Business Recognition Awards
2011 Business Recognition Award Recipients
At the 2012 Mayor's State of the City Address, held January 31, the City and Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce recognized the past year's recipients of the Business Recognition Awards. The City would like to congratulate the 2011 honorees:
- BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
- Flying Colors Comics
- Hoffmann's Reptiles
- Western Vacuum & Sewing Center
1. BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse
This business received an award for its major sales tax generation and as a major employer in the community. The first BJ's Restaurant opened in Orange County, California in 1978, focusing on deep-dish pizza. The current owners acquired the original BJ's restaurants in 1995 and have expanded the BJ's concept from a small pizzeria to a full-service premium family-oriented restaurant with over 100 menu items. Handcrafted beer was introduced in 1996 and BJ's Restaurant & Breweries were launched. There are now 114 BJ's located in 13 states throughout the country, and more locations are under development. BJ's Restaurants are known for their award-winning signature deep-dish pizzas and handcrafted beers, as well as their unique Pizookie dessert. Over the years, BJ's high-quality beers have earned 25 medals at the Great American Beer Festival.
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse opened in Concord in October 2009 at Sunvalley Shopping Center. The Concord location has been a great success since it opened over 2 1/2 years ago, and it is the top sales tax producing restaurant in the City of Concord, with sales up more than 5% in 2011. The addition of this 367-seat restaurant, with its striking façade improvements, outdoor patio and high-energy atmosphere, has been a welcome addition to this major shopping center.
BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse, along with its 135 employees, is very pleased to be in Concord. In addition, BJ's received the National Restaurant Association's 2009 "Restaurant Neighbor Award" which recognizes outstanding community service among our nation's restaurants.
2. Flying Colors Comics
This business received an award for its innovative products and services, and for longevity in the community. Flying Colors Comics is celebrating more than 24 years in Concord. It is the oldest comic book store in Contra Costa County and the only one of its kind in Concord. The store offers comic books, comic memorabilia and a place where enthusiasts gather to discuss comics. The store and its owners are internationally known as industry leaders. Joe and Libby Field received the 1995 Will Eisner "Spirit of Comics" Award for Retailing Excellence, a Hall of Fame award recognized internationally among comic book professionals. The store has been named the "Best Bay Area Comic Shop" by SFGate.com and "Best of the Bay" by Diablo Magazine. Another claim to fame is Mr. Field's creation of a Concord-based comic book hero, "Captain Four-Color," who was featured in the Savage Dragon comic book series in October 2010.
The Fields started "Free Comic Book Day," in Concord in 2002, and it is held every year on the 1st Saturday in May. The 2011 event was enjoyed by more than one million people, who visited 2,000 comic book stores in 40 countries throughout the world. Joe, his wife Libby, and their four employees were pleased to host more than 1,100 people at their store in Oak Grove Plaza on May 7th this year.
3. Hoffmann's Reptiles
This business received an award for its longevity in the community. Hoffmann's Reptiles has been in business since March 1980. Dan and Joyce Hoffmann have been uniting reptiles, amphibians and other exotic pets with caring owners for more than 30 years. This specialty pet store provides expertise on the care and feeding of reptiles, amphibians, turtles, guinea pigs, rats, mice and rabbits. The Hoffmann's took over the lease from a bird store and opened up their pet store with no prior experience, just a love of animals. When the store first opened, they sold all kinds of pets from birds to raccoons, but over the years they narrowed their focus to exotic pets, which seemed to be an appropriate niche in the marketplace.
This unusual pet store has been a fixture in Concord for many years and they have seen a lot of changes occur on Concord Boulevard. Dan and Joyce both grew up in Concord and their store is known for catering to families, where they enjoy providing services to 2nd and 3rd generations that have bought their pets over the years. This is the oldest specialty pet store of its kind in Contra Costa County, and the Hoffmanns and their three employees are known for their friendly service and vast knowledge. There are very few stores like this anymore and customers come from all over the Bay Area. Hoffmann's Reptiles is located at 2359 Concord Boulevard at the corner of East Street. Just look for the stone building with the lizard and snake on the sign!
4. Western Vacuum & Sewing Center
This business received an award for its longevity in the community. Western Vacuum & Sewing Center has been in business for 58 years. This family-owned vacuum cleaner and sewing machine sales, accessories, service and repair shop has been a fixture in the City since 1954. The business was opened in downtown Concord by John Spancler, who ran it for many decades. Raess Iqbal and his family have been operating the store since 2003. They are known for their commitment to customers and providing high quality repair services.
There are very few stores like this anymore and customers come from as far as Vallejo, Oakland and San Ramon. Western Vacuum & Sewing Center is located at 2031 Salvio Street in the downtown and has 4 employees.
The City of Concord appreciates these businesses and their commitment to the community.
Past Recipients
Concord is proud of the companies that make up its business community. Every year, the City, in partnership with the Greater Concord Chamber of Commerce, recognizes up to twelve businesses through the Business Recognition Awards program. This program was established in 1997 to showcase and publicly acknowledge successful Concord businesses that have contributed in a unique way to the economic well-being of the City of Concord.
Program Guidelines
In order to qualify for an award, a business needs to meet one or more of the following requirements:
- Major tax generator
- Proven longevity in Concord
- Major employer
- Significant business growth within a year's time
- Innovative products and/or services
- Significant support to Concord community
Benefits
- Presentation and acknowledgment at a City Council meeting
- Acknowledgment in a City advertisement in a local newspaper
- Highlighted on City's Economic Development website
- Presentation and acknowledgement at Concord's annual Mayor's State of the City Address
- Final Acknowledgement in a City advertisement in a local newspaper following the Mayor's State of the City Address
Contact Us
For more information, contact Economic Development at 800-727-2254, 925-671-3355 or Email Us.
John Montagh, Redevelopment & Housing Manager
Joyce Davidson Seitz, Economic Development Specialist