The Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce announced the recipients of the Chamber’s 2018 Citizen of the Year Award and Outstanding Business and Beautification Awards.
The awards will be presented at the Chamber’s dinner Tuesday, Nov. 13, at the Flanders Hotel, 719 E. 11th Street in Ocean City.
This year, the Citizen of the Year Award will be presented to Jon and Patty Talese. The Talese Family is a longtime Ocean City family that has given back to the community for generations.
Jon and Patty are the owners of Jon & Patty’s Coffee Bar and Bistro, located at 637 Asbury Ave. They are currently celebrating their 10th year in business.
The entire Talese family works in the Jon & Patty’s business, according to Ocean City Chamber Marketing Director Shawnda McGinnis.
They opened in 2008 and were the recipient of Outstanding New Business. In 2016, they renovated their building, adding a second story dining room, earning them Outstanding Business Renovation. They continually invest in the Ocean City community.
The Taleses actively participate in and donate to many community events. Each year they donate coffee to the “Earlier Than The Bird” event to help promote the “Shop Local” initiative in the downtown.
They offer “Thanksgiving Dinner” on Thursdays and donate 10 percent of the proceeds to the food cupboard. They support the local schools through “Friday Night Bites,” a promotion offering discounts for Ocean City School District Red Raider fans before the games. Jon and Patty can be seen supporting events and are involved in just about everything in Ocean City, according to the Chamber.
In addition to raising their family and running their business in Ocean City, they have served on many boards and organizations in town, including the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce, Ocean City Tourism Development Commission, Business and Neighborhood Development and Downtown Merchants Association.
The Talese family employs many Ocean City residents year round. Their lives and their business are tied closely together.
“Our biggest blessing is our employee family at Jon & Patty’s. We are so grateful to share our working lives with all of our employees and count our good fortune to have them with us so faithfully,” Jon Talese said.
Jon and Patty live in Ocean City and have four children: Alex, Joseph, Sophia, and Jon Jon. Alex and Joseph opened the business with them and have been there every day for 10 years.
As Sophia and Jon Jon came of age, they joined them as well. Alex, 30, and Joseph, 26, are both managers at Jon & Patty’s. Sophia, 20, is a junior at University of San Diego and Jon Jon, 18, is a freshman at the University of Florida.
The Business Renovation/Improvement Award, an award that is granted to a business that has taken an existing building and made physical and internal renovations to significantly improve its condition, will be presented to Bungalow Bowls, 13th Street Bathhouse, Jilly’s Candy Factory, Chatterbox, and Spotted Whale.
LaScala Pizza and Sand + Stitch will be awarded the Outstanding Landscaping/Signage Award for their new signage.
Nauti Donuts and Bennie’s Bread will receive the Business New Construction Award.
The Outstanding New Business Award will be presented to Beachin’ Bakery, Coastal Consign and Design, Dockside Kitchen, Farm Stand at 14th St, and Totally Tubular Aqua Park and Salt Works Studio.
Chamber Service Award will be given to Phil Perri. Perri has served on the Chamber Board of Directors for many years representing the Forum Motor Inn. He served as president of the Chamber in 1992 and 1993.
This year’s Outstanding Civic, Community, Non-Profit Organization Award will be presented to Ocean City Colony Club
SNJ Today and Ocean City Coffee Company will receive the Outstanding Use of Technology Award.
The Outstanding Service to the Community Award will be presented to Jennifer Bowman and Kookie Kids.
Special Awards will be presented for milestone anniversaries. These businesses include:
10th Anniversary – Jon & Patty’s Coffee Bar & Bistro
20th Anniversary – Goldcoast Sotheby’s
25th Anniversary – Johnny B Goode Ice Cream Parlor
30th Anniversary – Mallon’s Homemade Sticky Buns
45th Anniversary – Osborne’s Inn
50th Anniversary – Oves
50th Anniversary – Sea Gull Shop
90th Anniversary – Bob’s Grill
90th Anniversary – Ocean City Pops Orchestra
95th Anniversary – The Flanders Hotel
115th Anniversary – Shoemaker Lumber Company
325th Anniversary – Cape May County
For dinner reservations, $55 per person, or to congratulate the winners in the 2018 Program Book, call the Ocean City Regional Chamber of Commerce office at (609) 399-1412 or email info@oceancitychamber.com.
