DV8 Kitchen & Bakery Named Commerce Lexington's 2025 Small Business of the Year at Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon

During today’s Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon presented by Forcht Bank, DV8 Kitchen & Bakery was named the 2025 Small Business of the Year. (Left to right) Drew Amman (WLEX-TV), local artist Wyman Rice, Larry Forester (Forcht Bank), DV8 Kitchen co-owners Diane and Rob Perez, and Commerce Lexington president & CEO, Bob Quick. (Photo by Mahan Multimedia)

At today’s Commerce Lexington Salute to Small Business Awards Luncheon presented by Forcht Bank, DV8 Kitchen & Bakery was named the 2025 Small Business of the Year. Other award winners included BACK Construction (Business Success) and the Hope Center (Nonprofit Community Impact). The week-long celebration featured Facebook Live segments at each award winner, a panel discussion with representatives of the award recipients, a Salute to Small Business Night at Legends Field with 250Lex, and an awards luncheon.

Opened in 2017, DV8 Kitchen is a social enterprise giving second chance employment opportunities to people in early stages of recovery. DV8 Kitchen partners with recovery homes to employ residents ready to enter the workforce. DV8 believes that everyone in recovery can find meaningful employment, while also reducing the stigma of addiction. Because many of the staff came from incarceration, DV8 Kitchen’s Vocational Training Foundation was formed to help provide the resources they needed. After building sales and profit in the first restaurant and weathering the COVID pandemic, the second DV8 Kitchen location, as well as a wholesale bakery, opened in August 2021 on Third Street in East End.
 
DV8 Kitchen is deeply involved in the community, providing workshops open to the public focused on things like second chance employment, re-entry simulations, and Narcan training; hosting community gatherings on overdose awareness and a community run at Keeneland; and holding employee workshops where community members help educate staff on careers, life skills, personal finance and teamwork. 

Commerce Lexington recently began a tradition of partnering with local artists in the creative community to showcase their exceptional work and enhance some of our key events. This year’s custom award presented to Small Business of the Year winner DV8 Kitchen was created by ceramic artist Wyman Rice, who studied art and ceramics at University of Louisville and University of Kentucky.  His work has been featured in Joe Molinaro’s book “A Pottery Tour of Kentucky” and in various magazines. 

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Our Salute to Small Business awards program is a wonderful opportunity for us to say thank you to the risk takers, entrepreneurs, and dreamers who have turned their vision into something special that stands the test of time. This year is even more special with our city recognizing Business Month in August as part of the 250Lex celebration. We appreciate the significant impact that small businesses have on our community and region.”   - Bob Quick, Commerce Lexington, President & CEO