Neighboring businesses host first chamber mixer of the season

BY FRANCESCA SAGALA

Two businesses – one that’s new to the area and one that’s been around for decades but has opened a new location – merged for the first mixer of the Harbor Country Chamber of own Side Yard at 5870 in Sawyer, which is REMAX Harbor Country’s neighbor. Mammina said they opened Side Yard, which was formerly the Greenbush Brewery’s annex, June 25. Commerce fiscal year Wednesday, Sept. 14.

REMAX Harbor Country, which is celebrating its 36th anniversary, recently opened another location at 5888 Sawyer Road in Sawyer.

Dan Coffey, real estate broker owner, said he bought the franchise in 1986.

He started in real estate in 1980 and worked with condos with boat slips from 1981-1982 in Michigan City before coming to Michigan.

Coffey added that he was “in the room” when it was decided to call the area Harbor Country and has been a member of the chamber since then.

REMAX Harbor Country also has a New Buffalo location.

“Traci Luriecella (the broker/owner of the New Buffalo one as well as chair of the New Buffalo Township Planning Commission) is still downtown – we want to maintain a presence down there,” Coffey said.

Coffey told attendees at the mixer that “when I die or quit, she’s going to take over the whole thing,” adding that “those two things are going to happen together.”

He also thanked the following individuals: Maureen Culp (who has given time and money to Chikaming Open Lands and the Michiana Humane Society for years), John Natsis and Tom Hemingway (who have served on the chamber board, with Natsis having served on the township’s zoning board of appeals and Hemingway having created the Vacation Rental Association), George Lucas (who has served as the president of the Chikaming Country Club, Chikaming Open Lands, president of Southwestern Michigan Association of REALTORS and now serves on the Michigan Realtors State Association Board), Ken Kemp, who just joined their office (as has supported Equestrian Clubs at the Berrien County Fairs) and Cam Mammina, a newcomer to the board (who’s chair of the Chikaming Township Planning Commission).

Mammina, along with his wife, Alex Cihlar, He said that they were able to get a liquor license “very quickly,” with Cihlar adding that she had already bought a food truck. “When we got this space, everything came together and we wanted to do something for the community - where everybody could hang out and feel like family,” she said, adding that they also have yard games. Mammina said they’d like to enclose the porch this winter and install “some sort of outdoor structure.” They’d also like to “ramp up” their pop-up food truck event, where the space opens to trucks once a month. Side Yard is open Thursday through Monday, from 4 to 10 p.m. Thursday, Friday and Monday, noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and noon to 8 p.m. Sunday.

Harbor Country Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Kimberlee Wendt said the chamber is “starting a new era” as it’s coming out of the coronavirus pandemic.

The 2022-2023 fiscal year promises to bring a lot of events for members, which can be found on a webpage under Membership Member Activity Calendar on harborcountry.org.

The chamber has begun production of the 2023 Harbor Country Guide, which will be distributed in mid-April 2023. This month, the chamber contracted with a brochure distribution company to distribute the current guide and an additional guide companion that will come out next spring.

“The area covers northern Indiana and upper reaches all the way to Traverse City so we’re going to make sure you’re promoted in that entire region in this next year,” Wendt said.

She added the Guide serves as its member directory and only members can advertise in the publication, with advertising guide sales having opened that week.

Gathering in the indoor bar area of Side Yard

Cam Mammina with wife, Alex Cihlar Mark Holub, Colleen Neubauer and Chris Campbell

Tracy Steder, Rachel Watkins, Stacy Stevens, Lisa Bennett and Ashli Kauffman represent Fifth Third Bank