City Weekly asked Avenues Bakery & Bistro co-owner Kathie Chadbourne whether the recent Dine-O-Round generated new clientele and what can be done to cultivate local businesses:

The Dine-O-Round brings curiousity and excitement for people who aren’t used to going out. Downtown Alliance is our catalyst for success. They’ve done an outstanding job. But it’s up to residents to make things happen. Talk, talk, talk. Tell your friends to support local. Just make sure it’s quality local. Small, independent businesses share in common with the corporate sector a range of good, bad and ugly. Do your research. Seek out a product to see how great it really is and use it. Really use it.