July 28, 2008

Link to flyer and registration - click here

The Kennedale Chamber board of directors holds monthly meetings, usually centered around how to attract more interest to the city and to the Chamber.   Some ideas never make it past the discussion phase, and some, like the annual Car Show, turn out to be a rousing success. 

This time around, we’ve decided that, while people do love cars, they also really, really love food.  So we’ve decided to try something new…well, new to us anyway.   This fall, the chamber will put on the 1^st annual “A Taste of Kennedale”.  This is an event showcasing the best restaurants in and around the Kennedale area.  Restaurants will be providing samplings of their menu, and will range from strictly local fare such as the Pitt Stop Café, Angela’s Mexican Restaurant, and Aunt Lanie’s Dining Room to Metroplex-wide favorites like Campisi’s Pizza.  A final list of participating restaurants should be complete in the coming weeks.   In all, more than 20 restaurants are expected to participate.

Kennedale High School has agreed to host the event in their cafeteria, which will take place on Monday, September 29^th from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM.  At the end of the evening, a “Best Restaurant” will be named, as voted on by the attendees.

Food vendors may participate free of charge, providing they are a current member of the Kennedale Chamber of Commerce.  Non members may join the chamber for the normal $100 fee in order to participate.  Non food vendors may purchase booths for $50 to display their products and/or services.

Tickets to the event are $10 in advance or $15 at the door.  Advance purchase may be made through the Kennedale Chamber of Commerce at (817) 985-2109.

This event is similar to events held by chambers of commerce all over the Metroplex, and, for that matter, the country.  Frisco’s “Taste of Frisco” event is one of their biggest events of the year.  While it is unrealistic for us to try to copy the attendance and revenue of much larger chambers, we do feel like there is great value in looking at what works for other cities. After all, not so long ago, Kennedale was a thriving metropolis compared to Frisco.  A decade ago, Frisco had a population of around 5,000.  They had one street where almost all of their businesses were located.  They were neighbored to the south by a much larger town, Plano.  There was but one attraction that would bring people from Plano to Frisco…a La Hacienda Ranch restaurant, which was, according to folks living in Plano at the time, “in the middle of nowhere”.

10 years later, Frisco is one of the fastest growing cities in the entire nation.  Now, there are some there who had no interest in seeing Frisco grow like that, just like there are plenty of people in Kennedale who prefer it the way it is, the way it has been for many, many years.  But the landscape is certainly changing,  certainly not as rapidly as our friends in Collin County, but changing nonetheless.  Stop by the city offices and you’ll hear Kennedale’s Economic Development Director Mike Soab speak enthusiastically about the planned Town Square.  You’ll also see drawings of new city parks.  If you look outside the door, you’ll see one of those parks being built, as well as a new Subway under construction.

The Kennedale Chamber of Commerce has been committed to bringing our business community together during this time of growth.  We also know that our main purpose is bringing the citizens of this great town closer to the businesses that serve it.

We feel that events like this one are vital to the success of our Chamber and our members.  Our goal for A Taste of Kennedale is two-fold.  1.) We hope that this will expose some really great local restaurants to people that, for one reason or another, have never stopped in to try a bite, and 2.) To provide a fun, family event for our residents to enjoy.   If both of these things happen, then regardless of the revenue made by the chamber, the event will be considered a great success.  We hope to see you there!