Nothing else brings people together quite like food.
Downtown eateries are inviting residents to drop in this week and try their fall creations in the city’s first Taste of Downtown, which kicks off the Spooktacular Pumpkin Fest scheduled for this Saturday.
“We want people to explore because a lot of people don’t know the eateries that we do have downtown,” said Maggie Stayanovich, executive director of the Trail and District Chamber of Commerce. “We’re encouraging them to get out and support local buisiness.”
The Arlington, Caffé Americano, Canadian 2 For 1 Pizza, The Colander, The Doorway, Got Juiced, Lovin Oven’, Peppercorn Restaurant, Rebelato’s, Morning Perk and The Spot are serving up their inspired creations from witches’ brew and pumpkin lattes to a pumpkin veggie burger.
Customers looking to take advantage of new treats this week will have an opportunity to win a prize. They will be handed a “tastetacular passport” at participating restaurants that will gain them entry to a draw that wraps up this weekend.
The hope is that residents will support local business and make an effort to eat out downtown.
“The value is bringing an awareness that the town is waking up, that there’s businesses down here because there hasn’t been so much for so long,” said Penny Kuenle, who owns Got Juiced with her husband Howard. “Now if they come out, they can realize that things are open down here, even on weekends.”
Businesses filling a niche in the community have the opportunity to do well, said the smoothie queen who has served over 9,000 customers since Day 1.
Got Juiced just moved into a larger location on Farwell Street, next door to where they initially set up shop seven months ago.
Passports can be dropped off at the chamber office until Friday or handed in at Saturday’s festival at the Downtown Opportunities and Action Committee’s tent on Farwell Street.
For more information on the event, visit www.trail.ca/Downtown.php