Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce award ceremony, 2021. Photo by Carol Hensley. Back row: Dominic Harwood, Minuteman Press-East Dallas; Charlie Kobdish, Charlie’s Treats – Kid Made, Kid Owned; Renee Roozen, Dickey’s Barbeque Pit; Dave Folz, Jane DeNike, Lori Folz, Curiosities & Curious Garden; Michael Huscheck, Well Grounded Coffee Community; Z Zsohar, For the Love of the Lake; John Leake, Flatbread Co.; Front Row: Kyle Flowers, Mariano’s Hacienda; Chamber Chairman Brad Grist. Not pictured: Thierry Plumettaz, Le Caveau Vinotheque.
The Greater East Dallas Chamber of Commerce presented its Business of the Year awards at a recent ceremony.
Award recipients were named earlier this year, but the event to recognize them wasn’t held until Dec. 9 at Lakehill Preparatory School.
Dickey’s Barbecue Pit took home the Business of the Year award. Founded in 1941 by Travis Dickey, the original location is still open on Central Expressway and Henderson Avenue. Over time, Dickey’s Restaurant brands have expanded to more than 550 locations across the world, and the company is even known for a technological innovation, a proprietary data software called Smokestack.
In addition, Dickey’s supports first responders through The Dickey Foundation.
The Chairman’s Award was presented to Flatbread Co. This wood-fired pizza restaurant, which opened march 2020 on Lowest Greenville, gives back to the community through pizza donations, benefit bakes and hiring local high-school students.
Entrepreneur of the Year was given to Le Caveau Vinotheque, a small neighborhood wine shop on N. Buckner Boulevard. It was founded by Thierry Plumettaz, who has worked at the Mansion on Turtle Creek, the Ritz Carlton in Houston, the Crescent Court in Dallas and more. He has also managed the wine portfolio of Louis Roederer Champagne.
Minuteman Press East Dallas also received an Entrepreneur of the Year award. It is a locally owned franchise that provides printing and marketing services for local small businesses.
Curiosities and Curious Garden received a Live Local award. Founded by Terry Cohen and her son, Jason Cohen, the businesses are located on Abrams Road and Garland Road, respectively. Antique shop Curiosities has been open for 15 years, and it is filled with side show banners, medical devices, porcelain advertising signs, vintage cowboy apparel and more.
For The Love of The Lake was also presented with a Live Local award. This nonprofit organization has volunteers who work to support programs to preserve and enhance White Rock Lake Park. They organize the Second Saturday Shoreline Spruce Up each month. In the last year, the group has collected about 300 cubic yards of trash.
Well Grounded Coffee Community was the other recipient of a Live Local award. The coffee shop located on Garland Road hires and trains formerly incarcerated mothers. It was founded by Natalie and Michael Huscheck, a husband-wife duo who live in Casa Linda. Natalie’s brother owns White Rock Alehouse.
The R.S. Munger Business Pioneer award went to Mariano’s Hacienda. The founder, Mariano Martinez, invented the frozen margarita machine. He opened his first restaurant, Mariano’s Mexican Cuisine, in 1971, and he now owns six restaurants in North Texas employing more than 600 people.
Charlie Kobdish, a ninth-grader at Cistercian Preparatory School, was given the People’s Choice award for his business, Charlie’s Treats – Kid Made, Kid Owned. Kobdish, 14, started the company selling spiced pecans to friends and neighbors in East Dallas. But it grew, so he moved to a commercial kitchen and just last December, more than 500 pounds of pecans were made to fill corporate gift orders. Kobdish donates 5% of his profits to charities such as White Rock Center of Hope, Good Local Markets and East Lake Pet Orphanage.
