In 2000, the Restaurant Association of Maryland established a “Hospitality Hall of Honor” to recognize those industry leaders who have exhibited hard work, dedication, courage and creativity while representing the Hospitality Industry in Maryland. Tonight’s five Hall of Honor inductees all live up to the high standards set by each and every one of our previous year’s inductees.

The creation of Fager’s Island Restaurant was actually an accident – a means to an end! That end was to be the financing of a solar townhome project on the Isle of Wight Bay. John Fager was living the dream of many young men of the time. He had a home at the beach, a business on the Boardwalk and a fire in his belly.

Fager’s Island began strictly as a bar. Warm and inviting; it had lots of glass, a fireplace, sofas, stereo music and hanging plants, all novelties for that time. In a matter of months, Fager’s Island went from a strictly bar atmosphere to selling the first of Fager’s still-famous overstuffed sandwiches. Again, a first in the seaside resort.

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