What Restaurants Bring to Communities (Other than Food)

Taste often bring people together | Photo by Darya Sannikova from Pexels

Obviously, at the most fundamental level, restaurants serve food to customers. Customers eat out at restaurants for a variety of reasons, including satisfying a craving for a particular dish, avoiding the bothersome task of cooking for themselves, or dining while visiting from out of town.

But restaurants go beyond our basic need for food. They also provide a place for social interaction with new friends and quality time spent with old ones. Today, The Local Brand presents some ways that restaurants contribute to their local communities.

Offering Fun Times

Many cultures place value on enjoying good food and a drink with others as an essential way of displaying hospitality, affection, and respect. “We often go to restaurants to have a good time and that usually means not only enjoying food and drink, but also sharing those pleasures with those we like or love,” says N. David Miller, a downtown revitalization specialist. Some people become frequent visitors, or “regulars,” because they feel like family at certain establishments.

Restaurants bring communities together through fun events as well. The annual Madison Ribberfest BBQ & Blues is a great example. The group of restaurants serves the community and is a huge draw every year; what better way to pull together thoughts and ideas than over good food and atmosphere.

Restaurants sometimes cater to certain interests of customers too. For example, there are a number of venues that encourage healthy activities by hosting yoga nights or beer and running groups, and some offer events like painting classes or mystery dinners. And if your business is in an area with a high Walk Score, which measures the walkability of a neighborhood, patrons will find it much easier to get to your store, and perhaps even take a stroll after their meal.

Gone to the Dogs

If you’re a dog owner, you may feel guilty leaving your beloved pet at home when you go out. Luckily, dog-friendly restaurants are on the rise. More than 50 percent of U.S. households own at least one dog according to Spots.com, and many would bring their pets out to dine with them if they were allowed.

Studies have shown that humans feel more relaxed when their pet is around. If good food and drinks help you relax, bringing your dog along will surely help you maximize the enjoyment. Plus, dogs can benefit from a new environment and the socialization from other dogs and people, as well as learning new smells. Visit a local establishment near you next time you walk your dog in the evening; just check to make sure they are dog-friendly ahead of time.

Unique Draw

Many restaurants cater to unique interests with themes. Chicago is home to a spy-themed restaurant, for instance. SafeHouse visitors are granted access with a password. If you don’t know the password but desire entry, you must put on a costume or perform a pantomime, such as imitating eating a bowl of spaghetti. Once granted access, guests are led through a secret passageway downstairs to the restaurant, which assigns out 10 missions, such as a scavenger hunt, that can earn guests free appetizers, drinks, or a discount off the total bill.

Giving Back

Restaurants across the country are taking note that giving back to communities is immensely important. Take Homegirl Café in Los Angeles, for example. They’re renowned for their tacos, but what’s truly remarkable is their support of local women. Homegirl Café empowers at-risk women (and a few men) in the area to leave gang life and build professional expertise.

In addition to being trained in restaurant service and culinary arts, they attend weekly classes to learn life skills, restaurant operations, and management in the café. They can also receive services such as legal aid, mental health and substance abuse assistance, and GED prep. Did we mention they donate 100 percent of their proceeds?

Oregon Public House in Portland is another restaurant that donates all of their proceeds (after operating expenses and contingency savings). They’re known as the world’s first non-profit pub. After you finish your meal, you can vote for how our donation should be given from a list of local charities. Additionally, the restaurant functions as a community center with an array of volunteering resources. Public House has created over a dozen new jobs that pay industry-standard wages and provided free advertising and awareness for nearly 100 different nonprofit organizations – all while donating thousands of dollars each month.

How Can You Get Started?

Many people dream of becoming restaurateurs. It can be an exceptionally rewarding experience — but it’s also a lot of hard work. Not only do you have to develop a menu, find a space to set things up, source ingredients, and hire staff, but you’ll also need to register your business with the state (a formation service can provide all the information you need on how to start an LLC in Indiana). It’s a lot of hard work, but if you’re willing to put in the time and effort, you could find that it’s a rewarding career choice that can enrich your local community.

While restaurants obviously serve their purpose of providing dinner to patrons, many offer so much more. If you want to get your dog out of the house and enjoy a beer, head to your local dog-friendly pub. If you are ready to belt out a few ballads, head to your local bar. If you want to dine and serve a bigger cause, find a restaurant with charitable ties. Or perhaps you’re inspired and ready to open a restaurant of your own. Regardless of the objective, there is no doubt about it – our lives are better, thanks to our local eateries.

Written by Naomi Johnson of Life Based Business

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The articles published under TLB Bureau are either written by our staff writers or are selected works from contributors who are featured by our publication and are published with permission of authors.