Washington Trust for Historic Preservation

Excellence on Main Award

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Kelly’s Hardware

Award: Legacy on Main

Year: 2025

City: Chelan

The Legacy on Main Award is an award that recognizes a small business that has stood the test of time and impacted generations of community members. Kelly’s Hardware has been named the 2025 Legacy on Main Award recipient not only for its longevity but for its many contributions to the community.

With roots dating back to 1925—when it was originally called Chelan Hardware and shared a building with Chelan State Bank—Kelly’s Hardware is woven into the fabric of downtown Chelan. In 1958, Wayne Kelly acquired the business, setting the stage for a remarkable family legacy that now spans three generations. Today, Kelly’s Hardware is the second oldest multi-generational business in downtown Chelan, operated by Wayne’s son, Pat Kelly, who is now mentoring his own son, Brogan, to carry the business forward. This continuity speaks not only to the strength of the Kelly family, but to their dedication to serving the needs of their community decade after decade.

More than just a hardware store, Kelly’s Hardware has become a trusted institution—a place where locals know they can find tools, parts, and trusted advice from people who know their names. For visitors, it offers a glimpse into the spirit of small-town hospitality. Its presence as a stable, enduring business has helped anchor downtown Chelan through periods of change and growth.

The Kelly family’s deep commitment to Chelan is perhaps most joyfully expressed through the Wayne Kelly Memorial Top Dog Parade, a beloved St. Patrick’s Day tradition held in honor of Pat’s late father Wayne. The parade always draws crowds, fostering connections and highlighting the best of small-town life—a reflection of the same values the Kelly family brings to their store.

“Multi-generational small businesses like Kelly’s Hardware play a critical role in sustaining vibrant downtowns. Kelly’s Hardware serves as an anchor of trust, consistency, and personal connection, all of which help build loyalty among customers and stability in the local economy,” noted Washington State Main Street Program Director Breanne Durham at the Excellence on Main ceremony. “Through three generations, the Kelly family has built more than a business—they’ve built trust, tradition, and a lasting presence that continues to shape the identity of downtown Chelan.” Durham presented the Legacy on Main Award to Pat Kelly, who was in attendance at the awards ceremony.

Excellence on Main Award

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Owens Meats

Award: Legacy on Main

Year: 2025

City: Cle Elum

The Legacy on Main Award is an award that recognizes a small business that has stood the test of time and impacted generations of community members. Owens Meats has been named the 2025 Legacy on Main Award recipient not only for its longevity but for its many contributions to the community.

For more than 130 years, Owens Meats has been serving meat to families in Cle Elum and beyond. Likely the oldest continuously operated family business in Kittitas County and perhaps one of the oldest in the state, Owens Meats was founded in 1887 to provide quality food for coal miners and their families. Founder Morgan Owens saw firsthand how hard-working families needed reliable access to meat, often extending credit during tough times. Over the decades, new needs emerged—from refrigeration and sanitation to changing consumer habits and rural economic shifts.

Each generation of the Owens family has responded to these needs by evolving the business. During the Great Depression and coal strikes, the family supported struggling customers. In the 1980s, recognizing a shift in shopping habits, Owens Meats transitioned from freezer sales to retail, making meat more accessible (not to mention, the world’s first meat vending machine). The Owens family didn’t just witness these needs—they experienced them personally. Their business decisions reflect a deep understanding of and commitment to local families, agriculture, and economic resilience, shaped by more than 130 years of listening and responding.

“Owens Meats has expanded from a local butcher to a nationally recognized brand, with increased sales, a strong retail presence, and a growing network of vending machines. Generations of families continue to shop there, showing deep trust and tradition,” noted Washington State Main Street Program Director Breanne Durham at the Excellence on Main ceremony. “Their legacy showcases that long-term success comes from adapting to change without losing sight of your roots.” Durham presented the Legacy on Main Award to Don Owens, who was in attendance at the awards ceremony.

Excellence on Main Award

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Jeannie Bayles

Award: Entrepreneur of the Year

Year: 2025

City: Ellensburg

The Entrepreneur of the Year Award is an annual award that recognizes the innovation, dedication, and entrepreneurial spirit of our state’s entrepreneurs and small businesses. Ellensburg’s Jeannie Bayles was named 2025 Entrepreneur of the Year for her hard work not only as a small business owner but in supporting her community.

After years of working in restaurants, including helping her mom open traditional Korean restaurants in Colorado, Jeannie Bayles recognized an opportunity to complement Ellensburg’s growing food scene with something uniquely her own—an experience that felt both creative and comforting, rooted in personal history and community connection.

That vision led to the opening of The Early Bird, a welcoming all-day brunch eatery that quickly became a local favorite. After opening on Water Street in 2018, The Early Bird quickly outgrew its space and moved to Main Street. The new building fueled Jeannie’s vision and entrepreneurial spirit, and looking to maximize her space with a complementary concept, Jeannie opened The Night Owl in an auxiliary space within the building in 2023. The second bird is moody, elevated, and designed for the evening crowd, featuring a handcrafted cocktail menu by Jeannie’s trusted general manager Mike Wooldridge.

Jeannie’s two distinct businesses bookend the day in downtown Ellensburg—comforting brunches at The Early Bird and creative cocktails at The Night Owl. But what makes them special isn’t just the food or drink. It’s the way she invites her team into every part of the process. From cross-training to recipe contributions, her staff feel seen, valued, and heard. Her leadership has fostered a culture of mutual respect and shared investment in the downtown experience, which contributes to strong retention and a sense of ownership. Jeannie is building businesses that reflects the character of Ellensburg itself—collaborative, warm, creative, and proud of its people.

“By trusting her team, sharing ownership of ideas, and leading with humility, Jeannie has created a workplace culture that is rare and remarkable. Her restaurants have become launchpads for young professionals, creative thinkers, and emerging leaders,” said Washington State Main Street Program Director Breanne Durham at the Excellence on Main ceremony. “Jeannie also proves that downtown revitalization isn’t just structural—it’s emotional. It’s about creating places people feel connected to, return to, and talk about.” Durham personally presented the Entrepreneur of the Year Award to Jeannie Bayles, who was in attendance.

Excellence on Main Award

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Creator’s Law

Awardee: Roslyn Downtown Association

Award: Community Partnership

Year: 2025

City: Roslyn

The Community Partnership Award is an award that recognizes a Main Street organization and partner(s) who have demonstrated the highest and best degree of cooperation to benefit downtown revitalization efforts. The Roslyn Downtown Association has been named the 2025 Community Partnership Award recipient for its Creator’s Law art piece, created in partnership with the Yakama Nation.

The city of Roslyn is situated within the Yakama Nation’s historic Treaty Territory, which encompasses the greater Columbia River Basin and Cascade Mountains region in eastern Washington. The history of Tribal stewardship of these lands spans thousands of years and continues to this day. In November 2020, the Roslyn Downtown Association entered into a partnership agreement with the Yakama Nation to develop educational materials, public displays, and experiential learning opportunities throughout the local area. The partnership emphasizes the Yakama Nation’s history, culture, and continuing land and resource stewardship efforts in Roslyn—an important early step toward expanding Main Street’s role in sharing the full and accurate history and culture of the region.

One such project, a direct result of the partnership agreement between the Roslyn Downtown Association and the Yakama Nation, is the public art piece known as Creator’s Law. The sculpture installation, located in a downtown park, features artwork by Lin McJunkin and Milo White and was funded by the Roslyn Downtown Association. The sculpture symbolizes the Creator’s Law, illustrating how earth, water, air, and both natural and cultural resources influence our minds, bodies, and spirits. The design and message were shaped in collaboration with Yakama Nation Tribal Council Chairman Gerald Lewis, Tribal Councilmembers Terry Heemsah and Caseymac Wallaheee, and the Cultural Resource Committee including cultural consultant and archaeologist Noah Oliver.

Oliver, who co-led the sculpture initiative with the Roslyn Downtown Association, emphasizes the meaning of the Sacred Acknowledgement of the Creator’s Law. Land (Mother Earth), Water (Giver of Life), Air (Our Sacred Breath), and all cultural resources are divine gifts from the Creator. These resources sustain life and nourish our spirits, requiring us to honor and protect them. This stewardship has been part of Yakama tradition for thousands of years. Today, many of these resources face threats, making it vital to uphold our shared responsibilities to safeguard them for future generations.

“The partnership between the Roslyn Downtown Association and the Yakama Nation, as exhibited through the Creator’s Law sculpture and other initiatives, demonstrates how community organizations and Indigenous nations can collaborate to produce shared cultural expressions that inspire and educate,” noted Washington State Main Street Program Director Breanne Durham at the Excellence on Main ceremony. “It shows that communities can build bridges that honor cultural heritage and foster unity through respectful partnership, meaningful dialogue, and mutual learning.” Durham personally presented the Community Partnership Award to Cheri Marusa and Jeri Porter of the Roslyn Downtown Association, who were in attendance at the awards ceremony.

Excellence on Main Award

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TwispWorks

Award: Economic Opportunity

Year: 2025

City: Twisp

The Economic Opportunity Award is an award that recognizes enhancement efforts that have improved the economic vitality of the district including job creation and retention, sales growth, and more. TwispWorks has been named the 2025 Economic Opportunity Award recipient for its work creating affordable spaces, investment opportunities, and resources ranging from childcare to education for local artists, entrepreneurs, and nonprofits.

Built in 1932 by the Civilian Conservation Corps, the Twisp Ranger Station served the Methow Valley for decades. When the U.S. Forest Service decommissioned the station and put the property up for auction, the community banded together to continue the site’s legacy as a critical community and economic driver. That vision came to fruition and continues to evolve through TwispWorks. Located on the same 6.4-acre campus in downtown Twisp, TwispWorks spent its first few years focused on rehabilitating the old ranger station buildings, creating spaces for entrepreneurs, artists, and the community to come together. Today, TwispWorks supports more than 35 small businesses, artists, nonprofits, and educators by providing affordable commercial space, technical support, and access to values-driven capital.

Through ongoing dialogue and community participation, TwispWorks continues to evolve as a place-based solution. In 2017, TwispWorks launched the Methow Investment Network, which to date has facilitated more than $2.5 million in local business investments, and created space for Little Star, which offers affordable early childhood education on site. In 2023, in partnership with the Methow Valley School District, TwispWorks opened the Auto Tech Facility, which supports career and technical education opportunities for local youth. TwispWorks has seen new businesses launch, artists open studios, and students gain hands-on skills in trades. By preserving historic buildings for local use and fostering community-led development, they’ve built a platform where residents can pursue their passions and build lasting local wealth.

“A key lesson is that meaningful revitalization isn’t about one-time projects—it’s about sustained, community-rooted effort,” noted Washington State Main Street Program Director Breanne Durham at the Excellence on Main ceremony. “TwispWorks teaches that access to space, visibility, and relationship-based funding are critical for rural business success and that economic development can (and should) celebrate culture, creativity, and equity.” Durham personally presented the Economic Opportunity Award to TwispWorks Communications Director Grant Eadie, who was in attendance at the awards ceremony.

Excellence on Main Award

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Cadwell Building

Awardee: Kittitas County Historical Society

Award: Bricks & Mortar Rehabilitation

Year: 2024

City: Ellensburg

The Brick & Mortar Award is an award that recognizes building owners or projects that positively impact preservation efforts. The Kittitas County Historical Society has been named the 2024 Brick & Mortar Award recipient for its outstanding preservation of the Cadwell Building, an icon of Ellensburg’s historic downtown.

Built in 1889, the Cadwell Building was constructed after the Great Ellensburg Fire, made of soft Ellensburg brick and other locally sourced materials. The building, known for its “horseshoe” windows, has been home to dry goods and grocers, car dealerships, and furniture and music stores over the years before being purchased by the Kittitas County Historical Society in 1974 for the museum’s permanent home. Shortly after the museum moved in, the Cadwell Building became a contributing building to the Downtown Ellensburg Historic District, which was placed on the National Register in 1977.

Over the years, the Kittitas County Historical Society has been able to address repairs to the building on an as-needed basis. But the larger-ticket deferred maintenance was stacking up, and it was time to take on a major capital project. Phase I addressed the highest priority: the exterior brick masonry. Repair and repointing commenced, along with the removal of an unbraced, damaged chimney (and salvage of brick!) and the rebuild of an over-height unreinforced parapet. Storefronts were repaired, and windows and doorways were addressed to improve energy efficiency. While seismic and other improvements are yet to come, the completion of Phase I is worthy of celebration: a nonprofit organization stewarding a cornerstone historic property while managing their own operations is quite a feat.

“In their nomination of this project, the Ellensburg Downtown Association specifically noted Museum Director Sadie Thayer’s profound commitment to connecting the community with the region’s history and stories, which wouldn’t have a home without the Cadwell Building,” noted Washington State Main Street Program Director Breanne Durham at the Excellence on Main ceremony.

Excellence on Main Award

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Bivouac Cellars

Award: Bricks & Mortar Rehabilitation

Year: 2024

City: Chelan

The Brick & Mortar Award is an award that recognizes building owners or projects that positively impact preservation efforts. Bivouac Cellars has been named the 2024 Brick & Mortar Award recipient for its outstanding preservation efforts and creative use of commercial space.

Living in Europe more than 25 years ago as army lieutenants, Kris and Kevin Smith experienced the magic created when wine is shared with good company and beautiful spaces. Deployed in faraway places, bivouacked under the stars, they dreamed of someday creating their own magical space. Cut to 2023, when Kris and Kevin sought to open their own wine tasting room in the midst of Chelan’s already well-established wine industry and in the face of downtown Chelan’s lack of available square footage.

Undeterred, and determined to locate in the heart of downtown, Kris and Kevin worked closely with the owners of a downtown restaurant to lease and renovate the building’s basement, navigating both the city permitting process and liquor control requirements. Because the basement was to be a separate business serving alcohol, they couldn’t use the restaurant entrance, so Kris and Kevin pivoted to develop the alley entrance and leaned into the “speakeasy” theme. They also worked to preserve the interior of the building, making use of the basement’s historic features—leaving the large wood beams exposed, framing the space’s unique alcove seating.

“Bivouac Cellars has added a taste of Chelan’s wine industry in the heart of downtown,” noted Washington State Main Street Program Director Breanne Durham at the Excellence on Main ceremony. “It has also sparked possibility for other nooks and crannies—in Chelan and beyond—that could be activated to create more interest and viability in historic buildings.”

Excellence on Main Award

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Russell Carlson

Award: Leadership on Main

Year: 2023

City: Selah

The Leadership on Main Award is an annual award that recognizes an individual who has shown extraordinary dedication to their local Main Street over a significant period of time. Russell Carlson has been named the recipient of the 2023 Leadership on Main Award for his longtime commitment to Selah.

Russ was appointed to Selah City Council eight years ago. As a city councilor, Russ has been able to help set policies and facilitate projects that make Selah a better place to live, start a business, and raise a family. Shortly after joining City Council, he asked to fill the vacant role as council liaison to the Selah Downtown Association (SDA) because he was drawn to the Main Street mission and wanted to help build a stronger relationship between the SDA and the city.

While his only responsibility as council liaison was to attend Selah Downtown Association board meetings, Russ went even further and joined all four of the board’s committees. Over the past seven years, he has maintained service on those committees, often the first to raise his hand to help. As a consistently reliable leader for the SDA, he shows up to help with the majority of downtown events, activities, and clean-up days. All told, Russ spends most of his waking hours giving back to his beloved Selah.

Russ cares deeply about his community and is always looking for ways to serve and lead. Selah is undoubtedly a better place thanks to Russ’ care and commitment.

Excellence on Main Award

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Linda Haglund

Award: Excellence on Main Award

Year: 2022

City: Wenatchee

Linda Haglund has been the Executive Director of the Wenatchee Downtown Association since 2011. Her parents met, married, raised their family, and lived lives as community servants in Wenatchee. Linda is a culture-builder and, over more than a decade in Main Street, has contributed almost as much to the positive culture of the Washington State Main Street Program network as she has to the culture of her own beloved Main Street community in Wenatchee.

Linda boldly uses words like “family” and “heart” and “cheerleader” to refer to her work. She is the first one to say “welcome”, the first one to take someone under her wing, the first one to send a message out of the blue that lets you know that she sees you and appreciates you. Linda will tell you that she’s usually not the most qualified person at the table, and yet she’s moved absolute mountains through her expert abilities to highlight opportunities and convene the right players. She is the ultimate champion for her hometown, for her beloved small businesses, for her property owners, for her partners, for “Main Street family” near and far.

Linda’s mix of tenacity, encouragement, and unrelenting optimism have made her a critical leader and partner in her hometown as well as across the state. Her work reflects her beliefs – that everybody has gifts they can share, and that we make a difference one person at a time.

Excellence on Main Award

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Rotary Marketplace

Awardee: Downtown Association of Yakima, Yakima Rotary Clubs, and Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital

Award: Community Partnership

Year: 2022

City: Yakima

The Downtown Yakima Farmers Market, which is managed by the Downtown Association of Yakima (or “DAY”), has been growing and becoming a major fixture in the downtown – due greatly from a strong team effort led by market manager, Yvette Lippert – but it is held on a street with very little shade, and each week is a struggle with closing down the street, the scarcity of electricity and water, and the weather conditions. Then-Rotary President and longtime downtown advocate, John Baule, wanted the annual Rotary Project to focus on downtown. After conferring with DAY Executive Director, Andrew Holt, the decision was made to pursue a permanent home for the market with a meaningful structure that provided necessary resources and a sense of place.

The three local Rotary clubs approved the project, Yakima Valley Memorial Hospital approved leasing the property to DAY for $10 per year and allowing construction of the pavilion, and DAY agreed to manage and maintain the space once it was built. Many individual givers and local businesses also stepped up to support the pavilion. The total cost of the project is in the neighborhood of $1.4 million. John Baule was the leading fundraiser and the project manager who made this vision a reality.

Construction is anticipated to wrap up before the start of 2023’s market. When completed, a main pavilion comprised of brick and wood will face the street and right behind it will be a secondary pavilion with a tinted translucent covering. The two structures will provide 300 feet of shade with 80 individual stalls for vendors, equipped with electricity and water.

Yakima is an agriculturally based community with an abundance of small, independent family farms. Having a strong, vibrant farmers market is important to the community in assisting its economy and also furthering its identity. The pavilion will allow micro businesses a better chance to grow. Previously, a vendor might not attend because they could not provide their own power or lack of access to water, or they might not even have a tent. The pavilion will eliminate all of those obstacles, while also giving even more credibility to the ever-growing market as a vibrant weekly event as well as an economic driver. An additional benefit is that the pavilion will act as a public space for other community events.

A service club, a major employer, and the Main Street organization came together, each playing their necessary role, to fulfill a vision which makes the Downtown Yakima Farmers Market a fantastic example of community partnership.

Excellence on Main Award

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Geddis Building

Awardee: Real Works, LLC

Award: Bricks & Mortar Rehabilitation

Year: 2022

City: Ellensburg

The largest historic building in the Ellensburg Historic District, the Geddis Building’s rehabilitation is a testament to tenacity and downtown partnership.

Built in 1889, the two-story Geddis Building is the former home of the Vendome Hotel and a once-thriving retail hub in the downtown core. Over several decades in the late 1900s and into the 2000s, the 30,000 square foot building fell into disrepair. Located in the heart of downtown, the building’s condition resulted in an inability to attract tenants and, by extension, a major obstacle for the rest of the district’s progress. After extensive measures to encourage the then-owner to make necessary updates or put the building on the market, the City of Ellensburg, encouraged by a cadre of nonprofit and economic development partners, purchased the building in 2012 with the intent of transferring ownership back into the private sector.

When MJSS LLC purchased it from the City in 2015, they immediately got to work on repairing and stabilizing the building – a $400,000 project. They replaced the roof, ample plumbing, and dangerous electrical systems to restore the inside of the building to working condition. Commercial tenants moved into the building at this point and worked on their own improvements as well.

During the summer of 2020, the project continued with Pioneer Masonry repairing the façade and Architectural Elements replacing the historic midband cornice. That same summer, the second phase of the project began as MJSS spoke with the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation about their plans to convert the abandoned hotel on the second floor into 17 high-end apartments, with preservation as a priority and restored finishes from the original construction in 1889. Construction began in May 2021 with a $2.6 million loan from Cashmere Valley Bank.

The results of the ongoing rehabilitation speak for themselves: vacant store fronts at the street level have become thriving shops with increased foot traffic, opportunities for historic downtown apartments has renewed local interest in living within the historic district rather than simply visiting, and pride of place has led to street-wide beatification.

Excellence on Main Award

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Thai House Facade Project

Awardee: Colleda Monick, Steve Weise, Roger Wilson, and Joe Mann

Award: Economic Opportunity

Year: 2016

City: Yakima

As a new Washington Main Street Community, Downtown Association of Yakima wanted to show the power of Main Street by making a visual impact and investing in the downtown business community. A façade grant program was developed and a selection committee toured downtown Yakima to identify a business that would benefit from a façade enhancement.

Hidden behind an aging storefront, lacking adequate windows or visual appeal, and located on a key block at the center of the downtown district, the Thai House restaurant was unanimously selected for the pilot project. Based on recommendations from an architect, multiple improvements were made in 2015, including removing the security screen from the building, creating an outdoor seating area in an underutilized planting bed, and installing floor to ceiling windows and a glass door. Funding for this project was a 50:50 grant match between DAY and the business and property owner. In total, over $20,000 was spent in façade improvements.

The impact of this project has been greater than anticipated and enhanced the building not only visually, but also spurred activity to the area and surrounding businesses. The Thai House is reporting over 25% increase in sales and visible increase in foot traffic near the restaurant. Since the project has been complete, 3 new businesses have opened within a 100 feet of the business.

The success of the Thai House façade project has spurred DAY to develop a long-term façade grant program that is now open to downtown businesses and property owners who desire to make improvements to the façade of their buildings. DAY intends to do 2-4 projects a year based on demand.

Excellence on Main Award

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Buskers in the ‘Burg

Awardee: Carolyn Honeycutt and Linda Schantz

Award: Purposeful Promotion

Year: 2016

City: Ellensburg

In 2011, the EDA hosted its first Ellensburg Fallfest, a new downtown event that embraced the arts, including street performers. After just one year, the term “busker” made its way into common Ellensburg vernacular and the festival was renamed Buskers in the ‘Burg! In five short years it has grown from a small, one day event to a two-day festival featuring performers from all across the country.

That first year, an artist named Brian Kooser applied to be a busker at the festival. While performing, he wore a giant handmade puppet and was an immediate hit at the new event. The following year the EDA commissioned Kooser to create more puppets with the goal of incorporating a parade into the festival. At the 2012 event, after months of preparation, Kooser and other EDA volunteers stunned festival attendees by wandering through the event dressed in larger-than-life puppet costumes. Each year since, the puppets have gotten more creative and the parade has grown larger.

The impact of Buskers in the Berg has been significant for the downtown business community. In 2015, an estimated 2,000 people participated in the festival. Over 450 children and their families signed up to participated in the kids’ activities that are a highlight of the event. Many downtown merchants boast high sales numbers during the festival, and credit that success to not just number of attendees, by the layout of the event. With 25 buskers and other acts stationed on sidewalks throughout the district, there are plenty of reasons for festival attendees to explore, dine and shop in downtown Ellensburg.

The EDA now draws musicians, aerial artists, magicians, and other performers from all over the country, while still providing a venue for many local musicians and artists to promote their talents. An additional stage was recently added specifically to accommodate local dance groups.

Ellensburg Downtown Association has taken a fun idea and turned it into an unforgettable festival that continues to grow and adapt.

Excellence on Main Award

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Meet Me Downtown

Awardee: Linda Haglund and Steph Grubich

Award: Outstanding Special Project

Year: 2016

City: Wenatchee

When the Wenatchee Downtown Association learned that the City was planning a major infrastructure improvement project for summer 2014, they knew they would have to pull resources together to support the downtown business community during the inevitable disruption. Out of this need came the concept of a campaign that would put a face to the locally-owned businesses that populate downtown Wenatchee.

The Meet Me Downtown campaign ran for 24 months, from January 2014 thru December 2015. Each month, a different downtown business owner was spotlighted with an ad printed in a local publication and shared online. The ads included a picture of the business owner(s), a brief profile that included aspirations for investing in downtown Wenatchee, and an invitation to visit the business. The business owners were given 50 souvenir Meet Me Downtown shopping bags to give away during the month they were featured by the campaign.

The Meet Me Downtown campaign helped people connect with businesses in a new way and created a greater sense of place. By telling the stories of the business owners themselves – people like Peggy Nichols, Kyle Hendrickson, and Pete and Sarah Lolos – the Meet Me Downtown campaign effectively created a personal connection and further reason for community members to support a vibrant local economy by choosing to shop at local downtown businesses.

Excellence on Main Award

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Rory Turner

Award: Excellence on Main Award

Year: 2016

City: Ellensburg

The Elks Building was an important part of downtown Ellensburg since 1933, but after the Elks Club disbanded in the early 2000s, the building fell into a state of disrepair and many in Ellensburg believed the building was not worth saving.

In 2014, a Central Washington University alumnus and Wenatchee resident named Rory Turner, recognizing the value to the community and purchased the building.

Rory is no novice in the world of historic property renovation; he and wife Laurel have been investing in Wenatchee’s downtown for years – properties include the Exchange Building, Wenatchee Hotel and the Dore Building. Laurel serves on the Wenatchee Downtown Association board of directors and chairs the organization’s Economic Vitality committee. Rory is currently the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce board president and was recently elected Port of Chelan County Commissioner. Despite numerous community commitments, the Turners still find time to engage in lasting change for Wenatchee’s historic downtown properties. They have been instrumental in working with the city to identify barriers and opportunities to the viability of property renovations, particularly those that add housing units to upper floors downtown and provide spaces for small start-up businesses.

In Ellensburg, the life Rory and his team have breathed into the Elks Building has spurred new businesses and new investment in nearby historic properties. Since the purchase in 2014, the Elks building has recruited three tenants, with more interested as spaces become available. The upstairs is currently being renovated to include a huge ballroom which will be available as a rentable event space.

Rory’s passion for historic preservation and for downtown has transformed significant Central Washington buildings back into viable properties and sources of great community pride. His attention to detail and preservation ethic are prevalent in everything he does, from selecting fixtures that complement the historic building to going the extra mile to involve the community in a project. We are honored to recognize Rory’s impact on Wenatchee, Ellensburg, and the entire state of Washington with the Excellence on Main Award.

Excellence on Main Award

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Arktana

Awardee: Ann Matthews

Award: Entrepreneur of the Year

Year: 2017

City: Camas

Ann Matthews opened Arktana, a boutique shoe store in downtown Camas, which is affectionately named after her family’s two states of origin – Arkansas and Montana – in 2014. With an entrepreneurial background and a robust business plan in place, Ann was able to hit the ground running to quickly develop her business into a shopping staple in the region.

Ann’s passion for her business benefits customers, employees, and the community at large. By working closely with vendors to ensure only the highest quality products and by providing creative opportunities for customers to engage with the shop through private parties, appreciation nights, and extended business hours, Arktana emphasizes customer care.

Arktana’s employees also benefit from this people-first model. Ann intentionally provides first job opportunities to young people in Camas and calls out special skills she sees in her employees.

Ann intentionally runs a very community-oriented business. Arktana recently partnered with a human services nonprofit in a promotion that resulted in Arktana donating 100 pairs of new shoes to low-income families in the Camas-Washougal area.

Ann and her staff consistently collaborate with other downtown Camas merchants for photo shoots, promotions, and events. When severe winter weather kept many customers away during pivotal sales months, Ann contacted the Downtown Camas Association to suggest a special shopping promotion to bring the community downtown. Ann lessened the burden on the DCA by helping coordinate activities, paying for the graphic work, and assisting with promotion of the event, which resulted in a successful sales weekend for many downtown merchants.

Ann is a model and champion for the role of a downtown business owner in revitalization efforts. Arktana’s positive impact on downtown Camas extends far beyond its own four walls.

Excellence on Main Award

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Wenatchee Downtown Association

Awardee: Steph Grubich and Linda Haglund

Award: Organizational Excellence

Year: 2016

City: Wenatchee

The Wenatchee Downtown Association has fully embraced an important principle of any successful downtown revitalization strategy: partnerships!

One such partnership is with the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce. In 2014, the two organizations established a joint membership program and a scholarship program that allows a new business to become a member of both organizations at no cost their first year in business. New businesses also have opportunities to be connected with an experienced business owner through the joint mentorship program. By working together, rather than competing, the WDA and Chamber are offering important services to local entrepreneurs.

Downtown Wenatchee is now a brighter place thanks to a partnership forged between the WDA and the City of Wenatchee to update downtown’s aging street lights. The WDA and the City joined forces to purchase 114 new LED lights for downtown, which has created a warmer, safer, and more appealing commercial district.

Community partnerships have resulted in several other successes for WDA in recent years. By connecting with a local elementary school, the WDA engaged students in an art competition, asking them to draw images depicting their favorite things about downtown Wenatchee. Sixteen of these images were turned into beloved new “Why I Love Downtown” banners now hanging prominently along Wenatchee Avenue.

The business community’s support of WDA is clearly evidenced by the high turnout and contagious enthusiasm found at their Annual Dinner. WDA’s annual celebration includes the awarding of “Downtown’s Best”, which recognizing locally-owned businesses. The awards are highly valued by the business owners, in part because the community at large is invited to cast their vote.

Executive Director Linda Haglund puts it best, as only she can: “We are the heart of this community…I dare you to come downtown and not feel that.”

Excellence on Main Award

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Camas & Journey

Awardee: Ellen Scott of Journey Community Church, and Caroline Mercury, Dawn White, and Carrie Schulstad of Downtown Camas Association

Award: Community Partnership

Year: 2016

City: Camas

When the Downtown Camas Association learned in 2009 that a key property was to be converted to a church, they were, at first, apprehensive. Journey Community Church’s location in downtown Camas is a marked exception to the logic that churches don’t belong downtown, due in large part to the incredible partnership Journey and the DCA have forged over the last six years.

The building Journey purchased was once the JC Penney department store. The building had fallen into disrepair and required a great deal of investment by the time Journey hired a local architect to bring the building back to life. Valuing the history of the building, great efforts were made to preserve the original brick and wooden beams, and repurpose other historic materials. The multimillion dollar renovation was completed in late 2009 with a great deal of volunteer labor from congregation members invested in the new space.

DCA’s partnership with Journey makes year-round, free community events feasible in downtown Camas by providing a large venue during poor weather, volunteers to help run promotions, and activities for children. Events like Girls’ Night Out, Camas Car Show, Plant & Garden Fair, and even DCA’s Annual Awards Dinner rely on the unique community space. At the annual Spring Clean-Up and Planting Day, Journey provides not only lunch for 50-75 volunteers, but also recruits congregation members and their children to serve their community.

In addition to events, Journey has impacted commerce and activity downtown. Using their public art fee required with all downtown improvements at their level, Journey worked with DCA to provide 8 locally made artful bike racks through downtown. When the church purchased the building next door, which had two vacant storefronts, they turned down multiple applicants as they waited for tenants that would add to a vibrant business mix downtown, knowing that DCA’s recruitment goals focused on restaurants and retail. Today, these storefronts house two successful businesses – a bakery and a dance studio – that bring people downtown at all hours of the day.

Excellence on Main Award

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Día de Los Muertos Chalk Art Festival

Awardee: Colleda Monick and Joe Hudon

Award: Purposeful Promotion

Year: 2017

City: Yakima

Downtown Yakima is host to many successful events which are very popular with the 21 and older crowd. In an effort to showcase downtown as a place that is inclusive to all ages and demographics, the Downtown Association of Yakima began a series of Second Saturday events featuring free family friendly activities.

One of the most popular Second Saturdays, hosted for the first time in 2015, featured a chalk art festival. The event was located in an area of downtown which features family-oriented businesses, a market that is currently lacking in downtown Yakima. While successful in its first year, DAY looked for ways to improve the chalk art festival in year two.

Nearly 50% of Yakima residents are Hispanic, and yet downtown still lacks this representation in its business mix and programming. In 2016, DAY shifted the chalk art festival’s theme to focus on Día de Los Muertos in an effort to connect with a demographic they hadn’t always easily connected with in the past.

The Día de Los Muertos Chalk Art Festival opened the doors for DAY to partner with community organizations such as the Yakima-Morelia Sister City Association, a nonprofit that promotes mutual understanding and the sharing of culture between Yakima and Morelia, Mexico. Also involved in the festival were Yakima Symphony Orchestra musicians, professional artists from outside the community, and 35 Yakima Valley College students from a ChicanX Art & Culture class. Approximately 500 people participated in the 2016 festival.

Downtowns are for everyone, and the Downtown Association of Yakima is showing commitment to inclusivity through thoughtful programming and partnerships.

Excellence on Main Award

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Kleinberg Building

Awardee: Dale & Susan Sherman

Award: Visual Impact

Year: 2017

City: Ellensburg

The Kleinberg Building in downtown Ellensburg was built by successful hay merchants Samuel and Henry Kleinberg in 1889 using unreinforced masonry following the great fire downtown earlier that year. After the brothers moved to Seattle in 1918, the building became a number of retail business and the single-room occupancy Palace Hotel. In the late 1920s, a severe fire in the hotel severed accessibility to the upper two floors. The upper floors would sit vacant for nearly 90 years until Dale and Susan Sherman purchased the building in 2012 and began rehabilitating it. What the Shermans found inside was stunning.

Original fluted door casings, unique wood modillions, 14-foot tall ceilings, and large transom windows adorned the upper floors, but were found to be in terrible condition. Downstairs a drop ceiling divided the space in half.

The Shermans diligently tackled all of these issues with exquisite craftsmanship and have given the Kleinberg Building a new life. Structural strengthening was performed to tie the façade back into the walls, fire damage and lead paint were remediated, and the historic charm of the upper floors was completely restored. The drop ceiling was removed to expose original tin ceilings. The storefront was reconstructed to match the character of the original building, and a new entrance for the upper floors was added from the street.

After five years of hard work, the Shermans have created six high quality apartments and a retail space that will serve as a model for historic rehabilitation statewide. They went the extra mile to restore damaged millwork upstairs, and spared no expense when it came to creating very high quality living space. The first floor is already leased by a restaurant and the upper floors will soon be available to hopeful residents. Carolyn Honeycutt, Executive Director for the Ellensburg Downtown Association adds, “Ellensburg has been dying for more downtown living space, and the Kleinberg has set a new standard for quality downtown apartments.”