Lismore, Breweries Win Big At DECI Awards

Tom Giffey |

A remodeled hotel and a pair of breweries earned honors from Downtown Eau Claire Inc. at the group’s annual awards ceremony on Wednesday, Feb. 24. The Lismore, the hotel and convention center that also hosted the ceremony, was named Downtown Construction Project of the Year. The $20 million renovation of the former Ramada Inn on South Barstow Street will come to fruition when the full facility – including the 112-room hotel with a restaurant, coffee shop, and bar – opens in April. (The Lismore’s  convention halls opened a few months ago.) Meanwhile, both the Renovation Project of the Year Award and the Favorite Restaurant/Bar/Shop Downtown Award went to Lazy Monk Brewing, which recently moved into a spacious, remodeled tap room on North Madison Street. Best New Business went to The Brewing Projekt, another small brewer just a few blocks away on North Oxford Avenue. Other winners included the Sounds Like Summer Concert Series, which won the Downtown Experience Award; Houligans Steak & Seafood Pub, Above and Beyond Award; Carrie Bodenburg, Volunteer of the Year; Xcel Energy, DECI Member of the Year; and Eau Claire Noon Rotary Club, Downtown First Award. The winners were chosen by more than 550 people who voted in DECI’s awards survey. DECI is a nonprofit organization dedicated to revitalizing downtown Eau Claire. Learn more at downtowneauclaire.org