Never mind that Igloi-Matsuno is only 26. She has already been recognized for her entrepreneurial excellence: In September, she became part of the 2007 class of “40 Under 40,” an annual recognition by Kitsap Peninsula Business Journal of the area’s most outstanding young business and community leaders.

The restaurant has been Grant’s dream. He worked as a corporate chef in Seattle, and was previously a sous chef at Anthony’s. When her father, who is a real estate developer, learned about JJ’s on the Bay being for sale, he encouraged the couple, who were engaged at the time, to come to Port Orchard and take a look. It was her first visit to Port Orchard, though Grant has been stationed in Bremerton before during his military service. Thirty days later, the deal was done.

Igloi-Matsuno has worked in restaurants to pay her way though college, but has never been a manager. She was nearing the completion of her fine arts business degree at the University of Washington (she loves numbers and accounting) when the opportunity came along. Grant had a good income and good benefits, but the two decided, why not? “It’s an adventure — we can do it,” Igloi-Matsuno said. “The other life was more predictable.”

Grant, who started in the restaurant industry as a dishwasher, has worked his way through the ranks. Always interested in good food and cooking, he developed Amy’s on the Bay menu, and is in the kitchen just about six days a week. Amy is the general manager, focused on the front of the house, bookkeeping, inventory etc. “I’m a plumber, I clean; there is no job I don’t do other than cook.”

Igloi-Matsuno credits her father with her independent and self-reliant character. Originally from Korea, she was adopted, and grew up in a multicultural family. Amazingly, the story of Grant is very similar. He, too, was born in Seoul, was adopted by a multicultural family, and they both traveled a lot as children. The two were married recently — with the wedding, of course, at Amy’s on the Bay. (Grant cooked most of the food, still busy in the kitchen just a few hours before his wedding.)

“I wouldn’t be able to do this without my dad. He raised my sister and I to be self-sufficient and focused,” she said. She was only 25 when Amy’s opened. “I had to learn on the fly. One of the things my dad taught me was to be adaptable and think outside the box,” she said. “Without that, I couldn’t have done it.”

Despite an overwhelming work schedule, Igloi-Matsuno has been actively involved with the chamber of commerce, currently chairing the military affairs and Web site committees and serving as vice president of the board. She is also a member of the Port Orchard Bay Street Association.

“(Running the business) does get a little bit easier as it gets established, but the more stability here, I take on more community service. It’s another thing my dad taught me,” she said.

To be better involved in civic affairs, the couple bought a home in Port Orchard city limits so they can vote. Amy admits she’s a city girl and misses Seattle, but says Port Orchard has its own charm, and she fell in love with her new home, which has a great view of the water.

She said the business’ success beat their best expectations, but they continue to look for ways to grow — including possibly opening a second eatery in Port Orchard. “The major challenge was trying to balance what our customers wanted, our employees wanted, we wanted, and what the budget can handle,” she said. “We found a niche… but I still feel we need to be adaptable to the market.”