1st ANNUAL RESTAURANT & CATERING FESTIVAL
On Saturday, July 25, 2009, the Village and Chamber of Commerce will present the 1st Annual Restaurant and Catering Festival at the former Circuit City space at the Promenade. There will be atleast 15 restaurants offering their delicious food to sample. Visitors are expected to pay $20 for advance tickets and $24 at the door.
According to Mike Evans, Executive Director of the Chamber (click here to learn more about Evans) "...we have a great restaurant market...the event is a win-win for the local community as well as the local residents." [Bolingbrook Sun]
The Number Crunchers disagree and here's why.
The Bolingbrook Chamber of Commerce will make money from the ticket sales.
The local restaurants benefit from using this event to promote their business. If the event helps to increase revenue for the next few weeks. Mission accomplished.
The Village of Bolingbrook charges an additional 1.5% restaurant tax to any patron that dines in Bolingbrook. If this event helps to increase revenue - mission accomplished.
The Event Guest/Restaurant Patron will have to pay $20-$24 to attend the event. A typical family will need to consider the cost benefit of attending this event. The family must also consider the 1.5% restaurant tax the Village charges. It will cost you 10% to dine in Bolingbrook. Click here to see what other communities are charging.
We believe the festival is an excellent idea to introduce the local restaurants to the community, but the cheaper route would have been to have the local restaurants provide samples at the Village Picnic, free of charge. Therefore, visitors would not have to pay a $20 premium before even visiting a restaurant.
No matter which side of the debate you stand, we want to hear from you.
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