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Dana Point Chamber of Commerce

@danapointchamber

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💙 Supporting local businesses is what we do
#DanaPointLoyalLocal
📍Visitor Center
Events: @danapointcarshow & @danapointturkeytrot

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🏆✨ Nominations are officially OPEN for our 2026 Annual Awards!

Help us celebrate the businesses, nonprofits, and individuals who make Dana Point such a special place to live, work, and visit! 🌊💙

We are now accepting nominations for:
🏆 2026 Business of the Year
🏆 2026 Citizen of the Year
🏆 2026 Nonprofit of the Year

Know a local business, nonprofit, or community member who goes above and beyond to make a difference in Dana Point? Now is your chance to recognize their hard work and contributions to our community!

✨ Help us shine a spotlight on the people and organizations that make Dana Point so special.

👉 Click the link in our bio or visit danapointchamber.com/awards to submit your nominations! by @danapointchamber

A warm welcome to our newest Dana Point Chamber members, and a big thank you to all of our members who renewed their membership in October! 👏💙
We're grateful for the businesses, organizations, and individuals who make our Chamber community so special. Whether you're joining us for the first time or continuing your membership, your involvement helps us build meaningful connections, support local businesses, and strengthen the Dana Point community!

✨ New Members:
@danapointfilmfestival
@mastandbrine
Shera-Sparr Productions, LLC

💙 Renewing Members:
Burnham-Ward Properties
Capo Beach Church
@danapointsmiless
@festivalofwhales
Health Choice Inc
@immelteam
@jimmys_famous
@jonathanmayer.inc
@monarchbaypetsupply
@outletssc
Plus Home Technologies
PVA Strategic Communications
Terry Ross, Civic Member
@the_fairy_garden_bookstore by @danapointchamber

🍂 New month, new opportunities to connect, and plenty to look forward to in Dana Point! 💙

November is bringing a full calendar of Chamber events, community connections, and holiday festivities!

From Networking @ Noon and Coffee Chat to our Loyal to Local Holiday Shopping Campaign and the annual Dana Point Turkey Trot, there are plenty of ways to connect with fellow professionals, support local businesses, and get involved in the Dana Point community this month.

📅 Mark your calendars and join us throughout November as we kick off the holiday season together. We can't wait to see you!

🔗 Click the link in our bio to register and explore all upcoming Chamber and community events! by @danapointchamber

🍳☕ Some restaurants serve great meals. Others make you feel like family. Proud Mary's @proudmarysdp has always done both. ❤️

Since opening in 1977, Proud Mary's has been a beloved Dana Point Harbor gathering place, serving hearty breakfasts, waterfront lunches, and nearly 50 years of memories around the table. 🌊

Founded by Mary Merrill and purchased by Steve Zdrakas in 2005, Proud Mary's has weathered plenty, including a devastating fire in 2007. Through it all, its welcoming spirit has endured.

But ask us what makes Proud Mary's truly special, and our answer isn't the food or even those beautiful Harbor views. It's Steve. ❤️

Steve is simply one of the kindest people you'll ever meet. He's the type who invites you to lunch not because he has an agenda, but because he genuinely wants to share a meal, catch up, and connect. There's something pretty special about that.

That generosity extends to his team. Steve is a tireless advocate for his employees, often connecting them with other local restaurants when they're looking for additional hours. He's even championed job applicants he couldn't hire himself, helping other businesses discover great people.

That's Steve: a connector, a champion of his team, and someone who knows hospitality is about so much more than what's on the menu. 🤝

Proud Mary's may be a family-owned restaurant, but the sense of family extends far beyond its ownership. It's reflected in the people who work there, the customers who return year after year, and the relationships built across generations.

As Proud Mary's serves its final guests at its longtime Harbor location today, we extend our heartfelt thanks to Steve, his family, and the entire team for decades of kindness, friendship, and community. 💙

Nearly 50 years of meals and memories is an incredible legacy. But perhaps the greatest legacy is how they've made people feel. ⚓❤️ @proudmarysdp by @danapointchamber

More than souvenirs, a little piece of Dana Point to take home! ⚓️

For years, Art Sea + Gift Chateau has been so much more than a gift shop in Dana Point Harbor. In many ways, it's been an unofficial welcome center, where visitors are greeted with a smile, a friendly conversation, and a little local insight from some of the warmest faces you'll find along the waterfront. 🛍️🌊

Mark and Tyler have a special way of making everyone feel welcome, whether you're a longtime local stopping in to say hello or a first-time visitor discovering everything Dana Point has to offer.

It's easy to think of a souvenir shop as simply a place to pick up a postcard, a magnet, or a coastal keepsake. But what Art Sea + Gift Chateau really offers is something much more meaningful: a way to take a little piece of Dana Point home with you. A reminder of a family vacation, a beautiful day on the water, or a special memory made along our coast.

Those little treasures have a way of keeping the spirit of Dana Point alive long after a visit has ended.

As Art Sea + Gift Chateau prepares to close its current Harbor location, we're sending a heartfelt thank you for the warmth, hospitality, and genuine love they've shown our community and its visitors over the years.

And thankfully, this isn't necessarily goodbye! Mark and his team are looking forward to the possibility of returning to the Harbor once the revitalization is complete, and we certainly hope to see those familiar, friendly faces welcoming visitors back to the waterfront.

Until then, thank you for helping so many people take home not just a souvenir, but a lasting memory of Dana Point. 💙 🐋 @artsea_giftchateau by @danapointchamber

🥂 One final toast to a Dana Point Harbor legend! ⚓️💙

Some places are more than just restaurants or bars. They’re part of the fabric of a community. And for more than four decades, Turk’s Dana Point has been exactly that.

A Harbor fixture since 1984, Turk’s was built on the larger-than-life personality of Turk Varteresian — a bodybuilder, surfer, movie star, fisherman, and above all, a man who loved the restaurant and bar business. Following his passing, his daughter Candy carried on the family legacy, preserving the character, hospitality, and unmistakable charm that made Turk’s so special.

And boy, did Turk’s have character! From its legendary fish and chips and famously spicy Bloody Marys to the familiar faces behind the bar, it was the kind of place where you could always count on a good meal, a cold drink, and a great story.

For our Chamber team, Turk’s holds a special place in our hearts. It was where we’d raise a glass before the annual Turkey Trot, gather with City staff for meetings, grab a bite after whale watching, or simply enjoy some of the best fish and chips around. Like so many in our community, we have our own collection of Turk’s memories, and we’re grateful for every one of them.

As Turk’s closes this chapter at its longtime Harbor home, we want to extend our heartfelt thanks to Candy, the Varteresian family, and the many employees who made Turk’s feel like home to generations of locals and visitors.

While the future of Turk’s is still being written, its place in Dana Point history is already well established.

So here’s to Turk’s! 🍻 To 42 years of good food, strong drinks, colorful characters, lifelong friendships, and a whole lot of memories. by @danapointchamber

Since opening its doors in 1979, Golden Galleon Boutique @goldengalleonboutique has been a cherished part of our Harbor community, offering coastal-inspired fashion, beautiful jewelry, unique gifts, and the kind of personalized service that keeps customers coming back year after year.

Behind this beloved boutique is Marla, whose history in the Dana Point Harbor extends well beyond Golden Galleon. From starting Top Brass to owning and operating several Harbor businesses over the years, Marla has dedicated decades to serving this community and helping shape the waterfront shopping experience we know and love.

To operate a retail business in the same location for 47 years is truly remarkable, especially in an ever-changing retail landscape. It’s a testament to Marla’s dedication, the relationships she’s built with generations of customers, and her genuine love for this community.

And here’s a fun fact that makes this farewell especially personal for us: Marla’s daughter, Briana, is a former Dana Point Chamber team member! So when we say Golden Galleon is part of our Chamber family, we really mean it. 💙

While Golden Galleon’s chapter at its current Harbor location is coming to a close, we’re hopeful this isn’t goodbye, but simply a change of address. Marla and her family are actively exploring opportunities to reopen in Dana Point, and we can’t wait for the day we get to celebrate their next chapter with a ribbon cutting at a new location!

To Marla, (her husband) Steve, Briana, and the entire Golden Galleon family: thank you for nearly five decades of friendship, service, and commitment to Dana Point. You’ve helped make our Harbor a special place for generations, and we’re cheering you on as you look toward what’s next.

Here’s to 47 years of Golden Galleon—and hopefully many more right here in Dana Point! by @danapointchamber

🍔🤝 Let’s do lunch, Dana Point! Great food, great company, and even better connections are on the menu for our next Networking at Noon Luncheon at Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern! @jimmys_famous

Join us for an afternoon of delicious food, meaningful conversations, and opportunities to connect with Dana Point’s business community.

📅 Thursday, November 5
⏰ 11:30 AM to 1:00 PM
📍 Jimmy’s Famous American Tavern
25001 Dana Point Harbor Dr, Unit F140, Dana Point
💼 $35 Members | $40 Guests

✨ Mix, mingle, and make the most of your lunch break alongside fellow Chamber members, local business owners, and community leaders! Whether you’re looking to expand your network, share ideas, promote your business, or build lasting relationships, Networking at Noon is the perfect place to make it happen.

💬 Don’t forget your business cards! Each attendee will have 30 seconds to introduce themselves and their business to the group.

🎉 Plus, one lucky guest in attendance will win a ticket to a future Chamber Mixer!

👉 Pre-registration is required. Click the link in our bio to reserve your spot today! by @danapointchamber

☕️ Coffee, conversation, and community updates!

Join the Dana Point Civic Association and Dana Point Chamber of Commerce for our November Community Coffee Chat, a casual morning gathering to connect with neighbors, hear from local leaders, and stay up to date on what’s happening in Dana Point.

📅 Friday, November 13
⏰ 8:30 AM
📍 @coffeeimporters at the Ocean Institute Campus

This month, we’re welcoming Captain Gonzalez and DPPS Volunteer Bev Lewis! 🚔 @ocsddanapoint
Learn more about the FIN program, a free service designed to provide seniors living alone with added peace of mind, social connection, and support through weekly check-ins from dedicated police services volunteers. Captain Gonzalez will share updates on Dana Point Police Services before Bev takes a closer look at the FIN program and how it supports our community.

☕️ Coffee will be provided courtesy of Coffee Importers. Thank you, Jim Miller!

🌤 Open to the public. Weather permitting.

Community Coffee Chats are typically held on the third Friday of each month at 8:30 AM at Coffee Importers.

Grab a cup of coffee, join the conversation, and start your Friday morning with your Dana Point community! 💙 by @danapointchamber

💗✂️ We had a wonderful time celebrating the official ribbon cutting for @pinkrecycling and welcoming them to the Dana Point Chamber community! 🎉♻️

Pink Recycling is dedicated to making a positive impact on our environment by promoting sustainable recycling practices and working alongside local communities, businesses, and industry partners to help create a cleaner, greener future. 🌎💚

Thank you to everyone who joined us to celebrate this exciting milestone and show their support for Pink Recycling! We’re thrilled to have them as part of our Chamber community and look forward to seeing the positive impact they’ll continue to make.

📍 Pink Recycling
34232 Pacific Coast Highway, Suite E
Dana Point, CA 92629 by @danapointchamber

🦃🚨 ONE MONTH UNTIL WE TROT!

The countdown is ON! We’re officially one month away from the 49th Annual Dana Point Turkey Trot, and we can’t wait to see everyone at the starting line! 🏃‍♀️🧡

Whether you’re chasing a new PR, trotting with your favorite people, or showing off your best turkey costume, there’s something for everyone this Thanksgiving morning!

👟 5K, 10K & Combo Races
🦃 Kids’ 1-Mile Gobble Wobble
🏅 Finisher Medals & Commemorative T-Shirts
🏆 Costume Contest (Judging at 9:00 AM at the Start Line!)
🌊 Beautiful Dana Point Harbor views

📅 Thanksgiving Day | November 26, 2026
📍 Dana Point Harbor

Only ONE MONTH to go! Have you registered yet? 👀

🔗 Secure your spot at TurkeyTrot.com! by @danapointchamber

🎬🌊 The Dana Point Film Festival is BACK!

Get ready for four days of incredible storytelling as the 4th Annual @danapointfilmfestival returns October 29 through November 1, 2026!

Featuring 30+ films from around the world, this year’s festival celebrates the beauty of our oceans, surf culture, marine life, adventure, and conservation through powerful documentaries and inspiring stories. 🐋🎥

From film screenings and filmmaker Q&As to special events and community gatherings, there’s something for everyone to enjoy!

📅 October 29 – November 1, 2026
📍 Dana Point, CA

Join us in supporting this incredible local event and experience the magic of storytelling by the sea! 💙

🎟️ Explore the film lineup, view the schedule, and purchase tickets at danapointfilmfestival.org! by @danapointchamber