Join Him For Good Times At His Cafe and Green Marina

Looking for a locally owned business that is dedicated to the environment and showing you a good time? Well we found TWO businesses! Look no further than the family owned and operated Anchor Bay East Marina and Hard Yacht Café. Art Cox and family have created jobs and a little piece of paradise for the Greater Dundalk Area. Their business has be open for over 20 years, and has made Dundalk a destination for tourist and boaters all over the nation.

Where he calls home: For 7 months of the year Art and his family call Anchor Bay Marina in Dundalk home. The other 3 months of the year they live in Kingsville.

Occupation:
Has owned and operated the Anchor Bay East Marina for 24 years alongside wife (Tina) and daughter (Jennifer). Also owns and operates the ever popular Hard Yacht Café. Find out more info here!

You may already know him: In 2010 Anchor Bay East Marina was a recipient of a Dundalk Renaissance Corporation Milestone Award. Not only have the businesses grown over time, but it also has lead Maryland in their quest for cleaner marinas. In 1998 the Department of Natural Resources created the Clean Marina Program to assist marinas in becoming more environmentally friendly. Anchor Bay was one of the first Maryland recipients of this honor and certification in 1999. Anchor Bay was actually the first marina to put its fuel storage tanks above ground! Art will be quick to tell you they didn’t need to make many changes in their business practices to become certified. Anchor Bay East Marina has always been dedicated to the environment.

Hobbies:
When he isn’t running the family business Art enjoys boating (duh) and riding his motorcycle.

Best part about owning a business is Dundalk:
Art believes that “Dundalk is a premier location. We’re very close to the Inner Harbor, Chesapeake Bay, and it’s deep water right to our doorsteps. It’s natural to do business here.” He also points out that the surrounding area offer services the Anchor Bay East Marina does not offer. Dundalk is a great central location for his type of business.

Anchor Bay East Marina and Hard Yacht Café are great places for locals and visitors to mingle. Art explains that many boaters come for out of state to Anchor Bay specifically because they are a certified clean marina. I am sure the great service and welcoming demeanor of the Cox family doesn’t hurt either! “We see a lot of people from Florida [early summer]. Late summer and into the fall we see a lot of New England people.” It’s great to see the exposure Dundalk receives from housing Anchor Bay East Marina.

Best part about your neighborhood:
While the Cox family may not live in Dundalk all year, they are still proud to call it home for 7 months out of the year. “We have been here since 1987. When we were first here it was just pretty stagnant. There were not a lot of things going on. It has been very exciting over the last several years to see all the new development.”  Art goes on to list a handful of developments that are complete, in progress, and in the planning stages around the water. “It’s a very exciting time to be here!”

Final Thoughts:
“People here are great!” Art can speak to the changes of Dundalk over the years since their purchase of the marina in 1987. The Cox family has been dedicated to improving and supporting the community. Art speaks on their employees, “ In 1987 we had no employees, it was a mom and pop type operation. We have hired 25-27 young employees who have been with us since the 80’s and 90’s. There have been some great young folks, and we are happy to employ them. Four years ago we opened the Hard Yacht Café, and employees all young Dundalk folks. That’s another 25-30 employees.”

We think it may be safe to say that most people from Dundalk or who have been to Dundalk have a good memory from Anchor Bay or the Hard Yacht Café. “It’s been very rewarding to open up and start a business in this neighborhood. It’s been great to see it flourish and to see so many great young folks growing along with us.”

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