Jefferson Co Chamber of Commerce Announces Nominees for Business of the Year | Newspaper

CHARLES TOWN — As Thursday’s annual Denim and Diamonds event approaches, the Jefferson County Chamber of Commerce announced three businesses in the running for the George E. Vickers Business of the Year Award.

The George E. Vickers Company of the Year Award is presented annually to a company that demonstrates notable achievements in stability, growth, customer service, innovation and creativity. The award is in honor of George E. Vickers, who served as president of the chamber in 1963, became director in 1968 until 1992 when his title changed to executive director and served until 1995. He died in 1998.

In 1996, the award was renamed the Major Industry Award to the George E. Vickers Major Industry Award. In 2013, the chamber renamed the award the George E. Vickers Business Award.

This year, the top three nominees are Devil’s Due Distillery, the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau and Ortega’s Taco Shop.

Devil’s Due Distillery, located at 315 James Burr Blvd., Kearneysville, which opened in 2021, is a craft distillery located in the heart of Jefferson County. The company is owned by Wylie, Cynthia McDade and Brian Halbert and crushes, distills and ages bourbon, rye and wheat whiskeys. The distillery also produces moonshine all year round.

Upcoming, the owners are planning a $425,000 expansion that will include a larger distillery, parking, cocktail service, catering and the development of a concert venue.

The second business selected as a finalist for the 2024 award is the Jefferson County Convention and Visitors Bureau whose main office is located at 37 Washington Court in Harpers Ferry. The CVB also has locations in Charles Town and Shepherdstown and is dedicated to bringing guests to Jefferson County. His efforts helped increase visitor numbers to hundreds of thousands per year. It also creates jobs, provides grants to nonprofit organizations, sponsors many local events, and promotes small businesses.

Ortega’s Taco Shop, at 100 W. Washington St. in Charles Town, rounds out the list of top three contenders. The store, established in 2013, has become a staple within the community, continuing to grow and prosper. Owner Natalie Greene incorporated catering along the way as she continues to consistently provide fresh, delicious food.

Along with the announcement of the George E. Vickers Business of the Year, the chamber will also announce the Chuck Ellison Distinguished Citizen Award at the annual event, honoring Jefferson County’s citizen of the year. The award is named for Ellison after his unexpected death in 2016. He served on the chamber’s board of directors for 16 years, including a term as president.

The George E. Vickers Award is sponsored this year by CNB Bank, while the Chuck Ellison Award is sponsored by The Journal.

Tickets for the Denim and Diamonds event, which will once again be held at the McMurran Farm in Shepherdstown, are still available through the chamber’s website at www.jeffersoncountywvchamber.org.