The people have spoken, the results are in, and the 2024 recipients of the Best of Bellevue awards have been announced.
A complete list of winners and contest rules is posted on the Best of Bellevue website.
More than twenty businesses, organizations, and individuals were voted “Best of” this year for the first time, including Five Guys, Penn Station East Coast Subs, The Alley, Big Pine Decks, Happy Buddha’s Restaurant, Bailey Demolition, Absolute Sports Nutrition, Auto World, AutoZone, and Bellevue Family Eyecare.
New categories to vote in this year included Best Deck Builder (Big Pine Decks) and Best Home Restoration (Bailey Demolition). Best Restaurant was another new category added. In a city known for amazing, award-winning places to eat, Best of Bellevue recognized the Top 6, based on write-in votes from the community. The six restaurants receiving the most votes were:
- Stella’s Bar & Grill
- Luigi’s Italian Restaurant
- For the Love of Food Café
- Roma Italian Restaurant
- The Special Restaurant
- Umami
Since the event was restructured in 2018, two Spirit of Bellevue awards are presented yearly. One award is designated the People’s Choice Award and is earned through write-in voting on the Best of Bellevue website. The second award is known as the Judge’s Award. For this award, a group of local Bellevue citizens nominate businesses and nonprofits and vote each year.
The panel of judges includes representation from various nonprofits in the community, Offutt Air Force Base, Bellevue University, the city of Bellevue, Bellevue Public Schools, Bellevue Police Department, Bellevue Parks & Rec Department, Bellevue Fire Department, and longtime community residents. Additionally, each previous recipient of the Spirit of Bellevue is invited to participate in the Judge’s Award voting.
Previous Spirit of Bellevue winners include Bellevue Public Schools, Beardmore Subaru, DJ’s Dugout, Solutions Heating & Air, Stella’s, Cake Expressions, Cornhusker Auto Wash, Chick-fil-A Bellevue, Erwin’s Jewelers, Achieve Physical Therapy, Dan’s Custom Sawmill, and B & B Classic Dogs.
The 2024 Spirit of Bellevue Awards winners are the Bellevue Chamber of Commerce and For the Love of Food Café. The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce won the Judge’s Award, while For the Love of Food Café earned the People’s Choice Award. For the Love of Food Café owners Moy and Jacklyn Salgado said, “We are shocked and thrilled to receive the Spirit of Bellevue Award. We were closed for a long time this year, and thought maybe people may forget about us. Bellevue is a special place and we want to thank everyone who voted.”
The Bellevue Chamber of Commerce is just the second Spirit of Bellevue recipient that is not a local business, following Bellevue Public School’s recognition in 2023. Diane Bruce has been heading the Bellevue Chamber for the past couple of years as President and CEO. Bruce said, “Receiving this award tells us that The Chamber is headed in the right direction. We believe in Bellevue, our businesses, the community, and our potential to be even better!”
A complete list of winners and contest rules is posted on the Best of Bellevue website.
Stella’s Bar & Grill won eight total awards, the most in 2024. They were followed by Cornhusker Auto Wash (including their Express Lube and Quick Stop buildings) (7), For the Love of Food Café (7), and DJ’s Dugout, The Special Restaurant, Roma Italian Restaurant, Canvas Salon and Day Spa, and Achieve Physical Therapy with five awards each.
Best of Bellevue voting runs through the month of August each year.
