David’s Catfish in Andalusia is a finalist for two state-wide awards.

The popular restaurant is one of four finalists in the Bama’s Best Catfish Restaurant Challenge, sponsored by the Alabama Catfish Producers, and is a one of 41 finalists for the Alabama Retail Association’s Alabama Retailer of the Year.

 

Catfish Challenge

The Catfish Challenge seeks to highlight and reward Alabama restaurants for serving tasty and nutritious U.S. farm-raised catfish, according to a press release from the Alabama Catfish Producers.

More than 150 nominations were received across the state, and David’s Catfish House owner Bill Spurlin said he was honored the restaurant made the cut.

“It’s not something I thought was even coming our way, but I’m very flattered,” said Spurlin, who has owned this David’s Catfish House location for nine years.

A team of judges will visit David’s Catfish House the first week in August, and they’ll receive a plaque as a state finalist. Judges are Alabama Agriculture and Industries Commissioner John McMillan, WSFA news anchor Judd Davis, Alabama Farmers Cooperative’s Jim Allen, and State Catfish Committee Chairman Will Pierce.

The winner of Alabama’s Best Catfish Restaurant will be announced mid-August, which is National Catfish Month. The winning restaurant will receive a trophy, a cash prize and will be featured in the Alabama Farmers Federation’s Neighbors magazine.

Other finalists are The Old Barn Restaurant in Goshen, Pat’s Perfections in Centre and The Green Leaf Grill in Mentone.

 

Retailer of the Year

“I’m just incredibly humbled to be a finalist,” Spurlin said of the retail association’s award. “We’re just showing up every day and trying to make people happy. “

He attributes the restaurant’s success in having happy customers to his employees.

“We have great people working here in Andalusia,” Spurlin said. “I am so proud of these people. My employees are the reason we’ve done well, and why I feel comfortable expanding.”

This week, the slab is being poured for a David’s Catfish House in Crestview, which should open no later than October. His neighbors are CCB Community Bank, Crestview High School and Winn Dixie.

“We purposefully didn’t go for the beach traffic there,” he said. “Our target market is Crestview residents, just like in Andalusia.”

Final selection in the Retailer of the Year award has an online voting component. To cast a ballot, visit https://alabamaretail.org/news/vote-for-your-2016-alabama-retailer-of-the-year. The link is also posted on the Andalusia Star-News’ Facebook page.

Custom Collars of Opp also is a finalist in this competition. Others are FLD Landscaping and Garden Shop, Southside; Top Hat Chimney Sweeps/Hearth and Patio Shop, Opelika; What’s Popp’N Gourmet Popcorn of Huntsville; Domke Market of Mobile; Chicken Scratch Holdings Inc., dba Zaxby’s in the Birmingham area; Super Foods Supermarkets in Evergreen, Greenville and Luverne; Ruby Ansley Interior o Mountain Brook; Ware Jewelers of Auburn, Montgomery and Spanish Fort; Scarlet and Gold, Auburn; Jim-n Nick’s Bar-B-Q, Trussville; Fuller Building and Supply, Selma; Savage’s Bakery, Homewood; Pearls of Grace Boutique and Gifts, Arab; Mayer Lighting Showroom, Birmingham, Dothan and Pelham; Anderson’s Shoes and Boots, Attala; Frios Gourmet Pops, numerous locations; Peach Park, Clanton; The Coffee Shoppe, Selma; Jalapeno’s Mexican Grill, Tuscaloosa, Northport and Cottondale; Artists Inc., Vestavia Hills; Marguerite’s Conceits, Mountain Brook; Fleet Feet Sports, Montgomery; Wrapsody, Auburn and Hoover; Southern Accents, Cullman; Smith’s Variety Toy and Gift Shoppe, Mountain Brook; Tack Jacks, Orange Beach and Gulf SHoers; Arab Lumber and Suppy, Arab; Sturdivanta Hall Museum Shop, Selma; Taco Mama, Homewood, Huntsville, Mountain Brook and Tuscaloosa; Moe’s Southwest Grill, Auburn, Birmingham, Decatur, Homewood, Hoover, Madison, Opelika and Vestavia; Unce Upon a Time, Mountain Brook and Homewood; Eagle Eye Outfitters, Dothan;

Also, Iron Tribe Fitness, Birmingham, Huntsville, Montgomery and Tuscaloosa; Metzger’s Inc., Mobile; University Kia, Huntsville; Southern Grind Coffee House, Orange Beach; Unclaimed Baggage, Scottsboro; Gadsden Outfitters and Gamecock Outfitters, Gadsden and Jackson; and Young Jewelers, Jasper.