Dexter, MO - The Dexter Chamber of Commerce held its annual awards banquet on Friday, March 4, 2022 at The Lair Event Center.  The meal was catered by Dhafer's Mediterranean Steakhouse. Both Representative Herman Morse and Senator Jason Bean were on hand to present resolutions to the award recipients.

Mark Whitehead presented the 2021 Business of the Year Award to Dexter Cinema.  Chris and Alysa Costin are the owners and were unable to attend the banquet.

"Chris began working at the cinema at the age of 16.  His grandfather ran the Dexter cinema for 30 years and the reason why Chris is now the proud owner."

"In 202 they purchased the cinema and shortly after taking over the cinema closed from February 28th through March to make remodeling upgrades.  Then on March 18th Covid-19 guidelines forced them to shut their doors.  They would not open their doors again until June 2020.  Even though doors were open, business was not the same.  The film industry was hit hard and new movies were not being produced.  If new films were not being released, then the enticement of seeing the latest movie in the theaters wasn't there either."

"Then in May of 2021, a vehicle crashed into their front lobby.  It wasn't until December that new windows were able to be delivered and installed."

Congratulations to the Dexter Chamber of Commerce 2021 Business of the Year - Dexter Cinema.

Accepting the award for them is from left Alisha Trammell, Herman Morse, Jason Bean and Whitehead.