A downtown podiatry practice was named the 2009 Suffolk Small Business of the Year on Monday.

The 1Foot 2Foot Center for Foot and Ankle Care was named to the title by the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce. The award is given annually to recognize performance by small business ventures throughout the region. Companies are judged on their financial success, community involvement and ethical business practices, according to a press release from the city.

“We’re thrilled to be recognized by the Chamber for our hard work and innovation,” Matthew Dairman, owner of the practice, said in the press release. “We hope historic downtown Suffolk continues to grow and thrive in years to come.”

The 1Foot 2Foot center, which opened in 2006, was the first integrated foot and ankle facility in the country to include a comprehensive podiatry practice, medical spa, fashion comfort shoe store and physical therapy gym. Dairman sees more than 200 patients each week in the podiatry office alone, according to the press release. The business has since added more podiatrists and expanded into a new office in North Suffolk.

The restoration of an old former movie theater building earned 1Foot 2Foot a 2007 HRACRE Design Award, and represented more than $2.5 million capital investment.

The award will be presented to the business at the Hampton Roads Chamber of Commerce awards banquet at noon Oct. 1 at the Portsmouth Renaissance Hotel and Conference Center.