BonnerSprings.com

Tuesday was a day much like any other at Moon Marble Company, with customers perusing the aisles of marbles and toys and owner Bruce Breslow making colorful marbles for an enthusiastic audience.

One factor set this busy Tuesday apart, however. This was the day Breslow learned his business was one of the Kansas Sampler Foundation’s 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce.

Breslow said he first found out around 10:30 or 11 a.m., when he received an e-mail from Marci Penner, executive director of the Kansas Sampler Foundation, and a press release containing a list of all eight winners.

“When I first looked at the list, I didn’t see our name on there and I thought to myself, ‘That’s OK. It was an honor to be nominated,’” Breslow said. “And then I saw our name and I went, ‘Oh, we’re there.’”

Moon Marble Company was one of 24 finalists for the 8 Wonders selected by public nomination and the Kansas Sampler Foundation selection committee. Criteria to be a finalist included being open and accessible to the public as well as being highly unique.

An announcement was made by the Kansas Sampler Foundation in January as to which businesses had been nominated and then the competition was opened up for public voting, which could be done via e-mail or by mail-in paper ballot. Voting closed at midnight Tuesday, Feb. 17. Penner said all 24 businesses were a mix of big and small, but smaller businesses, like Breslow’s, seemed to do very well in the competition.

“It had to be difficult to choose between large manufacturers and small nice shops but, in the end, the public showed great affection for small retail shops,” Penner said.

She said this was because a small business owner has a much greater ability to make a connection with its public than a larger one would. Take Moon Marble, for example.

“When you go to Moon Marble, you can talk to Bruce and everyone there and when you leave, you feel like you know them,” Penner said. “I think, in this contest, that made a difference to voters.”

Penner said that 9,805 votes were cast by people throughout the United States and even in some foreign countries. While she couldn’t comment as to how many votes were cast in Moon Marble’s favor, she did say the business is getting a lot of support from the metro area.

“Even though they’re in the Kansas City area, that doesn’t mean people will vote for them,” she said. “But there’s something going on there that makes people want to support it.”

Despite the win, Breslow’s demeanor was surprisingly calm on Tuesday. He said he was a bit tired from getting ready for next week’s Marble Crazy event. Still, he expressed his excitement at being one of the 8 Wonders and, more importantly, his thanks for those who made it happen.

“The whole thing has been really nice to be recognized like this,” Breslow said. “What makes it really nice is that individuals voted for the Moon Marble Company. And I’d like to thank everybody that did vote for us and the Moon Marble Company. We thank you for the vote and support.”

The 8 Wonders of Kansas Commerce are, in alphabetical order:

• Big Brutus, West Mineral

• Brant’s Meat Market, Lucas

• Frontenac Bakery, Frontenac

• Hemslojd, Inc., Lindsborg

• MarCon Pies, Washington

• Moon Marble Company, Bonner Springs

• Stafford County Flour Mills, Hudson

• Vonada Stone Company, Sylvan Grove

The next contest, 8 Wonders of Kansas Cuisine, will begin in March.

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