It’s official: Easter House Bed and Breakfast, 508 N. Main St., is the 2017 Ada Area Chamber of Commerce’s business of the year.

David Dellifield, chamber president, made the announcement at the Feb. 15 chamber annual dinner in McIntosh Center.

Accepting the award were owners Mark Hilan and Amy Eddings.

The business is barely one year old, yet the owners have proven worthy of the award through several efforts to promote Ada through their business and being a driving force to launch the Made in Ada Wilson Football Festival.

In the short time since the business opened it also was on last winter’s Hardin County Candy Cane Tour of Homes. It also won first place in the 2016 Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs Business Plan Competition.

The B&B owners, recently transplants to Ada, have created a premiere bed and breakfast, offering visitors a homey, unique and delight-filled alternative to a conventional hotel, motel or dormitory.

The 508 N. Main St. house is one of Ada’s largest (3 floors and a full basement) and oldest homes.

Since their purchase of the residence in 2014 the owners have spent considerable effort refurbishing the inside and outside of the stately home known for its late Victorian Queen Anne architecture. They call the abode Easter House due to its colorful exterior.

The couple moved from New York City to Ada a year ago. Mark was news anchor for an all-news radio station in NYC while Amy was host for WNYC "All Things Considered" on NPR.

The four most recent businesses of the year were:
2016 – Ada Icon
2015 - Liberty National Bank
2014 - Ada Public Library
2013 - Everhart Trucking