4 minute read
Business of the Year
Finalists
Steph’s Espresso is a drive through espresso stand that just celebrated their 24th birthday this past September. They try their best to wake people up “with a smile and a kick ass cup of coffee”. Steph’s Espresso is always trying to give back to the community and be involved in as many community events as possible. Her business has sponsored kids’ baseball, softball, soccer, dance, cheerleading, boy scouts, and so much more. Steph’s Espresso had a booth at Oysterfest and all the money they raised will help supply Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas for local kids. Last year, they were able to supply 18 families with Thanksgiving dinners and 22 families for Christmas. They have also provided many supplies like clean socks and blankets to warm cups of oatmeal for our local homeless population throughout the year. This was their 17th year hosting the Community Easter Egg Hunt. They were able to take almost 80,000 filled eggs to the fields for the community. As one nominator said, “Steph is all about community and treats us all like family.”
Verle’s LLC is a fourth generation, family-owned Sports Center & Marine business. It all started with night crawlers when Verle & Bernice learned from their Portland family that they could pick immense amounts of them at night. They brought these huge night crawlers back to Shelton and word quickly spread that they had the very best worms for fishing. Since 1948, Verle’s has continued to grow and deepen its connection in this community. Their business has always been about the local outdoor adventure and encouraging families to go experience the local outdoors, which Verle’s has done by hosting many free fishing and hunting seminars at their store. This year, as Verle’s celebrated their 75th anniversary, they hosted their 1st annual Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife Trout Pond that was full of rainbow trout at their store. It was a fun day with free fishing for all ages of youth and well attended by the community. Over the years, Verle’s have sponsored youth sports teams, donated to local fundraising events that support our community, supplied prizes for various local fishing derbies, supported volunteer programs and more. Their business firmly believes in supporting local organizations, Verle’s Sports Center and Marine supports over 30 organizations and events throughout Mason County.
WashingTone’s Junk Removal is showing its love for Shelton by cleaning up the community and taking away people’s stress one trailer full at a time. The owner, Tony, is proud of every job that they do and finds every day rewarding because they’re helping people. They are helping people who don’t have any family in Mason County or maybe they don’t have the strength, time, or energy. A few customers have said that Tony is the best grandkid they never had. WashingTone’s Junk Removal has continued and succeeded solely by the support of the community with past customers referring them. The business has taken jobs of various circumstances from helping clean up a home of a low-income family so their kids aren’t taken away to preventing people from getting evicted by cleaning up their whole property. They have cleaned and fixed up bikes and kids’ toys to donate them. WashingTone’s Junk Removal tries to donate a lot of their time, their truck, and items to those in the community who are in need. As one nominator said, “Tony is a local hero, a local gem. He makes our community safe, clean, and more friendly.”
The winner for Business of the Year is...
Verle's LLC!
