There are many wonderful businesses around Ottawa County, a long list that continues to grow each year. For them to succeed over the years, they have to strive to be the best of the best among their peers.
That is the reason for The Beacon’s 6th annual Best of the Best Awards, which accepted votes for everything from the best burger or cup of coffee to the best festival, financial institution or boat dealer.
The Beacon needed one of its Best of the Best award winners to step up to the plate just to make the event a reality this year.
Because of a scheduling mixup, the original location for the awards had to be changed at the last minute. Publisher John Schaffner knew who he had to call first.
Quinton and Donna Smith, the new owners of Mon Ami Restaurant and Historical Winery did not think twice.
“We were delighted to make Mon Ami available for the Best of the Best Awards,” said Quinton Smith. “It was exciting to be able to introduce the community to the new Mon Ami, to let everyone see the changes we’re making with lots of help from General Manager Sarah Daeger.”
The Smiths are making waves on the Catawba Peninsula, where they created the popular Twin Oast Brewery that is nestled on their 60-acre orchard.
“Our beer is crafted with creativity and love. It is brewed with inspiration from our location, feeding our Farm-to-Fermenter mission,” said Smith.
Only four award winners have a perfect track record in the Best of the Best Awards, winning every year in the six-year history of the awards. Ala Carte Cafe won again for the best breakfast; Trish McCartney of State Farm Insurance was voted best insurance agent; Main Street Port Clinton and the Port Clinton Chamber of Commerce waltzed off with the best festival for its Walleye Festival, and Toft’s Dairy in Port Clinton had the best local treat.
Five-time award winners were: Slater’s Madison Street Pub (best burger); Salon 53 (best hair salon); Alex Morgan Johnson (best real estate agent); East Harbor State Park (best campground); The Bait House (best live music venue); Huntington Bank (best financial institution)Brand’s Marina (best marina); and, of course, Mon Ami Restaurant and Historic Winery (best winery).
Rose Lucas Haninger took home five Best of the Best Awards for best area lodging (Misty Rose Retreat); best community-minded individual; best specialty retail shop and best business with customer service (Madame Rosie’s Boutique); and best local artist.
“All of us at The Beacon would like to thank everyone for the sell-out crowd that supported our Best of the Best Awards,” said Schaffner. “It made for an entertaining evening, a great time to socialize with our business neighbors and the chance to enjoy some great food and fine wines.”
Best of the Best Winners
Best Landscape/Greenhouse
1st Barnes
2nd Otto and Urban
3rd TNT
Best Boat Service/Dealer
1st Happy Days
2nd Brands
3rd Abby Ramsey
Best Auto Service/Dealer
1st Next Generation
2nd Baumanns
3rd PC Auto Repair/Muffler Smiths
Best Hair Salon
1st Salon 53
2nd Island Oasis
3rd Hair Quarters
Best Home Services/Maintenance
1st Realty Star
2nd Coppeler Heating
3rd TIE between Bell Heating & Dave the Handy Man
Best Pet Services
1st Catawba Vets and Harborview
2nd Treva’s
3rd Humane Society
Best Campground
1st East Harbor State Park
2nd Cedarlane RV Park
3rd Tall Timbers
Best Historical Attraction
1st Marblehead Lighthouse
2nd Perry’s Monument
3rd Port Clinton Lighthouse
Best Tackle/Fishing/Bait Store
1st Fisherman’s Wharf
2nd Bays Edge
3rd Hi-Way Bait and Tackle
Best Charter Services
1st Boytims
2nd Tibbels
3rd Pooh Bear
Best Marina
1st Brands
2nd Drawbridge Marina
3rd Catawba Moorings
Best Spa/Wellness
1st Salon
2nd House of Healing
3rd Island Oasis
Best Specialty Retail Shop
1st Madame Rose’s Boutique
2nd Northern Exposure
3rd Lily and Gerts
Best Real Estate Agent
1st Alex Morgan Johnson
2nd TIE between Jaime Knight & Tomi Johnson
3rd Steve Pitzer
Best Insurance Agent
1st Trish McCartney
2nd Matt Montowski
3rd Rick Nemecek
Best Bank/Financial Services
1st Huntington Bank
2nd Marblehead Bank
3rd Croghgan Bank
Best Non-Profit
1st Bistro 163
2nd Portage Resale
3rd Salvation Army
Best Area Lodging
1st Misty Rose Retreat
2nd Holiday Inn
3rd Red Fern Inn
Best Festival/Event
1st Walleye Festival
2nd Halupki Festival
3rd Quinstock Festival
Best Water Attraction/Beach
1st East Harbor State Park
2nd Monsoon Lagoon
3rd Bay Point Resort and Marina
Best Community Minded Individual
1st Rose Lucas Henninger
2nd Mike Snyder
3rd Mark Coppeler
Best Local Treat
1st Toft’s
2nd Brown’s Dairy Dock
3rd Dairy at the Dock
Best Winery
1st Mon Ami
2nd Red Fern/Rocky Point
3rd Heinemann’s Winery
Best Coffee
1st Coffee Express
2nd R Coffee Corner
3rd Victory
Best Breakfast
1st Ala Carte
2nd Big Bopper
3rd Marblehead Galley
Best Bartender
1st Cheri Andrews
2nd Teddy Wybensinger
3rd Dick Below
Best Business with Customer Service
1st Madame Rosies
2nd Friendship
3rd Bassett’s
Best Live Music Venue
1st Baithouse
2nd The Listening Room
3rd Twin Oast
Best New Business
1st Realty Star
2nd TIE between Berry Bagels & Lakelynn Design
3rd Fairfield Inn – PC
Best Local Artist
1st Rose Lucas-Haninger
2nd Matt Goodrich
3rd Baily Van Kirk
Best Band
1st The Junk
2nd The Locals
3rd Corduroy Road
Best Burger
1st Slater’s
2nd Bistro 163
3rd Marblehead Galley
Best Pizza
1st Sloopy’s
2nd Cameo/Crosswinds
3rd Bell Mell’s
Best Overall Bar
1st The Baithouse
2nd Twin Oast
3rd Jamestown
Best Overall Restaurant
1st The Orchard
2nd Ciao Bella
3rd Casa La Palms
Four Year Awards
- Best Landscaping/Greenhouse: Barnes Nursery
- Best Pet Services: Catawba Vetinary Services
- Best Water Attraction/Beach: Est Harbor State Park
- Best Non-Profit: Bistro 163
- Best Pizza: Sloopy’s
- Best Overall Restaurant: The Orchard
Five Year Awards
- Best Burger: Slater’s Maddison Street Pub
- Best Hair Salon: Salon 53
- Best Real Estate Agent: Alex Morgan Johnson
- Best Campground: East Harbor State Park
- Best Live Music Venue: Bait House
- Best Bank/Financial: Huntington Bank
- Best Marina: Brand’s Marina
- Best Winery: Mon Ami
Six Year Awards
- Best Breakfast: Ala Carte Café
- Best Insurance Agent: Trish McCartney – State Farm
- Best Local Treat: Toft’s Dairy – PC
- Best Festival/Event: Walleye Festival
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