Tuesday, December 6, 2011

A "collective" look into the Little Grill

Nestled at the end of downtown Harrisonburg, The Little Grill Collective is a tough place to miss. With a half blue facade, it's exterior uniqueness is striking, but nothing compared to the interior decor. Little Grill has changed its structure, menu, and service since its founding in the 1940's.
 
The Little Grill was a Free Food For All Soup Kitchen that serves a hot noon meal every Monday (since October of 1992). Later it become both a soup kitchen and a restaurant. They are currently open 7 days a week, but 6 days for business since they offer the soup kitchen on Monday.

Over the years, menu changes made the restaurant appealing to healthy minded eaters and vegetarians. The collective has localized food  from all over Harrisonburg and stopped using many international companies products(i.e. Coke, Folgers Coffee, etc.). Some of the local food establishments include Our Community Farms, Mr. J's bagels, Charis Eco Farm, Red Front Supermarket, and more. 

The menu includes both breakfast items, along with lunch and dinner. Each week night is a specialty night. From mexi-night to down home cooking night. The meals are all affordable, with nothing on the menu over nine dollars. The collective owners create the eclectic menu offering delicious vegetarian alternatives to normal dishes. Sometimes with out you even realizing it! My friend Tommy ate five tacos on mexi-night before realizing they had no meat.

Little Grill is a cooperative business, owned and controlled by its members. Each member participates as workers, producers and consumers. There are currently 12 owners of the Little Grill. Each member plays a part in the business by working at the restaurant and coordinating different aspects of the business. All the owners can make decisions regarding the business autonomously. 

Working hand and hand together, the owners work on keeping the business going, but more importantly serving the community. Little Grill works with Our Community Place, right across the street, to help those throughout the community in need.
 
Stop by the Little Grill sometime soon. It will be most likely be a memorable experience.

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