Chamber MC Donnie Hayes, left, claps as Chamber of Commerce Board of Director Vice President Dave Kensinger, middle, hands Hammer and Wikan True Value Hardware Store Manager Lee Carrao a plaque for receiving business of the year at the chamber's Annual Banquet on Saturday.

The store was nominated by local businesses in Petersburg.

"I just want to say thank you very much on behalf of Hammer and Wikan, and the employees. It really is our employees that make it happen day in and day out. You know, what a great group they are. And we appreciate your patronage, we appreciate your support and I know that you all have made it very clear that you appreciate the job that our team does in delivering service to Petersburg day in and day out," Carrao said.

Hammer and Wikan was also honored as one of the top 13 hardware stores in the nation for 2014. True Value has 4,500 independent stores across the nation, and it's the first time a store in Alaska has been chosen. Board of Directors President Bud Samuelson and General Manager and CEO Larry Martin were presented with the award at a presentation held in Dallas, Texas this month.

"I was extremely surprised and very pleased with the honor," Martin said. "We have a work crew that puts a lot into what they do. I didn't do it. Bud didn't do it. It's our crew that got us there. It was very definitely a team effort."