What do a grill house, a supplier of industrial safety products and the owner of a gourmet brownie company have in common? They’re all Northbrook businesses that helped others in the village through the worst pandemic in memory.
The dust has yet to settle on the economic war zone that is the COVID-19 pandemic, but the Northbrook Chamber of Commerce’s 2022 Businesses Awards, are paying homage to businesses and people who made “unique contributions and achievements” to the community when Northbrook companies were under tremendous financial stress.
The pandemic has taken an especially terrible economic toll on restaurants and bars. Some good friends have fallen, but the, Grill House, restaurant is still open for business and has been named Northbrook, Business of the Year. During the height of the pandemic, the restaurant offered food to first responders and hospital workers, and when schools were closed, distributed more than 1,000 meals to children who normally wouldn’t get it.
“That’s the least we can do,” said Nick Drivas, owner of the Grill House, at 3061 Dundee Road. “The community’s given us everything we have so it’s just a small gesture on our part to say thank you.”
– Original Credit: Northbrook Chamber of Commerce
“Like everyone else I can’t wait to get back to normalcy and put this all behind us and hopefully one day we can all dine in at restaurants freely and not have to have masks on,” said Drivas, who lives in Northbrook with his wife and kids. “It will be great to get back to normal like.”
“Saf-T-Gard” got the award for, Corporate Citizen of the Year, in recognition of its “outstanding support of the local community” when early in the pandemic the company made 25,000 masks, that were given to residents and businesses at a time when masks were very hard to find.
“Not everybody knows us because we don’t have a big retail presence,” said Richard Rivkin, chief executive officer at Saf-T-Gard International Inc., at 205 Huehl Road in Northbrook. “But we feel very connected to this community and are glad to share our time, talent and treasure. It’s who we are and what we do.”
More Top Picks Best Desk Chairs For Students
Saf-T-Gard is also a big winner because the company employs people with developmental disabilities, the chamber said.
– Original Credit: Northbrook Chamber of Commerce
“I knew that we could identify tasks in our operation that could be performed by people with certain developmental disabilities,” said Rivkin. “It’s been a win-win all around. They’ve been warmly welcomed and respected as co-workers, plus it frees up some of our other staff to do more advanced work.”
Gail Eisenberg, owner of, Gail’s Brownies, got, Volunteer of the Year, for her “above-and-beyond service as an ambassador” and plates of goodies at functions.
“I volunteer for almost everything,” Eisenberg said who operates her business online. “It makes me feel good to help other people.”
Her online company, Gail’s Brownies, makes scrumptious brownies, cookies, and dessert bars, all from Eisenberg’s most private recipes. After joining the chamber in 2014, Eisenberg was one of the organization’s most involved participants, always volunteering for the Golf Outing and Auction & Taste committees, before taking on the leadership roll of an “Ambassador,” helping new members make the most of their experience, the chamber said in a release.
– Original Credit: Northbrook Chamber of Commerce
“It makes me happy,” she said.
Eisenberg also leveraged her influences with advertisers and new businesses, that led to increased chamber membership, the chamber said.
The awards ceremony is at the Chamber’s Annual Meeting, scheduled for Monday, March 7, at the Hilton Chicago-Northbrook. Tickets are on the Chamber website: NorthbrookChamber.org.
“Our award winners represent the qualities of dedication, hard work and community spirit that we all appreciate and admire,” said Tensley Garris, president of the Northbrook chamber. “We look forward to celebrating their accomplishments with the entire Chamber community.”