Festival and food organizers honor restaurant workers' impact
Throughout this week Davidson County will host two major food events that celebrate our Lexington style barbeque and the locally owned and operated restaurants that serve us daily. Triad’s Eat. Drink. Restaurant Week highlights local restaurants, craft breweries and cocktail bars in the county and The Lexington Barbecue Festival will draw more than 100,000 people to “pig out” in the Barbecue Capital. Organizers of both unaffiliated events say the week pays homage to local cuisine and to the year round commitment of those dedicated to working in the restaurant industry.
According to the North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association NCRLA - North Carolina Restaurant and Lodging Association, restaurant workers represent approximately 11 percent of the state’s workforce and generate on average 3 billion dollars annually in state and local taxes.
Restaurant week founder Algenon Cash, has worked at and owned several restaurants. “Micro entrepreneurs in the local food and beverage community are the backbone of Davidson County’s small business economy,” said Cash. “Eat Drink Triad started hosting Eat. Drink. Restaurant Week three years ago to bring more awareness and visibility to this important piece of the community. Local restaurants, craft breweries, and cocktail bars provide entry level jobs that can help citizens establish a viable career path, and many of these businesses are involved in and sponsor important school and community programs. This one week out of the year is an opportunity for residents to demonstrate support by spending their dollars locally.”
The traffic generated from the food related events this week will create a lasting impact for local eateries. “The volume of business created by the Festival generates labor hours, providing employees the opportunity to earn more money. We also add an additional 35-40 people to help in the [Barbecue sandwich] tent uptown,” Conrad said. “As for our restaurant, the BBQ Festival is our busiest day of the year, and the publicity from the Festival continues to impact us year round with visitors returning to eat barbecue again and again.”
Learn more about Eat Drink Restaurant Week
*Davidson Local is the official Davidson County Media Partner for Eat. Drink. Restaurant Week!
