And the nominees for Best Neighborhood Restaurant and Best Longstanding Business are…

As part of a series, Rapid Growth is speaking with nominees of several "best of" categories of the 20th Annual Neighborhood Business Awards, a partnership between Neighborhood Ventures and the Neighborhood Business Alliance that honors businesses across the city that have added to the quality of life in their locales.

Best Neighborhood Restaurant: Ali's Diner
When Wanda Smigiel's job at Steelcase dissolved after 17 years, she had no idea she would draw on the hotel/restaurant management degree she'd earned from Grand Rapids Community College in the 80s. But in 2002, she bought Ali's Diner, 735 W. Fulton, Grand Rapids – a longtime neighborhood fixture.

"Ali (Smidi) taught me the business after I bought it from him and I tried not to change it too much," Smigiel says. "I had a lot of crazy ideas that would have wasted a lot of money and he saved me from doing that."

The diner serves breakfast all day, burgers and baskets, and weekday soup, lunch and dessert specials.

"At least 80 percent of my customers are regulars," says Smigiel. "Some are customers from back in Ali's days."

Smigiel says a restaurant of some type has occupied the property for about 70 years – Ali's Diner has been there for the last 30.

"My retirement is riding on this," she says. "I'm fortunate that I've been able to stay profitable in a restaurant for eight years now when the failure rate is so high. Taking over an existing business was really the key for me."

Other nominees are:

• Brick Road Pizza, 1017 Wealthy SE
• Cherry Deli, 834 Cherry St. SE
• El Sombrero, 527 Bridge St. NW
• Garibaldi Restaurant, 1627 S. Division
• Grand Coney, 809 Michigan St. NE
• Kopper Top, 638 Stocking
• Marie Catrib's, 1001 Lake Drive
• Real Food Café, 2419 Eastern Avenue
  
• Sazarac Lounge, 1418 Plainfield Avenue NE
• Taquitos Mexican Grill, 327 S. Division
• Wolfgang's, 1530 Wealthy SE
• Yesterdog, 1505 Wealthy SE

Best Longstanding Business: Freewheeler Bike Shop
Right after high school Gordy Bryan founded Freewheeler Bike Shop at 915 W. Leonard and now 31 years later he reports that 2009 is the best year he's ever had.

"I said I'm going to quit a hundred times," he says. "But I've sold 2,600 bikes this year. I guess I'm lucky."

Most of those bikes are custom BMX racing bikes that the shop builds from scratch. Others are "mountain bikes, road bikes, kids' bikes and mom and dad bikes," Bryan says.

He adds that when gas prices were high a couple of years ago he saw more customers buying bikes to commute to work. But this year he thinks the increased sales might be because biking is "cheap exercise. Folks can't afford to do this or that with the family, so let's take the family on a bike ride," Bryan says.

Freewheeler sells new and used bikes and offers bike repair. Bryan says prices range from $200 up to $5,000.

Other nominees are:

• Arsulowicz Brothers Mortuaries, Inc., 937 Michigan NE
• Baribeau's Jewelry Hospital, 953 E. Fulton
• Choo Choo Grill, 1209 Plainfield Avenue NE
• Duke's Bar, 700 Michigan NE
• Elbow Room Bar & Grill, 501 Fuller Avenue NE
• Gallery 154, 1456 Lake Dr. SE
• Lady Love By James Price, 1117 Wealthy SE
• Nawara Brothers Appliance, TV & Bedding, 1030 W. Fulton
• Rocky's Bar & Grill, 633 Ottawa Avenue NW
• Russ' Garage, 801 Butterworth SW
• Stone's Throw, 1428 Plainfield Avenue

Stay tuned to Rapid Growth for our online voting where you can vote for your favorite businesses. Those with the most online votes will receive a People's Choice Award sponsored by Rapid Growth.

The awards ceremony on November 5 is from 5 to 8 p.m. at Wealthy Theatre. The public is invited.

Source: Wanda Smigiel, Ali's Diner; Gordy Bryan, Freewheeler Bike Shop

Deborah Johnson Wood is development news editor for Rapid Growth Media. She can be contacted at [email protected].