![Frank Chivas, who owns such restaurants as Island Way Grill, Salt Rock Grill, Marlin’ Darlin, Rumba and the Salt Rock Tavern, was instrumental in bringing powerboat and windsurfing events to Clearwater. [Julie Busch Branaman photo] ](https://www.tampabay.com/resizer/v2/frank-chivas-who-owns-such-restaurants-as-ZOREAAGG7EI6TBKNIBWI6S7HAY.jpg?auth=4d02577ce2cdb70494d9020460ed7468b9252148adea38542591ba9c2973e3e8&width=426 "Frank Chivas, who owns such restaurants as Island Way Grill, Salt Rock Grill, Marlin’ Darlin, Rumba and the Salt Rock Tavern, was instrumental in bringing powerboat and windsurfing events to Clearwater. [Julie Busch Branaman photo] ")
CLEARWATER — He had a tough childhood. His father, a commercial fisherman, was lost at sea when he was just 11. He was placed in foster care.
At age 16, he moved to Pinellas County, where he eventually started a wholesale fish business. Then he opened a restaurant. Then another. Then another. Then another.
Along the way, he got seriously involved in his community. So, on Wednesday night, restaurateur Frank Chivas was named "Mr. Clearwater" at the 93rd annual meeting of the Clearwater Regional Chamber of Commerce.
Like previous winners of the Mr./Mrs. Clearwater award, named annually since 1958, Chivas was surprised to learn he won. He was kept in the dark until his name was announced at the chamber's banquet at the Sheraton Sand Key.
"You're not going to get rid of me, I can guarantee you that. There's a lot more to come," he said upon accepting the award and donning the honorary navy blue blazer.
Chivas is best known for his stable of restaurants — Island Way Grill, Salt Rock Grill, Marlin' Darlin, Rumba, Salt Rock Tavern and, soon, the Marina Cantina at the Clearwater Beach Marina.
He's also known for his charitable work on behalf of a laundry list of nonprofit groups such as the Chi Chi Rodriguez Academy, Clearwater Community Sailing Center, Boys & Girls Club, Clearwater 4 Youth, UPARC and Clearwater Marine Aquarium.
He had a hand in luring an annual offshore powerboat race to Clearwater Beach as well as an international youth windsurfing competition last October.
The chamber also announced its annual business awards Wednesday night. Among them were:
Large business of the year: Hyatt Regency Clearwater Beach. Medium business of the year: Tampa Bay Magazine. Small business of the year: EZFingerPrints. Large not-for-profit of the year: Empath/Suncoast Hospice. Medium not-for-profit of the year: Kimberly Home. Small not-for-profit of the year: InterCultural Advocacy Institute. Tourism person of the year: Phil Henderson, Starlite Cruises.
