Gilroy Chamber Executive Honored at State Conference
GILROY’S CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PRESIDENT/CEO, Mark Turner was awarded
the Russell J. “Rusty” Hammer Memorial Scholarship Award at the annual WACE
Conference held at the San Francisco Marriott, Burlingame in February. The
award is given in honor of Russell J. “Rusty” Hammer, who
was named W.A.C.E. Executive of the Year in 2002 and
served as Chairman of the Board of the association in 2003.
Rusty, who served as CEO of the Sacramento Metro and
Los Angeles Area Chambers of Commerce, sadly had his
life and career cut short in 2008 after a several-year battle
with leukemia. Because of Rusty’s interest in furthering the
professionalism of chamber of commerce executives, W.A.C.E.
has decided to link the Russell J. “Rusty” Hammer Award with
the Academy program by awarding a full-tuition third year
Academy scholarship with Turner being this year’s recipient.
The mission of W.A.C.E. (Western Association of Chamber
Executives) is to enhance and promote the professional
growth and competence of chamber of commerce executives.
Don & Karen Christopher
Café 152 Bread Company Opens
GILROY’S NEWEST RESTAURANT in the Café 152 family is open. People
from all over the Bay Area have come to appreciate the burgers made with
Certified Angus Beef and the freshest ingredients at the Café 152 Burger
Co. Now they can enjoy the area’s finest produce at Café 152 Bread Co.
“We wanted to bring something to Gilroy that is new and gave people
healthier options,” said owners Bruce and Audrey Haller. Located across
from the Gilroy Post Office on Eigleberry Street, Café 152 Bread Co. is
planning to celebrate its Grand Opening soon.
Until then, the Bread Co. has some of the area’s freshest produce coming
in daily from local growers. “It’s not so much about being organic or gluten
free necessarily. I want to know where it came from and be able to honestly
tell our customers that it is fresh and natural,” notes Haller.
Currently, the restaurant offers sandwiches with sides and homemade
chips. New items like salads, soups, cookies, pastries, handmade truffles,
and Artisan specialty grain breads are being added daily. They are working
on a breakfast menu and intend to add more bakery items like pies,
scones, desserts.
Despite some challenges, the Haller’s are excited to be located in
downtown Gilroy and are happy with the way the community has
embraced the restaurant. “We want to complement what we already have
down here, not take away. I want to celebrate garlic and plan to include it
in many of our offerings,” Haller said.
Bruce and Audrey, both longtime residents of the South County, have
been advocates of supporting the Gilroy community and are strong
believers in giving back to the community. It is with generous support from
the community that the Haller’s were able to open the Café 152 Bread Co.
About a dozen people have Crowd Funded. Those donors are represented
on the “Wall of Angels” inside the restaurant with rolling pins for each
donation — their names branded on them. The relationships the Haller’s
have cultivated in the community have helped them to bring in the
freshest, local ingredients possible.
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
MARCH/APRIL 2016
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