Yelp and Entrepreneur Magazine today published their inaugural list of America’s top-ranked mom & pop shops. The reviews site and business magazine combined their data and editorial resources to celebrate America’s SMB economy. And the result is a list of 150 businesses across 10 categories.
Representative samples from the list include The Beer Spa, A Denver-based wellness concept that combines the arts of relaxation and beer drinking (sounds like a winner). The wide-ranging list is also exemplified by Maui Goat Yoga, a top-ranked destination for all your Yoga and goat-mingling needs.
“From beloved family-run restaurants to quaint Main Street bookstores to reliable neighborhood plumbers and trusted hairstylists, Yelp and Entrepreneur’s inaugural Favorite Mom and Pop Shops list reflects the local businesses that Yelp’s users love most,” Yelp SMB lead Emily Washcovick told us.
Locals Only
Going deeper on the list dynamics, it spans several business categories as noted. These include common SMB verticals such as event planning & services, shopping, nightlife, restaurants, food, arts & entertainment, fitness & instruction, beauty & spas, home and local services, and hotels & travel.
The list spans 50 U.S. states while top performers were Arizona and California – each hosting at least one business in each of the 10 categories. Florida and Nevada also fared well, each home to nine businesses on the list. These represent a range of traditional strongholds and Covid migration endpoints.
In terms of cities, Las Vegas took the top spot with 7 businesses among the top 150. Chicago and Phoenix came in second and third place with six and five businesses, respectively. In all the above, New York (city and state) are noticeably missing from the winner’s circle, given their culinary prowess.
As for methodology, Yelp identified independently-owned businesses with no more than four locations. It then ranked businesses using a mix of factors including reviews volume and average rating. The final list included a maximum of one business per state per category to maintain geographic diversity.
Restaurants to Roofers
Stepping back, the list also represents the range of businesses that characterize the American SMB landscape. For every hipsterific Beer Spa and Goat Yoga studio, there are a handful of meat & potatoes traditional businesses – from restaurants to roofers – that drive local economies.
“Born out of passion and an entrepreneurial spirit, these businesses shape local communities now and into the future through their unique dishes and products, memorable service, and one-of-a-kind experiences,” said Washcovick.
See the full list in the Entrepreneur magazine article.
