bountiful.”
Tigre’s Fuego in California’s Redondo Beach
Tigre’s Fuego is a taco and ceviche take-out place that is proud to use high-quality ingredients and serve homemade, authentic restaurant. The restaurant is co-owned by brothers Jonathan and Jason Baran, as well as chefs Tyler Gugliotta and Jimmy Tapia.
Jonathan said, “Hospitality is like nothing else.” “I consider a lot of my customers to be good friends, and I didn’t know them before I started working there, so that’s definitely a blessing.”
