By Olivia Anderson | oanderson@alextimes.com

The Del Ray Business Association presented the 2022 Heart of Del Ray Award to Lena’s Wood-Fired Pizza & Tap on Feb. 11.

The annual award, which is voted on by community members, goes to a local business that represents “the heart and soul of Del Ray,” according to a news release from DRBA. Lena’s, which opened in 2015, is owned and operated by Jason and Loren Yates.

According to the news release, patrons cited Lena’s “thoughtful” dining experiences throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. For example, the restaurant created an outdoor dining experience that changed with the seasons, so that customers could comfortably dine in without the concerns associated with indoor dining. More than 1,000 community members participated in online voting, according to the release.

Some past winners of the award include A Show of Hands, Jen Walker of McEnearney Associates, Bobi Bomar Homes of Alexandria and Del Ray Pizzeria.