June
2010
Local Restaurants Unite to Preserve Unique and Diverse Flavors of Lawrence by Natasha Buller Among the best-known names on the Lawrence restaurant scene are Pachamamas, Genovese, Local Burger, Marisco’s, Paisano’s Ristorante, 23rd Street Brewery, The Bird Dog, Johnny’s Tavern, Set’em Up Jack’s, TEN / The Jayhawker, Zig & Macs, Biggs BBQ, Buffalo Bob’s Smokehouse, A Slice of History, Wheat State Pizza, Global Café, Bambino’s at the Grove, La Parilla, Five 21 and Zen Zero. Why mention these names? They represent local and independent restaurateurs who call themselves The Lawrence Originals. By combining resources, they are able to improve their restaurants in an effort to preserve and promote the culture of cuisine and the unique dining experiences in Lawrence. Many of these restaurants have won various local and regional awards and some have earned national acclaim as well. With menus ranging from burgers and pizzas to pasta and BBQ, from casual to upscale, with some offering local organic dishes fresh from the farm. The group has grown to 21 members since it was organized in February 2008 by Doug Holiday, founder of the Lawrence Originals and owner of Biggs BBQ.
“The main reason for creating The Lawrence Originals is to keep Lawrence unique. We don’t want it to be any–town USA,” Holiday said. “It is also important for us to have a unified voice and help consumers realize why it’s important to support locally-owned and independent restaurants.” “It’s really a good organization. We share ideas about how we can help each other,” added General Manger of Marisco’s Fee Monshizadeh. “We also contribute seven percent of our sales to local charities through the GiveBack Program.” The Lawrence Originals restaurant owners hire, buy and spend within the community. There is no doubt that by dining at these places you help the local economy. In 2009, the City of Lawrence estimated that local residents spent up to 30 percent of their income outside of Lawrence. The City’s Economic Development Coordinator/Planner Roger Zalneraitis Jr. said that shifting 10 percent of the sales that local residents make outside of town back into Lawrence
Continued on page 4