Best of North Fort Myers winners feted at annual awards presentation
Numerous local businesses gathered at the Celebrations Ballroom at Del Tura Plaza Tuesday for the annual Best of North Fort Myers hosted the North Fort Myers Neighbor Living magazine and the Breeze Newspapers.
Winners are selected by the community via on-line and paper ballot voting with residents and readers marking ballots for businesses they consider the best in a wealth of categories — everything from Best Company to Work For to the Best Ice Cream.
The 2025 “Best of” event again included businesses that have earned the recognition many times as well as first timers, from businesses that win multiple awards annually as those who won a singular award for their particular specialty.
Laurie Ragle, advertising director at the Breeze Newspapers, said this is a congratulatory event for those community-selected best businesses.
“It’s a big boost to the businesses that win. They can tell customers they were voted by the public as being the best in the area,” Ragle said. “They can use the award for the promotions they do through ads and marketing to let everyone know.”
Celebrations Ballroom, a venue for everything from corporate events to weddings and quinceaneras, won for Best Event Professional.
Owner Grisel Brewster said she was excited to hold the Best of gala at her business for the first time.
“I’ve been with the Chamber and am familiar with the paper. Someone referred us and we got together. It’s great to have collaborative events like this,” Brewster said. “I wanted to have a place that had flexible event space to host higher-end events at an affordable price point.”
Multi-recognition winners included Brooke’s Restaurant & Lounge and the Nauti Parrot Tiki Hut, each of which won nine awards.
All Superior Auto is among the regular winners, having won a Best of in each of the last four years.
This year the business won four awards, including best Auto Paint & Body. The whole family came out to pick up their awards, decked out and black and gold from head to toe.
“We thank the community for voting for us. We’re honest and trustworthy and always protecting our family and friends,” Christy-Lee Iwanow said. “We like to build a long-term relationship with our customers.”
Matt Payton, owner of Pinch-A-Penny, said it was a team effort that allowed them to earn the Best of award for Swimming Pool Sales & Service.
“We’re going to keep winning and keep growing. We really feel great about this,” Payton said. “I’ve owned the place for 10 years and we’ve grown considerably. We really appreciate this.”
A Soul Awakening made its first trip to the awards worth it, winning in eight categories, including best Woman Owned Business. The business made itself know to the community quickly, being open a little more than a year.
Owner Joyce Rollins, who won for Psychic Medium, said it was exciting to win as much, being a first-year business in the competition.
“There are great businesses and great people out there. To win is amazing,” Rollins said. “We’re always sold out for all our events so our store was doing really well.”
To reach CHUCK BALLARO, please email news@breezenewspapers.com