In lieu of its traditional installation dinner known as the State of the Chamber, the Manhattan Beach Chamber of Commerce will host its inaugural “Best of Manhattan” awards dinner Thursday from 6 to 9 p.m. at the Manhattan Beach Country Club.
“The State of the Chamber didn’t highlight or help us promote the business community,” Chamber president and CEO James O’Callaghan said. “So we decided to make more of a concerted effort to bring together all the business leaders in the community and celebrate their successes from that year.”
All 230 available seats sold out weeks in advance, O’Callaghan said, at $75 per person or $675 for a table of 10.
“We were pleasantly surprised,” he said. “We were hoping for a sellout.”
The formal affair entails welcome cocktails and a dinner, culminating in an awards ceremony that will recognize the winners of seven categories: “Best of 2013” for an all-around winner; “Manhattan’s Entrepreneur of 2013”; “Full Circle Award” for best charity; “Home Sweet Home Award” for best in real estate; “Toast of the Coast Award” for best dining; “Best of the Press Award” for the favorite South Bay media outlet, and the “Manhattan Experience Award” for the best local experience, event or venue.
The winners were determined by some 2,000 votes cast online by community members, O’Callaghan said.
Nominees include the Zislis Group, Skechers, Manhattan Beach Toyota, Shorewood Realtors, Rock’n Fish, The Strand House, Fresh Brothers, Tin Roof Bistro, Fresh Brothers, M.B. Post, the Downtown Farmers’ Market and the Holiday Fireworks Festival.
O’Callaghan said “Best of Manhattan” will become an annual event.
