Thomasville chamber presents annual small business awards
Jimmy and Jean Todd of Todd’s Seafood are congratulated by Keith Tobin (center), president of the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce. Todd’s Seafood was named the 2021 Small Business of the Year. {Contributed photo}
The Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce recently named Todd’s Seafood as the 2021 Small Business of the Year and recognized Annalisa Di Puorto of Elizabeth’s Pizza (West Main) as an Emerging Entrepreneur.
The awards were presented at an annual ceremony at Bull City Ciderworks held in conjunction with the Lexington and North Davidson area chambers of commerce and the Davidson-Davie Community College Small Business Center.
Keith Tobin, president of the chamber, said Todd’s Seafood, owned by Jimmy and Jean Todd, has been in business 63 years. The market, located at 624 National Highway, sells a wide variety of fish and shellfish to both retail and wholesale customers.
“They are one of the oldest businesses in Thomasville but it’s more than that — it’s the service they provide,” he said. “During the pandemic, they helped keep a lot of restaurants open — both local and those they supply within a 250-mile radius. They provide a service second to none.
“And they’re just great community people,” Tobin added, noting the business supports nonprofits in town. “They step up and help folks out. They do a lot of things behind the scenes.”
Jimmy Todd said he started working in the third-generation family business when he was 16. His parents, the late Curtis and Theola Todd, moved from Columbus County, near Ocean Isle, to start the seafood market in 1958 in a small store on National Highway. Jimmy took over the business in the early 1960s and greatly expanded it by getting into the wholesale business and moving to a larger building a half mile from the original market. He was later joined by Jean when she retired from teaching school. Their son, Brantley Todd, also works in the business.
While 85 to 90 percent of their business is wholesale, primarily to restaurants but also some grocery stores, Jimmy said the retail store has a loyal following of regular customers.
“We get the children and grandchildren of repeat customers,” he shared. “Our motto is ‘We’re small enough to know you but large enough to serve you.’”
Tobin said Di Puorto was named Emerging Entrepreneur for her work to improve and enhance the restaurant at 106 W. Main St. she and her husband, Luca Gialone, purchased in 2018 from her uncle, Nunzio Di Puorto. Her other uncle, Aldo Di Puorto, founded the Elizabeth’s Pizza chain in 1987 and still operates three others — one near Walmart in Thomasville and one each in Lexington and Denton.
Annalisa Di Porto (center) was recently named Emerging Entrepreneur by the Thomasville Area Chamber of Commerce. She is flanked by Heather Warren (left), chamber office manager, and Keith Tobin, chamber president. {Contributed photo}
“She’s only been in this country seven years and didn’t speak English at first,” Tobin said of the native of Naples, Italy. “But she has taken that location to the next level. They have great customer service and she has a good relationship with the community.”
Di Puorto began working with family in the U.S. at the Denton location of Elizabeth’s Pizza. She said her uncle Nunzio was trying to retire so they decided to purchase the Thomasville restaurant from him. “We’re very proud to keep it in the family.”
Since they have taken over the restaurant, they have added a few more appetizers, more pizza options and weekend specials that are not on the regular menu. Those specials include a chicken pesto pasta, veal parmigiana and spaghetti with clams, mussels and shrimp.
The restauranteur said they have a lot of regular customers and have enjoyed good community support, even when they could only offer takeout in the early days of the pandemic. “So, we try to be helpful and involved in the community.”
