The Chelsea Area Chamber of Commerce officially awarded the Purple Road Theatre and Chelsea Lanes the Large Business Leadership Award and Small Business Leadership awards respectively at the chamber’s annual meeting on Feb. 21.
In addition to representatives from the winning businesses, Chelsea Mayor Jason Lindauer, 52nd District Rep. Gretchen Driskell, D-Saline, and a representative from Congressman Tim Walberg’s office were on hand to congratulate and speak about the winners.
Both Guy Sanville, artist director for Purple Rose, who accepted the award on behalf of the staff of theater, said that it was the hard working staff that kept the operation running smoothly and who should get the credit for the success of the downtown theater.
Purple Rose Theatre puts on four plays and entertains about 40,000 people, 43 weeks a year, he said, adding that about 70 percent of the theater’s income comes from sales.
“Calling it a really, really great honor,” Sanville said that everyone at Purple Rose was “profoundly affected by this award,” and that everyone at the theater would “dedicate and commit themselves to it.”
“With a renowned actor (Jeff Daniels) as originator, critic and mentor, with the passion of so many seasoned and newly minted actors, and with the adoration of countless devoted citizens, the Purple Rose Theatre continues to provide us all with the gift of artistic, social and economic progress. And for that we are all grateful,” Lindauer said.
Greenleaf recognized the recent passing of three great business leaders in Chelsea — Bob Daniels, Joe Merkel and Norm Bauer.
He credited Chelsea Lanes’ 50-year success to his family and its staff. He offered kudos to wife, his father and mother. Ed and Kathy Greenleaf started the business, which has evolved over time with the addition of a full dining menu, large flat screen TV’s and a dart area to enhance the Chelsea Lanes entertainment experience.
“I was born and raised here to I’m proud and very humbled to be here,” Greenleaf said, adding that a lot of young people got their first jobs at Chelsea Lanes over the years.
“We will continue to support Chelsea and family business because we are a family of businesses,” he said.
His father, Ed Greenleaf said that his son has been inside Chelsea Lanes since he was a little kid. “We’re really, really proud of him as his parents,” he said of he and wife, Kathy.
Lindaur reminded the large crowd into The Village Conference Center at the Chelsea Comfort Inn that Chelsea Lanes holds an after-prom lock in each year. “For over 30 years, this fun-filed and safe destination on the biggest night of spring for our high school students has been looked forward to and in the process, had helped parents approach prom night with a sense of shared responsibility and a little calm as well.”
He also praised the job that Eddy Greenleaf has done as coach of the Varsity Bowling Team.
“It is an honor to be here in the midst of so many who embody what helps to make this city so endearing to everyone,” the mayor said. “Your vision, your commitment and your support of each other and of this town is inspiring to us all.”
