Here’s Why You Might be Interested in Supporting Local Restaurants
When considering where you should grab a bite to eat after work, consider the benefits of going to a restaurant that sits locally in your community. Your community can use your support more than you realize, especially now that small restaurants are trying to find their way out of the rubble that COVID-19 left them in. Throughout the pandemic, many employees had either left or been laid off from their jobs and filed for unemployment. In addition, restaurants were prohibited from having indoor or outdoor dining which caused them to struggle, and for many, take out was not a worthy option for making enough money to keep the doors open. Now, as indoor and outdoor dining are progressively opening up, small restaurants need your help in their recovery.
Your care is their priority
Local restaurants are managed by neighbors from your very own community. These local owners put their utmost dedication and passion into creating their own business. They appreciate their customers who chip in and help make the success of their business possible. These owners care about the people they service in ways that aren’t available with restaurants from larger chains. You have the opportunity for a more individualized experience with a staff that takes pride in working hard to keep their clientele smiling. By supporting these caring, local business owners, you are able to assist in the continuity of good food and good service that they provide.
Want to switch up with new flavors and some diverse dishes?
Local restaurant owners are typically talented chefs that come from a variety of culinary roots which means they can place flavors from across the globe right onto your plate. When you support the diverse cultures of the restaurants, you are also expanding your horizons by trying new things that you possibly never even heard of. In the process of making their diverse creations, local restaurant owners use fresh, good quality ingredients to give you the best tasting food possible. Not only does this fresher food leave you with a good taste, but these fresh, unprocessed products are significantly better for your health.
Building the local economy
Having a substantial job market is prominent for obtaining a stable economy. Local restaurants actually provide a good handful of these jobs which means that they play a large role in keeping a good economy. Therefore, minimizing local restaurants can cause long term damage for the local job market. Along with this, supporting local restaurants keeps money in the community. It is like a chain reaction. You support a small restaurant that employs local neighbors who are likely to spend their paycheck at other local businesses. In addition, most bigger chains collect their ingredients from all over the country for a single dish, however local restaurant owners are most likely to support and buy ingredients from other local businesses. When you eat at one small, local restaurant, you are supporting a whole chain of local businesses that benefit from your single contribution.
Supporting local can actually reduce the carbon footprint
According to Green America, reducing food waste and minimizing transportation reduces carbon emissions. Most local restaurants buy their food and supplies locally and, therefore, the food doesn’t need to be transported from great distances. When you purchase from these smaller businesses that support local farms, your contribution is able to second-hand reduce carbon emissions from transportation in the food system. With this, you can protect your environment while also enjoying foods that haven’t been chemically processed to last a cross-country transportation.
It’s a win-win
People are usually very cautious about the things they put their money into. The food you eat and where it comes from should be one of these things. Be cautious by supporting local restaurants that are going to use your money to give back to the local community, give you a significantly better customer experience and provide you with fresher, tastier foods. Eating at local restaurants allows you to indulge in great food while also supporting your local economy which means both you and your community get to benefit.