Chronis’ Restaurant & Lounge owners honored for community efforts

Esther Short — Perennial Thanksgiving angel and downtown restaurateur Chuck Chronis, and his wife, Sandy, received the Vocational Service Award from the Rotary Club of Vancouver at an Oct. 31 luncheon at the Red Lion Hotel Vancouver at the Quay. The award recognizes community members whose outstanding commitment leaves a lasting, positive influence on their chosen field and the community in general. Chuck and Sandy Chronis have owned Chronis’ Restaurant & Lounge in downtown Vancouver for decades; for the past 28 years, they have put on a free Thanksgiving meal that’s open to everyone. In recent years, they extended the tradition to Christmas Day. “Everyone is welcome here,” said Chuck Chronis. “We hear so many stories about how people have been touched by this. That’s what makes it worth it.”