The Wallingford Chamber of Commerce handed out their “Wally Awards” this past week to Chamber members for outstanding outstandingness. Including in the recipients was Wallyhood sponsor Bedrooms & More as well as once and future Wallyhood sponsor Fuerte Fitness. The winners were:
- Best New Business: Fuerte Fitness
- Best All-Around Business: a tie – Boys & Girls Club and Chutney’s Restaurant
- Outstanding Service to the Community by a Business: Kris Murphy & Daniela Dombrowski, John L Scott Realty
- Outstanding Service to the Community by an Individual: Colleen Kurke of Cutz Wallingford
- President’s Awards:
- Best New Dessert Business: Fainting Goat Gelato
- Best Family-run Business: Bedrooms & More
- Local Hero Awards: Diana Aurigemma (Designer of Awards), Carol Meyer, and Eimear O’Neill
Awards were based on votes by Chamber members, and this was the third year they’ve been given.
Uhm. Was there another new dessert business?
Chutney’s exploits their employees, forcing them to sign on as salaried workers to work very long days for less than the legal minimum wage. Tips go straight to the business owners.
When I interviewed and the manager explained this to me, he encouraged me quite emphatically not to do any number crunching (ie hours required per day versus wage given), to think of it as a “salary”. I thanked him and won’t ever return.
Best all-around business… you gotta be kidding me.