MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Hundreds of people supported Memphis vendors who were highlighted at the 3rd Annual Memphis Restaurant Association (MRA) Food Festival and Awards on Sunday, February 4.
This comes after a tough month for restaurateurs due to snow, icy roads, and low water pressure.
Attendee Paul Thomas said he was excited to support local vendors.
"I knew that it would be a place to network, meet new people, and find new restaurants that I've never been to before," Thomas said. "The food is incredible.”
The event featured more than two dozen vendors, many who said they had to close for nearly a week after the winter weather rolled through the Mid-South.
Carolyn Kent owns King Manor Catering and Bar. She said planned events were disrupted.
"We have mobile food and liquor catering service where we come to you," Kent said. "The events that we had scheduled had to be postponed and rescheduled because of the weather.”
It was a similar story on Park Avenue at Patrick’s. Manager Brittany Phillips said they are still trying to make up for lost revenue.
"People think the restaurants are all going to be there, but we're all really struggling," Phillips said. "And we've all been struggling ever since 2020 and the COVID pandemic.”
As restaurants return to normalcy, they said events like this help highlight their businesses.
"It kind of puts us in front of people who are shopping around to find something,” said Kent.
Memphis Restaurant Association President Mike Miller stressed that local businesses help drive Tennessee's economy. He is encouraging everyone to continue supporting.
"The hospitality industry as a whole generated $1.9 billion in sales tax," Miller said. "That's what pays for paving the roads and your schools and the police and all of those things. We want to see our government spend the money wisely, but we're the ones driving it.”
During the festival, several awards were given out, including the 2024 MRA Lifetime Achievement award for late food journalist Jennifer Biggs, who died after a battle with cancer.
Miller said the Memphis Restaurant Association Food Festival and Awards will be held Downtown at The Kent for at least two more years.