Moonlight Dining on the Boulevard set for July 11
HAVERFORD » Brookline Boulevard’s restaurant eateries will take on the feel of outside cafes at the first Moonlight Dining on the Boulevard on Tuesday, July 11, from 5-11 p.m.
The Haverford Partnership for Economic Development Board and restaurant owners on Brookline Boulevard have joined together in an effort to showcase the amazing restaurants and specialty shops along the strip.
Partnership Business Development Manager Jeanne Angell teamed up with Tom Thornton, owner of JD McGillicuddy’s and partnership business district captain. He felt that the idea of dinning outside which has worked in Media and Springfield could work here.
“We want to get people to try new restaurants. This is a way of gaining exposure. It also is a quality of life issue. People were asking us to do this on our Havertown Community Facebook page,” said Angell.
Over 300 residents voiced their support. So Haverford Commissioner, Mario Oliva, a partnership board member, the partnership board and business owners decided to give it a try.
Restaurant owners are as enthusiastic as the patrons. They are looking forward to the moonlit night. More than 600 reservations have been made. VEDA and Kettle are booked to capacity. The Brookline Boulevard Business community is working together to make the event successful.
“This is great because it allows the business owners to come together. Everyone worries about competing but the more we come together the better it is for all of us,” said Tommy Brower, owner of VIDA Taqueria & BYOB.
“I love it. It’s great for the community. I want to see it monthly, if not weekly. It’s good for Havertown. It’s good for retail. This street is awesome. It’s like a Center City (Philadelphia) street in the middle of Havertown. I can’t wait to see people everywhere and the street transformed,” continued Brower
Kettle owner Sarah Brautigan said reservations for Tuesday night are filled to capacity and she and her staff are working out the logistics before the event.
“It’s a lot of food,” laughing.
“I’m so excited for the community. It will be a great night. Everyone is excited on the street. We all work very well together. Everyone is neighborly on this street that’s why I think this will work out very well,” said Brautigan.
To make this event a success, it takes a lot of volunteers, according to Angell. Many have stepped up. Brookline Boulevard will close at 3 p.m. to set up and reopen for Moonlight on the Boulevard at 5 p.m. Volunteers will work midnight and beyond to clean up.
“(The partnership) has three goals here; to have our small businesses supported, to build community and to have donations towards buying Edison Lights, string lights to light up the street lamps on the boulevard,” explained Angell.
Angell and the partnership are looking to the future, and possibly next year having an event like Moonlight Dining on the Boulevard in the Oakmont Business District.
“(The partnership) has always supported small businesses with our shop local campaign. This is one of those things. We have the First Wednesday Dining Club two and half years ago and that’s been very successful. We are trying to beautify our business districts. I have put in hundreds of planters around Haverford Township. We are promoting Haverford Township in general. We are kind of a new Haverford Township. We were dingy before. We have become much more upscale. We are working on the streetlights, the sidewalks and putting in the planters. All these new business are coming in. Conshohocken Brewing Company has just purchased the Naise Cuisine and opening up in September ... We are a new Haverford Township. We are a little more upscale, prettier, hipper, cooler. I she said, am working on this new campaign called Discover Haverford and there will be a Discover website. It’s a way to discover Haverford to get the people from the outside to come to Haveford Township. We look different from 25 years ago. We are becoming more upscale without losing our downhome feel,” said Angell
Reservations are filling up fast at J.D. McGillucuddys, VIDA, Kettle and Sampan Inn. To make reservations call the restaurant of your choice. Reservations are not needed for Centrella’s Deli, which is offering a full buffet; Janos Pizza, VIDA Food Truck, Testa’s Bakery or Koffmeyer’s Cookies an Ice Cream.
Businesses open for shopping will include St.Jude Shop, Local Home and Gifts and Vicious Vesture. For more information about this event go to www.hped.org. The Brookline Boulevard parking lot will be open throughout the event.