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We
are all about community.
Our Downtown is the heart and soul of our community.
In 2000 the streetscape was done, Town Square was created and
a wonderful sense of place was developed where we have many events.
Like the Saturday Morning Market, Mardi Gras, Christmas Stroll,
Trick or Treat on Main Street, parades, etc. Many old
buildings were redeveloped as the private sector more than matched
the city's investment in the streetscape. Downtown had
progressed steadily until the economy slowed. Vacancies are up
and our restaurants are really having a tough time.
About 5 years ago, Mt. Dora spent $30,000 on a study about why
people came to their downtown. There were two questions asked in a
survey that were very enlightening. One was “Why did you come
to Mt. Dora today?” Over 90% of the responses mentioned
restaurants. The other was “What does Mt. Dora need more of?”
Again the response was over 90% for restaurants.
Restaurants are the key to any downtown redevelopment. They
generate the traffic for the shops. If we help our restaurants
thrive, our downtown will thrive. We have some wonderful
restaurants that do fairly well at lunch, but only two (Midtown
Grille and Bandy Rays Chopping Block) are open for dinner and they are
struggling for dinner business.
Leesburg has no night life. What can we do about it?
What if we commit to dining downtown once per week? We can
help rejuvenate our downtown one meal at a time. Nothing
against restaurants out on the highway, but they aren't in our
downtown. If we can overwhelm the two restaurants, more
restaurants will open and we will have created a restaurant district
of which we all can be proud and enjoy. Eating downtown will
help our community prosper and thrive. Hopefully we soon will
be waiting in line to get in.
Our project is called "Downtown Dining."
If you pledge, you will be listed as a Downtown Dining Patron or
Patrons (with your spouse) on this website.
We have 3x5 cards in bundles of 12. When you dine you just put
your name on the card, the restaurant, your server, the number in
your party, rate the food and service (grade A,B,C,D,F), add any
comments, and drop it in the Downtown Dining Patron's
Box. We will pick up the cards and post the results on our
website. You will get a silver spoon for everyone
in your party. It will be like in grade school when you got
gold stars for good behavior. This time the stakes are higher
and who doesn't like to go out to eat and have a good time?
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Learn about
Downtown Dinner Restaurants!
See our Silver Spoons Awarded!
See our Downtown Dining Patron Card!
Contact Us! |
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Thank you for your interest and/or
support! |
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