Running a successful restaurant is hard enough, especially when you’re under pressure every day to live up to the reputation of Jess & Jim’s Steakhouse. Yet, somehow, Debbie Van Noy still carved out 20 years to make an especially meaningful difference in our Martin City community.
Debbie was the Founding Chair of the Martin City Community Improvement District Board of Directors, first stepping into the role way back in 2005. Was she committed? Well, consider that she only missed a single monthly Board meeting in all that time — one.
Dedicated MCCID Chair and matriarch of the Jess and Jim’s Steakhouse family. (Left to right) Mike Jr, Ashley, Mike Sr, and Debbie Van Noy
Debbie guided our neighborhood through the first two decades of our revitalization as we dragged our crumbling stretch of 135th Street into the modern era complete with curbs, sidewalks, and landscaping. She got behind a steady stream of initiatives to help grow Martin City’s future, everything from impromptu parties and social media stunts to the development of infrastructure and the evolution of our now legendary St. Patrick’s Parade. Her fingerprints are all over what we’ve done to unleash the spirit of our community, show our pride, and stand up for our businesses.
“I think we’ve seen Debbie as the Mayor of Martin City,” said longtime MCCID Board member Nick Mosakowski. And he couldn’t be more right.
Celebrating a crowning achievement — Van Noy at the ribbon cutting unveiling the new 135th Street in Martin City in 2017.
Recently a few of us gathered with members of Debbie’s family in private to take a moment to toast her many years of service. She’s officially off the Board now and enjoying a well-deserved break, but continues to be an influential voice (of course 😉), and we couldn’t be more grateful. You could hear it over and over as we celebrated her with gifts and flowers, but it’s certainly worth repeating again here: thanks, Debbie!
“Thank you, Debbie” private celebration at Rosehill Winery.
Current MCCID Board (left to right) Danny Lake, Vickie Wolverton (Manager), Rob Sight, Alexa Barkley and Nick Mosakowski
Former MCCID Board Chair Brad Ziegler (left) and current Board Vice Chair George Farrill
Longtime friend and Rosehill owner Curtis Stroud
The MCCID Board honored Debbie with a token of appreciation that’s perfect for prominent display inside (or outside) Jess and Jim’s Steakhouse. A metal street sign is just right for the decor vibe and a nostalgic echo of her crowning achievement in the modernization of 135th Street through ‘downtown’ Martin City.
Not your usual plaque — an old school street sign and perfect match for display inside Jess and Jim’s Steakhouse
Current MCCID Chair Danny Lake and District Manager Vickie Wolverton
A very proud Van Noy family.
If you’re new to these parts, and want to know what makes Martin City great, pop into Jess and Jim’s and ask Debbie Van Noy. But you better order up a steak and a beer, because it’s gonna take awhile.
Special thanks to Martin City businesses who helped us pull together Debbie’s appreciation event, including Rosehill Winery, Rey de Oros, and Sidelines Custom Floral Designs, Inc.
