Sunny Day Cafe Named Bel Air's Business of the Year for 2016

BEL AIR, MD - Town officials announced this week that Sunny Day Cafe is Bel Air's 2016 Business of the Year. Annually, the town recognizes a business that has significantly contributed to the community.

Sunny Day Cafe owner Laurie Orfanidis was recently presented with the award from the Bel Air Economic and Community Development Commission and Town of Bel Air, which reported there were many reasons for the selection, including the buzz the restaurant has generated on South Main Street.

"They have created a lot of activity for the south of end of Main Street with their popular outdoor seating option, where you will find friends and families gathering and business meetings happening on a daily basis," town officials said in a statement.

In fact, Bel Air Patch readers named Sunny Day Cafe among their top picks for outdoor dining in the area.

In addition to literally bringing people together on South Main Street, Sunny Day Cafe unites the community by promoting other Bel Air businesses online via social media, officials said.

The spirit of community runs deep, inside and outside the restaurant's doors.

In December, Orfanidis and her employees can be found serving hot cocoa and cookies to the hundreds of families at the annual Bel Air Christmas parade. When it's warm, they may be spotted at the Bel Air BBQ Bash.

After Harford County lost two sheriff's deputies in February, Orfanidis and her staff held a benefit at the Bel Air Armory to benefit the LEO Wives Foundation and C.O.P.S. to raise money for local law enforcement. Sunny Day Cafe also hosts fundraisers for organizations like the Chesapeake Cancer Alliance and SARC.

Orfanidis, who has been in the restaurant business for 35 years, opened the café in 2012 with the help of her husband, Nick, and their sons, Evan and Jerry, along with friends. The restaurant celebrated its four-year anniversary on Tuesday, according to its Facebook page.

Sunny Day Cafe "has grown a huge, loyal following because of the great service and excellent food they provide and their willingness to give back to the community," town officials said in a statement, noting "endless efforts to promote downtown Bel Air, along with the sense of community they have created at Sunny Day Cafe, are among the reasons they were selected as Business of the Year for 2016."

Sunny Day Cafe is located at 101 South Main Street in Bel Air.

See Also:

• Dine al Fresco: Outdoor Dining Spots Near Bel Air
• 6 Places in Bel Air to Take Out-of-Town Visitors
• Top 9 Sunday Brunch Spots in Bel Air: Yelp
• Sunny Day Cafe Receives State Recognition

Submitted photo.