Euclid Local Businesses Honored at Annual Taste of Euclid Chamber Event
On Thursday, March 26th over 150 local and state attendees gathered to honor several of “Euclid’s finest” area businesses, organizations and business persons at the Irish American Club on Lakeshore Blvd. for the Euclid Chamber of Commerce’s Annual “Taste of Euclid” Awards Event. Every year nominations are submitted from the community and the City of Euclid for the Euclid Chamber’s various awards for Large Business, Small Business, Organization, Business Person, Bluestone and Lifetime Achievement recognition. Each recipient received a Proclamation from the City of Euclid along with special commendations from the Ohio Secretary of State and Governor Kasich’s offices and Euclid Chamber of Commerce plaques handed out by Sarah Gyorki, Euclid Chamber President, along with Euclid Mayor Bill Cervenik, Josette Burns-Secretary of State’s office, Chamber Board members Cheryl Cameron (Chair-Action CARSTAR Auto Body), Rebecca McFarland (Euclid Public Library) and Sheila Gibbons, Executive Director, Euclid Chamber of Commerce.
The event was a community collaboration with local restaurant vendors donating a sampling of their best food for the evening with everything from delicious spring rolls from Beach Club Bistro, Jamaican Jerk and Asian Coconut Chicken from The Manor, roast beef and bangers from Koumbaros, Italian and pasta dishes from Mama Catena’s, Tizzanos, Paragon/The Standard and Rascal House to specialties from fRedHot, Muldoon’s and Grovewood Tavern and desserts from Dave’s Market! The evening even included a new Euclid Signature drink called the “Bluestone Fizz”!
This year’s recipients were truly representative of the good works happening in the Euclid area. The first award went to Chesterfield Steel for Large Business of the Year. Family owned and operated for over 50 years, Chesterfield Steel has grown from a one bay operation to their current flagship plant strategically located off East 222nd. Their mission of providing quality steel products and service to their customers has allowed them to set industry standards per President, Allan Maggied, as well as providing a work environment that fosters genuine employee interest and commitment to the principles of excellence.
Small Business of the Year recipient, Dr. Andrew Brobbey and staff were recognized for having provided care to area patients for over 15 years and working to improve patient outcomes through better wellness education and diligently working for quality care in conjunction with Euclid Hospital. Dr. Brobbey’s Euclid-based practice on Lakeland Avenue also includes access to a dietitian, a personal trainer and a gym membership among its benefits. As Dr. Brobbey says, "Doctors must educate their patients for better health."
Selected for Organization of the Year, The Irish American Club (and host for the evening) was chosen as representative of a truly family-centered club where anyone and everyone is welcome! Having temporary locations over the years since 1978, the Club ultimately settled and renovated the old Furniture Land building off Lakeshore Blvd. in 1982 and has been providing a local venue for the promotion of the Irish heritage and sponsoring social, cultural, educational and athletic programs for its member ever since.
Greg Jurcisin, owner of Beach Club Bistro on Lakeshore Boulevard, was named Business Person of the Year. His original investment and recent renovations of his restaurant makes him one of the anchor businesses in downtown Euclid as well as having the distinction of being the first fine dining establishment along the lake. Greg had the courage to make the investment in his restaurant and has stuck with a success-driven business model. His innovative approach provides meals that are vegan friendly, with Happy Hours, free Wi-Fi, outdoor seating, and private dining for business groups and more.
The next award handed out was a very special one. The Euclid Chamber’s Lifetime Achievement Award is not given out every year. Kathy began working for the City of Euclid in 1985 as a Recreation Supervisor. From her first days with the Parks and Recreation Department she worked her way up. For this, she is very grateful because more often than not, a person might move from city to city within a department, but Kathy was able to focus her entire 30 year career within Euclid starting on Lake Erie (at the Henn Mansion where Parks and Recreation commission was originally located) and ending her career on Lake Erie at the Senior Center managing and working with area residents while putting a smile on the faces of the seniors that meant the world to her. Kathy said that “work was never an effort” because of the co-workers and public that she served. She just loved going to work every day!
Annual Bluestone Awards were awarded to Kollander World Travel, Dave’s Market, the City of Euclid Community Policing and the City of Euclid Finance Department. The Bluestone award recognizes local businesses and/or organizations/departments that have been constant supporters or contributed to the betterment of Euclid and its residents. Kollander World Travel and Dave’s Market, having both started in Cleveland during the Depression Era, have remained committed to serving the community and continue to offer excellent services to their customers. Dave's, owned by the Saltzman family, is the only retail food store to invest significantly in Cleveland in recent years and the Euclid location remains an anchor in the center of town.
Community Policing was organized in Euclid about 15 years ago with a six officer Bike Patrol but has since grown to include such programs as Coffee with a Cop, Lunch with a Cop in Euclid’s preschools, and a skills building course with local youth to name a few. The community policing unit's numbers have fluctuated over the years, but it's truly the heart and attitude of those in this unit that make them great. Officers and citizens working together to make Euclid a better place for all has and will remain their focus.
Concluding the evening, for good stewardship of the city’s finances and earning the Auditor of State Award with Distinction by the Ohio Auditor of State Dave Yost’s office (which less than 5% of cities in Ohio earn) the City of Euclid’s Finance Department was awarded the final Bluestone Award.
Cheryl Cameron
I am the Marketing Manager for three auto body shops in Northeast Ohio, one of which is in Euclid on St. Clair Avenue. Action CARSTAR Auto Body, owned and operated by the Perrino Family, is a member of the Euclid Chamber and has served the Euclid community for over 30 years.