COMMUNITY SUPPORT The Cornerstone of the New Consumer Confidence
Regional treasure Country Grains at Fir Point Farms, Aurora
O
ne year ago, in a sudden turn of events, every restaurant or bar owner, operator, manager, and employee was shaken to the core with the words “lock down.” These shockwaves went out through communities across Oregon, leaving everyone in our state wondering how their personal favorite spot would survive. This undeniably caused a massive decline in consumer purchases of food and beverage, with individually-owned restaurants representing one of the hardest hit sectors. Even after lockdowns were lifted and partial capacity was allowed, the Oregon Office of Economic Analysis1 reported that May 2020 spending had dropped 33 percent year over year, a trend that has continued as the pandemic ceases to subside.
However, something fascinating and extremely hopeful has emerged from the ashes of so much uncertainty and decline: the engagement of communities in sustaining the life of their local restaurants. Purchasing food and beverages from your local watering hole is now less about the pristine execution and style we are accustomed to. A shift in focus has taken center stage. The consumer can now be a part of something larger; this is their opportunity to impact the world and future in front of them. They have the power to vote with their dollar and keep the places they love alive during this crisis. Driven by a renewed sense of community, restaurants are now able to engage consumer confidence in a whole new light, for the immediate future and hopefully for years to come. OregonRLA.ORG 37
