The successful takeout dinner served 3,728 Clark County diners while contributing $182,672 to local restaurants and nonprofits.
VANCOUVER — The Greater Vancouver Chamber and Visit Vancouver USA partnered with ilani to produce a local, weekly restaurant takeout collaboration on five-course dinners for two, each Thursday from December 2020 through March 2021. In total, this Savor The Couve series served 3,728 dinners, raising $182,672 for restaurants and nonprofits in Clark County.
Savor The Couve’s weekly takeout dinners’ operations coordinated five different restaurants each week to deliver between 90 and 160 dinners for two for pickup at the former Warehouse ‘23 event space. Each Savor The Couve Thursday, diners would drive through the check-in point, guided by the Chamber, Visit Vancouver staff, and nonprofit volunteers, to have their fresh five-course dinner for two placed into their cars. This hands-free operation for the diners was smooth with all dinners picked up in less than an hour most weeks.
Each week, Savor The Couve’s featured restaurants, each providing one of the courses, allowed diners to sample dishes and flavors from restaurants they’ve never visited.
Here are what a few of the diners had to say:
- “We have ordered 5 or 6 times … every dish we have received was wonderfully prepared and just fabulous. We are your happiest customers. Can’t wait to visit EACH of your participating restaurants later this spring when we are vaccinated!”
- “Someone deserves recognition for this program, it benefits restaurants, nonprofits, diners, and enlivens the spirit of Vancouver. Well done!”
- “Everything about it from the ordering, notifications, pick-up was easy, fast and pleasant. And of course, the food was delicious. The best part is it is a “win-win” for everyone involved from Vancouver Chamber, restaurants, support for the local non-profits and the residents!”
Savor The Couve raised a total of $46,600 for the 16 participating nonprofits, and a total of $136,072 for the 32 participating local restaurants. With the 3,728 dinners served, 690 of those dinners were served to repeat diners of the program. View a short video of the program, here: https://youtu.be/tQ8d9jp3zUc.
Savor The Couve was initially intended to run as an eight-week program beginning in December. It yielded such positive feedback from restaurateurs, nonprofits, volunteers, diners, and community members, that the Chamber and Visit Vancouver USA decided to continue the program an additional eight weeks. As presenting sponsor, ilani supported the series financially while offering volunteers and donations including insulated bags for the hot dishes, coupons for their $20 for $20 Promotional Play, playing cards, and a complimentary bottle of wine for all orders during the final week.
At this time, plans are in the works to reprise Savor The Couve in Fall 2021. More information is to come.
Sign up for exclusive email updates about the program’s continuation, here: VancouverUSA.com/SavorTheCouve.
Restaurants and nonprofits looking to engage in this program in the future are encouraged to sign up for further consideration at: www.VancouverUSA.com/STCSignUp.
A complete list of participating restaurants and nonprofits involved in Savor The Couve can be found at VancouverUSA.com/SavorTheCouve.
About the Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce
The Greater Vancouver Chamber of Commerce is Moving Business Forward in Southwest Washington through business advocacy, connection-making, education, and visibility for our members. The Chamber is a supportive alliance of diverse member businesses, individuals and organizations, working together toward long-term business prosperity. GVCC is the heart of Clark County’s business community, advocating for sound, sensible and dynamic policies that ensure a vital economic climate while improving Southwest Washington’s infrastructure and quality of life. For more information, visit VancouverUSA.com.
