Five years of success

Suzie Harrison

Woody’s at the Beach Restaurant is celebrating its five-year

anniversary this week, and many people in the community are

applauding their success.

Not only is Woody’s a Zagat-rated restaurant, they are also the

recipient of the prestigious Elections Committee of Orange County

2002 Business Award -- and perhaps most importantly, Woody’s is known

as a friend to Laguna Beach, giving in many charitable ways.

“Our corporate philosophy is to give back to the community,”

co-owner Dan Ketelaars said. “Throughout the past five years, Woody’s

has helped local charities and organizations such as AIDS Services

Foundation, Laguna Shanti, the Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer

Foundation Orange County affiliate, CHOC Hospital, the Human Rights

Campaign, along with other various charities -- raise more than

$500,000 in gifts and donations.”

Woody’s, at 1305 S. Coast Highway, was originally built in 1923

and from the street looks like a beach bungalow. The building became

Garden of the Gourds Restaurant in the 1940s. It was originally built

as a home. In the ‘70s, it became the Little Shrimp, and Viktor

Victoria in the early ‘90s.

Joel Herzer, who is also co-owner, said that it has been great

over the past five years and that it has exceeded what they could

have imagined.

“It’s been great, we’ve exceeded all our expectations as far as

being able to connect with the community,” Herzer said. “It’s just a

really good feeling to be part of something that has affected so many

people’s lives. I never realized what a difference we could make with

fund-raising, and all the people that have thanked us for being there

for them -- a place for them to go to be themselves made all the hard

work worth it.”

He said he looks forward to continuing and to be even better in

the future.

At a celebration on Tuesday at Woody’s that featured an art

opening for local artist Helen Mercurio, many kind words expressed

how the people of Woody’s have been so wonderful to the Laguna Beach

community. A common theme was about the difference marketing director

Alford Harrison and Herzer’s have made.

Marion Cuddyer owner of Marion Meyer Contemporary Art said she

finds them to be a wonderful asset.

“Congratulations to Woody’s on their upcoming anniversary,

supporting the arts and foundations for the last five years,” Cuddyer

said. “They are the only one in town to support event after event

after event, and they do it with their heart. Alford and Joel have

opened their hearts, and it’s wonderful how they give back to the

community.”

She said she was very glad to be associated with them in the “One

in Eight” fund-raiser and that she’s met a lot of wonderful people

through Woody’s.

Monica McDade who also worked with Woody’s with the “One in Eight”

event lauds their efforts.

“They’re amazing,” McDade said. “I know Alford, Joel and Dan. I

met them through AIDS Services Foundation. They’re wonderfully

generous and supportive. Their reputation in the community is

exemplary. I think other businesses in the community could learn from

them.”

Local and regular patron Rod Rigby said that he thinks Woody’s is

a wonderful tradition as an upscale, contemporary dining

establishment.

“Woody’s is really fantastic supporting the local artists and

their displays and their support of local fund-raisers and

charities,” Rigby said. “They are very open and wonderful and have

opened their doors to Laguna Shanti, ASF, breast cancer -- they have

charities here all the time.”

He said that there really isn’t a restaurant and bar combination

that supports such a broad spectrum of charities and fund-raisers in

this town.

“They bend over backward,” Rigby said.

“From the beginning, Woody’s concept was to create a warm and

welcoming neighborhood restaurant environment catering to both locals

and tourists alike,” Herzer said. “From the street, Woody’s looks

like someone’s home. That’s the feeling I want people to have when

they are on the inside as well.”

To find out more about Woody’s at the Beach, visit

www.woodysatthebeach.com or call 376-8809.