Photo by Eric Ayres Faygo's Street Corn was the big winner following Wednesday night's Show of Hands at the Wheeling Artisan Center. Wheeling Heritage presented them with a check for $5,615.51, which is expected to help the gourmet street corn business to become more mobile and vend at more events. From left are founder Alfaygo Nightengale, Kiana Mitchell and RayKwon Mitchell.

WHEELING – It was an “a-maize-ing” night in Wheeling as four growing small businesses competed in Wednesday’s Show of Hands for a chance to take home a healthy chunk of cash to help propel their venture to the next level.

Of the four worthy contenders, the majority of the crowd on hand on the third floor of the Wheeling Artisan Center threw its support behind Faygo’s Street Corn, which took home a grand total of $5,615.51 to help take their business on the road – literally.

“This is our 40th Show of Hands,” said Riley Carpenter, director of programming at Wheeling Heritage. “Over the years – this is our 12th season. It’s not only a great milestone to mark 40 events, but also that we’ve given out $164,599 over those 12 years. And that’s all thanks to all of you – our community members who come together each time to celebrate small business, to hear about the amazing things that are going on in Wheeling and by supporting them.”

This Show of Hands event’s finalists included Feminine & Flourishing, presented by Dr. Ashley Martinez; Wheeling Feeling Nutrition, presented by Shawna Larese; Faygo’s Street Corn, presented by Alfaygo Nightengale; and Little Sprinkles Bakery, presented by Abby Black.

The Wheeling Area Chamber of Commerce provided each of the four small business finalists in Wednesday night’s Show of Hands a complimentary first-year membership.

During Show of Hands events, each participating business is highlighted through a brief promotional video package about the business that is shown to the crowd. They are then given the opportunity to pitch the business live in front of the crowd and explain how the funds can help the venture grow for four minutes before answering questions from the audience.

Ballots are sold at the door for $5 each, and following the presentations, audience members submit secret ballots with their choice for the winner. The video packages also are available online to view in advance in the days leading up to the event, and the community can vote online if unable to attend. Sponsors also provide support for the event.

Nightengale said the Show of Hands winnings will go toward taking Faygo’s Street Corn beyond a pop-up presence in Wheeling and truly getting things on the road.

“When you’re mobile, you can go throughout the state,” he said. “With a pop-up tent, you kind of have to stay in the community.”

The winnings will go toward the purchase of a pull-behind unit or mobile food truck that will allow them to go to locations throughout the city and beyond, Nightengale said.

A family business, Faygo’s Street Corn – like the other food vendors in the competition – offered samples to those in attendance Wednesday night at the Show of Hands event. Nightengale, his sister, Kiana Mitchell, and nephew, RayKwon Mitchell, represented the business during the successful pitch.

“I’ve been selling it for four years now,” Nightengale said, noting that he always gives a shoutout to Hangover BBQ, which inspired his venture into street corn. Hangover BBQ offered it for a limited time as one of its specialty menu items, and Nightengale said he loved it. But it wasn’t always available there. It motivated him to start trying to make his own at home, and eventually his experimentation evolved into a street corn pop-up that became wildly popular.

Faygo’s Street Corn specialty is corn on the cob with style, deliciousness and street cred. The homemade flavor that harmonizes with the sweet corn delivers notes of cilantro, cheddar cheese, garlic, butter, and hot or mild seasoning.

“We use fresh ingredients, and it’s the best street corn in the valley,” Nightengale said. “The best, cheesiest, garlic-seasoned corn you can have.”

Currently, Faygo’s Street Corn has secured a regular location on Main Street in North Wheeling. They also appear at special events, and patrons are encouraged to follow them on social media for upcoming public pop-up appearances.

The small business is also available for cookouts, family gatherings, sporting events, graduations, parties, catered events, advanced orders and more, and they’re working hard to meet the growing demand, Nightengale said.

“We’re from Wheeling, W.Va.,” he noted. “Our community is important to us, because the city has supported us from the very beginning.”

All the hard work that has taken them this far is only the beginning, Nightengale added.

“We want to continue to be a part of our city’s growth and revitalization,” he said. “Seeing our community come back to life and watching local businesses thrive is something that we truly want to be part of. This is our home, and we want Faygo’s Street Corn to be a business that people in our city can continue to support, enjoy and be proud of.”