Diamond Valley merchants hope whetting the appetites of local residents will drum up much-needed business this winter.
More than a dozen restaurants and businesses are offering samples of food and wine at the inaugural A Taste of Diamond Valley event to remind the public they’re open for business for more than just the summer months. The event takes place at the Turner Valley Golf Club on Nov. 1 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m.
“A lot of our businesses deteriorate during the winter,” said business owner Sarah Harrold, who spearheaded the event. “We don’t have as many travelers coming through, but also I think once it gets cold I don’t know if people realize the restaurants have the same hours. I don’t even think they think of checking out the local restaurants.”
Harrold, owner of Valley Liquor in Turner Valley, said many businesses experience a decline in sales of up to 40 per cent in the winter and hopes A Taste of Diamond Valley will help boost local shopping once people know what businesses are open close to home.
“I understand that a lot of people who live out here work in the city and it might be more convenient for them to grab something before they come home,” she said. “Maybe we give them an opportunity to see what’s still open during the winter, what is here, what they can get, so we keep more of the economy booming out here rather than possibly shutting down because they can’t make it.”
Gary Taylor, general manager of the Turner Valley Golf Club, hopes the event will encourage area residents to eat and drink locally.
“What brought it about is we were talking about how many restaurants have trouble making it through the winter months and how these restaurants seem to change hands over the winter and how unfortunate it was,” Taylor said. “What we wanted to provide was a really low-risk venue for them to come to.”
While businesses in the community tend to flourish in the summer, Taylor said things are very different in the long winter months.
“I really feel for the small businesses that are trying to make a go of it,” he said.
“They still have the costs in the winter and are just not drumming up the business. The more people that come out to see what we have to offer the more opportunities we have to grow our winter business as well.”
Black Diamond Bakery owner George Nielsen signed up to participate in A Taste of Diamond Valley for the public relations opportunity.
“I just thought it’s a new concept and if we can get enough people to all the businesses so they can show their wares, great,” he said. “It’s good advertising.”
Nielsen, who will be showcasing his cocktail sausage rolls and ginger snaps at the event, said business is steady in the winter, but not as busy as the summer.
“We are slower in the winter,” he said. “There are not as many travelers on day trips and people going by.”
Veronica Kloiber, owner of one of Black Diamond’s newest businesses, is looking forward to connecting with other merchants at the event. Kloiber opened Kloiber’s Meats six month ago, which offers prepared meats and cheeses, and will serve homemade meatballs and a cheese tray at the Nov. 1 event.
For Kloiber, it’s an opportunity to connect with others.
“I’m looking forward to networking with other merchants to plan other events,” she said. “I would like to have all the vendors working together and come up with some crazy marketing idea that aren’t too much money.”
Proceeds from ticket sales go to the Oilfields Food Bank.
For more information about A Taste of Diamond Valley or to purchase the $25 tickets go to www.turnervalleygolf.com/tasteofdv or contact the Turner Valley Golf Club at 403-933-4721.
