Courtesy photo
2011 "Spirit of Beverly Main Streets" Award Winners - Rich Marino (Chianti Restaurant & Jazz Lounge), Victoria Farnsworth (Marino's Cafe), John Mahoney (Atomic Cafe) and BMS Co-Presidents Mary Grant and Miranda Gooding.
Beverly Main Streets announced the 2011 Spirit of Beverly Main Streets award winners. Each year Main Streets’ board of directors nominates businesses or organizations that exemplify the spirit of Beverly Main Streets by working to make downtown Beverly a great place to live, work, create, invest and experience.
The winners are Atomic Café (265 Cabot St.), Chianti Restaurant and Jazz Lounge (285 Cabot St.) and Marino's Café (200 Rantoul St.), which all received a downtown light pole banner with their business name on it for one year.
“This year, we had many nominees and we selected eight finalists who are each, in their own unique ways, making downtown better,” a Main Streets press release said.
Atomic Cafe was nominated because they were rated the No.1 destination in downtown Beverly by the 500-plus college students who took our spring survey about downtown.
“They bring new customers downtown that represent different target markets with students, professionals, moms with strollers and neighbors catching up with each other,” the press release said. “They are investing in the business with façade improvements, plantings by the trees and outdoor seating and they support the Downtown 2020 vision.”
Chianti Restaurant and Jazz Lounge was nominated, “because they took a chance on downtown when they were the first upscale restaurant to open, their generosity and support of the community is a great example for other business owners, they bring new customers downtown that represent different target markets with foodies and jazz lovers, they support local artists, they are investing in the business with façade improvements and beautiful window boxes and they support the Downtown 2020 vision.”
And Marino’s Cafe was nominated, “because they have transformed their block on Rantoul Street, they are bringing new customers downtown that represent different target markets with commuters in the morning and music lovers at night, their windows always look inviting and then when you walk into the cafe, you are made to feel very welcome, and they are investing in the business with façade improvements, beautiful flowers and outdoor seating.”
The other finalists included: Centråål Cycle (237 Cabot St), Clay Dreaming Pottery Studio (186 Cabot St), Gloria Food Store (268 Cabot St), Studios at Porter Mill (95 Rantoul Street) and What's Brewin' Cafe (198 Cabot Street).
All nominees receive a framed certificate.
“These businesses go the extra mile in attracting new customers, taking pride in their properties, making customers feel welcome and offering unique experiences that we all enjoy,” the release said. “Congratulations to all!”
For more information about the 2011 "Spirit of Beverly Main Streets" Awards or about Beverly Main Streets, contact Gin Wallace at 978-922-8558 or visit www.beverlymainstreets.org.
