WHAT:
The close-knit community of Laguna Beach has banded together and are devising creative ways to ensure the citizens of the pristine beach town are able to obtain needed supplies to remain in quarantine, safeguarding themselves from COVID-19. A town fueled and sustained by tourism – Laguna Beach is known for having the most vibrant dining scene in Orange County. Saddled by closures, the local restaurant community has conjured up a number of creative ways to continue feeding and providing food to their neighbors, friends and visiting guests.
WHO:
In response to the recent shortage of food items at local grocers, Nirvana Grille chef and restaurateur, Lindsay Smith-Rosales, has created a food co-op at her restaurant for locals to purchase food items, cleaning supplies and household necessities via the restaurant’s website. A Laguna Beach native, Lindsay was inspired by images of empty shelves at the local grocers and markets to come up with an alternative, literally overnight, to make sure her community had access to basic necessities.
“I received a text of a picture of the empty shelves at Trader Joe’s,” said Smith-Rosales. “I sat there and realized that I have access to a different distribution system than the grocery stores and to my longtime vendors. I knew it was all about accessibility and the access to buy in bulk. If I have an excess to something, what can I give to help? How can I stand up and support the community … it was that simple.”
She moved fast and developed a virtual grocery store in 12-hours on Shopify. “We worked until it got done so people could use it and those in need can get food.” In the first 24 hours of the store, combined with the to-go orders on the restaurant side, she fed nearly 200 people.
MORE:
Numerous other local restaurants have devised creative ways to feed people while also staying in business during these trying times. For example:
Selanne Steak Tavern: Offering a Pop-Up Mini Market where you can get butchered-to-order meats, poultry, seafood, milk, eggs and produce.
WHY:
Visit Laguna Beach, the destination organization that develops and markets Laguna Beach as a leading travel destination, has been working tirelessly since the onset of COVID-19 to help centralize and promote all of the efforts to support the local community, while continuing to promote the destination to regional, national and international travelers.
“The tourism industry as a whole is at a standstill right now, and our community is feeling the impact of COVID-19 especially hard,” said Ashley Johnson, president and CEO, Visit Laguna Beach. “Our network of hospitality professionals, restaurateurs and hoteliers are more than just colleagues, we are all friends and neighbors. And it is clear during complicated times like these, how strong our community is by wiling to jump in and help out their friends that might be worse off or need help. We will continue to help and support these efforts until we can be back to business as usual.”
Please refer to: https://www.visitlagunabeach.c… for updated information on Laguna Beach closures, breaking news alerts, and more pertaining to COVID-19.
INTERVIEW
Available for on-camera interviews:
OPPS:
1. Visit Laguna Beach, President & CEO, Ashley Johnson
2. Nirvana Grille Chef/Owner, Lindsay Smith Rosales
ABOUT:
Visit Laguna Beach is a nonprofit organization with a mission to develop and market Laguna Beach as a leading travel destination. Visitor spending totaled more than $557 million in 2019 in Laguna Beach, generating more than 5,000 tourism-related jobs and an additional $17.8 million in local tax revenues. For more information, visit www.visitlagunabeach.com. Get social with @VisitLaguna on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
CONTACT:
Ashley Johnson, Visit Laguna Beach E: ashley@visitlagunabeach.com; M: (949) 922-7503
