Newport chamber celebrates centennial

It all began when 16 merchants started a booster club with 80 bucks.

Now it’s about 1,000 members strong.

The Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce has had many names over the years, but as it turns 100 today its primary goal has remained the same: to boost local business.

When the chamber was first born it was called the Harbor Boosters. Eventually, though, the club took on its current moniker and puts on many major events like the Christmas Boat Parade and the Taste of Newport.

Longtime Newport Beach resident and chamber member Art Gronsky bought the Balboa Pavilion in 1947 and right away joined the chamber, which at that time had an office on West Coast Highway.

“It was probably 10% of what it is now…. We did what we could in those days, but it wasn’t a whole lot. Why, compared to today, it was nothing,” Gronsky said. “But I ended up serving on the board of it shortly after [I joined] and I was on the board for about 25 years.”

And although Gronsky was modest about what the chamber was able to accomplish in its early history, many of the initial chamber activities helped to shape the city as residents know it today.

This year the city will have its 99th annual Christmas Boat Parade and 46 years ago the chamber started honoring local students at its Scholarship and Athletic Awards Breakfast.

The chamber had a hand in opening Newport Harbor and has remained involved with both industrial and city issues throughout the years.

“I am always impressed that they are knowledgeable about all of the city’s issues and they take positions on city issues … in political campaigns and various measures that appear on the city and even statewide ballot,” said former board chairman and mayor Dennis O’Neil. “The chamber is a great source of information because of the dedication and willingness to be so much involved with the city.”

Former chamber President Richard “Dick” Stevens led the organization when the chamber was dealing with major expansions, including the building of John Wayne Airport, UC Irvine and Fashion Island. But his favorite memory was breaking ground at the new chamber office on Jamboree Road.

“When we finally put together all the money to build the new chamber headquarters where they are now, that was really a labor of love for a lot of people who put up time and money to help us create that home,” Stevens said. “That was a wonderful day when everybody got together, old and new, and we broke ground.”

To celebrate these times, and many others, the chamber will host an event at 5:30 p.m. May 10 at The Island Hotel in Newport Beach.

“If you look back through the history of the chamber, it really touched every aspect of the community, whether it be working in municipal areas or creating big signature events like the Taste of Newport and the Christmas Boat Parade, or working with residents,” chamber Vice President Jeff Parker said. “It’s just really been involved over the last 100 years with the harbor and business development in really every facet.”

For more information visit www.newportbeach.com.