BUCYRUS – Business owners Shawn and Tacsha Ridgeway have been honored by the Bucyrus Area Chamber of Commerce with the “Entrepreneurs of the Year” award for 2020.

The Ridgeways, who own and operate Breezzy’s Pizza and Dillinger’s Entertainment Center & Restaurant downtown and Suburban Lanes on Hopley Avenue, were recognized by the Chamber for “adding so much to our community on so many levels.”

“It really surprised me,” said Shawn Ridgeway, who received the Chamber award on Dec. 28. “This really means a lot to me and my wife. Words can’t express how much. It means everything to us.”

The Ridgeways, who opened Dillinger’s on Washington Square eight years ago, bring in live entertainment and a variety of acts to the downtown establishment. Five years ago, they debuted Breezzy’s Pizza within the same entertainment venue.

Breezzy’s, which is famous for its pizza, wings and chicken chunks, also offers a full menu featuring fresh Lake Erie perch, burgers, sandwiches and salads, Ridgeway said. Online ordering is always an option, he said, with “quality meals at reasonable prices.”

The pride of his three businesses, however, is Suburban Lanes & Entertainment Center, which the couple purchased about 18 months ago. Back in the day, the bowling alley gave Ridgeway his first job. He took out the trash “and they let me bowl for free.”

Ridgeway worked his way up the ladder, eventually becoming general manager of the facility in his early 20’s. “All the businesses mean a lot to me, but this one here definitely has a special place in my heart,” he said from the busy establishment on New Year’s Eve.

Since taking over from the former owner, the Crawford County natives have invested $100,000 in new automatic scoring machines, replacing the dated equipment from the 1990’s. They have also installed new carpeting and added four new 12-foot big screen TV’s.

“It really added a lot to the entertainment side, especially on the weekends for glow bowling and sports and other things,” Ridgeway said of the bowling alley, which is also home to weekly leagues, birthday parties and other special events throughout the year.

Ridgeway, 46, credits his staff as well as his loyal customers for contributing to the success of the ventures. “It has been a long road but hard work, lots and lots of patience, a couple of big breaks and surrounding ourselves with awesome people has been a great combination.”