Starkville Restaurant Week begins today, with 31 participants. This year marks the third year of the event, which has been expanded to 10 days, covering two weekends.
There are so many positives associated with the event, which is sponsored by The Starkville Convention and Visitors Bureau and Cadence Bank, it’s difficult to know where to start. In its two years, the event has proven to be a financial shot in the arm for the restaurants (sales have been up 15 to 20 percent) during what is typically a slow time in the business.
It’s been a great marketing tool, too. Last year, officials noted 60 percent of the ballots were cast by people who live outside the Golden Triangle.
That boost to the local economy also means higher sales-tax collections, which means that even residents who don’t participate derive some benefit.
It has proven to be a great fund-raiser, too, thanks to the $5,000 awarded by Cadence Bank for the winning charity. Each year, three charities are chosen to compete for the prize. Diners during Restaurant Week vote for their favorite charity. Last year, the Oktibbeha County Humane Society took home the $5,000. This year, diners will cast their votes for Starkville Habitat for Humanity, The Salvation Army and Autism and Developmental Disabilities Clinic.
Starkville Restaurant Week reminds us of the important role restaurants play in our communities. There are the obvious benefits, of course. Restaurants provide jobs and produce tax revenue.
But restaurants do far more.
Restaurants are places where we come together, where we celebrate and socialize, where we conduct our civic meetings and throw our parties.
Think about it for a moment: What is one of the first things you want to know when traveling? Chances are it’s “where should I eat?” When we think of cities like New Orleans or San Francisco or New York, we almost always think of the wonderful restaurants. For some a trip to New Orleans without a visit to Commander’s Palace or the Acme Oyster House would be a wasted trip. A visit to Carnegie Deli is almost essential for the first-time visitor to New York City.
But that same dynamic applies in cities and towns, even “bumps on the road” everywhere. Few towns are without a “you have to eat there” spot. It may range from a place where you can have a good burger, to fine dining, to everything in between.
A town with a variety of restaurants has a decided advantage over one that doesn’t. A really good restaurant can even affect how a community is perceived.
Good food makes for good memories, after all.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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