The Pell City Chamber of Commerce held their businesses of the year and citizen of the year awards Nov. 18 at Premiere Cinertainment theater.

With social distancing guidelines in place, the chamber honored multiple businesses from different categories, as well as awards honoring various residents.

Executive director of the Chamber of Commerce, Urainah Glidewell, said that the awards are special because it is a peer-based award that shows respect for other businesses and citizens.

“It really is a community-based award,” Glidewell said. “It is businesses recognizing other businesses.”

Winners and other contestants include:

Small Business

Winner: Main Street Drugs and Gift Shop ; Runners-up: Monkey Bizness, Ron Partain’s World of Music

Medium Business

Winner: Fat Man’s BBQ ; Runners-up: Express Oil Change, Woods Surfside Marina

Large Business

Winner: Chick Fil A Pell City ; Runners-up: Fresh Value, Metro Bank

Professional Business

Winner: Caran Wilbanks-ERA King ; Runners-up: Pell City Animal Hospital, Pell City Internal Family Medicine

Industry

Winner: Ford Meter Box Co. Inc. ; Runners-up: Hargray Communications, Tradesman Company LLC

Non-Profit Organization

Winner: Lakeside Hospice ; Runners-up: ASPCI, St. Clair Association of Realtors

Citizen of the Year

Winner: Lyle Harmon ; Runner-up: James McGowan

Policeman of the Year

Winner: Jessie Burgos

Fireman of the Year

Winner: Alan Rickles

The event, which has handed out awards for three years, had to change venues to accommodate social distancing guidelines caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Despite the virus, Glidewell said the event went very well.

“This year we had to limit our attendance. Last year we had over 200 attendees,” Glidewell said. “We are thankful for the cinema. I thought the event went real well.”