As I’m sure most of the community’s culinary mavens already know and lamented, downtown’s Foodies Fresh Café and Catering closed it doors last month, after a little over three years serving hungry customers.

While it’s sad to see any business close its doors, Foodies closing is especially tragic, given the contributions both the business and its owners, David and Carol Heflin made to Dowagiac. For the last several years, the restaurant served as the site for the community’s free Thanksgiving Day dinner, which benefited hundreds of locals every year.

For me, though, the closing emphasized a rather worn, but time tested statement — you don’t know what you’ve got until it’s gone.

I’m not going to subject everyone to a long rant about how people should shop local, because I feel that a lot of our readers already do. I also understand that everyone’s shopping or dining needs are different, be it because of taste, convenience or most importantly, budget.

I’ll be the first to admit I don’t always take advantage of the wonderful and distinct offerings exclusively located in the Grand Old City. In the case of Foodies, I only stopped in once, for a quick, weekday breakfast. Sadly, I took the business for granted, and now I’ll never get the chance to enjoy their delicious rosemary potatoes again.

With that in mind, I’ve decided to refocus my own efforts to support local restaurants and shops as much as possible. Whether it’s getting a burger to go at Beeson Street or sitting down and enjoying a basket of fried fish at Zeke’s, I’ve never felt like my money was better spent elsewhere.

Most importantly, though, is the fact that I’m spending my time somewhere that’s unlike anything else on the planet. While there’s no denying the convenience of fast food, the fact is, I can visit the same chain in Cassopolis or Niles and get the same food, at the same price.

There is nowhere else, however, that serves the same oven-baked pizza quite like the Wood Fire. There is no other business that serves the same kind of spicy bowls of chili quite like those found at Beeson Street or Zeke’s

And, unfortunately, there was no other restaurant that offered the same selection of fresh food, served by friendly faces, like Foodies.

 

Ted Yoakum is the community editor for the Dowagiac Daily News. He can be reached by phone at (269) 588-1040, or by email at ted.yoakum@leaderpub.com.