Re: restaurants

[Bill London <london@wsu.edu>]

Chamber representatives:
	Please do not kill the messenger if you don't like the message.  The
Tribune article was correct.
	Yes, Kemmis did say exactly that at the afternoon wrap-up session.  He
said it because he heard it in many of the breakout sessions that
afternoon.  He also quipped that we could all go to Missoula for a good
meal--both comments resulted in audience laughter and nods of agreement.
	Even if you don't want to hear it, yes, it is commonly noted around town
that there isn't any good place for dinner.  That may be an incorrect
assumption, but it is commonly held.
	Instead of questioning the integrity of the messenger, perhaps you could
begin a campaign to change the message that circulates so readily around
town.  
	BL



At 02:13 PM 6/17/98 -0700, you wrote:
>Visionaries:
>
>
>The June 14th Lewiston Tribune article about the Moscow Community Retreat,
>was perceived by many as having made a very unfair attack on our local
>restaurants.  Dan Kemmis, the keynote speaker and former mayor of Missoula,
>when commenting on Moscow was quoted as saying,"The problem is there is no
>place to have lunch or dinner."  If he did say that, I have to ask how he
>came to that conclusion and why didn't someone speak up?  
>
>I would like to remind you that we have 27 restaurants in this community
>that serve lunch and dinner.  These businesses are run by hard working
>citizens who support this community in many ways.  They contribute money 
>and resources to youth activities, charitable non-profit organizations,
>social causes, food banks,  community projects, etc.  In return, they
>deserve the community's support!
>
> In fact, lack of support  is probably the biggest problem facing our
>restaurants.   I have heard criticism that we do not have enough "fine
>dining" restaurants.   These types of "dinner" restaurants have come and
>gone in our community.   We do have The Broiler at the University Inn  and
>the Mark IV Motor Inn Restaurant, but if it were not for their locations
>and support by business travelers through the week , they too might have a
>difficult time staying in business.  I might also add that we have a number
>of fine ethnic restaurants.  
>
> Starting a new restaurant requires significant investment.  Did you know
>that just to start up a small café (1000 sq. feet) costs on an average 
>$120,000 and this is without purchasing the property?  This does not
>include buying the food, hiring employees or paying rent, utilities and
>taxes.   Imagine what something larger or more elaborate might cost!
>
>Let's give credit to our restaurants for choosing to be in business in our
>community.   If you want something more, you had better be ready to be a
>customer!   Consider also that it is business development and growth that
>can support additional "service" types of business in our community, such
>as upscale restaurants!  When I think about this, I am reminded of an old
>"cliché" that with a little twist  could possibly fit the situation…"you
>can't have your cake and eat out too!"
>
>Eldonna Gossett
>Executive Director
>Moscow Chamber of Commerce
>
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