10/20/2025
Congratulations Tom!!
Congratulations to Tom Hanson, this year's Business Champion of the Year!
Tom was born and raised on St Paul’s East Side. He married his wife - Jaima- in 1984. Their family consists of three children and five grandchildren (four of the grand kids have all worked in the restaurants and three are working there now as well as one son, Louis, his daughter Valerie and daughter in law Ashley.) He moved to Duluth in 1993 while working at Ground Round Restaurant as a transfer.
It was a temporary move that has now lasted 32 years. After working at various chain restaurants and one independent in Duluth, he started with the Duluth Grill as an owner in 2001. Although the restaurant operations run smoothly today, the beginning was difficult with multiple setbacks, no operating capital and extremely thin to negative margins.
With the support of a dedicated and hard-working team, Tom was able to overcome this and after about 9 years finally found some breathing room to operate in. Since 2016 the Duluth Grill Family has grown to five restaurants (Duluth Grill , OMC Smokehouse, Corktown Eatery and Bar, Burger ParadoxChicken and Whaaat?), over 300 employees, an 8-unit vacation rental property (Duluth Press Building Residential Suites ), as well as one retail operation (Minnesconsin Gallery & Gifts).
“The work is always challenging and profitability is constantly hard fought to stay ahead, but despite all this the best thing to happen to our entire family is making Duluth our home. “
Join us on October 30th at the Annual Meeting & Dinner Celebration to celebrate our award winners: Business Champion of the Year, Volunteer of the Year and Emerging Leader of the Year. Register today: duluthchamber.com