The North Orange County Chamber (NOCC) proudly honors local businesses including Hapa Cupcakes & Cakes, Pendarvis Manufacturing, Porto’s Bakery & Cafe and The Cellar Restaurant and Spirit Room for their long-term commitment to supporting, developing and improving the local economy and contributing to the community. Recognitions will be presented at NOCC’s annual Business Excellence and Leadership Awards Dinner on Wednesday, June 19, 2019 at Summit House. Joined by incoming Board Chair, Michael Williams, the Chamber will also recognize the service of its directors and install the board for 2019-2020.
Hapa Cupcakes & Cakes opened its Fullerton location in late 2011, operating out of an off-site commercial kitchen. Owners Hanayo Martin and Akemi Lee, both alumnae of Cal State Fullerton, competed on Cupcake Wars and placed third before opening their first brick-and-mortar bakery specializing in gourmet alcohol-infused cupcakes featuring recipes developed by the entrepreneurial pair. Hapa Cupcakes also sells cakes, cookies, cake truffles and cake pops. Vegan and gluten-free options are also available. Due to the bakery’s success, Martin and Lee recently opened their second location in Brea.
Founded by Robert “Bud” Pendarvis in early 1982, Pendarvis Manufacturing opened with one knee mill, a manual lathe, a small radial arm drill and two weld stations. Now owned by his son, Brian, the company has grown to occupy over 15,000 feet of manufacturing space and employs 27 skilled workers. A leading producer of custom metal fabrication, the Anaheim-based business aims to meet the needs of its customers with speed, precision and efficiency. Its services include machining, welding and metal fabrication as well as plumbing, hydraulic assembly, electrical wiring and glass-beading. Workers create component pieces from various raw materials to be used for machines and structures–some of which are transported to local theme parks, to other states and around the world.
Porto’s Bakery & Cafe began in the home of Rosa Porto in Cuba. When her home country fell victim to communism and she lost her job, she baked and sold cakes out of her house to friends and neighbors as a means to support her family. Time passed and eventually Porto and her family immigrated to the United States with nothing but the clothes on their backs. Word of her delicious cakes traveled with them from Cuba, so Porto continued her cake-selling business from home. Porto opened the first Porto’s Bakery storefront in 1976 on Sunset Boulevard in Echo Park, and with help from her partner and children, she continued the growth of the business. With recipes passed down from generation to generation, the bakery continues to succeed as a family-owned business. The company prides itself in offering jobs to a variety of individuals including those with disabilities and creating an inclusive workforce. Porto’s Bakery & Cafe opened in Buena Park in 2017 and recently opened its fifth location in West Covina.
Now celebrating its 50th Anniversary, The Cellar Restaurant and Spirit Room has continued its tradition of serving tantalizing, unique cuisine. Designed and built by craftsmen of Disneyland’s “Pirates of Caribbean”, the fine dining venue maintains a romantic and elegant ambience reminiscent of Old Europe. The restaurant is located in the basement of downtown Fullerton’s historic Villa del Sol and has retained the architecture of the original building. Originally owned by Swiss restauranteur Louis Schnelli, the restaurant now has its third proprietor. At 27 years old, Ryan Dudley purchased The Cellar from Ernest Zingg. When the 2008 Recession hit, Dudley lost his house and was forced to make necessary adjustments to the restaurant. While other esteemed lavish eateries were unable to survive the damages of the recession, changes adopted by The Cellar encouraged new customers positioning them to stand strong today. The Cellar Restaurant and Spirit Room was recently inducted into the Barons de Rothschild Ambassadors of Excellence Club, making it the first in the U.S. to receive this prestigious honor. Continuing to take on new challenges, Dudley purchased Café Hidalgo at the Villa del Sol and recently celebrated a rebrand and grand opening with the new name, Hidalgo’s Cocina and Cócteles, introducing southwest themed beverages and a new menu of specialty items.
The Business Excellence and Leadership Awards dinner begins at 5:00 p.m. with a cocktail reception and silent auction followed by dinner. Ticket prices are $175 per individual seat. Sponsorship opportunities are also available.
For more information, please call (714) 871-3100, email Sarah McKelvey at Sarah@nocchamber.com or visit our website at NOCChamber.com.
