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Local Voices

Lusy's Mediterranean Café & Grill Honored as Small Business of the Year

In conjunction with California Small Business Association, California State Assembly Member Adrin Nazarian, D-Van Nuys, this week honored Lusy’s Mediterranean Café & Grill, a Valley Glen restaurant, as the 46th Assembly District’s 2014 Small Business of the Year.

“While best known for serving fresh, healthy Mediterranean food, Lusy and her husband Avedis Koshkaryan are genuinely dedicated to playing an active, positive role in their community,” said Nazarian.

The California Small Business Association (CSBA) works with state legislators to annually honor outstanding small businesses from their districts. Lusy’s was among 80 businesses selected from throughout the state for recognition. There are more than 3.5 million small businesses in California and they employ half of the state’s private sector labor force.

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“Whether it is food or community service, Lusy always gives from the heart. She is a wonderful example of how to run a business that serves both customers and the community,” said Nazarian.

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who represents the Van Nuys district, said Lusy’s was “a natural choice for the California Small Business Association award.” Gradzhyan and Koshkaryan have been previously honored by the Los Angeles City Council as outstanding citizens for their community outreach and involvement.

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“The day Assemblyman Nazarian’s field representative Talene Dermenjian told us we were to be recognized, it was a celebration,” said owner and chef Lusy Gradzhyan upon receiving the award. “It has been an absolute joy and privilege to be able to create food people love and to be able to give back to our community.”

According to Valley Glen Neighborhood Association (VGNA) president Dean Abston, Lusy’s has been very supportive to community projects.

 “I’m very glad to see them get such an honor,” said Abston who counts himself as a Lusy’s regular. “I know more than 100 Van Nuys civic leaders and residents signed the nomination form submitted to Assemblyman Nazarian’s office. Her customers come from Sherman Oaks, Studio City, Burbank and from throughout the Valley."”

Lusy’s Mediterranean Café & Grill opened its door in Valley Glen in 2006. The business was built on restaurant service, delivery and catering.

It was named one of LA’s top six affordable

eateries by Westways Magazine and rated

one of Los Angeles’ top Mediterranean restaurants by Yelp.

 

National online food delivery services, including GrubHub and EAT24, have honored Lusy’s for their food quality.

 

Lusy’s has donated food and catering services to the Valley Glen Fire Department, the Valley Glen Neighborhood Association, the first annual North Hollywood and Grant High Schools Chess Tournament and Kaiser Permanente’s neo-natal unit.

 

As a part of neighborhood improvement, Lusy’s underwrote graffiti removal and pavement cleaning of the Woodman Plaza mall and encouraged other storeowners to clean and upgrade their storefronts including a local bakery, donut shop, pizza parlor and dry cleaners. To alleviate parking congestion, Lusy’s contracted for offsite parking for its employees so that residents could have better access to neighboring merchants.

CSBA honorees were hosted in Sacramento at a daylong event attended by legislative leaders.

 

FOR FURTHER INFORMA TION CONTACT: Waltona Manion 818-785-5525 or waltona@waltonamanion.com

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