EatLafayette celebrates 20 years of local cuisine, entrepreneurship and community spirit | Sponsored: Lafayette Travel
In the late 1990s and early 2000s, the summertime was a struggle for Lafayette’s locally-owned restaurants. There was a lull between Father’s Day and Labor Day when customer traffic counts were low and eateries were nearly empty some days. There was no problem with the food quality – Lafayette has long boasted some of the region’s best and most diverse cuisine. But, local business leaders felt they needed to raise awareness about that fact and change people’s summer eating habits.
“This was a time when a lot of larger chain restaurants had started coming to town and were putting a lot of pressure on the smaller operators. We felt we wanted to put some marketing dollars and resources behind our local places to help them,” said Charles Goodson, a longtime Lafayette restaurateur. “Generally speaking, when you go to a locally-owned restaurant, the owner is at the door. Many of the employees are family members. We wanted to do something to help them out and celebrate local owners and the generations who keep these restaurants going.”
Inspired by a similar campaign he had learned of elsewhere, Goodson joined forces with Lafayette Travel, Calzone & Associates, and other restaurant owners to create a concept known as EatLafayette. The campaign first launched in 2004 with 18 restaurants, some of whom were skeptical as to whether the program would have an impact. But, the campaign quickly took on a life of its own.
Now in its 20th anniversary year, EatLafayette has evolved into a program with dozens of participating local restaurants, a booming social media presence on multiple platforms, an annual kickoff event, and a digital passport that lets customers check in to restaurants with the chance to win a free trip. EatLafayette still has a heightened presence in the summer, with restaurants offering special menu items and deals, but today it is technically a year-round celebration. A full list of participating eateries can be found at www.eatlafayette.com, highlighting the diversity of Lafayette’s food.
“You never know if a program is going to go past one year, let alone 20 years. When you believe in something, you make a decision and go with it and hope it will stick,” said Gerald Breaux, former executive director of Lafayette Travel. “EatLafayette has stood the test of time and has only gotten better through the years. Social media has grown along with it, which has allowed a lot more interaction between the restaurants and their customers. The reaction and participation has just gotten bigger and better over the years.”
Julie Calzone, owner of Calzone & Associates, said the tangible impacts of EatLafayette have been noticeable over the past two decades. Restaurant owners have said that the campaign achieved the initial goal of increasing foot traffic in the summer, but also brought in customers during other months of the year.
“It answers the question people have of, where am I going to eat tonight? The campaign has helped people find new places to eat in Lafayette,” Calzone said. “EatLafayette has grown alongside the restaurant scene in town. As new chefs and owners opened up new eateries, they didn’t always have the budget to help with marketing. We were able to educate them on how to leverage the resources they do have. It’s been so exciting to watch these entrepreneurs and artists, which I believe chefs are, just take off and run with it. Just as they are innovative with their food and restaurants, they have been that way with their marketing and EatLafayette participation.”
Goodson said he is especially proud to see many of the early EatLafayette restaurants still take part in the program, alongside newer eateries that have opened in the ensuing years. Aside from increasing their visibility, Goodson noted that EatLafayette continues to bring restaurateurs together in a unique and positive way.
“It’s given us a sense of being in the same industry together rather than always thinking of ourselves as competitors,” he said. “I think EatLafayette opened the door for closer relationships. We all want to support one another and work arm in arm to encourage people to keep eating local.”
EatLafayette features dozens of locally-owned restaurants in Lafayette and the surrounding area. With eateries ranging from Cajun, Italian, Mediterranean, Asian, barbecue, and everything in between, there’s something for everyone’s taste buds. Whether you’re hungry for breakfast, lunch, dinner or a snack, an EatLafayette restaurant is ready to serve you with one-of-a-kind dishes and unmatched customer service. Visit www.eatlafayette.com to find the full list of participating restaurants and plan your culinary trip through the Hub City.
