Jonesboro, AR – JonesboroRightNow.com – The red carpet rolled out Thursday afternoon at the Embassy Suites Red Wolf Convention Center in Jonesboro as hundreds of business owners, employees, nonprofit leaders and community members celebrated the release of the 2026 Best of Northeast Arkansas winners.

The annual Best of Northeast Arkansas awards program, presented by Pak Mail Shipping and Printing and produced by Jonesboro Media Group, has grown into one of the region’s largest community-driven recognition programs. This year’s contest drew more than 3,238 nominated businesses, organizations and individuals competing across 215 categories, with more than 651,000 votes cast by residents across the region.

The winners were officially revealed at noon Friday on BestofNEA.com, followed by a six-hour celebration event in the Embassy Suites hotel lobby, where winners stopped by to pick up awards, receive copies of the freshly printed magazine, take photos for the online winners’ gallery and celebrate their recognition with customers, coworkers and friends.

“This isn’t just an awards pickup — it’s a full-on celebration of excellence across Northeast Arkansas,” organizers wrote in a message to winners before the event. “Your customers voted. Your community showed up. And now, it’s time to take a well-deserved victory lap.”

Throughout the afternoon, Jonesboro Media Group radio stations broadcast live from the event as winners arrived carrying plaques, posing for photos and sharing their appreciation for the community support that helped earn them top honors.

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For many small businesses, the Best of Northeast Arkansas contest has become more than just a title, but also a source of exposure and encouragement.

Mika Pugsley, co-owner of Lorado Smokehouse and Grill, said the contest has helped the restaurant continue to grow.

“Best of NEA for us is something we look forward to every year,” Pugsley said. “As a small business this gets the word out for us and helps us grow in a big way.”

She added that the recognition is especially meaningful because the restaurant is located outside the main commercial areas of Jonesboro.

“With Best of NEA, it helps us so much with being on the outskirts of town,” she said. “This is more than a contest for us. It’s knowing we are doing something right by seeing how many people vote for us, support us and that’s all we can ask for. In today’s world, small businesses, especially restaurants, need all the help they can get.”

Healthcare providers echoed similar sentiments about the importance of community trust and relationships.

Matt Garner, owner of Garner Family Pharmacy, said the recognition validates the pharmacy’s mission of personal care.

“We are thrilled and blessed to be recognized as the best of NEA,” Garner said. “This award is especially gratifying because our mission is to make every patient feel special, valued and not just a number. To us, this recognition means we are succeeding in that goal.”

“When patients take the time to vote for us,” he added, “it confirms their experience was positive and that we are fulfilling our role and mission as healthcare providers.”

Mallory Hurt, owner of the 501 Steakhouse, had similar comments.

“Winning Best of Northeast Arkansas for fine dining and wine selection is truly the highest honor we can receive from the voters,” Hurt said. “We appreciate our great community.”

Across social media Friday, businesses proudly shared their wins and thanked customers for voting. The official Best of Northeast Arkansas Facebook page spent the day spotlighting winners in category after category, including restaurants, retailers, healthcare providers, service companies and nonprofits. Posts congratulating winners such as Image Realty and others generated enthusiastic reactions and comments from supporters celebrating local success stories.

In the introduction to this year’s Best of Northeast Arkansas magazine, Jonesboro Media Group President and General Manager Trey Stafford and Station and Sales Manager Christie Matthews described the publication as a reflection of the pride and passion people have for their communities across Northeast Arkansas.

“This publication shines a spotlight on the small businesses, nonprofits and individuals who help make Northeast Arkansas a great place to live, work and grow,” they wrote. “The continued growth in participation speaks volumes about the pride people have in their local favorites and the strong sense of community across Northeast Arkansas.”

The annual contest has become a major marketing and visibility opportunity for businesses of all sizes, while also serving as a guide for residents looking to discover trusted local favorites, from restaurants and boutiques to medical professionals, nonprofits and entertainment venues.

The complete list of 2026 winners is available at BestofNEA.com.

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