Before It's Too Late

I have a backlog of several restaurant reviews so that I have plenty material to do weekly blog updates.  The good part is that I almost always have stuff to say, but there is also a downfall.  With the economy floundering, I've found that several restaurants that I had visited and planned on reviewing had permanently closed their doors.

This post is a plea to my faithful readers to please, please, please patronize locally owned restaurants in your hometown.  In return, I pledge to you to try and update my restaurant reviews sooner.  Next time, a few more customers could make all the difference.
This post is in honor (and memory) of the Memphis area restaurants that have closed recently...

Avenue A Fine Grill (Cordova)
Blue Plate Cafe (Bartlett location only; Poplar Ave location is still open)
Bol A Pasta (Cordova and Germantown locations)
Buckley's Fine Grill (Cordova location only; Yates Rd and Poplar locations are still open)
Cafe 61 (Downtown)
Da Vinci's Italian Restaurant (Germantown)
EP's Delta Kitchen (Downtown)
Jordan's Catfish and More (Bartlett)
King Biscuit Diner (Cordova)
Lobster King (Midtown)
Lolo's Table (Downtown)
Luchessi's (Germantown location only; Sanderlin Ave location is still open)
Mantia's (East Memphis)
Square Foods (Midtown)
Stella (Downtown)
Sweet Bistro (Midtown)
Yia Yia's Euro Grill (Germantown)

and all the others that aren't listed...

Hopefully, we can all make a difference to save our locally-owned, hometown favorites.

Comments

[FlavorsOfItaly]

Great post, Tiffany! As a 'casualty' of one of the aforementioned closings, this subject is near and dear to my heart.

With the economic downturn, almost everyone's entertainment budget has shrunken considerably, mine included. I am now very careful to try to get the most from my dining dollars, and I have found that locally owned restaurants give me that value.

Some points from my experiences:
Locally owned places are more likely to purchase locally grown produce, rather than products shipped in from a central commissary, as many chains do. This adds freshness and taste to my dishes, as well as putting additional dollars into the local economy.

The service at local places is usually, in my experience, more attentive and personal than the chains. I think this is in part due to the fact that many times, a small, local place employs family members, and there is more a of sense of 'family', regardless of the staff's relations.

If I am particularly impressed with a local place, it is much easier, and more satisfying to me, to give 'kudos' to all concerned, knowing that everyone in the business is more likely to have a real vested interest in my satisfaction. It's really nice to be able to chat for a minute the owner, rather than someone who answers to a corporate headquarters halfway across the country.

Thanks again for a great post, and I hope others will do their best to support our local restaurants, as well as other local businesses!

[Tiffany]

Thanks for the feedback! Some of the places listed were some of my favorite eateries in the city. I know that in a better economic climate, most of these restaurants would have thrived.