Port restaurant to be lauded for expansion during difficult economy

Port Washington Chamber of Commerce President Barb Beattie said the business group’s executive board had no problem finding worthy recipients for its 2010 awards.

“Every year, there is the fear that we’ll never be able to top the previous year’s winners. After we reviewed this year’s nominees, we found we had more names than we had awards,” Beattie said.

Highlighting this year’s list of winners is Dockside Deli, 218 E. Main St., which was selected as Business of the Year.

“That choice was relatively easy because Dockside Deli was one of the few businesses that added on during this economy. Now, they have a beautiful deli,” Beattie said.

In spring of 2009, the restaurant completed an expansion that doubled the size of its delicatessen and tripled the room available for seating.

In addition to indoor tables for more than 40 people, the shop offers about two dozen outdoor tables on a harbor-side deck overlooking Lake Michigan.

Deli owner Mary Ann Voigt said the expansion has done wonders for her business.

“I have found that the restaurant has become a real destination since we expanded, which benefits all of the downtown businesses,” Voigt said.

Voigt also serves on the Main Street Promotions Committee. Her restaurant hosted the Soup Bowl Project last year, raising money for the art program
at Port Washington High School.

The city’s lakefront location also played a prominent role in the City Beautification Award, which will be presented to the Port Washington Marina.

The city-owned marina underwent a significant upgrade during the last year, when new floating piers were installed. The piers are commonplace in most modern marinas and address the recurring problem of low water levels on the lake.

Beattie said the award also recognizes the facility for being one of the state’s first recipients of the Clean Marina certification.

That designation recognizes efforts by the city to operate the marina in an environmentally friendly manner.

“We felt it was appropriate to give this award to the marina because it is such a large part of what draws people to Port and tourism is one of our major businesses,” Beattie said.

The focus remained on the city when the Chamber selected the Port Washington Police Department for its Special Recognition Award.

“That award was driven by the department receiving accreditation this summer from the Wisconsin Law Enforcement Accreditation Governing Board,” Beattie said.

It took more than four years to document that the department meets 238 professional standards outlined in the accreditation process.

Virtually every aspect of police operations and administration was covered. To meet the standards, the department reviewed and rewrote its policy manual with input from virtually every member of the department, from the administrative staff to officers to support staff members.

Beattie said the Chamber passed on naming a citizen of the year so it could single out the contributions of two longtime community volunteers.

Distinguished Service Awards are being presented to Christine King and Doug Winquist.

“We could easily have named them Citizens of the Year, but these award really recognize the long-term commitment both Chris and Doug have made to the community. They represent the kind of involvement a Chamber depends on to succeed,” she said.

King, who works at M&I Bank in Saukville, has been a Chamber officer for 15 years, and has served as president, vice president and secretary.

For 10 years, she organized the Chamber’s Christmas parade and served on the group’s Wine Tasting Committee for the past three years.

In addition, King is treasurer of Port Fish Day and Possibility Playground, and has been coaching volleyball at Port Catholic School for eight years.

Winquist, now with WaterStone Bank, has an equally full plate when it comes to  community involvement.

He has been a Chamber member since 1979, and held virtually every executive position. Winquist is currently the group’s  treasurer.

He has been a board member for Port Fish Day since 1984, is a captain with the Port Washington Police Reserves and was previously involved with
the Port Washington-Saukville Jaycees and Boy Scouts.

In addition, Winquist serves on the Town of Fredonia Plan Commission and Zoning Board of Appeals.

The Chamber awards program will be Wednesday, Nov. 17, at Memories Ballroom, 1077 Lake Dr., Town of Port Washington. The evening will start with a social hour at 5:15 p.m. and dinner at 6:15 p.m.

Tickets are $35 per person.

Reservations are due Thursday, Nov. 4. Call the Chamber office at 284-0900 for details.

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