When Art Potash received a call from the Illinois Retail Merchants Association informing him that his business, Potash Markets, was chosen as 2011 Illinois Retailer of the Year, he was caught off guard.

“We were quite surprised, but we’re soaking it up big time,” said Potash, whose family has owned and operated the business since 1950.

My heartiest congratulations to Potash and family, who were on hand to receive the big honor last week at the 2011 Illinois Retailer of the Year luncheon at the Palmer House Hilton. The annual award is given to a retailer not only successful in business, but also committed to community and civic affairs and respected in the industry.

For those of you who’ve never had the pleasure of stepping into a Potash Market, they’re full-service grocery stores filled with loads of goodies. They’ve got three locations, 875 N. State St., 1525 N. Clark St. and in the John Hancock Center.

Siblings Dave, Melvin, Marian and the late Herbert Potash opened the first store 61 years ago, and amazingly, the three surviving siblings still work in the company, while Mel’s son, Art, serves as CEO.

Seems Mel received a few awards throughout the years, and managers have been finalists for honors, and Art has had some charitable recognition in the past. But this is one accolade the grocer is eating up.

“We’ve never seen an honor like this,” an elated Potash said. “It’s very exciting. We’re thrilled about it.

“We go about our business day-to-day not thinking about awards,” said Potash, who serves on the board of directors at the Food Marketing Institute. “But the recognition is nice. This is big, special.”

Seems it’s also well-deserved. That’s because Potash Markets donate to fundraisers as well as local churches and schools, and they’ve even created memento books for the families of newborn babies. They’ve also helped employees, and have folks who’ve worked there 30, 40 and even 50 years.

I remember a story told to me a few years back by a decades-long Potash customer, who not-so- happily was moving from her longtime Near North Side rowhouse to a building for seniors. She received a beautiful bouquet of flowers from Potash Markets at her new place.

Also, very important is that earlier this year, Art Potash participated in a press conference for Sen. Dick Durbin’s Swipe Fee amendment for credit card reform, which made a difference for retailers of all sizes across the country.

“Potash is one of those special companies that does everything the right way,” said Peter Gill, spokesman for the Illinois Retail Merchants Association. “We chose them because they treat their customers the right way and they’re always willing to respond to their community’s needs. We also chose them because of their willingness to get involved in Sen. Dick Durbin’s Swipe Fees amendment. Art and his family are never afraid to get involved in issues important to the industry.”

Potash said his secret for a long, successful business is surrounding himself with good people such as employees, vendors, consultants, etc.

“It’s a team effort,” he said. “It’s everybody that contributes, and we’re especially proud of that. Between us, we’re doing something right.”

Rabbit soup … Anyone catch Lincoln Parker Randy Steinmeyer getting killed off on Monday night’s “The Playboy Club” pilot? Steinmeyer (who would love to turn the Finkl Steel property into a TV studio) said playing Bruno Bianchi in “kind of a violent” scene was “huge fun, great fun,” even if he did take a stiletto to the carotid artery and drop dead in the first show.

FYI … Three new directors elected Sept. 15 to the Old Town Triangle Association board are the same trio elected Aug. 5: Alan Lougee, Rick Hyer and David Pfendler.