BJ’s Deli may have only been operating in Whyalla for three years but it’s taking great strides in the Whyalla business community.
On Friday (July 15), it was awarded the Whyalla Chamber of Commerce and Industry ‘Business of the month for May’.
BJ’s Co-Owner Brenda Bowey says it’s a proud moment she won’t forget.
“It’s absolutely huge. It’s just that verification that we are doing the right thing and we’ve got the right team to do it with because the girls make it special when they’re here. They make it a very friendly place,” Ms Bowey said.
“And just the thought we’ve actually impacted on somebody so much they’ve actually nominated us for the award (is pleasing).”
Ms Bowey, who owns the business with her partner Ian Morrison, was born in Port Augusta and owned a cafe in Leigh Creek for 10 years.
She’s lived in Whyalla for nine years and says she’s glad she took this business opportunity.
“To be part of a community which you are here in Whyalla, you get out what you put into it so if you come with a really positive attitude you’re going to do OK,” Ms Bowey said.
“Whyalla is a good place, there are lots of good people here.”
The award is customer driven as community members nominate a business online and Whyalla Chamber of Commerce and Industry Business President Ron Hay says BJ’s Deli is a deserving winner.
“It’s all about the fact that when you walk into an environment, everything is very friendly, they have good customer service in terms of how they talk to people and how they greet people,” Mr Hay said.
Mr Hay applauds BJ’s Deli for being efficient in all areas of their business.
“The have a large clientele and they focus on the individual even though they do have a large clientele, which really makes certain they do provide that good service,” Mr Hay said.
“The environment is fairly-well laid out and also there’s a wide range of products that people can identify and it makes life easy when they go in there.”
Ms Bowey says the award brings a great chance for BJ’s Deli to promote itself.
“It can only be positive because we only work on positive here. People accessing that website is a positive for the store as well,” Ms Bowey said.
If you’d like to nominate a Whyalla business, you can fill out a nomination here.