People packed the backroom at Donohue’s Bar & Grill to honor a pair of local businesses, a non-profit and a longtime arts advocate during the first annual Watertown Business Awards. Tickets sales f0r the sold-out Watertown Night raised money for the Watertown Boys & Girls Club.
The Chamber presented awards for Customer Service, Business Excellence, Community Leadership, and the Nonprofit Impact Award after receiving nominations from the public.
The Customer Service Award went to Max Ritcey. The owner of Ritcey East comes from a family of restauranteurs who ran Ritcey’s Seafood Kitchen in Waltham for 95 years. State Rep. Steve Owens presented Ritcey with the award.
“Max’s playfulness, creativity and attention to detail are evident in every aspect of the restaurant, with menu items inspired by ’90s pop-punk hits, table games that encourage meaningful connection among guests, and walls dotted with kids drawings alongside work by local artists,” Owens said. “His restaurant doesn’t just serve food; it serves the community. Max approaches hospitality with intention, fostering an environment where inclusivity and connection take center stage. By offering pronoun badges for customers and cultivating a staff culture that embodies his welcoming spirit, Max has ensured that Ritcey East is a place where everyone feels at home.”
O’Some Cafe received the Business Excellence Cafe. Owner Ricci Cheng opened the cafe on Main Street after moving from Hong Kong to the United States and getting a degree in nutrition at Johnson & Wales. Cheng received the award from State Sen. Will Brownsberger.
“Her passion for baking and entrepreneurship drove her to gain hands-on experience at a cupcake shop and, during the pandemic, to transform a former vape shop across from the Watertown Free Public Library into the tiny but vibrant café we know today,” Brownsberger said. “Since opening, O’Some Café quickly became a Watertown Square favorite. It’s also emblematic of the Square’s future as a destination for a diverse mix of new independent businesses.”
Longtime arts advocate and photographer Archy LaSalle received the Community Service Award. As vice chair of the Watertown Public Arts and Culture Committee he helped bring public art to Watertown, including the Watertown Sculpture Walk. He also advocated for underrepresented artists as the founder of the group Where Are All the Black People At. City Council Vice President Vincent Piccirilli presented the award
“This project is a testament to Archy’s unwavering commitment to access, inclusion, and ensuring that Black and Brown artists, especially the younger generation, have the freedom to fully express their creativity,” Piccirilli said. “Beyond his activism, Archy is an internationally celebrated photographer, traveling the world to engage new audiences and share his vision.”
LaSalle could not attend the ceremony, and his award was accepted by Watertown Public Arts & Culture Planner Liz Helfer. LaSalle sent an acceptance speech, in which he thanked the Chamber for the award, and spoke of how Where Are All the Black People At advocates for the permanent collections of museums and collections should have at least 14 percent of its artwork created by Black and Brown artists.
LaSalle said, “It’s hard work to do but I am willing to do it and so many other people are willing to do it, and I am sort of a no nonsense approach to this and what I mean by this is you call and write the directors of these arts institutions, board members of these art institutions and insist on them changing, and if they refuse to drop your membership as an individual, as a group and as an organization, because it has been far too long to bring about the appropriate changes.”
The final award of the night, the Nonprofit Impact Award, went to the Watertown Community Foundation. Executive Director Tia Tilson accepted the award from City Council President Mark Sideris.
The Foundation merged with the Watertown Education Foundation in 2018 and has awarded more than $3 million in grants to local organizations that support the most vulnerable, foster youth development, invest in health and well-being, promote the arts, and protect the environment.
“The Watertown Community Foundation does more than grant funds — it connects and convenes donors, grantees, and community leaders, creating a vibrant network of collaboration that drives lasting change,” Sideris said. “Its vision of a welcoming community where all people can thrive exemplifies the spirit of this award.”
Charles River Chamber President & CEO Greg Reibman said he was happy to see the “who’s who of town” at the first Watertown Business Awards.
“The first year is always interesting because we are setting a new tradition and that is the goal here. and we are really pleased with the four winners, the recipients that came out this year and set the tone for future years,” Reibman said.
The Chamber has done similar events in Needham and in Wellesley, and has plans for the first ever Newton Small Business Awards.