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Local restaurants grateful for community support from Innis-FULL event

The event wraps up this Friday and local restaurants are pleased with the community repsonse so far
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A Taste of Europe. Miriam King for Innisfil Today

With Innis-FULL coming to an end this Friday, many of the restaurant owners in town are thankful for the community support.

Jennifer Richardson, the brains behind the event, has been doing everything in her power to make the most of her time during lockdown. She’s led many community-driven activities around town, including Light It Up Innisfil and a remote graduation celebration.

“I need to keep busy, otherwise I get stressed out about COVID to be perfectly, bluntly honest,” said Richardson. “I used to do the Welcome Wagon here in town and now because of COVID I can’t do it. And I used to run events for them, so now I miss doing all that sort of stuff and I miss meeting and talking to people...so this was a kind of easier way to do it.”

Most recently, she turned her attention to local restaurants. Taking cues from the annual Barrie-licious events, Richardson created Innis-FULL to bring new customers to restaurants in town.

“The response was awesome,” she said.

Robert Saunders of the Cove Café was immediately on-board with Richardson’s event.

He says customers have stood behind local businesses throughout the fluctuating degrees of lockdown.

“They’re way behind us, which is great,” he said. “They’re gathering behind the restaurants and the small businesses because everyone’s so sick of opening and closing, opening and closing.”

Bayview Beach Pizza opened just a month ago. Nicole McLean and Max Belkin spent a year converting the Gilford property into a restaurant. They hope their participation in Innis-FULL will serve as their introduction to local foodies.

“What we love about Innisfil is that it’s a real tight-knit community, everyone in Gilford has had a really great response,” Belkin explained.

Silvia Alonzi of Bruno’s Bakery says her restaurant has also undergone recent renovations. With the dining area and kitchen fully redone, she hopes Innis-FULL will help customers check out the location’s new look.

Bruno’s now offers an open freezer and fridge where people can pick up items to take home and cook themselves.

“Everything is brand-new,” Alonzi said. “We wanted to promote a little bit more.”

In Lefroy, Daniela Dasilva of Taste of Europe is also feeling the community spirit.

“It’s worked out really good for us so far,” she said. “It’s given an opportunity for people who have never tried our restaurant to come out and try us.”

The three-year old restaurant is a family endeavour.

“I’m glad my family has stepped up,” said Dasilva. “I’ve got everybody in my household working!”

It’s not just the customers that have come through for local restaurants. Many of the business owners expressed their gratitude towards town council for investing in their success during these turbulent times by helping to cover delivery costs through the What’s For Dinner app and footing 50 percent of the bill for the first 1,200 Innis-FULL orders.

Jennifer McKnight of the Harbour House Grill has owned several restaurants in the area over the years, and says the recent support from the town has made a big difference.

“I don’t know how we would have really done it without little things like that helping us,” she said.

McKnight added that Innis-FULL has allowed her to give more hours to her staff thanks to the increase in customers.

“I kind of wish that it would go a little longer, to be honest,” she said.

Richardson is pleased with the community support. She explains that eating local is an issue close to her heart.

“The thought of losing it just because of this makes my heart sad,” she said.

The full list of participating restaurants is available on the Innis-FULL Facebook page. The Connecting Innisfil Facebook page is where Richardson gives updates on all of her local events.