Omar Jennings II spent nearly every day greeting customers from a stool of Jennings Café after he took over the business that his father opened in Catonsville more than 50 years ago.

Three months after Jennings' II death, the family-owned restaurant received the Greater Catonsville Chamber of Commerce's Legacy Award for its eminent and enduring presence in the community.

Omar Jennings III, the son of Jennings II and current owner of the café, was one of a handful of local businesspeople honored Oct. 20 at the chamber's annual Catonsville Business Awards celebration.

The Legacy category was one of six recognized Tuesday evening. Other categories were start-up, revitalization, innovation, community outreach and building community.

Jennings III said he believed his late father would have been "very proud" of the acknowledgment.

"He was here every day, and he was here every night," said Jennings III, who officially took over the restaurant in 1980 after the endeavor became too overwhelming for his father.

He said his father never quite gave up his role. "This was his home," he said.

Thomas Quirk, vice president of the chamber and chairman of the business awards committee, said Jennings Café has been a Catonsville staple since it opened.

"When people come to town from outside the area, if they know just one restaurant, it's this one," said Quirk, who grew up in Arnold.

"Omar Jennings III has been a phenomenal business owner, and everyone knew his father. They're just good people."

Like Jennings III, all honorees are owners of Catonsville businesses that the chamber deemed had made important contributions to the community's social and economic climate.

Gary Teegardin was given the Best Start-Up Award for his restaurant, Duesenberg's -- An American Café and Grill, which he opened in January after operating the nearby Taneytown Deli for 20 years.

Members of the chamber said the restaurant on Mellor Avenue has thrived even though it opened for business in the midst of a recession.

Maria Flores won the Revitalization Award for refurbishing the space at the corner of Frederick Road and Mellor Avenue to open El Nayar restaurant.

The building, which about a year-and-a-half ago housed Pinocchio's Carry Out and Restaurant, now serves as an accessible Mexican restaurant in the heart of Catonsville.

The Innovation Award went to Scott Jeffrey, program director for the Geospatial Applications Program at Community College of Baltimore County, for the cutting-edge technological advances he has made to information software.

He has shared these findings with the community, providing local businesses and government with resources they need for important decision-making.

Scott Baylin, of Lelkin and Baylin Dental Care on Frederick Road, was awarded the Community Outreach Award for his involvement and for providing protective mouth gear to local youth soccer and basketball teams.

The Building Community Award went to DyAnn Moree and the Catonsville Celebrations Committee for organizing popular community events, including the well-attended annual July 4 parade and fireworks.

While the winners of these awards were announced before the Oct. 20 event, the President's Award and the Businessperson of the Year Award were unknown until the celebration.

Wayne McDowell of McDowell's Chimney Service was given the President's Award by George Brookhart, president of the chamber.

Brookhart said McDowell's involvement in church and community organizations, such as League of Dreams, helped him win the title.

Businessperson of the Year Award went to Nathaniel Corn and his wife, Rissa Miller, who own Balance Photography on Wallerson Road.

"They're always out and about in Catonsville," Brookhart said. "They're just a bright young couple."

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