(L. to r.): Consulate General of Ireland, Ciaran Madden; NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea; President and CEO of Queens Chamber of Commerce Thomas J. Grech. Photos courtesy of Queens Chamber of Commerce
On Wednesday afternoon, March 11, hundreds of business and community leaders from throughout Queens gathered in record numbers at Antun’s in Queens Village as the Queens Chamber of Commerce hosted their annual St. Patrick’s Day Luncheon. The luncheon honored NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea and Dan “Dee” Tubridy, co-founder and principal of In Good Company Hospitality and owner of the iconic Rockaway restaurant, The Bungalow Bar. The Rockaway Beach Hotel – Tubridy’s latest project, and the newest hotel in Queens county – is scheduled to open on Memorial Day weekend.
The luncheon began with the Presentation of Colors by the 2nd Battalion 25th Marines, led by Color Sergeant Stephens, followed by the National Anthem, sung by Scarlett Lavin. Attendees were then treated to a performance by the NYPD Emerald Society Bag Pipers.
“This is by no means an individual honor – together we have created an organization that proudly employs over 1,200 people,” said Dan Tubridy, who received the St. Patrick’s Business Person of the Year Award. “All those of you in the room that own and operate small businesses are to be celebrated and appreciated. For you are the job creators, the risk takers, and the innovators the backbone of our local economy.”
(L. to r.): Thomas J. Grech, president and CEO, Queens Chamber of Commerce; Dan “Dee” Tubridy, proprietor of The Bungalow Bar and In Good Company Hospitality.
“Mom and Dad came here from Ireland, raising five kids in a one bedroom apartment in Sunnyside. I’m home in Queens,” said NYPD Commissioner Dermot Shea, upon receiving the Public Service Award. “I’m incredibly proud to be here today as a police commissioner, and I’m incredibly proud to be here celebrating all of our Irish heritage.”
“It is an honor to bring together business and community leaders from throughout our great borough to celebrate the amazing contributions that Irish immigrants and Irish-Americans have made to our business community,” said Tom Grech, president and CEO, Queens Chamber of Commerce. “From Commissioner Shea, who has served New York City as an NYPD officer for close to 30 years, to Dee Tubridy, whose new Rockaway Hotel promises to be one of Queens’ go-to destinations, Irish-Americans have helped make our borough – and our city – a truly great place to work, live, and do business.”
(L. to r.): Thomas J. Grech, president and CEO, Queens Chamber of Commerce; Dermot Shea, NYPD Commissioner; Dan “Dee” Tubridy, proprietor of The Bungalow Bar and In Good Company Hospitality.
