Restaurant "events" are a marketing tool that diners can sink their teeth into.
Some have become traditions that people look forward to each year, such as Ichiban's Burn-Off, the Chile Festival at Z'Tejas (Sept. 4-23) and the Downtown Dine O'Round (Sept. 14-20.)
A new event Thursday night in Layton has all the markings of becoming an annual tradition. "Party on the Boulevard" is kind of a giant block-party hosted by four independently owned restaurants located near the Davis County Conference Center: Roosters, Corbin's Grill, MacCools Public House and Bella's Fresh Mexican Grill. Thursday, from 6-9 p.m., Heritage Park Boulevard (located between Woodland Park Drive and 700 West) will be closed to traffic.
"We'll have really good outdoor food, a live band, a mini-farmers market, artists and a car-show element," said Kym Buttschardt, co-owners of Roosters. "This is shaping up to be a neighborly thing with (nearby businesses) Holy Smoke, Osaka, Cutler's Cookies, My Girlfriend's Kitchen participating. It is a first-year event, but our energy of coming together will make it cool."
The restaurants will sell food vendor-style — "Things you can get in the various restaurants, like Cajun Prime Rib Sandwiches, Navajo Chicken, Shepherd's Pie, Corned Beef Au Gratin and Steak Kebabs," Buttschardt said. "The price point for the entrees will be between $5 and $8, and we will have some other fun additions and samples."
Indoors, the restaurants will be open for business as usual.
People who just want a quiet, intimate evening usually shy away from these things — they're noisy, crowded and a little unpredictable. But many folks love going to places where they can mingle, people-watch, try some different food, listen to live music and feel like they're part of a celebration.
And what better way to enjoy the last gasps of summer?
Buttschardt has had success with similar events on Ogden's Historic 25th Street, home of the original Roosters. "Building community has been successful for us in Ogden, so we are all taking that approach in Davis County," she said.
Besides just having a good time, the goal is to help lure people out of their chain-restaurant rut. In the past 10 years, Layton's "Restaurant Row" has steadily evolved into a maze of eateries for several blocks around the Layton Hills Mall. Most are chains, with plenty of name recognition and national advertising.
"Davis County can be tough due to (residents') habit of just going to chains," Buttschardt said.
This brings up the issue of chain-vs.-independents. For a diner, the advantage of chains is that they're familiar and predictable. When I lived in the Middle East for four years, it was like visiting with an old friend to order a chicken dinner at KFC (sometimes referred to as Kentucky Fried Feathers because the employees weren't diligent about removing all those pesky pinfeathers).
But, predictability is also a disadvantage. If you're looking for a something adventurous or unique to the local area, you're not likely to find it at a chain restaurant.
So, the independent restaurants are working together to sell their message "without sounding like a whiner," she said. "We are really trying to rally a positive alternative to the myriad chains, and we're building one customer at a time."
E-mail: vphillips@desnews.com