Every town, city, and suburb have an array of local restaurants and eateries, all of which may not receive enough recognition. This summer I set out to only eat at locally owned businesses in my area and was completely satisfied (and quite impressed) by each and every one.
Here are five things I learned by explicitly eating locally this summer:
1. There are more local restaurants in your town than you may think.
In the Lafayette and West Lafayette, Indiana, area there are a few restaurants that are infamous and known to be locally owned (Dog n' Suds being a prime example). However, when I sat down and scouted out other restaurants in my city, I was shocked to learn there are over 17 restaurants owned by people in my community -- even ones I had dined at in the past.
(P.S. All photos are of locally ran restaurants in the Lafayette/ West Lafayette area).
2. Eating local helps boost the local economy!
In the most basic sense, buying local doubles the chances of money staying in your own community and keeping the local economy alive. Moreover, buying local fuels new employment and job opportunities for others also living in your town. Studies show that local employers retain more employees for longer periods of time and employ more people per unit of sale than a franchise business!
3. The employees care about YOU!
Over and over again, when visiting these locally owned eateries, I realized how friendly and charismatic the employees were. Our orders were taken with precision, we were frequently checked on, and at the end of the meal, the server usually asked how well we enjoyed the food rather than when we were ready to pay. It felt as if the customer was taken with extreme value - as they should be!
4. Locally owned may also mean locally bought...and that's a good thing.
When you order a filet at a steakhouse do you ever wonder where that cow came from? What about an ear of corn or a hedge of lettuce? If you've ever heard the term farm-to-table you'll understand how important it is to eat fresh ingredients whenever possible. Many locally owned eateries believe in supporting other entrepreneurs in the same town, therefore, your filets may very well be the cow you saw at the fair the week prior. Sometimes this thought is a little horrifying, but it's also extremely healthy and goes right along with keeping the flow of money in your community.
5. The unique style of these restaurants is uncomparable.
Each time I walk into a franchise restaurant, I can expect to see the same seating setup, similar wall decor, and almost identical floor plans. Walking into restaurants locally owned, I was able to admire the atmosphere each one encompassed. Local producers have the knowledge of the city and can create an appropriate and unique feel that's specific to the area. It makes the entire experience a little more interesting!